Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also
partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had
the power of death, that is, the devil,
What is fascinating about our New Testaments is in how they are arranged. When we consider the Gospels for example, they present God in human flesh - Jesus Christ. Yesterday we made some remarks about the first coming of Jesus from 1 Timothy and today we continue by noting some observations in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
The Old Testament Foundation and Anticipation of Christ's first coming
In the original Hebrew Old Testament, the Bible books were divided into three main divisions: The Law, the Prophets and the Psalms. (Luke 24:44) According to Deuteronomy 19:15 and Matthew 18:16, the truth of any given matter is established by two or three witnesses. We can note how the writer quotes purposefully from the three-fold division of the Old Testament to drive home the point of his exhortation here in Hebrews 2:
1. In Hebrews 2:1-4 the writer alludes to the giving of the law on Mount Sinai in Exodus 19-20, hence utilizing the "Law" or "Pentateuch" of the first five books of the Old Testament.
2. In Hebrews 2:5-8 He quotes from Psalm 8, utilizing the section called "The Writings"
3. Then in Hebrews 2:9-13 we see another quotation in 2:12 from Psalm 22:22 and a quotations from Isaiah 8:17-18, thus utilizing the "Prophetic" portion of the Old Testament.
With this foundation laid, the writer proves that the entire Old Testament "paid heed" to the coming Messiah who would be born to die for sinners and to destroy the works of the Devil.
How the entire Trinity was involved in bringing about the Christmas
We learn from this chapter of Hebrews that all three Persons of the Trinity were involved in the bringing about of Christmas. First, Hebrews 2:14 attributes the incarnation to Christ Himself: "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil".1
Next we understand that the Holy Spirit, sharing in the same Divine nature as the Son, directly intervened in forming a human nature and uniting it to the Person of the Son. Hebrews 2:17a bears this out: "Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God."2
Thirdly, we see Hebrews 10:5 ascribing the work of the incarnation to God the Father: "Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me." (KJV) To Whom is Jesus addressing? Hebrews 10:7 makes it quite clear that He is speaking to God the Father, since it His Will which He came to perform. (compare John 17:1-4) 3
The main point of Hebrews 2 and its relationship to Christmas
As you begin to analyze Hebrews 2, the central verses of the chapter lie in Hebrews 2:1, 9 and 14 - pointing our attention to three main points. The writer (perhaps Paul) is explaining first off what every Christian must pay heed to in 2:1 "For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that
we do not drift away from it."
Secondly, in Hebrews 2:9 we read - "But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels,
namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and
honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone." So then we are to payheed to not drifting away from the Gospel that we've heard, as well as the fact that Jesus Christ came to die for sinners.
Then notice thirdly Hebrews 2:14 - "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also
partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had
the power of death, that is, the devil". So in addition to not drifting and noting that Jesus came to die for sinners, we can note a third point: namely Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the Devil. Christmas then is about the Savior who came to die for sinners and destroy the works of the Devil - the Gospel from which every Christan must ever strive to not drift away.
May you and I today pay the more earnest heed to this Jesus of Whom we aim to focus not only this Christmas season but in the upcoming New Year.
End Notes________________
1. From another text, Hebrews 10:7 we read Jesus saying: "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God." (KJV) The joining of humanity to the Person of the Son was a consentual agreement made between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in Eternity. (Psalm 110; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 10:4-7).
2. The underlined verb is in the passive, meaning that Christ was the recipient of the action of His person being united to full humanity. Other passages such as Matthew 1:20 and Luke 1:35 specifically ascribe the miracle of the virgin birth conception to the Holy Spirit - Who is the Direct Agent involved in the incarnation. The Son agreed to have humanity joined to Himself, with the Holy Spirit uniting such a perfect human nature to Christ in the virgin birth conception.
3. Furthermore Jesus is quoting Psalm 40 wherein David, the original speaker in the Psalm, is addressing God. Unless otherwise indicated, the name "God" by itself normally refers to God the Father. God the Father is moreso indirectly involved, since He Providentially prepared the bloodline of Mary to be the bloodline through which the humanity of Jesus Christ would be incarnated and made a reality.
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Saturday, December 22, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
How we know the Mayans don't know
Mark 13:32 "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the
Son, but the Father alone."
After today, we will discover that no one really knows the timing of the end of the world
As many of you perhaps may know, today is the supposed day that an ancient Mayan Calendar will have ran its last cycle, indicating in the eyes of some the end of the world. My wife and I were talking earlier this morning how instructive it is to us concerning the scoffing and flippancy that has been expressed towards this supposed "end of the world". My aim in this special blog is not to offer commentary on the Mayan calendar, other than to say I do not think it is predicting the end of the world. Rather I want us to turn our attention briefly to a text where Jesus explicitly states that no one knows the day nor the hour of His coming. We will first of all unfold its meaning and then offer some practical considerations as to why the Lord saw fit not to reveal the exact day and hour of His coming.
Unraveling the mystery of Mark 13:32 and Matthew 24:36
The fact that Bible Prophecy states several times that God has not revealed the exact day of Christ's return should be noted by the student of scripture. (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32; Acts 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3) In the Mark and corresponding Matthew passages, Jesus reveals that there are those who don't know the exact hour of His return and that there is only One who does know the exact hour. We can see a summary list below:
Those who don't know Those who do know
1. All Human beings God the Father
2. The Angels
3. God The Son, operating through
His human nature (The Son of Man)
The Person of God the Son has two natures or two ways of expressing His existence - A Fully Divine and Fully Human Nature
When we read the phrase "nor the Son" in Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32, it may cause some to wonder how that could be. Scripture affirms time and time again that the Person of the Son, Jesus Christ, shares in the same Divine nature as the Father. (Matthew 28:18; John 1:1, 8:58; Romans 9:5) In other words, the Son did not have a beginning, He has always been. (Hebrews 1:5-14; Revelation 1:8) When we say "nature", we mean the way in which a Living being expresses its existence.
Thus by being Fully Divine, the Son would know all things, be everywhere present and have all power. Whenever He came to this world, He being the Son assumed a second way of expressing Himself, a second nature - namely a fully human one. (John 1:14,18; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Timothy 3:16) Thus He chose to willingly operate through His human nature - which meant among other things that He would not know everything as a man. Why did He do this? to submit fully and completely to the will of His Father.
