Romans 5:6-10 Personally, for Me!

Romans 5:6-10 ESV  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  (7)  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— (8)  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (9)  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.  (10)  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Having been a church goer all of my life the story of Easter and particularly the work of Christ on the cross paying the price for my sin (see Romans 6:23) has been engrained thoroughly.  Even as a young child the fact that Jesus died for my sin was centric to my belief.  It would be years later that my understanding deepened.

To say this another way, I was aware and understanding of what was actually accomplished.  Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, me included.  The conditions of accessing this benefit were derived completely on acceptance by faith that it was true.  I did, of course but found that I lumped myself in with the rest of "The whole world" and in that sense seemed to be just a small part of what Jesus did.

It was not until later in life and while studying the Word that a deeper and more significant understanding came my way.  It was more significant in a personal way that is.  I don't remember the exact date or time or whether this was in a group study, a Sunday School class or during my own study that this gem of my faith entered my consciousness.

It is articulated in Scripture in 1 John 2:2 which reads, "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." 

Well, there it is - do you see it?

It ends with where my faith had been seated all those years.  Jesus was the propitiation of our sins; He atoned for our transgressions reconciling us to God which had been impossible while still in our sin.

But I had missed the first part.  

The sentence construction is this:  What was done for me, was done for the whole world.  Do you see it now?  Jesus did this thing for me and he also did it for the whole world.  For me!  It was done personally for me.  By inference he would have done the very same had I been the only one!  That's what finally hit me.  My salvation, my reconciliation to Holy God through the work of Jesus Christ, His suffering which he chose to take on my behalf was done personally for me.

Friday we will remember and celebrate what Jesus did for us on the cross; what he did personally for me.

It was done personally for you too!  AMEN

Matthew 1:18-21 A Christmas Story

Matthew 1:18-21  “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.  And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.  But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’" (NASB)

It is Christmas Eve and the family is all at home, the football game is on and Sharon is in the kitchen preparing the soup we will share with family later this evening.  It has become a tradition that following the evening candlelight service at church that we return here to a simple meal consisting of some kind of soup and various treats we and other family members provide.  We’ll all remark how wonderful the soup is – and truthfully so because Sharon truly is a remarkable cook.  Then we’ll settle in and watch “A Christmas Story” and hear those famous words, “You’ll shoot your eye out with that thing”.  Great tradition; great memories.  In the morning we’ll drag the kids out of bed (didn’t use to be that way) to see what “Santa” brought and eventually end up over at Sharon’s Mom’s to meet up with family again and have lunch.  This is our Christmas routine, our tradition and it is both comfortable and satisfying after all these years.

But if that were the beginning and end of Christmas as I’m afraid it is for many it would be hollow indeed.  In addition to the traditions of Christmas which look very similar to many in this country we put a focus on the essence and quite literally the essentials of the day.  While there are many passages from Scripture that predict, depict and explain the event of Jesus’ birth, I have chosen to share this passage from Matthew’s gospel.  In it we actually have an event that takes place prior to the arrival of Jesus so it is a prophecy of arrival albeit an immediate one.

Matthew records that, “Mary had been betrothed to Joseph”.  In that day the betrothal was a sort of point of no return much more than an engagement today.  To back out of the relationship before the actual marriage would have required a “Divorce”.  That is significant when weighed against the news that was revealed to Joseph.  Scriptures says that, “Before they came together she was found to be with child …”  Now Joseph when presented with the news of his betrothed coming up pregnant would have certainly been within his rights to, “Divorce” her for the act of infidelity.  But Joseph loved Mary and although deeply hurt by this news of her situation did not want to bring her shame by publicly divorcing her.  “Being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, (he) planned to send her away secretly.”

What a standup guy Joseph was.  He didn’t know what had happened.  He just knew Mary had a baby in her womb and it wasn’t his.

As he was mulling all of this over the Lord sent a messenger to give him a clue.  “Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife”.  I’ll be honest, “Afraid” is not the emotion I might be feeling.  Well, I suppose some fear might be involved because if he were to take Mary as his wife and claim the child as his own he would essentially be saying,  "We didn’t wait; we jumped the gun during our engagement and did not wait until we were properly wed to consummate our marriage".  So, fear could well have been an emotion on Joseph’s mind.  But the angel went on, “For the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”.  WHAT?

Okay – so this reassurance from this messenger angel in Joseph’s dream tells him to chill out and not be afraid then gives the reason that the child has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.  Wow!  Would that calm you down?  I’m not thinking I would be more calm after receiving this news.  I’d be – freaking out!

So it is with that preamble that we come to the conclusion of the passage.  With Joseph in a slumber being addressed by a messenger from heaven and presented with this incredible news about his betrothed the final and most significant information is shared.  Stay with me here.  Joseph is asleep, Scripture says he was approached in a dream by the angel and it is in this state that the communication of this news takes place.  Asleep or not his heart had to be racing by the time this news of the Holy Spirit conceiving the child in Mary’s womb.  Then and only then does the angel share, “She will bear a Son”.  Okay Joseph might have stayed with him for this but then, “And you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  Well, we know Joseph remembered the name part because he got that right.  But did he catch, “He will save His people from their sins”?  Did he?

