Tags
1 John 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18-21, Acts 2:21-24, Before the foundation of the world, Christmas Ponderings, Christmas Ponderings #3, Ephesians 1:3-4, Ephesians 2:8-10, Galatians 1:3-5, Genesis 3:15, Jesus sacrifice for SIN, John 17:24, John 1:1-4, John 1:14-17, John 1:29, Looking for Jesus, Revelation 1:5, Romans 5:1-6, Saved by the Blood of Jesus!, The Blood Of Jesus, Titus 2:14
Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 06 Christmas Ponderings #3???
As we looked earlier at Joseph, the earthly father to Jesus, a builder—the carpenter–, we find that while Joseph was a builder of various objects for life in has day, objects that might last a lifetime, some longer, some not so long; but Jesus built a bridge with HIS life, death and resurrection—a bridge that delivers us from sin, death and hell and opens the way into God’s presence. This babe who was born in a barn and put to bed in a manger (a feeding trough), visited by shepherds and wisemen became the means of salvation for all who will believe in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for salvation!
“Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith
into this grace
wherein we stand,
and rejoice
in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so,
but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation
worketh patience;
4 And patience,
experience;
and experience,
hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed;
because the love of God
is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost
which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength,
in due time Christ died
for the ungodly.” Romans 5:1-6
We receive the “Holy Ghost” (or Holy Spirit) of God, the Spirit that HE shared with Adam and Eve before sin—the part of them that died because of sin—the part that Jesus restored at Calvary—for you and me:
“…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us
from all sin…”. 1 John 1:7b
One of the things that amazes me, is that God had this plan in place before HE created us; HE knew we would fail, that Adam would sin, and yet HE “so loved the world”—you and me, every sinner ever born (and the two who were directly created by God’s own hand!)—that HE had already provided for our redemption (to buy us back) from this sin of ours, and the death and hell that it leads to if unchecked by the blood of Jesus. Why would I say this? Because God said it in HIS Word by more than one author, and as we prepare to celebrate (or like me just plain celebrate Jesus every day!) Jesus’ birth, we need to understand that HE wasn’t ‘plan B’—HE was always the exact plan! Let’s consider some scriptures to see what we find.
“In the beginning
God created
the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
“And I will put enmity
between thee and the woman,
and between thy seed and her seed;
it shall bruise thy head,
and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15
“And from Jesus Christ,
who is the faithful witness,
and the first begotten of the dead,
and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us,
and washed us from our sins
in his own blood,” Revelation 1:5
Just as God “created” all things, (and remember the reference to “beginning”, means “our” beginning NOT God’s) HE knew that we would fail—that we would sin—yet HE had already prepared a plan to ‘buy us back out of sin, death and hell’, oh, praise HIS dear name. Do you know Jesus? Have you come in repentance and faith to the cross where HIS precious blood was spilled out for you and me? This precious Lamb of God who, as John the Baptizer declared:
“Behold the Lamb of God,
which taketh away
the sin of the world.” John 1:29b
And when was this plan established? Not when we sinned, but before “the foundation of the world”!
“And it shall come to pass,
that whosoever shall call
on the name of the Lord
shall be saved.
22 Ye men of Israel,
hear these words;
Jesus of Nazareth,
a man approved of God among you
by miracles
and wonders
and signs,
which God did by him
in the midst of you,
as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him,
being delivered
by the determinate counsel
and foreknowledge
of God,
ye have taken,
and by wicked hands
have crucified
and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up,
having loosed the pains of death:
because it was not possible
that he should be holden of it.” Acts 2:21-24
The “determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God” tells us that God had already established the plan before Jesus came. And even before that!
“And the Word was made flesh,
and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying,
This was he of whom I spake,
He that cometh after me
is preferred before me:
for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness
have all we received,
and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth
came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:14-17
“In the beginning
was the Word,
and the Word
was with God,
and the Word
was God.
2 The same was
in the beginning
with God.
3 All things were made
by him;
and without him
was not any thing made
that was made.
4 In him was life;
and the life
was the light of men.” John 1:1-4
Jesus, God the Son, was always God, always with God, and part of the very creation of all that we know! Yet not only was Jesus before creation, but He was also the redeemer before “the beginning” all began.
“Father,
I will that they also,
whom thou hast given me,
be with me where I am;
that they may behold my glory,
which thou hast given me:
for thou lovedst me
before the foundation
of the world.” John 17:24
Not only was Jesus “before the foundation of the world”, and we were in the heart and mind of God for salvation then as well.
“Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us
with all spiritual blessings
in heavenly places
in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us
in him
before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy
and without blame
before him in love:” Ephesians 1:3-4
“Forasmuch as ye know
that ye were not redeemed
with corruptible things,
as silver and gold,
from your vain conversation
received by tradition
from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ,
as of a lamb
without blemish
and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained
before the foundation of the world,
but was manifest
in these last times
for you,
21 Who by him
do believe in God,
that raised him up
from the dead,
and gave him glory;
that your faith
and hope
might be in God.” 1 Peter 1:18-21
So, as we consider the “incarnation” of the babe in the manger, the savior of the world, the creator of all things, may we be grateful and mindful that HE came for us, not as a second thought but because HE chose us and prepared for our salvation before the foundation of the world. Thank you, LORD, —Father, Son and Holy Spirit—for loving me/us and preparing the sacrifice for my/our salvation. May my/our life be a true reflection of your glory, in all things—before, during and after this Christmas celebration!!!
“Grace be to you
and peace from God the Father,
and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 Who gave himself for our sins,
that he might deliver us
from this present evil world,
according to the will of God
and our Father:
5 To whom be glory
for ever and ever.
Amen.” Galatians 1:3-5
“Looking for that blessed hope,
and the glorious appearing
of the great God
and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us,
that he might redeem us
from all iniquity,
and purify unto himself
a peculiar people,
zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14
And the greatest celebration that we could have is to share the truth of Jesus’ eternal plan to save us unto Himself by grace through faith. May you truly know HIM.
“For by grace are ye saved
through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works,
lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus
unto good works,
which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10
May you find the hope that the “Babe” brought to all who will believe! He came for you and me! Take heart my dear friends. Jesus still saves and changes lives today!
Amen and Amen!!!
Bible Ballistics 