What took place after Jesus' resurrection concerning His knowledge of His return
As the Person of the Son, He still retained His fully Divine nature, however for the purposes of securing His Father's purposes of redemption, Jesus Christ chose not to excercise the privileges that come with sharing in the Divine nature as His Father. So then, if Jesus Christ operated primarily through His human nature while here on earth, then would it still be the case that He does not know the exact timing of His return?
Pastor John MacArthur gives an interesting observation which upon some reflection I tend to agree. Note what he says in a sermon He preached back in 1984 entitled: "Ready or not, here I come":
"Now it is my own personal feeling that after the resurrection this was revealed to Him. That when He came out of the grave in the glory of His resurrection life, it says in Matthew 28:18 He said to His disciples, "All authority is given unto Me in heaven and earth." And I think what that's saying is nothing is missing, I have authority over all things. And then in Acts 1:7 He said this, "But unto you it is not given to know the times and the seasons which My Father has put in His own power," and He doesn't include Himself anymore. He says unto you it isn't given. So it may well be that after the resurrection, His knowledge was complete."
Armed with this observation, we can then say that the post-resurrection Jesus, retaining a full human nature in a glorified resurrection body, chooses now in this area of knowledge to know the exact timing of His return. The above chart that I gave a moment ago would reflect the current conditions pertaining to the timing of Christ's second coming:
Those who don't know Those who do know
1. All Human beings 1. God the Father
2. The Angels 2. God the Son, operating
through His Divine nature
(i.e the Son of God)
Jesus Christ in heaven is now operating primarily through His Divine nature, which He never ceased having. He is situated at the right hand of God the Father and still retains his glorified resurrected human body, since He is pleased to call all who believe on him His brothers and sisters. (Hebrews 2:9-18)
Why the Lord has seen fit not to reveal to us the exact timing of His return
So with all this cultural discussion on the Mayans and the end of the world, why would the Lord Jesus Christ choose not to devulge such an important detail as the exact timing of His return? Consider these thoughts as we close out this blog:
1. If we really knew, Christians would not be as motivated to live by faith nor be as inclined to live the Godly life. The mystery of the timing of Christ's return gives hope to faith and motivation for godly living. (1 John 3:1-3)
2. If Christians knew the exact day and hour, the motivation to do missions and evangelism would wane. Christ's second coming is among the chief motivators used in scripture to call men and women to repentance and faith, so as to escape the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
3. The fact that we don't know the exact hour of His return is God's way of reminding us that we and the angels are creatures, and that He alone knows all things. The revealed things belong to us and our children while the unrevealed things belong to God. (Deuteronomy 29:29)
4. I would submit that those groups who come claiming to know the exact day and hour of the world's end are heretical and to be avoided by all Bible-believing Christians. God has purposefully not revealed this detail to aid us in determining genuine Christian faith from heresy.
May you and I, in the midst of this season celebrating His First coming, be ever focused and eager for His Second coming - whenever He so chooses to return.
After today, we will discover that no one really knows the timing of the end of the world
As many of you perhaps may know, today is the supposed day that an ancient Mayan Calendar will have ran its last cycle, indicating in the eyes of some the end of the world. My wife and I were talking earlier this morning how instructive it is to us concerning the scoffing and flippancy that has been expressed towards this supposed "end of the world". My aim in this special blog is not to offer commentary on the Mayan calendar, other than to say I do not think it is predicting the end of the world. Rather I want us to turn our attention briefly to a text where Jesus explicitly states that no one knows the day nor the hour of His coming. We will first of all unfold its meaning and then offer some practical considerations as to why the Lord saw fit not to reveal the exact day and hour of His coming.
Unraveling the mystery of Mark 13:32 and Matthew 24:36
The fact that Bible Prophecy states several times that God has not revealed the exact day of Christ's return should be noted by the student of scripture. (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32; Acts 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3) In the Mark and corresponding Matthew passages, Jesus reveals that there are those who don't know the exact hour of His return and that there is only One who does know the exact hour. We can see a summary list below:
Those who don't know Those who do know
1. All Human beings God the Father
2. The Angels
3. God The Son, operating through
His human nature (The Son of Man)
The Person of God the Son has two natures or two ways of expressing His existence - A Fully Divine and Fully Human Nature
When we read the phrase "nor the Son" in Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32, it may cause some to wonder how that could be. Scripture affirms time and time again that the Person of the Son, Jesus Christ, shares in the same Divine nature as the Father. (Matthew 28:18; John 1:1, 8:58; Romans 9:5) In other words, the Son did not have a beginning, He has always been. (Hebrews 1:5-14; Revelation 1:8) When we say "nature", we mean the way in which a Living being expresses its existence.
Thus by being Fully Divine, the Son would know all things, be everywhere present and have all power. Whenever He came to this world, He being the Son assumed a second way of expressing Himself, a second nature - namely a fully human one. (John 1:14,18; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Timothy 3:16) Thus He chose to willingly operate through His human nature - which meant among other things that He would not know everything as a man. Why did He do this? to submit fully and completely to the will of His Father.
What took place after Jesus' resurrection concerning His knowledge of His return
As the Person of the Son, He still retained His fully Divine nature, however for the purposes of securing His Father's purposes of redemption, Jesus Christ chose not to excercise the privileges that come with sharing in the Divine nature as His Father. So then, if Jesus Christ operated primarily through His human nature while here on earth, then would it still be the case that He does not know the exact timing of His return?
Pastor John MacArthur gives an interesting observation which upon some reflection I tend to agree. Note what he says in a sermon He preached back in 1984 entitled: "Ready or not, here I come":
"Now it is my own personal feeling that after the resurrection this was revealed to Him. That when He came out of the grave in the glory of His resurrection life, it says in Matthew 28:18 He said to His disciples, "All authority is given unto Me in heaven and earth." And I think what that's saying is nothing is missing, I have authority over all things. And then in Acts 1:7 He said this, "But unto you it is not given to know the times and the seasons which My Father has put in His own power," and He doesn't include Himself anymore. He says unto you it isn't given. So it may well be that after the resurrection, His knowledge was complete."
