1 Timothy 3:16 And 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.
Quick Review
Why must the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ be celebrated everyday by Christians? We have so far explored how practical Christianity feeds from Him who is the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ in 1 Timothy 3:14-16. Also too we have noted that when viewing Christianity in terms of its doctrines, the need to celebrate Christimas truth everyday is also necessary. Biblical Christianity rests upon three legs: the practical, the doctrinal and the supernatural. When we state "Practical Christianity" or "Biblical Christianity", we're simply referring to the essential ways in which we can view our daily Christian life. It is as much practical as it is doctrinal and supernatural.
How our worship expresses the supernatural character of Biblical Christianity
Being that 1 Timothy 3:16 is an ancient Christian Hymn, it is only fitting that we make the third reason for daily celebrating Jesus Christ, the truth of Christmas, to be for the sake of supernatural Christianity. All of the supernatural aspects of the Christian faith flow from Jesus Christ. Worship is how we best see the supernatural essence of our Christian faith. Ephesians 2:18 clarifies this point: "for through Him we both have our access in one
Spirit to the Father." Jesus Christ's incarnation and virgin birth stand as landmark supernatural events that shape the very essence of the Christian faith. To focus on the Christmas Truth of Jesus Christ in His first coming reinforces us to be a people who worship and love the Lord.
The Glory of Jesus Christ and supernatural Christian worship
If you notice the first and last lines of this passage, they both deal with the glory of Jesus Christ. Quite literally we are enjoying Christ from glory to glory in this passage. The glory of His incarnation and the glory of His ascension. We look forward to the day when He returns in the glory of His Father. God's glory in Jesus Christ is the beginning, middle and end of Christian worship. Some passages below will serve to reinforce the priority of Christ's glory in supernatural Christianity:
1. The Glory of God the Son was sung about at His birth.
Luke 2:14 states: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom
He is pleased.”
2. The Glory of God the Son was stated at the beginning of His public Ministry
Matthew 3:17 "and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I
am well-pleased.”
3. The Glory of God the Son was stated when He was on the Mount of Transfiguration mid-way through His public ministry
Matthew 17:5 "While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a
voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am
well-pleased; listen to Him!”
4. The Glory of God the Son is prayed for by Him in His Upper Room Prayer
John 17:5 “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with
You before the world was."
5. His glory demonstrated in His resurrection is the basis for the Christian's New Birth and faith-walk with the Lord
1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His
great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"
It was this glory of Jesus Christ that was spoken of at the beginning of His birth, and the same glory which He showed, beginning witjh His resurrection and going all the way into His Ascension. When you see 1 Timothy 3:16, it begins and ends with His glory. Worship as the chief expression of the supernatural nature of Christianity must begin and end with the glory of Jesus Christ. The truth of Christmas centers on this fact about our Lord. He being God in human flesh never ceased being glorious.
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Doctrinal Christianity needs to Celebrate Christmas Truth Everyday
1 Timothy 3:16 And 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.
In thinking on this idea of Jesus Christ as the truth of Christmas, I asked this question in yesterday's blog: Why must the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ be celebrated everyday by Christians? We explored how practical Christianity feeds from Him who is the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ in 1 Timothy 3:14-16a. If you will recall, we noted that Practical Christianity entails how one treats others (conduct) as well their own personal relationship with the Lord (godliness). We also noticed too that Biblical Christianity rests upon three legs: the practical, the doctrinal and the supernatural. Then finally, due to the fact that Paul specifically mentioned Jesus Christ as God manifested in the flesh demonstrates the Christmas truth to which He wrote about namely Jesus Christ Himself.
With that review in mind, we turn our attention to the second reason as to why we need to celebrate Christmas truth everyday: Precious Doctrine is Framed by Him who is the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ. We will be looking at the 18 words that Paul writes in 1 Timothy 3:16b to discover how much the doctrines associated with Christ's first coming are to drive our everyday Christianity.
