Christmas Celebrates Christ

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

As the year 2023 moves towards an end, I’m reminded of the preciousness of time, of relationships, and even of life itself, but most of all, of the mountainous value and worth of the Lord our God. The Psalmist puts it this way; Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure His greatness (Psalm 145:3). Mankind’s combined technical advancements cannot recognise or calculate the infinite glory and worth of our Creator God.

The glorious Lord Jesus Christ who was transfigured… and His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light (Matthew 17:2) is the same whom Mary gave birth to, her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn (Luke 2:7). What a humbling welcome to this world. Yet, this world would never succeed in stripping Jesus of His glory, no matter what they did to Him.

Baby Jesus was God wrapped in soft human flesh. Reduced from the splendour and authority of heaven to vulnerability and physical needs, lying in an animal feeding trough which we call a manger. Talk about taking a demotion! Yet, this baby had destiny that nobody at the time could predict. Destiny that would lead Him through a life of absolute humility. Through every moment of this growing baby’s life He emptied himself, by taking the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8).

For us, looking back through the blur of censored modern history, it’s easy to lose focus on Jesus’ identity. It’s easy to get caught up in the self-seeking glamour of modern celebrations and totally forget that Christmas is about exulting Jesus Christ.

I invite you to take a little time to read about this once-in-eternity event. Create time to read Dr Luke’s account in Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-21. Break it into sections if needed. Read it with someone for double blessing. And at every point where you identify a significant truth about God, about Jesus, or about the Holy Spirit, pause momentarily and give thanks to our loving God. I’m sure that this never-to-be repeated series of events is scribed in the annals of heaven as the Son of God’s most demeaning yet glorifying act.

May we remember that this baby was born a Jew, the prophesied child leading to fulfillment of Old Testament covenants. Again, Dr Luke nailed it, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). Years later Nathanael emphatically testified to Jesus’ face, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49).

Today, we honour Jesus Christ by both looking back and forward at Christmas time. We look to that time as the apostle John foresaw, when the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). So, when we think of baby Jesus, we also think of Him as King Jesus, and we say, “Come Lord Jesus and Reign!” It is this promised future reign of King Jesus that fills Christmas with anticipation for us.

As is my custom, I’m laying down my pen for a few weeks, but this time I’m preparing for my much anticipated spine surgery next week. Lord willing, I will lift my pen again, and join with you in February 2024. I pray you all have a blessed and enjoyable time with those you love over the holiday period.

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God of Faithfulness

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

It’s an irony, often the quality we require most from others, is the one we display the least. Faithfulness is one such quality. Obviously, unfaithfulness is the opposite, and it seeks to undo and reverse all the beautiful qualities and benefits of faithfulness. This is what makes unfaithfulness so hurtful, it attacks with the intent to destroy something that has been established and promised to remain. Even our society recognises the significance of faithfulness, as Civil Unions, Marriages, Legal Contracts, and Sales Agreements, all require the participants to be faithful to their commitment.

It doesn’t matter what area of life you apply the values of faithfulness to, unfaithfulness will always prove to be the ugly dark destroyer. Sadly, we are all guilty of this foul sin. It began in the garden of Eden, that place of human beginnings. Satan challenged Yahweh’s faithfulness to holiness. Obviously, Satan didn’t use my words when talking with Eve, but He did get Eve to completely forget about her expected faithfulness to her Creator God. The unspoken argument goes like this, “I can disobey, and God will be unfaithful to His holiness by removing my responsibility to Him for my disobedience.” And how did that line of thinking work out for Adam and Eve? Disastrously! Their unfaithfulness, expressed through the act of disobedience, introduced the stench of death and rebellion into humanity with eternal consequences.

Lucifer, more than any created being, should have understood Yahweh’s love for and loyalty to holiness, as he watched every action and heard every word spoken by the LORD in sinless heaven. In fact, Yahweh proved His faithfulness to holiness by expelling Lucifer without the possibility of forgiveness or reconciliation when pride hatched in his heart (Isaiah 14:12-14).

So, the LORD is holy, therefore He is faithful. Moses spoke the words of a hymn he had written on this matter to the assembly of Israel. For I proclaim the name of Yahweh; Ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He (Deuteronomy 32:3-4). Our greatest example of faithfulness is God towards holiness and righteousness. Like a rock, the LORD is unmovable in this matter. And that holy  unmovable determination is what makes faithfulness so beautiful and attractive.