Armed with this observation, we can then say that the post-resurrection Jesus, retaining a full human nature in a glorified resurrection body, chooses now in this area of knowledge to know the exact timing of His return. The above chart that I gave a moment ago would reflect the current conditions pertaining to the timing of Christ's second coming:
Those who don't know Those who do know
1. All Human beings 1. God the Father
2. The Angels 2. God the Son, operating
through His Divine nature
(i.e the Son of God)
Jesus Christ in heaven is now operating primarily through His Divine nature, which He never ceased having. He is situated at the right hand of God the Father and still retains his glorified resurrected human body, since He is pleased to call all who believe on him His brothers and sisters. (Hebrews 2:9-18)
Why the Lord has seen fit not to reveal to us the exact timing of His return
So with all this cultural discussion on the Mayans and the end of the world, why would the Lord Jesus Christ choose not to devulge such an important detail as the exact timing of His return? Consider these thoughts as we close out this blog:
1. If we really knew, Christians would not be as motivated to live by faith nor be as inclined to live the Godly life. The mystery of the timing of Christ's return gives hope to faith and motivation for godly living. (1 John 3:1-3)
2. If Christians knew the exact day and hour, the motivation to do missions and evangelism would wane. Christ's second coming is among the chief motivators used in scripture to call men and women to repentance and faith, so as to escape the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
3. The fact that we don't know the exact hour of His return is God's way of reminding us that we and the angels are creatures, and that He alone knows all things. The revealed things belong to us and our children while the unrevealed things belong to God. (Deuteronomy 29:29)
4. I would submit that those groups who come claiming to know the exact day and hour of the world's end are heretical and to be avoided by all Bible-believing Christians. God has purposefully not revealed this detail to aid us in determining genuine Christian faith from heresy.
May you and I, in the midst of this season celebrating His First coming, be ever focused and eager for His Second coming - whenever He so chooses to return.
Christmas in the Epistles - 1 Timothy
1 Timothy 3:14-16 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
How the New Testament communicates Jesus Christ
Throughout the New Testament letters we find portions of scripture that refer back to the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. To familiarize the reader with how the New Testament communicates Jesus Christ, it is instructive to consider it as four major divisions:
1. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) = Present Jesus Christ
2. Book of Acts = Preaches about Jesus Christ
3. The Epistles or Letters (21 in all) = Explain Jesus Christ
4. Book of Revelation = Prioritizes the Glory of Jesus Christ
Christmas truth ought to be celebrated every day by Christians
From the brief discussion above we can zero in on one of those passages in the New Testament letters that "explains" to us the significance of Jesus Christ's incarnation: 1 Timothy 3:14-16. This passage, though only three verses in length, gives us incredible reasons as to why we should make the truth of Jesus Christ's first coming a major part of everyday Christian living. Note what Paul has to say about the significance of God the Son's incarnation and its practical significance in the lives of God's people:
1. Confidence of Christian living is associated with Christ's first coming 1 Timothy 3:15
2. Christ's supernatural power is available because of His first coming 1 Timothy 3:16a
3. Christian mind is fed by the doctrines of His first coming 1 Timothy 3:16b
Practical, Supernatural and Doctrinal Christianity: The fruit, root and trunk of Christianity
The heart of this blogsite is centered around the premise that the Christian life operates upon three legs: practical living, supernatural living and doctrinal living. Think of Christian practice as the "fruit" of the Christian life, the supernatural power of Jesus Christ through His word as the "root", and the doctrine of scripture as the "trunk". Jesus for example tells us that you will know the true believer by the "fruit" or attitudes and actions that flow from their heart. (Matthew 7:21-23) When Paul writes these three verses, he is concerned with how his readers will "conduct themselves" as the household of faith. Most of what the Old Testament anticipated looked forward to His first coming. Likewise New Testament faith draws its life from the accomplishments of Jesus Christ in His first coming. The fruit of the faith-life is tied into the root of the supernatural truth: Christ's first coming.
The root of Christian faith is the supernatural God-man: Jesus Christ. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 3:16a: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness....". A mystery in the New Testament is something previously hidden that requires God's supernatural revelation. The event of God coming in human flesh via the virgin birth constitutes one of the four central miracles entailing the Person of Jesus Christ. The other three supernatural events involving Jesus, which make up the foundation of biblical Christianity, are His crucifixion, His resurrection and His ascension. This supernatural root connects to the fruit of our practical everyday lives by way of a "trunk", namely the doctrine of the Christian faith.
The doctrine described here by Paul in 1 Timothy 3:16b summarizes in "bullet-point" format the major events of Jesus' Christ's journey from his incarnation as God in human flesh, through His earthly life to his ascension. Without the trunk of doctrine, the link between the supernatural power of Jesus Christ and the practical living of the Christian faith would not be possible.
Note the Key Doctrines mentioned by Paul in 1 Timothy 3:16b:
1. The Incarnation = "God was manifest in the flesh"
2. The Virgin Birth = "justified in the Spirit"
3. Deity of Jesus Christ = "seen of angels"
4. Preaching and Missions = "preached unto the Gentiles"
5. Salvation by grace through faith = "believed on in the world"
6. His ascension = "received up into glory."
Conclusion
All of this stems from what was in Paul's heart as the Holy Spirit guided his pen, namely the significance of Christ's first coming. We know too that what Paul wrote was most likely an ancient Christian hymn sung by those first generation Christians - which means that the heart of Christmas - the Incarnation, shaped their everyday lives. Paul wrote what he wrote to urge his readers to focus everyday on what Christ accomplished in His first coming. You and I too need to keep these things in mind. Everyday needs to be Christmas - the excitement, the wonder and thrill of loving God in human flesh practically, supernaturally and doctrinally.