A rich and profound statement about Jesus Christ being the heart of Christianity
1 Timothy 3:16 is an example of one of the first Christian hymns ever written. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul takes up this hymn and utilizes it to exhort his young protege Timothy to remain faithful to his calling. Doctrine that changes lives is equally elegant and exact. In 18 words in the original text Paul lays down some of the most incredible truths about Jesus Christ. Note how the structure of these six statements begin and end with similar themes, focusing the reader's attention on the middle two lines of the text:
1. Wonderful Christ coming from Glory. "God was manifest in the flesh." As "God" (KJV, NKJV) or "He who" (other English Translations) being revealed in human flesh, Jesus Christ made the journey from Heavenly glory to earthly humiliation. (Philippians 2:5-11)
2. Work of the Spirit in the Virgin Birth. "justified in the Spirit"
The word translated "justified" in the KJV speaks of the Holy Spirit
deeming the humanity of Jesus Christ, conceived by Him in the
virgin's womb, to be without sin. As God He could not sin and
as a sinless human being he would not sin. Because of Jesus'
virgin birth conception, He did not inherit the sin nature that is
passed down from a male bloodline. (Matthew 1:20,23; Luke
1:35; 1 Peter 1:17-18, 2:21-22)
3. Witness of Angels. "seen of angels"
We know that in the birth narratives of Matthew and Luke,
angels were present to proclaim that in the City of David
had been born a Savior. What makes this statement of
Him being "seen by angels" is the fact that the Old
Testament portrays the angels veiling their eyes with their
wings, never having looked directly upon the Deity of God.
(Isaiah 6). Their song in Luke 2:14 is their proclamation of
the Deity of the Son who now lay in the manger: "Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men."
4. Witness of Men. "preached unto the Gentiles"
By the time Paul wrote these words in 1 Timothy, the early
church's mission had spread from Jerusalem to Judea and
Samaria to the Uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8) The
"preaching" or "proclamation" of the Gospel took place after
Jesus had ascended. What is interesting about the last
three lines of this text is that we will go backward to the point
where He had ascended into Heaven after giving His
disciples the great commission in Matthew 28:18-20 and
Acts 1:8-11.
5. Work of the Spirit in the New Birth of believers. "believed
on in the world"
Just as we saw the work of the Spirit in Christ's Virgin birth in the
second line of this text, we see His work in convicting sinner's
unto salvation in thise second from the last line of the text. As
the Gospel about God who came in human flesh to die on the
cross and be raised from the dead was preached, people
believed! Focusing on Jesus Christ, the truth of Christmas,
should stir Christians to share the Goodnews with their unsaved
loved ones and friends.
6. Wonderful Christ taken up into Glory. "received up into glory"
With this last line of the passage we see a parallel with the first, namely that the Christ who came as God in human flesh from glory is being received as the resurrected Lord into glory. Jesus had prayed in John 17:1-4 that He would once again get to share in the Glory He had with the Father from all eternity. In Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:8-11 we see our Lord ascending into Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father.
The first three lines detail the reality of Christmas truth from the standpoint of God's activity in the Heavenly realm, whereas the last three lines deal with His same activity in the earthly realm. Truly in Jesus Christ we see the Eternity of Heaven and history meet in One person. Would we be a people who celebrates Christmas truth everyday. Would we be a people who in noting the rich doctrines of the Bible, as they pertain to the Lord Jesus Christ, be so moved to love Him more and tell others about Him.
In thinking on this idea of Jesus Christ as the truth of Christmas, I asked this question in yesterday's blog: Why must the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ be celebrated everyday by Christians? We explored how practical Christianity feeds from Him who is the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ in 1 Timothy 3:14-16a. If you will recall, we noted that Practical Christianity entails how one treats others (conduct) as well their own personal relationship with the Lord (godliness). We also noticed too that Biblical Christianity rests upon three legs: the practical, the doctrinal and the supernatural. Then finally, due to the fact that Paul specifically mentioned Jesus Christ as God manifested in the flesh demonstrates the Christmas truth to which He wrote about namely Jesus Christ Himself.
With that review in mind, we turn our attention to the second reason as to why we need to celebrate Christmas truth everyday: Precious Doctrine is Framed by Him who is the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ. We will be looking at the 18 words that Paul writes in 1 Timothy 3:16b to discover how much the doctrines associated with Christ's first coming are to drive our everyday Christianity.