That is the significance of Christmas.  I’m afraid with all the shock of the moment Joseph may have missed that essential part of the message delivered by the angel that night in his dream.  In his shoes I’m convinced I would have.  I’m equally convinced that many miss the significance of Christmas today.  All blended in with the traditions with friends and family which are all wonderful things there is one and only one essential meaning of Christmas.  “And you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins”.  AMEN!

Philippians 3:7-8 Our Best Work; Rubbish!

Philippians 3:7-8  “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,” (NASB)

Written by Paul the letter to the church in Philippi would have Mrs. Parker my high school English teacher having fits.  Talk about run on sentences.  There are no periods just a bunch of commas as Paul strings along this thought of how all of his best efforts are worthless in comparison to Christ.

Let’s take a closer look.  We have to roll it back a few verses to get a bit of a context and even understand Paul a bit.  Paul was a highly educated Jew in his day.  He was a Pharisee.  He writes, “Circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee” (Philippians 3:5) So, he’s giving us some of his credentials here.  He’s letting us know that among people and even among God’s chosen people the Jews, Paul is special having been educated in the Law and now ranked among the Pharisees.

Why is he telling us this?  Because he is giving us perspective.  He’s letting us know that among men and even among Jews if there were anyone to claim closeness to God it would be Paul.  He’s giving us this hypothetical in reference to his pre-conversion state as an unbelieving but God loving Jew.  He says in this state, “I myself might have confidence even in the flesh.  If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:” (Philippians 3:5) So that is the setup for his credentials.  He is saying that those credentials give rise to his being able to claim confidence to a higher degree than most anyone else.  That is, should he believe it were appropriate.

And … clearly Paul does not believe that is appropriate.  His comparison here is to show that if he doesn’t believe it then no one else should either.  Paul says, “For we (followers of Christ) are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,”  (Philippians 3:4)  So there, he comes out with it, all works apart from Christ as good as they may be when compared are worthless. 

And that is the point of the main passage today.  “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,” (Philippians 3:7-8)

All those accomplishments of Paul, those things he could in his flesh count as gain when put in proper perspective have no value at all.  In comparison to the gift of Christ our Savior and Redeemer who offers us eternal life with him when hell was our due, those efforts are but, “Rubbish”.  Amen!

Genesis 1:26-27 In His Own Image

(Gen 1:26-27)  “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’  God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (NASB)

Among the other details of the creation, Genesis records the creation of man.  This brief two verse account provides some meaningful truth of which we should be aware.

First, God made a plan.  Another glimpse into the Trinity provides a dialogue during the period of creation.  God speaks to God saying, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness”.  Now this is significant.  It is significant because this isn’t true of any other created thing.  Only man is created in the image of God.  Many today lump man into the category of all other animals, nothing special at all in their view.  Scripture is clear; man is made in the image of God.

Okay, just what does that mean?  We look like God looks?  Well, yes perhaps but I believe the image of God goes further.  The image of God after which man was modeled goes further than appearance, much further.  We are clearly NOT God or gods at all but as a part of creation we are unique.  There are characteristics of God that are also imputed to man.  These then encompass the image of God as it pertains to man.

So some of the qualities of man that are unique in all creation involve our ability to reason, our ability to love, and our ability to comprehend life and death.  We also have the ability to develop relationships.  Perhaps most importantly, our being made in the image of God allows God to have a relationship with us.

The most important relationship we as believers can have is one with Jesus.  Remember that opening dialogue?  “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness”.  We said that conversation was God speaking with God right?  Well it was.  Jesus was part of that conversation and in fact it is Jesus who then did the creating.  Jesus Himself created man in His image.  ”For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.” (Col 1:16)  It is worth reading all of the first chapter of Colossians to gain the full context.

Much later, after man fell and Moses recorded the Law to point to the need for a savior, God provided one.  Our Savior came to us as a baby human with a human mother.  So then was Jesus born in the image of man?  Not exactly.  Scripture says He, “… emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Php 2:7-8)  Jesus took on “The form of a bond-servant and the likeness of men”.

This helps prove to us that appearance isn’t the full meaning of, “in Our image, according to Our likeness”.  It isn’t possible for us to be made in His image and then have Him be made in our image.  Where is the original?  Well, it isn’t man – it is Jesus.  His image is more than, “Likeness” and “Appearance”.

So the relationship of man to God is by design from the beginning.  It goes beyond the way we have a pet that we care for, even love.  Pets don’t share God’s image.  The relationship God has with us is first based on our ability to have that relationship and that is based on the fact that we ARE made in His image.  When we blew it, He provided a way to bring us back into relationship with Him.  Even that is predicated on being made in His image because it provides the foundation for our reconciliation, for our redemption.  AMEN!

Luke 1:26-37 Christmas part 5: Mary, Did You Know?

Luke 1:26-37  “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.  And coming in, he said to her, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’  But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.  The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.  ‘And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.  ‘He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.’  Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’  The angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.  ‘And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.  ‘For nothing will be impossible with God.’” (NASB)

Today’s passage, longer than normal, is the story of Mary being approached by the angel Gabriel who told her all that was about to happen to her.  It is from Mary’s perspective then that I’d like to consider this news.