How the New Testament communicates Jesus Christ
Throughout the New Testament letters we find portions of scripture that refer back to the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. To familiarize the reader with how the New Testament communicates Jesus Christ, it is instructive to consider it as four major divisions:
1. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) = Present Jesus Christ
2. Book of Acts = Preaches about Jesus Christ
3. The Epistles or Letters (21 in all) = Explain Jesus Christ
4. Book of Revelation = Prioritizes the Glory of Jesus Christ
Christmas truth ought to be celebrated every day by Christians
From the brief discussion above we can zero in on one of those passages in the New Testament letters that "explains" to us the significance of Jesus Christ's incarnation: 1 Timothy 3:14-16. This passage, though only three verses in length, gives us incredible reasons as to why we should make the truth of Jesus Christ's first coming a major part of everyday Christian living. Note what Paul has to say about the significance of God the Son's incarnation and its practical significance in the lives of God's people:
1. Confidence of Christian living is associated with Christ's first coming 1 Timothy 3:15
2. Christ's supernatural power is available because of His first coming 1 Timothy 3:16a
3. Christian mind is fed by the doctrines of His first coming 1 Timothy 3:16b
Practical, Supernatural and Doctrinal Christianity: The fruit, root and trunk of Christianity
The heart of this blogsite is centered around the premise that the Christian life operates upon three legs: practical living, supernatural living and doctrinal living. Think of Christian practice as the "fruit" of the Christian life, the supernatural power of Jesus Christ through His word as the "root", and the doctrine of scripture as the "trunk". Jesus for example tells us that you will know the true believer by the "fruit" or attitudes and actions that flow from their heart. (Matthew 7:21-23) When Paul writes these three verses, he is concerned with how his readers will "conduct themselves" as the household of faith. Most of what the Old Testament anticipated looked forward to His first coming. Likewise New Testament faith draws its life from the accomplishments of Jesus Christ in His first coming. The fruit of the faith-life is tied into the root of the supernatural truth: Christ's first coming.
The root of Christian faith is the supernatural God-man: Jesus Christ. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 3:16a: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness....". A mystery in the New Testament is something previously hidden that requires God's supernatural revelation. The event of God coming in human flesh via the virgin birth constitutes one of the four central miracles entailing the Person of Jesus Christ. The other three supernatural events involving Jesus, which make up the foundation of biblical Christianity, are His crucifixion, His resurrection and His ascension. This supernatural root connects to the fruit of our practical everyday lives by way of a "trunk", namely the doctrine of the Christian faith.
The doctrine described here by Paul in 1 Timothy 3:16b summarizes in "bullet-point" format the major events of Jesus' Christ's journey from his incarnation as God in human flesh, through His earthly life to his ascension. Without the trunk of doctrine, the link between the supernatural power of Jesus Christ and the practical living of the Christian faith would not be possible.
Note the Key Doctrines mentioned by Paul in 1 Timothy 3:16b:
1. The Incarnation = "God was manifest in the flesh"
2. The Virgin Birth = "justified in the Spirit"
3. Deity of Jesus Christ = "seen of angels"
4. Preaching and Missions = "preached unto the Gentiles"
5. Salvation by grace through faith = "believed on in the world"
6. His ascension = "received up into glory."
Conclusion
All of this stems from what was in Paul's heart as the Holy Spirit guided his pen, namely the significance of Christ's first coming. We know too that what Paul wrote was most likely an ancient Christian hymn sung by those first generation Christians - which means that the heart of Christmas - the Incarnation, shaped their everyday lives. Paul wrote what he wrote to urge his readers to focus everyday on what Christ accomplished in His first coming. You and I too need to keep these things in mind. Everyday needs to be Christmas - the excitement, the wonder and thrill of loving God in human flesh practically, supernaturally and doctrinally.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Christmas in the Epistles - Galatians
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman,
born under the Law, 5so that
He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption
as sons.
Galatians 4:1-6 represents one of the richest set of verses on Christmas you will find anywhere in the New Testament Epistles. As you explore the New Testament, you discover its design to be intentional:
1. The Gospels Present Christ
2. Acts Preaches about Christ
3. The Epistles Explain Christ
4. Revelation Portrays the Exalted Christ
With the Epistles as the main focus of this short blog series, we zero in today on Paul's letter to the Galatians to discover the true meaning of Christmas.
How the Bible centers upon the Person of Jesus Christ
More than any other New Testament Letter, the section here in Galatians makes the first coming of Jesus Christ as matter of timing. What is remarkable about Galatians 4:1-6 is how it is a mini-Bible in its own right:
1. The Old Testament Age: Genesis to Malachi - Galatians 4:1-3
Throughout the Old Testament the usage of pictures, patterns and people were used by God to point to the coming Person of the Son. The Old Testament in the New would be unfolded, since the New Testament in the Old was infolded.
2. The Gospels - Galatians 4:4
The fulness of time had arrived. Between Malachi and Matthew existed a span of 400 years. Timing was indeed everything. Politically the world saw the rise and fall of four major world empires: Babylon, Persia, The Greco/Macedonian Empire and the Empire of Rome, which was in power by the birth of Jesus. From the days of Alexander the Great in 333 b.c, the arising of the Greek Language as the primary trade language of the day would pave the way for the writing of the New Testament. With the rise of Rome to power and its program of "Pax Romana", the Roman Road system would come to snake its way throughout the Mediterranean world, making it possible for future missionary endeavors by the Apostles. All of these developments are just samples of how the "fulness of time" signalled the perfect timing of God the Son's coming to this world in human flesh.
3. Book of Acts and the remainder of the New Testament: Galatians 4:5-6
Galatians 4:5-6 reads - "so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."
Though Galatians was Paul's first letter written, it signalled what would be one of the central themes of New Testament Christianity - namely how people are to be born again by faith and made to live as adopted sons of God. The arrival of the Holy Spirit in Acts pointed to the birth of the Church. In the nearly 20 sermons recorded in Acts, 10 of them center upon the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Overwhelmingly the Resurrection was the central doctrine of the early church.