Now, lets make the connection. In Ephesians 5:1, the apostle Paul instructs believers to be imitators of God, as beloved children. Paul is telling us, that the only appropriate response that the beloved children of God (Christians) should have to their Father, is to be imitators of Him. We should be striving towards “faithfulness to holiness” just as God is already.

But the application doesn’t stop there. Among the other manifestations of God’s Spirit, as explained by Paul, is the fruit of the Spirit which is love… and faithfulness (Galatians 5:22). If our beliefs, actions, and words, are not expressive of faithfulness in all of our relationships, then God’s Spirit is NOT present. This can be challenging, because the flesh constantly seeks to justify wrong behaviour. The flesh can be very creative in the ways it tries to convince you that sin is OK. But it’s not OK! Violating God’s holiness is sin, and, all sin falls short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and calls for justice.

May we today, evaluate our lives, looking for those areas where the devil has deceived us into thinking that it’s OK to disobey because “God will be unfaithful to His holiness by removing my responsibility to Him for my disobedience.” May we rise to a higher standard, where God’s Spirit is evident through our Godlike faithfulness.

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Purposeful Family Adoption

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

In God’s family, every member other than Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son (John 3:16), is an adoptee. Which is staggering when you think of the size and diversity of God’s family. Heavenly and earthly adoption share a common method, occurring when someone legally becomes a full member of a family that is not theirs by birth. Here, biological heritage has little authority, only the will of those adopting carries any weight.

In biblical history, adoption was not uncommon, Moses was adopted into Pharaoh’s family as a baby (Exodus 2:10; Acts 7:21). Similarly, Mordecai took Esther as his own daughter (Esther 2:7). However, as wonderful as earthly adoption is, the magnitude of the believers adoption into our Heavenly Father’s eternal family shines brighter.

In the New Testament, adoption refers to God’s determinative act of making sinners His redeemed children. But to all who believed Him (Jesus) and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God (John 1:12-13 NLT). The matter of which spiritual family we belong to was taken out of our hands. God Almighty delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14).

Salvation not only forgives, cleanses of sin, and guarantees eternal life, but it actions a whole new identity that registers us as citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20). But even citizenship falls short of God’s purpose for salvation. He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:5-6). Yahweh’s highest purpose in salvation is to recreate dead sinners so that they would willingly be the praise of his glorious grace as His Beloved children.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear of continuing life separated from God, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons (daughters), by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15). Now, having been adopted, we are qualified and equipped by the Holy Spirit as loving children who affectionately want to express praise to our Heavenly Father. Every step of our salvation has been masterfully implemented with divine purpose so that we might receive adoption as sons (Galatians 4:5).

As adopted children of Yahweh, His Only Son Jesus is now not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters. For He (Jesus) who sanctifies and those who are sanctified (us) all have one source (The Father). That is why He (Jesus) is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name (The Father’s name) to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” Hebrews 2:11-12. This Jesus, whose name was once just a swear word to us, now has no hesitation in referring  to us according to our new relationship with Him, as brother or sister. Jesus’ view of us has changed completely, from enemy to brother or sister.

As spiritually adopted children, we share the same desire that Jesus has, to praise our heavenly Father. What a humbling realisation! No longer detached, no longer alienated, no longer in denial and defiance, but in family. What a sweet transition, and it was totally actioned by the Lord! We only contributed our sin which crippled us into inability. But the Lord saved us! (Titus 3:4-7).

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Shadiness to dazzling glorification

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

Peter, James, and John would have had no idea what was about to unfold before their eyes as they naively walked with Jesus up the mountain. Without warning or explanation, Jesus was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light (Matthew 17:2). Stunned most likely, time must have seemed to stand still for these men as they had no previous experience to compare this with. Human language must have failed them, after all, how could words explain this unwrapping of Jesus’ humanity to reveal His holy heavenly perfection. Then, watching Jesus’ redress Himself with human flesh, surely, must have left them hanging in awe of His majestic power and glory.

This brief account provides us with a simple, yet accurate framework by which to think about the believer’s promised glorification. Paul said, I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). Paul further hints of this when he wrote, there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another (1 Corinthians 15:40).

