Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 22 The Real Reason For Christmas???
I heard a most encouraging message on part of Romans chapter 1 from our faithful pastor this morning. It set me to thinking of how we often miss the connection of all of scripture, so I thought I’d share a bit of a spin on what most of us think about when we consider the reason for Christmas; it may be a connection that you have never considered, and I pray that it will give you some food for thought. Most of all I hope it helps us all see Jesus, the “light of the world”, in all of our personal celebrations; and that if you’ve never called on HIM to save you, today will be that day!!!
First of all, let’s consider the message that the angel brought to Joseph as he considered what to do about the pregnant Mary, with whom ‘he’ had not had relations.
“But while he thought on these things,
behold, the angel of the Lord appeared
unto him in a dream, saying,
Joseph, thou son of David,
fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife:
for that which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people
from their sins.
22 Now all this was done,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,
and shall bring forth a son,
and they shall call his name
Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is,
God with us.” Matthew 1:20-23
“God with us”–Jesus IS God with us! So Why do we need “God with us”? Because we (humanity in Adam and Eve, and YES, I believe in the Genesis account of creation; for to put it bluntly, if there was no Adam or Eve, there was no garden, there was no sin, and we wouldn’t need a redeemer–to “save us from our sin”!) sinned, yet God had already provided for our sin before we fell for ‘The Lie’ (See Genesis 3). That is just beyond my comprehension, for I don’t like ‘messes’ and it is beyond amazing to me, that God knew we would make a ‘mess’, yet HE created us anyway; knowing it would cost Jesus His life’s blood. Romans makes it all clear!
“For when we were yet without strength,
in due time
Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man
will one die:
yet peradventure for a good man
some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us,
in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
9 Much more then,
being now justified by his blood,
we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God
by the death of his Son,
much more,
being reconciled,
we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so,
but we also joy in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom we have now received
the atonement.” Romans 5:6-11
Peter also reminds us that God had this plan in mind before we needed it.
“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.
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls
in obeying the truth through the Spirit
unto unfeigned love of the brethren,
see that ye love one another
with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again,
not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible,
by the word of God,
which liveth
and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:18-23
Just FYI, this ‘living word of God’ IS Jesus–the living Word (See John 1:1-5), as well as the breath of the written Word! How does this all tie into Romans? To put it simply, “all scripture is inspired by God” (See 2 Timothy 2:15 & 3:16-17) so, let’s look at a few passages from the first three chapters of Romans.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God
unto salvation
to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith:
as it is written,
The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men,
who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God
is manifest in them;
for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him
from the creation of the world
are clearly seen,
being understood
by the things that are made,
even his eternal power
and Godhead;
so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that,
when they knew God,
they glorified him not as God,
neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations,
and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:16-21
Paul tells us that “the gospel of Christ” IS the “power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth”, and that is truly good–good news! The good news is “the righteousness of God revealed” to us–the same good news that Jesus gave to Nicodemus in John 3–that we must be born again, and when we are, Jesus will give us eternal life–real abundant life now–and life with God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit –in heaven! Paul describes the first group we need to consider, the UNrighteous, who are “without excuse”. If you would, those who are blatantly, deliberately rejecting God, His ways, and His Word–refusing to worship HIM as GOD!
Now, let’s move on to Romans chapter 2, which describes another group of people.
“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man,
whosoever thou art that judgest:
for wherein thou judgest another,
thou condemnest thyself;
for thou that judgest
doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God
is according to truth
against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man,
that judgest them which do such things,
and doest the same,
that thou shalt escape
the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches
of his goodness
and forbearance
and longsuffering;
not knowing that the goodness of God
leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness
and impenitent heart
treasurest up unto thyself wrath
against the day of wrath
and revelation of the righteous
judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man
according to his deeds…
…11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned
without law
shall also perish without law:
and as many as have sinned
in the law
shall be judged by the law;” Romans 2:1-6 & 11
“And whosoever was not found
written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15
Regardless of what we may think of ourselves, Paul says that we cannot make our own selves righteous; if we measure ourselves by our own judgement, it will not make wrong right or right wrong! God will “render to every man according to his deeds”, and it doesn’t matter what I “say”, for what I ‘do’ will reflect what I truly believe. Jesus made that clear in Matthew chapter 7, that just “saying so, doesn’t make it so”! Are you one who is counting on your own SELFrighteousness? Or have you been to the cross for the cleansing blood of Jesus’ to save you?
“…be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him
to be sin for us,
who knew no sin;
that we might be made
the righteousness of God
in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:20b-21
Just as we saw in Romans 5 above, only Jesus can save us and cleanse us from our sin and pay our sin debt, I hope that our last passage will bring it all together for you. For it doesn’t matter if you are one of the “Unrighteous”, or the “SELFrighteous”, for we are all what God calls us in Romans chapter 3– “NONErighteous”!
“For all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin
is death;
but the gift of God
is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
This is the message of the first part of Romans chapter 3. (I encourage you to spend some time this week reading and thinking about Romans 1-3, and 5 if you can make the time!)
“What advantage then hath the Jew?
or what profit is there of circumcision?
2 Much every way:
chiefly, because that unto them
were committed the oracles of God.
3 For what if some did not believe?
shall their unbelief make the faith of God
without effect?
4 God forbid:
yea, let God be true,
but every man a liar;
as it is written,
That thou mightest be justified
in thy sayings,
and mightest overcome
when thou art judged.
5 But if our unrighteousness
commend the righteousness of God,
what shall we say?
Is God unrighteous
who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
6 God forbid:
for then how shall God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God
hath more abounded through my lie
unto his glory;
why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
8 And not rather,
(as we be slanderously reported,
and as some affirm that we say,)
Let us do evil,
that good may come?
whose damnation is just.
9 What then?
are we better than they?
No, in no wise:
for we have before proved
both Jews and Gentiles,
that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written,
There is none righteous,
no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth,
there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way,
they are together become unprofitable;
there is none that doeth good,
no, not one.” Romans 3:1-12
My question for us today is, “Which group are you in?” The UNrighteous, the SELFrighteous, or the NONErighteous? For until we see ourselves as one of the “NONErighteous”, or a sinner, we have no need for a Savior/Redeemer who saves and forgives sin!
“Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us
from the power of darkness,
and hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption
through his blood,
even the forgiveness
of sins:” Colossians 1:12-14
Finally, God paints another amazing picture for us in chapter 5, so let’s take time to ponder these things and be truly ready to celebrate CHRISTmas!
“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.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man
will one die:
yet peradventure for a good man
some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us,
in that,
while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
9 Much more then,
being now justified by his blood,
we shall be saved from wrath
through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God
by the death of his Son,
much more,
being reconciled,
we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so,
but we also joy in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom we have now received
the atonement.” Romans 5:1-11
This is the reason that Jesus came and took on flesh, the reason that HE became Emmanuel–God with us! He came to forgive us for our sin, to save us and give us eternal life; so we don’t have to be held accountable to pay for our own sin in Hell. What will you do with the greatest gift of all this Christmas season? Will you ignore Him, deliberately reject Him, put Him off, or bow before Him seeking His forgiveness and the new life HE can and will impart to all who come to Him in repentance of sin, and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice? And for we who already know HIM, may we commit ourselves afresh and anew to be more loving, obedient, and devoted children to our soon-coming KING, and as Paul so aptly declared, being a ‘bond-servant’ to Jesus Christ our KING! From a Manger to a Throne! Have you crowned HIM KING of your life? May it ever be so!!!
Amen and Amen!!!
Bible Ballistics 