However were it not for two other key doctrines: namely Christ's substituionary death on the cross and His incarnation, we would not have any Gospel message at all. By His incarnation as God in human flesh, the Gospel message is unreservedly exclusive in its claims of Jesus Christ being the only way to Heaven. If God's true nature is revealed exclusively through Jesus Christ, then no other religion can claim the revelatory character of Biblical Christianity. Furthermore, by His death on the cross, we see that apart from the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. It was the mission of the cross that would define the chief reason as to why He was virgin born. (Matthew 1:21,23)
Galatians 4:1-6 represents one of the richest set of verses on Christmas you will find anywhere in the New Testament Epistles. As you explore the New Testament, you discover its design to be intentional:
1. The Gospels Present Christ
2. Acts Preaches about Christ
3. The Epistles Explain Christ
4. Revelation Portrays the Exalted Christ
With the Epistles as the main focus of this short blog series, we zero in today on Paul's letter to the Galatians to discover the true meaning of Christmas.
How the Bible centers upon the Person of Jesus Christ
More than any other New Testament Letter, the section here in Galatians makes the first coming of Jesus Christ as matter of timing. What is remarkable about Galatians 4:1-6 is how it is a mini-Bible in its own right:
1. The Old Testament Age: Genesis to Malachi - Galatians 4:1-3
Throughout the Old Testament the usage of pictures, patterns and people were used by God to point to the coming Person of the Son. The Old Testament in the New would be unfolded, since the New Testament in the Old was infolded.
2. The Gospels - Galatians 4:4
The fulness of time had arrived. Between Malachi and Matthew existed a span of 400 years. Timing was indeed everything. Politically the world saw the rise and fall of four major world empires: Babylon, Persia, The Greco/Macedonian Empire and the Empire of Rome, which was in power by the birth of Jesus. From the days of Alexander the Great in 333 b.c, the arising of the Greek Language as the primary trade language of the day would pave the way for the writing of the New Testament. With the rise of Rome to power and its program of "Pax Romana", the Roman Road system would come to snake its way throughout the Mediterranean world, making it possible for future missionary endeavors by the Apostles. All of these developments are just samples of how the "fulness of time" signalled the perfect timing of God the Son's coming to this world in human flesh.
3. Book of Acts and the remainder of the New Testament: Galatians 4:5-6
Galatians 4:5-6 reads - "so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."
Though Galatians was Paul's first letter written, it signalled what would be one of the central themes of New Testament Christianity - namely how people are to be born again by faith and made to live as adopted sons of God. The arrival of the Holy Spirit in Acts pointed to the birth of the Church. In the nearly 20 sermons recorded in Acts, 10 of them center upon the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Overwhelmingly the Resurrection was the central doctrine of the early church.
However were it not for two other key doctrines: namely Christ's substituionary death on the cross and His incarnation, we would not have any Gospel message at all. By His incarnation as God in human flesh, the Gospel message is unreservedly exclusive in its claims of Jesus Christ being the only way to Heaven. If God's true nature is revealed exclusively through Jesus Christ, then no other religion can claim the revelatory character of Biblical Christianity. Furthermore, by His death on the cross, we see that apart from the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. It was the mission of the cross that would define the chief reason as to why He was virgin born. (Matthew 1:21,23)
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Christmas in the Epistles - 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.
As we continue on in our study of Christmas in the Epistles, we discover ever more the glorious ways in which the Epistles explain the significance of Christmas truth. Yesterday in Romans we saw how Jesus Christ came as the seed and offspring of David. Romans reveals Christ as fully God who came to take unto Himself a fully human nature. In today's blog we will look at 1 Corinthians to discover another vital truth of Christ's incarnation: how He came to be the "New Adam"
The First Adam and The Second Adam
The Greek of the above verse really aims to precisely explain to us the comparison between the first man (Adam) and the second man (Jesus Christ). Quite literally the first man came "out from within" the earth. According to Genesis 1:26-28 and 2:7, God fashioned the first man from the dust of the ground, breathed into his nostrils and he became a living soul. The second Adam, Jesus Christ, is the man who came "out from within Heaven" - meaning that He as God came from heaven, entered into Mary's womb, and had his humanity formed miraculously by the Holy Spirit who conceived it inside her virgin womb. (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:35) All over the New Testament we find Jesus Christ and Adam compared and contrasted. (Romans 5:11-21 and here in 1 Corinthians 15:47-49) History is determined by two men: Adam and Christ.
The connection made between Christ's miraculous birth and the Christian's new birth
Christ's virgin birth was one of the fundamental miracles that would come to define biblical faith. Without it, prophecies such as Isaiah 7:14 would had been proven false and the doctrines of Christ's sinlessness and fitness to be the sinner's substitute would had been nullified.
The Christian's entry into salvation is defined as being "born-again" or the "New birth" (John 3:3; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23) The salvation of sinners is a miracle that supplies Grace to the sinner who believes to be saved. Both the new birth and the faith and repentance of human beings are logically connected but in reality simultaneous. It is this Divine work of the New Birth that functions as the beginning point of salvation, includes faith and repentance and results in the salvation of the soul.
Paul seems to connect both here in 1 Corinthians 15:48-49 "As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly."
Though the virgin birth of Jesus in his humanity is a different miracle than the New Birth unto salvation, there are some striking parallels.
1. Both are wrought by the Holy Spirit of God. (Matthew 1:20 and 1 Peter 1:23)
2. Both are miraculous and bring about new life.
3. The Virgin birth enabled the Person of God the Son to partake of humanity and have something in common with those He came to redeem. (Hebrews 2:14ff) Conversely, The New Birth brings sinful human beings who believe into having something in common with Christ's humanity. (Romans 6:4-11)
How the Christmas truth of Christ's first coming connects you to other truths pertinent to your Christian identity in Jesus Christ
Quite literally, as a Christian, I can say that I had a miraculous birth just as my Savior, touching His humanity, experienced The Miraculous birth. Truly the Holy Spirit was the chief agent of the virgin birth, uniting fully humanity to the person of God the Son. (Matthew 1:20, 23, Luke 1:35) Likewise the Holy Spirit unites all whom he convicts and who believe on Jesus into the living experience and Person of Jesus Himself. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) Consider briefly how we are united to Jesus Christ:
1. He had a miraculous birth, as a Christian, I too have a miraculous birth (1 Corinthians 15:47-49)
2. He lived a life of overcoming temptation. The Holy Spirit credits me with His life, and I too have a power base from which to conquer sin in my life. (Romans 6:4-11; 8:1-14)
3. He was crucified. I am to reckon myself daily dead to the power of sin in my life, to the world's influence tugging on my soul and the temptations of the evil one, for I too have been crucified with Jesus. (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:4-5, 12; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). I must remind myself by scripture who I am and Whose I am in Jesus.