It’s easy to get caught up with our present battles of Christian living while neglecting to look forward to our upcoming heavenly glorification. Even with a simple and focused understanding of our future glorification, believers are equipped with a hope that inspires both present perseverance and increased purity. Presently, even with our finite minds, we are able to grasp the concept of the glory of the Lord, and we realise that we are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). This present process of Holy Spirit generated sanctification develops increasing holiness while hinting at the spectacular perfection of glory waiting to envelop us in heaven.

Romans 8:30 tells us that those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. In the infinite mind of God, He predetermined our heavenly destination before He even issued our invitation to receive salvation. And to seal the deal, as it were, He sovereignly predetermined our justification, preventing failure from being a possibility. Look at how many times the word “He”, referring to God, appears in Romans 8:30, six times in one short verse. Paul wants us to thoroughly understand that God alone ensures our glorification in heavenly perfection is as certain as God Himself.

Therefore, it is God alone who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy (Jude 1:25). Our hope is never to be wasted on uncertainty, fear, or doubts. No, God has removed the possibility of glorification being missed. Regardless of the method of transportation from earth to heaven, be it the rapture or physical death, we are to be waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). Paul worded his expectation this way, for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Therefore, thinking of our present and shady improvements in personal holiness, and being elevated to Christ’s heavenly perfection, should lift our hearts in worship and a greater desire for obedience.

 

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The word many can’t pronounce – propitiation

By / The Pastor's Pen / 3 minutes of reading

When I was young I hated big words and I detested writing. I was a lazy reader and an even worse student. I happily refused to use dictionaries or any book that would assist me in learning and understanding the little that I did read. And then Jesus changed all that. It began as an irresistible desire to understand big words that frustrated me. But I still hated and avoided reading. A few years later my desire to read mysteriously hatched and little by little grew. So, by the age of 24 I enjoyed reading and searching out the understanding of big words.

This Holy Spirit generated desire continued to grow so that I felt compelled to teach what I was learning to others. It only took a few months and that desire motivated me to begin writing for Jesus Christ. Computers were new on the scene then, so, in the mid 1980’s I bought my first Amstrad computer for writing Bible notes and lessons.

Before long I was drawn to the higher doctrines of God and the less common big words that I once avoided. One word especially caught my attention early on, “propitiation.” Ignorant of it’s meaning, I asked around. Most were unfamiliar with it and even less could say the word correctly, including myself. This launched my love for the doctrine of propitiation and the exploration of words and theology.

In my mind, propitiation is the crown jewel of biblical doctrines because it reveals the amazingly merciful and just heart of holy God. Only mentioned 4 times in the New Testament  (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10), propitiation shows us the most passionate attributes of Yahweh’s holy character.

At the Cross, God does something sinful humanity could never have thought of. God, the righteous judge of sin, sacrificed His Son as the recipient of His divine wrath against mankind’s violation of His glory. God put forward (Jesus) as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith… It was to show His (God’s) righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus  (Romans 3:25-26). Jesus was sent to the cross by His Father, and Jesus voluntarily obeyed (John 6:38). On the cross, Jesus became the Justifier, receiving the full extent of His Father’s wrath for others sin.

Jesus’ work of propitiation pacified His Father’s wrath for our sin, by calming the Father’s fury down to a state of calm peace. Jesus took our place, as our substitute on the Cross. This was the only way God could accomplish 2 objectives: 1) To be the righteous judge whose demands for justice would be fully satisfied, and (2), to equally be the one receiving the full wrath of His own justice for sins not His own.

God could not violate His holiness, even to save the sinful world which He loved (John 3:16). At the Cross, wrath and justice worked together to display the full extent of God’s mercy. Paul explained that the benefits of Jesus’ propitiation are ONLY applied to “the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Friend, only sinners who place repentant faith in Jesus’ substitutional death will receive the mercy and forgiveness offered in propitiation. Have you done that? Have you spoken those words to God? Pray in your own words, your dependence upon God’s wrath for your sin being calmed by Jesus’ death on the cross. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, believers in Jesus have much to be thankful for, and much truth to worship with. Propitiation is a great word, telling us of a great God and Saviour.

 

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