A rich and profound statement about Jesus Christ being the heart of Christianity
1 Timothy 3:16 is an example of one of the first Christian hymns ever written. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul takes up this hymn and utilizes it to exhort his young protege Timothy to remain faithful to his calling. Doctrine that changes lives is equally elegant and exact. In 18 words in the original text Paul lays down some of the most incredible truths about Jesus Christ. Note how the structure of these six statements begin and end with similar themes, focusing the reader's attention on the middle two lines of the text:
1. Wonderful Christ coming from Glory. "God was manifest in the flesh." As "God" (KJV, NKJV) or "He who" (other English Translations) being revealed in human flesh, Jesus Christ made the journey from Heavenly glory to earthly humiliation. (Philippians 2:5-11)
2. Work of the Spirit in the Virgin Birth. "justified in the Spirit"
The word translated "justified" in the KJV speaks of the Holy Spirit
deeming the humanity of Jesus Christ, conceived by Him in the
virgin's womb, to be without sin. As God He could not sin and
as a sinless human being he would not sin. Because of Jesus'
virgin birth conception, He did not inherit the sin nature that is
passed down from a male bloodline. (Matthew 1:20,23; Luke
1:35; 1 Peter 1:17-18, 2:21-22)
3. Witness of Angels. "seen of angels"
We know that in the birth narratives of Matthew and Luke,
angels were present to proclaim that in the City of David
had been born a Savior. What makes this statement of
Him being "seen by angels" is the fact that the Old
Testament portrays the angels veiling their eyes with their
wings, never having looked directly upon the Deity of God.
(Isaiah 6). Their song in Luke 2:14 is their proclamation of
the Deity of the Son who now lay in the manger: "Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men."
4. Witness of Men. "preached unto the Gentiles"
By the time Paul wrote these words in 1 Timothy, the early
church's mission had spread from Jerusalem to Judea and
Samaria to the Uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8) The
"preaching" or "proclamation" of the Gospel took place after
Jesus had ascended. What is interesting about the last
three lines of this text is that we will go backward to the point
where He had ascended into Heaven after giving His
disciples the great commission in Matthew 28:18-20 and
Acts 1:8-11.
5. Work of the Spirit in the New Birth of believers. "believed
on in the world"
Just as we saw the work of the Spirit in Christ's Virgin birth in the
second line of this text, we see His work in convicting sinner's
unto salvation in thise second from the last line of the text. As
the Gospel about God who came in human flesh to die on the
cross and be raised from the dead was preached, people
believed! Focusing on Jesus Christ, the truth of Christmas,
should stir Christians to share the Goodnews with their unsaved
loved ones and friends.
6. Wonderful Christ taken up into Glory. "received up into glory"
With this last line of the passage we see a parallel with the first, namely that the Christ who came as God in human flesh from glory is being received as the resurrected Lord into glory. Jesus had prayed in John 17:1-4 that He would once again get to share in the Glory He had with the Father from all eternity. In Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:8-11 we see our Lord ascending into Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father.
The first three lines detail the reality of Christmas truth from the standpoint of God's activity in the Heavenly realm, whereas the last three lines deal with His same activity in the earthly realm. Truly in Jesus Christ we see the Eternity of Heaven and history meet in One person. Would we be a people who celebrates Christmas truth everyday. Would we be a people who in noting the rich doctrines of the Bible, as they pertain to the Lord Jesus Christ, be so moved to love Him more and tell others about Him.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Practical Christianity needs to Celebrate Christmas Truth Everyday
1 Timothy 3:14-16 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But 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. 16 And 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.
What to do after the presents are unwrapped
In a few short days we will be celebrating Christmas with our family. As many of you who are reading this blog probably will be experiencing, the anticipation leading up to Christmas and the quickness of its passing leaves one with a sense of "now what?" When we celebrate holidays like Christmas, it is very easy to focus on the significance of Jesus' incarnation and virgin birth only once a year. What about the remaining eleven or so months? Should the truth of Christ's virgin birth and entry from eternity into time be restricted to once a year? Today's blog aims to give the Christian reader a direction to go in the wake of unwrapped presents and what will be the drawing to a close of another Christmas season.
The passage that urges us to celebrate Christmas truth everyday
1 Timothy 3:14-16 stands as one of the most incredible texts in the New Testament. What draws me to this text is the fact that it includes a profound statement about the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only is the passage rich in doctrine, but also the passage is unique in that it represents one of the first early Christian hymns. Those details alone made me start thinking about Jesus Christ as the Central truth of Christmas. As Paul was closing out this positive set of instructions to Timothy his young protege and pastor of the Ephesian church, he urges him and us reading this letter to truly celebrate Christmas truth everyday.