4. He was buried. So was I. My former life is no more. I testified of this fact by following through in obedience by believer's baptism, which pictures me having buried my former identity in a watery grave and being raised to walk forth in newness of life. (Romans 6:4-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 2:11-12)
5. He was raised from the dead. As Christian, I too can claim a resurrection in my spirit that occured at the moment of saving faith. I am a new creation in Jesus Christ, having been quickened by the resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead. I look forwar dto the day when my physical body will be transformed into a glorified resurrection body like His (Romans 6:4-11; 1 Peter 1:3, 23; 1 John 3:1-3)
6. He ascended and is seated at the right hand of God the Father. As a Christian, I too was positionally seated with Him in the heavenly realms by grace through faith. (Ephsians 2:6-10)
As we close out today's blog, I'm reminded of the lyircs of a more recent Christian song: "He came from Heaven to earth, to show the way. From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay. From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky, Lord I lift your name on high."
As we continue on in our study of Christmas in the Epistles, we discover ever more the glorious ways in which the Epistles explain the significance of Christmas truth. Yesterday in Romans we saw how Jesus Christ came as the seed and offspring of David. Romans reveals Christ as fully God who came to take unto Himself a fully human nature. In today's blog we will look at 1 Corinthians to discover another vital truth of Christ's incarnation: how He came to be the "New Adam"
The First Adam and The Second Adam
The Greek of the above verse really aims to precisely explain to us the comparison between the first man (Adam) and the second man (Jesus Christ). Quite literally the first man came "out from within" the earth. According to Genesis 1:26-28 and 2:7, God fashioned the first man from the dust of the ground, breathed into his nostrils and he became a living soul. The second Adam, Jesus Christ, is the man who came "out from within Heaven" - meaning that He as God came from heaven, entered into Mary's womb, and had his humanity formed miraculously by the Holy Spirit who conceived it inside her virgin womb. (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:35) All over the New Testament we find Jesus Christ and Adam compared and contrasted. (Romans 5:11-21 and here in 1 Corinthians 15:47-49) History is determined by two men: Adam and Christ.
The connection made between Christ's miraculous birth and the Christian's new birth
Christ's virgin birth was one of the fundamental miracles that would come to define biblical faith. Without it, prophecies such as Isaiah 7:14 would had been proven false and the doctrines of Christ's sinlessness and fitness to be the sinner's substitute would had been nullified.
The Christian's entry into salvation is defined as being "born-again" or the "New birth" (John 3:3; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23) The salvation of sinners is a miracle that supplies Grace to the sinner who believes to be saved. Both the new birth and the faith and repentance of human beings are logically connected but in reality simultaneous. It is this Divine work of the New Birth that functions as the beginning point of salvation, includes faith and repentance and results in the salvation of the soul.
Paul seems to connect both here in 1 Corinthians 15:48-49 "As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly."
Though the virgin birth of Jesus in his humanity is a different miracle than the New Birth unto salvation, there are some striking parallels.
1. Both are wrought by the Holy Spirit of God. (Matthew 1:20 and 1 Peter 1:23)
2. Both are miraculous and bring about new life.
3. The Virgin birth enabled the Person of God the Son to partake of humanity and have something in common with those He came to redeem. (Hebrews 2:14ff) Conversely, The New Birth brings sinful human beings who believe into having something in common with Christ's humanity. (Romans 6:4-11)
How the Christmas truth of Christ's first coming connects you to other truths pertinent to your Christian identity in Jesus Christ
Quite literally, as a Christian, I can say that I had a miraculous birth just as my Savior, touching His humanity, experienced The Miraculous birth. Truly the Holy Spirit was the chief agent of the virgin birth, uniting fully humanity to the person of God the Son. (Matthew 1:20, 23, Luke 1:35) Likewise the Holy Spirit unites all whom he convicts and who believe on Jesus into the living experience and Person of Jesus Himself. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) Consider briefly how we are united to Jesus Christ:
1. He had a miraculous birth, as a Christian, I too have a miraculous birth (1 Corinthians 15:47-49)
2. He lived a life of overcoming temptation. The Holy Spirit credits me with His life, and I too have a power base from which to conquer sin in my life. (Romans 6:4-11; 8:1-14)
3. He was crucified. I am to reckon myself daily dead to the power of sin in my life, to the world's influence tugging on my soul and the temptations of the evil one, for I too have been crucified with Jesus. (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:4-5, 12; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). I must remind myself by scripture who I am and Whose I am in Jesus.
4. He was buried. So was I. My former life is no more. I testified of this fact by following through in obedience by believer's baptism, which pictures me having buried my former identity in a watery grave and being raised to walk forth in newness of life. (Romans 6:4-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 2:11-12)
5. He was raised from the dead. As Christian, I too can claim a resurrection in my spirit that occured at the moment of saving faith. I am a new creation in Jesus Christ, having been quickened by the resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead. I look forwar dto the day when my physical body will be transformed into a glorified resurrection body like His (Romans 6:4-11; 1 Peter 1:3, 23; 1 John 3:1-3)
6. He ascended and is seated at the right hand of God the Father. As a Christian, I too was positionally seated with Him in the heavenly realms by grace through faith. (Ephsians 2:6-10)
As we close out today's blog, I'm reminded of the lyircs of a more recent Christian song: "He came from Heaven to earth, to show the way. From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay. From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky, Lord I lift your name on high."
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Christmas in the Epistles - Romans
Romans 1:1-3 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for
the gospel of God, 2which He promised beforehand through His prophets
in the holy Scriptures, 3concerning
His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh
Today begins a short new blog series that I hope will prove to be of interest to you the reader. When we think of the truth of Christmas, we often turn to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke - and by all rights that is where we should begin. In the Matthew and Luke birth narratives of Jesus' birth, explanation as to to the significance of the incarnation of Jesus Christ derive from the Old Testament prophecies about His first coming. For example the virgin birth spoken of in Matthew 1:23 was to be a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6-7.
