Speaking during a special worship service in observance of Christmas, Pastor Nicky Joya explained why Jesus Christ became a man.  Quoting Hebrews 2:9-18, he said that Jesus, the Son of God, humbled himself as a man to taste death as a way of giving us a new life.  "Jesus became a man to die in our place," Pastor Nicky said.

Christ came...

A. To be the Substitute for Man
⁹But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

B. To Show People the Way to God
¹⁰In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

C. To Sanctify Believers
¹¹Both the One who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. ¹²He says, "I will declare your name to My brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." ¹³And again, "I will put my trust in Him." And again He says, "Here am I, and the children God has given Me."

D. To Sever Death
¹⁴Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death, He might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - ¹⁵and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

E. To Sympathize with Christians
¹⁶For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham's descendants. ¹⁷For this reason, He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

In closing, Pastor Nicky said that the mission of Christ is the mission of the believers as well. Christians, he said, are called to passionately proclaim Him to all men. Jesus Christ said: "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you" (John 20:21).

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