In thinking on this idea of Jesus Christ as the truth of Christmas, I ask this question: Why must the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ be celebrated everyday by Christians? In considering 1 Timothy 3:14-16, let me offer three answers to that question:
1. Practical Christianity Feeds from Him who is the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 3:14-16a
2. Precious Doctrine is Framed by Him who is the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 3:16b
3. Powerful Worship Flows from Him who is the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 3:16b
So why celebrate Christmas truth everyday? Notice first of all that...
Practical Christianity Feeds from Him who is the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 3:14-16a
Practical Christianity expressed towards others = Conduct
Practical Christianity is one of Paul's main concerns here in these set of verses. Note what he says about our practical everyday Christian life. In 1 Timothy 3:15 we read: "But 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." The idea of behavior is also translated by the NASB as "conduct". Conducting oneself in the Biblical sense means being careful about how you respond and carry yourself as a Christian.
Christian conduct is spoken of elsewhere in the New Testament:
1. Philippians 1:27 reminds us to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel
2. In Acts 4:32, all the early Christians had a conduct that united them together in one heart and mind
3. Paul urges the Corinthian church in 1 Coritnhains 1:10 to watch their conduct with one another so that there may be no divisions
Other passages could be cited, but the point is well taken, conduct or how we excercise caution in our dealings with one another is a mark of a healthy, practical Christianity.
Practical Christian expressed in my own life = godliness
Paul then says these words in 1 Timothy 3:16a - "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness...." What is godliness? Proverbs 13:6 in the NLT reads - "Godliness guards the path of the blameless, but the evil are misled by sin." Perhaps one of the clearest descriptions of the term "godliness' anywhere in the Bible is 1 Timothy 4:8 "for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." To be Godly means that I aim to do good and be good for the sake of God's pleasure.
What drives practical conduct and Godliness? Christmas truth
As Paul has wrote instructions in 1 Timothy 1-3 on how his readers are to "conduct themselves" and "be godly", the question is: what engine will drive Christian conduct and Godliness? Only one person can do that: Jesus Christ. Christmas truth is Jesus, and daily focus upon Himself will ensure effective conduct and godliness. The fact that Paul hitches 1 Timothy 3:15-16 to the rich statement concerning the arrival of Jesus Christ into this world, tells us that daily Christian living feeds upon the life and power of Jesus Christ.
More tomorrow...........
What to do after the presents are unwrapped
In a few short days we will be celebrating Christmas with our family. As many of you who are reading this blog probably will be experiencing, the anticipation leading up to Christmas and the quickness of its passing leaves one with a sense of "now what?" When we celebrate holidays like Christmas, it is very easy to focus on the significance of Jesus' incarnation and virgin birth only once a year. What about the remaining eleven or so months? Should the truth of Christ's virgin birth and entry from eternity into time be restricted to once a year? Today's blog aims to give the Christian reader a direction to go in the wake of unwrapped presents and what will be the drawing to a close of another Christmas season.
The passage that urges us to celebrate Christmas truth everyday
1 Timothy 3:14-16 stands as one of the most incredible texts in the New Testament. What draws me to this text is the fact that it includes a profound statement about the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only is the passage rich in doctrine, but also the passage is unique in that it represents one of the first early Christian hymns. Those details alone made me start thinking about Jesus Christ as the Central truth of Christmas. As Paul was closing out this positive set of instructions to Timothy his young protege and pastor of the Ephesian church, he urges him and us reading this letter to truly celebrate Christmas truth everyday.
In thinking on this idea of Jesus Christ as the truth of Christmas, I ask this question: Why must the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ be celebrated everyday by Christians? In considering 1 Timothy 3:14-16, let me offer three answers to that question:
1. Practical Christianity Feeds from Him who is the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 3:14-16a
2. Precious Doctrine is Framed by Him who is the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 3:16b
3. Powerful Worship Flows from Him who is the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 3:16b
So why celebrate Christmas truth everyday? Notice first of all that...
Practical Christianity Feeds from Him who is the truth of Christmas, Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 3:14-16a
Practical Christianity expressed towards others = Conduct
Practical Christianity is one of Paul's main concerns here in these set of verses. Note what he says about our practical everyday Christian life. In 1 Timothy 3:15 we read: "But 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." The idea of behavior is also translated by the NASB as "conduct". Conducting oneself in the Biblical sense means being careful about how you respond and carry yourself as a Christian.