With that said, I would like to take the reader through the section of the New Testament that explains the life and person of the Lord Jesus Christ - the New Testament letters or "Epistles". Whenever one turns to the New Testament, we discover that the Gospels present the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we see in the Book of Acts the Apostles and early church preaching about Jesus Christ. It is in the 21 New Testament letters that we find His life and ministry explained.
With that said, lets begin by looking at what is perhaps the greatest of all the New Testament letters: The Book of Romans. What does the Book of Romans have to present to us regarding the truth of Christmas?
1. The Gospel message must include the truth of Christ's birth
In Romans 1:1-3 we see a basic outline of the Old and New Testaments centered around the truth of the Gospel:
a. Romans 1:1-2 The Gospel had its beginnings in the Old Testament via the writings of the Prophets and continued on in the writings of the Apostles, like Paul
b. Romans 1:3 Jesus Christ's birth is mentioned as major point of the Gospel
Romans of course is all about presenting to us the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16-17). Though its teaching of the Gospel centers primarily around Christ's death and resurrection, His incarnation is given enough treatment in Romans to warrant our study.
How Paul presents Christmas truth in Romans
Notice what Paul does in this opening of Romans concerning Christmas truth. He notes first that Jesus Christ is born. That takes us back to those birth narratives in Matthew and Luke.
We can secondly note that Jesus Christ was born of a particular bloodline - the seed of David. 2 Samuel 7:13-16 was God's promise to David that from his bloodline would come forth an Ultimate Descendant to sit on His throne. The idea of "the seed" was also spoken to Abraham in Genesis 12:7 and Eve back in Genesis 3:15.
Thirdly, these statements are made of Christ "according to the flesh". We can consider Jesus Christ in one of two ways: "according to the flesh" as seen here in Romans 1, and "according to His Divine nature" as spoken of later in Romans 9:5 which reads - "whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen." The cornerstone truth of Jesus Christ being God in human flesh is spoken of in other messages such as Matthew 1:23 and 1 Timothy 3:16.
As you can see, Christmas truths such as the incarnation of God the Son in human flesh and His virgin birth are fundamental to what makes the Gospel Good news. Romans shows us that God reached down through the sending of Jesus Christ in human flesh to bring the gift of Grace and the Gospel to a people who only deserved Justice. Praise be to God for His Good News and the favor He chose to bestow through the sending of His Son.
Today begins a short new blog series that I hope will prove to be of interest to you the reader. When we think of the truth of Christmas, we often turn to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke - and by all rights that is where we should begin. In the Matthew and Luke birth narratives of Jesus' birth, explanation as to to the significance of the incarnation of Jesus Christ derive from the Old Testament prophecies about His first coming. For example the virgin birth spoken of in Matthew 1:23 was to be a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6-7.
With that said, I would like to take the reader through the section of the New Testament that explains the life and person of the Lord Jesus Christ - the New Testament letters or "Epistles". Whenever one turns to the New Testament, we discover that the Gospels present the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we see in the Book of Acts the Apostles and early church preaching about Jesus Christ. It is in the 21 New Testament letters that we find His life and ministry explained.
With that said, lets begin by looking at what is perhaps the greatest of all the New Testament letters: The Book of Romans. What does the Book of Romans have to present to us regarding the truth of Christmas?
1. The Gospel message must include the truth of Christ's birth
In Romans 1:1-3 we see a basic outline of the Old and New Testaments centered around the truth of the Gospel:
a. Romans 1:1-2 The Gospel had its beginnings in the Old Testament via the writings of the Prophets and continued on in the writings of the Apostles, like Paul
b. Romans 1:3 Jesus Christ's birth is mentioned as major point of the Gospel
Romans of course is all about presenting to us the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16-17). Though its teaching of the Gospel centers primarily around Christ's death and resurrection, His incarnation is given enough treatment in Romans to warrant our study.
How Paul presents Christmas truth in Romans
Notice what Paul does in this opening of Romans concerning Christmas truth. He notes first that Jesus Christ is born. That takes us back to those birth narratives in Matthew and Luke.
We can secondly note that Jesus Christ was born of a particular bloodline - the seed of David. 2 Samuel 7:13-16 was God's promise to David that from his bloodline would come forth an Ultimate Descendant to sit on His throne. The idea of "the seed" was also spoken to Abraham in Genesis 12:7 and Eve back in Genesis 3:15.
Thirdly, these statements are made of Christ "according to the flesh". We can consider Jesus Christ in one of two ways: "according to the flesh" as seen here in Romans 1, and "according to His Divine nature" as spoken of later in Romans 9:5 which reads - "whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen." The cornerstone truth of Jesus Christ being God in human flesh is spoken of in other messages such as Matthew 1:23 and 1 Timothy 3:16.
As you can see, Christmas truths such as the incarnation of God the Son in human flesh and His virgin birth are fundamental to what makes the Gospel Good news. Romans shows us that God reached down through the sending of Jesus Christ in human flesh to bring the gift of Grace and the Gospel to a people who only deserved Justice. Praise be to God for His Good News and the favor He chose to bestow through the sending of His Son.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Christmas Introduced the Divine Refuge
Matthew 1:21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Yesterday we talked about the cities of refuge in Numbers 35; Deuteronomy 19 and Joshua 20. We noted how these cities function to picture Jesus Christ, the Saving Refuge for the sinner and the abiding refuge for the saint. Six cities had been designated by God, three on each side of the Jordon River, easily accessible to anyone who had unintentionally killed somebody. The Law of Retribution, existing from the days following the flood, gave allowance for relatives (termed avengers) of accidentally killed victims to pursue and excecute the manslayer (who had committed involuntary manslaughter). We noted parallels in that Christ is the Ultimate Refuge sent by God for us to flee to from the justice of His Law. (Romans 8:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 6:18)
In light of yesterday's post, I felt it fitting to connect the Christmas season to this theme of Jesus Christ the Divine Refuge. Today I want us to consider briefly five episodes in the Christmas narratives that highlight how various people responded in their introduction to the Divine Refuge, Jesus Christ.