The passage tells us Mary was engaged or betrothed to Joseph when this happens.  Nelson’s Manners and Customs discusses the normal situation leading to marriage in that day.  It says normally a betrothal took place when a girl was twelve years old.  This period of betrothal would last up to a year so even stretching things Mary would have been a very young girl.  Perhaps she was a teenager but maybe younger.  That alone is worth a WOW!

Can you imagine?  This young girl is approached by one of the most powerful of God’s angels, Gabriel.  Although Gabriel says, “Do not be afraid, Mary”.  The only recorded reaction of Mary is her perplexity.  What Gabriel was telling her didn’t make sense, why should she be greeted as, “Favored one”!   Why would he say, “The Lord is with you”?

Gabriel goes on to share with Mary various significant attributes and accomplishments this Child will accomplish.  “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High”.  He will be given, “The throne of His father David”.  “He will reign over the house of Jacob”, of Israel and the term of his reign will be, “Forever”.  “His kingdom will have no end”.  What? How?  That’s a lot of powerful stuff Gabriel just dumped on little Mary.  Now she has to really be wondering “What’s going on”?

The clarification of those early mysteries was answered by an explanation that still baffles us today.  Gabriel tells Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God”.  WOW!

So not only will the virgin be with Child, that Child will be the Son of God?  Can you imagine?

It is my opinion that some make too much of a deal about Mary, elevating her to something beyond human I think.  None-the-less, Mary was special.  This woman, a child herself would be pregnant with not just any child, but the Child, the Son of God, Jesus.  And what did Mary do when she learned of this news?  She obediently followed the instructions given to her as did Joseph.

Jesus was born to this humble family in little Bethlehem, the Son of God.  This gift of the Christ Child, Savior, and King we celebrate at Christmas was delivered by a young scared teen mom in a strange town.  What a gift she gave us!  AMEN!

Luke 2:8-11 Christmas part 2: As Shepherds Watched

Luke 2:8-11  “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”. (NASB)

In Luke’s gospel he recounts the Christmas story and immediately following the birth of Jesus in the narrative he shares the announcement of His birth.  There are several interesting aspects of that announcement to consider.

First, notice the audience of the announcement.  The passage says there were some shepherds out doing their job at night watching over their flock.  It is this group of shepherds to whom the Lord directs the announcement.  Why these guys?  Although herding sheep was and is an honorable profession this was not the upper crust of society.  God chose a lowly group of shepherds out in the country to first announce the birth of the Messiah.  I think the significance is great; God’s deliverer was sent for “All” men not just a slice of the important aristocracy or religious leadership of the day.  That is still true, position bears no influence on His call to believe.

Second, notice the way the announcement is made.  God sends one of his messengers, “An angel of the Lord” to share this revelation.  And this angelic display wasn’t like the Clarence figure from “It’s a Good Life”.  This angel appeared in full splendor, “And the glory of the Lord shone around them”.  It was such a display that it scared the Bejeebers out of them.  The angel had to calm them down saying, “Do not be afraid”.

Finally, comes the meat of the message.  The angel proclaims the birth of Jesus saying, “Behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”.  The message to these lowly shepherds is that it is “Good news”.  Many times in the history of divine revelation the news was not good, many times the news was of judgment against a stubborn and stiff necked people.  This news though is positive.  The message is also said to be one of “Great joy”.  Not only is this a positive thing but the result is going to produce much joy.  Looking back we can clearly say it is true.  It is a very joyful thing to realize that Jesus came that night to the earth with his ministry and ultimate sacrifice in mind.  His coming is a source indeed of great joy for many many people.  The reason for that great joy is also revealed.  The angel says this baby Jesus is “Born for you” and is a “Savior, who is Christ the Lord”.

Obviously the story didn’t stop there.  Scripture says they went immediately into town to find Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus just as the angel had said.  Once there they shared all that had been told to them.  To what degree others paid attention to this lot of lowly shepherds we do not know but one response is recorded.  “But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Luke 2:19 

Isaiah 9:6 The Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9:6  “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (NASB)

The prophet Isaiah refers to Jesus as the “Prince of Peace” in his prophecy of the coming Messiah.  Many, I think, have the wrong idea as to what this refers. 

My adolescence was during the late sixties and early seventies and I attended a church that was pretty wound up about the war in Vietnam.  That is to say, they were adamantly against it and I heard Sunday after Sunday preaching and teaching on ending the war and establishment of peace; peace on earth.  You might think, as did many in that little church, that calling on the “Prince of Peace” is the answer to world peace.

Jesus himself though gives us His point of view.  He says, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34 NASB)  So if Jesus, the “Prince of Peace” didn’t come to bring peace on earth why the name?  Fortunately scripture gives the answer to that too.  Colossians 1:19-20 says, “For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,  and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (NASB)

So, the Prince of Peace brings another kind of peace. Not peace on earth rather peace between sinful man and Holy God. As we enter into this Christmas season, the celebration of Jesus’ birth, let’s remember to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, our Savior, our Redeemer. AMEN!