Christian conduct is spoken of elsewhere in the New Testament:
1. Philippians 1:27 reminds us to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel
2. In Acts 4:32, all the early Christians had a conduct that united them together in one heart and mind
3. Paul urges the Corinthian church in 1 Coritnhains 1:10 to watch their conduct with one another so that there may be no divisions
Other passages could be cited, but the point is well taken, conduct or how we excercise caution in our dealings with one another is a mark of a healthy, practical Christianity.
Practical Christian expressed in my own life = godliness
Paul then says these words in 1 Timothy 3:16a - "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness...." What is godliness? Proverbs 13:6 in the NLT reads - "Godliness guards the path of the blameless, but the evil are misled by sin." Perhaps one of the clearest descriptions of the term "godliness' anywhere in the Bible is 1 Timothy 4:8 "for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." To be Godly means that I aim to do good and be good for the sake of God's pleasure.
What drives practical conduct and Godliness? Christmas truth
As Paul has wrote instructions in 1 Timothy 1-3 on how his readers are to "conduct themselves" and "be godly", the question is: what engine will drive Christian conduct and Godliness? Only one person can do that: Jesus Christ. Christmas truth is Jesus, and daily focus upon Himself will ensure effective conduct and godliness. The fact that Paul hitches 1 Timothy 3:15-16 to the rich statement concerning the arrival of Jesus Christ into this world, tells us that daily Christian living feeds upon the life and power of Jesus Christ.
More tomorrow...........
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Six Links between Christmas & the Cross
Matthew 1:21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His
people from their sins.”
My aim today is to draw as many parallels as possible between the birth narratives of Matthew and Luke to the crucifixion account of the Lord Jesus Christ. John 18, 19 and 20 will be our main text for the crucifixion account, with connecting points being drawn from Matthew and Luke. Below I will list some main headings and associated verses to aid you, the reader, in connecting the Christmas event of the cradle at Bethlehem to the Mission of the Savior at the cross.
1. The Shepherds told about the Savior born, who would die for the people
Luke 2:11 "for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
John 18:14 "Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people."
What links these two passages together is the fact we see Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
2. He was Born and Died "The King of the Jews."
Matthew 2:2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
John 19:19 "And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS."
What links these two passages together is the fact we see Jesus our True King.
3. The Roman Empire was included in His birth and death.
Luke 2:1 "Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth."
John 19:23 "Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout."
What links these two passages together is the fact we see Jesus the Ultimate Ruler.
4. The Prediction of Mary's agony at His death spoken after his birth
Luke 2:35 "and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
John 19:26-27 "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."
What links these two passages together is the fact we see Jesus the Obedient Son.
5. The presence of Myrrh in the accounts of His birth and death
Luke 2:11 "After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."
John 19:39 "And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight."
What links these two passages together is the fact we see Jesus the Satisfaction of wrath.
6. Angels were present at His birth and resurrection
Luke 2:13-14 "And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
John 20:12-14 "and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. "
What links these two passages together is the fact we see Jesus the Victorious Savior.
My aim today is to draw as many parallels as possible between the birth narratives of Matthew and Luke to the crucifixion account of the Lord Jesus Christ. John 18, 19 and 20 will be our main text for the crucifixion account, with connecting points being drawn from Matthew and Luke. Below I will list some main headings and associated verses to aid you, the reader, in connecting the Christmas event of the cradle at Bethlehem to the Mission of the Savior at the cross.
1. The Shepherds told about the Savior born, who would die for the people
Luke 2:11 "for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
John 18:14 "Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people."
What links these two passages together is the fact we see Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
2. He was Born and Died "The King of the Jews."
Matthew 2:2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
John 19:19 "And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS."
What links these two passages together is the fact we see Jesus our True King.
3. The Roman Empire was included in His birth and death.
Luke 2:1 "Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth."
John 19:23 "Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout."
What links these two passages together is the fact we see Jesus the Ultimate Ruler.
4. The Prediction of Mary's agony at His death spoken after his birth
Luke 2:35 "and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
John 19:26-27 "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."
What links these two passages together is the fact we see Jesus the Obedient Son.
5. The presence of Myrrh in the accounts of His birth and death
Luke 2:11 "After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."
John 19:39 "And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight."
What links these two passages together is the fact we see Jesus the Satisfaction of wrath.
6. Angels were present at His birth and resurrection
Luke 2:13-14 "And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
John 20:12-14 "and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. "
What links these two passages together is the fact we see Jesus the Victorious Savior.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Christmas in the Epistles - Hebrews
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.
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.
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.
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