For Christians the Bible is the revelation of God, explaining that we have been created in God’s image to have dominion over other species and our environment. Although we have been given such a powerful position in his creation, God sees us as disobedient, degenerate, and unthankful. There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. Out of this caldron of waywardness, God chose an ethnic group to receive his laws: his light on how to live, think, and gain acceptance with him. The law illuminated God’s nature and his righteousness. However, this knowledge makes us accountable to God’s demands, his commandments. Rather than making us obedient to God, the law exposed our sins and our tendency to disobey his authority. The Bible describes this disobedience and self-will as fleshly and describes the products of a fleshly life outside of Christ: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21) Since God is timeless, we know that any discordant or adverse behaviors in our lives are ever present before God’s all-seeing eyes. As the Bible says, All have turned; there is no one righteous, not even one. Obviously, a just God will judge sin, and the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) The opposite of death is a life of harmony and peace in God with a harvest of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) There is no law needed to control these attributes of God. No judgment will fall on those who are in Christ and display the fruit of the Spirit. We know Jesus walked this earth doing good. He did the Father’s will at all times. Even on the way to the cross, He submitted to God’s will, not his own. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) Later, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42) In spite of the excruciating physical and emotional pain, Jesus ignored his own inclinations and submitted to his Father’s authority and will. Since we know that Jesus could have called down an army of angels from heaven to rescue him, his life and death should challenge us to live by his example of obedience to God. Though we are not presently with him, and we often do not understand the trials of life, we do understand that Jesus is alive. We live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) Even though our flesh is disobedient at times, we will not serve God through the law. Instead, we will trust in the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit through the shed blood of Jesus.
Just as Jesus did not trust in his physical senses to guide him, we cannot know God through our human awareness. Even our knowledge and wisdom do not help us understand spiritual realities. We might surmise there is a God or a reality other than the one we inhabit by our assessment of the detail and complexity in the world and the universe around us. Our environment might awe us, but it will not bring us into relationship with God. In finality, we must accept the Bible’s view of God as Creator and designer of all we know. We enter the door to the Creator’s dominion when we place our faith in the Word of God: Christ, the Son of God. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. (John 1:1-4) When we discover God through faith in Jesus Christ, God becomes a reality in our lives. We know him, for the Spirit of God comes to reside in us. This step of faith, believing in Jesus Christ and his works, not ours, cleanses us from the consequences of sin. Yes, the above scriptures indicate that no man has been able to please God, all have been contaminated by sin. Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. (Genesis 8:21) But God did not leave us without hope. Jesus said, we can be born again as new creatures before God’s eyes, no longer judged by our Adam nature but by the nature of Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam is still part of our biological life, but we have a new born again life, under the grace and mercy of God. Jesus has removed our sins as far as the East is from the West. Never again will we be considered absolutely degenerate, for God has placed Jesus’ sinless life in place of our sinful souls. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. We who are alive IN CHRIST are now considered precious, holy sons and daughters in the very family of God. No longer are we enemies to God. No longer strangers, but friends, blood-bought relatives to God. Our knowledge, wisdom, and senses may fail us in our search to find God, but faith in Christ makes us new people, God’s people, made in his image; for Christ is the perfect representation of God. In this world, we are a collection of the redeemed from every nation. As we read in the Word: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
Dear friends, during this Christmas season, give thanks for the precious gift of Jesus Christ. He was sent to redeem the whole world from sin. He came to bring peace to the hearts of all people. We who are IN CHRIST should share this message with passion. JESUS SAVES! If you have grown cold in your belief, stir up the spirit of joy within you. Discover again the Good News that a baby was born in Bethlehem who would restore people to God, to break down the enmity between man and God. Jesus blesses all people, all nations, all ethnic groups, all races with his presence. He can change any person from being a stranger to God, to a friend of God. As Christians, rejoice, sing Hallelujah! We have been given a holy gift that will never end. Rejoice, for we depend on the efficaciousness of that gift. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14) From the beginning of time, man has struggled in recognizing the Creator God and his authority. Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden.” (Genesis 3:1) Yes, God truly meant for us to rest securely under his authority as He rested on the seventh day, but we did not. We tweaked God’s creation by eating of the tree of knowledge. From that time on, we have been creating our own reality. Sadly, this reality has been one of conflict, wars, and rumors of wars: unrest. Christ Jesus came as the peacemaker, the day of rest. No longer should we strive for our perfection; no longer do we need to compete with each other. No, Jesus has come, and as the angel said, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on Earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. (Luke 2:14) With all that is within us, we can enter once again into that perfect rest that Jesus Christ has won.
Note: We will take a Christmas vacation break for the next 2 weeks. God bless you. Merry Christmas!
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