1. Mary and Joseph. Matthew 1:21-23 Jesus is the Saving Refuge
Why was Jesus named "Jesus"? The scripture tells us that He was named "Jesus", since the name signifies His mission: to save His people from their sins. Mary and Joseph were made aware of the significance of the child conceived in her virgin womb. The other name "Immanuel" reveals the fact that this Saving refuge was to be the Divine Saving Refuge in human flesh - i.e "God with us".
2. The Shepherds. Luke 2:8-20. Jesus was to be the joyful Refuge
The Shepherds were considered the lowest rung on the Jewish social ladder. Despite the fact that not even their word was accepted as testimony in a court of law, they still had the responsibility of raising the sheep used in the annual Jewish sacrifices. It was in their bleak existence that they received word of the Savior's arrival. The darkness of night was sliced open by floods of angelic light. The Shpeherds were told the most joyful news: The Savior, the Divine Refuge, had been born. To these Shepherds, in running to see the One born as God in human flesh, Jesus was instantly their Joyful Refuge.
3. Simeon. Luke 2:21-25. Jesus was to be The Comforting Refuge.
An aged man, looking for the consolation of Israel, found what he was looking for. Though he walked among the temple grounds, the grandeur of the temple was not his comfort. Though He saw the flowing robes of priests, yet their religion could not satisfy his soul. His eyes were growing dim, his steps were growing slow. A young couple came into his view, holding an infant boy, just eight days old. Simeon, whose name in the Hebrew means "he heard", knew that His faith was being made sight. There was Jesus, His comforting refuge. Now the old man could go and rest in peace, having the vision of God incarnate ever burned onto his memory.
4. Anna. Luke 2:36-38. Jesus was to be the Fulfilling Refuge
Anna's husband had died. She was a widow of many years. She was a woman who found her fulfillment in serving the Lord in the temple. Yet when she layed eyes upon the little child in Mary and Joseph's care, her fulfillment in service was eclipsed by the fulfillment of beholding her Master. Jesus was her fulfilling refuge.
5. The Wisemen. Matthew 2:1-2. Jesus was to be their Royal Refuge
It took them two years to reach Jesus, but finally they arrived in Bethlehem. By this point Jesus was a toddler, living in a home in Bethlehem with his parents, Mary and Joseph. When these kings saw the one whose star they had been following, no other king compared to this small boy. Heaven's true king was in their midst. They bowed to the ground, knowing that the one before them was the Royal Refuge of salvation.
My prayer today dear friend would be that Jesus Christ is your Saving, Joyful, Comforting, Fulfilling and Royal Refuge.
Yesterday we talked about the cities of refuge in Numbers 35; Deuteronomy 19 and Joshua 20. We noted how these cities function to picture Jesus Christ, the Saving Refuge for the sinner and the abiding refuge for the saint. Six cities had been designated by God, three on each side of the Jordon River, easily accessible to anyone who had unintentionally killed somebody. The Law of Retribution, existing from the days following the flood, gave allowance for relatives (termed avengers) of accidentally killed victims to pursue and excecute the manslayer (who had committed involuntary manslaughter). We noted parallels in that Christ is the Ultimate Refuge sent by God for us to flee to from the justice of His Law. (Romans 8:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 6:18)
In light of yesterday's post, I felt it fitting to connect the Christmas season to this theme of Jesus Christ the Divine Refuge. Today I want us to consider briefly five episodes in the Christmas narratives that highlight how various people responded in their introduction to the Divine Refuge, Jesus Christ.
1. Mary and Joseph. Matthew 1:21-23 Jesus is the Saving Refuge
Why was Jesus named "Jesus"? The scripture tells us that He was named "Jesus", since the name signifies His mission: to save His people from their sins. Mary and Joseph were made aware of the significance of the child conceived in her virgin womb. The other name "Immanuel" reveals the fact that this Saving refuge was to be the Divine Saving Refuge in human flesh - i.e "God with us".
2. The Shepherds. Luke 2:8-20. Jesus was to be the joyful Refuge
The Shepherds were considered the lowest rung on the Jewish social ladder. Despite the fact that not even their word was accepted as testimony in a court of law, they still had the responsibility of raising the sheep used in the annual Jewish sacrifices. It was in their bleak existence that they received word of the Savior's arrival. The darkness of night was sliced open by floods of angelic light. The Shpeherds were told the most joyful news: The Savior, the Divine Refuge, had been born. To these Shepherds, in running to see the One born as God in human flesh, Jesus was instantly their Joyful Refuge.
3. Simeon. Luke 2:21-25. Jesus was to be The Comforting Refuge.
An aged man, looking for the consolation of Israel, found what he was looking for. Though he walked among the temple grounds, the grandeur of the temple was not his comfort. Though He saw the flowing robes of priests, yet their religion could not satisfy his soul. His eyes were growing dim, his steps were growing slow. A young couple came into his view, holding an infant boy, just eight days old. Simeon, whose name in the Hebrew means "he heard", knew that His faith was being made sight. There was Jesus, His comforting refuge. Now the old man could go and rest in peace, having the vision of God incarnate ever burned onto his memory.
4. Anna. Luke 2:36-38. Jesus was to be the Fulfilling Refuge
Anna's husband had died. She was a widow of many years. She was a woman who found her fulfillment in serving the Lord in the temple. Yet when she layed eyes upon the little child in Mary and Joseph's care, her fulfillment in service was eclipsed by the fulfillment of beholding her Master. Jesus was her fulfilling refuge.
5. The Wisemen. Matthew 2:1-2. Jesus was to be their Royal Refuge
It took them two years to reach Jesus, but finally they arrived in Bethlehem. By this point Jesus was a toddler, living in a home in Bethlehem with his parents, Mary and Joseph. When these kings saw the one whose star they had been following, no other king compared to this small boy. Heaven's true king was in their midst. They bowed to the ground, knowing that the one before them was the Royal Refuge of salvation.
My prayer today dear friend would be that Jesus Christ is your Saving, Joyful, Comforting, Fulfilling and Royal Refuge.
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