Child of God - Part 4

Due to the miraculous work of redemption through Jesus Christ, man has been restored to all that he was in God before the fall.  The only way that a person can take advantage of such an incredible gift, he must confess Jesus as Lord and receive Him as Savior. This act of faith transforms the sinner instantly by-means-of new birth an gives him the right to become a child of God. New birth is the heart of Christianity. From the fall of man to Pentecost every plan and purpose of God to redeem man had centered in this. This is the reason for the sacrifice of Jesus as man's substitute. Man's interpretation of the new birth determines his whole Christian experience. What this means is, if the new birth is not supernatural, then Christianity is nothing more than one of the other religions of the world. If the new birth is simply a conversion to new concepts or a theory, then Christianity is purely a product of human endeavor. However, the fact is, the new birth is supernatural and Christianity has become the family of God, not a mere religion, or religious experience, but a completely restored relationship of man with the Father.

Jesus is the first one who speaks of the new birth, and in His conversation with Nicodemus He tells us what the new birth is and the need of it. (For the sake of space, please read John 3:1-8) The first thing that we see it that no one can see or understand the Kingdom of God except he is born again, that is, except the life of God come into his very being and recreate his spirit. Second, no one can enter the Kingdom of God except he is born of water and the spirit. However, Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, cannot understand these things and asks, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus responds, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again." In this scripture, Jesus reveals the difference between the natural and the spiritual man. The importance of us grasping this is that Jesus shows us that man is spiritually dead, a child of the devil. (John 8:44) The Apostle Paul tells us, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience." (Ephesians 2:1-2) 

However, the new birth is to be a complete change of the sinful, satanic nature of man to a new or restored relationship with the Father. The Apostle Paul continues, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-6) We were not sick with sin, we were dead in sin, but God made us alive together with Christ, new birth, born again. By one accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior,  he enters into a covenant, a legal contract so-to-speak, with the Father through Jesus Christ. Some of the numerous blessings that are legally and instantly bestowed upon believers from the Father, are... 

• His sins are remitted, wiped out as though they had never been. (Isaiah 43:25) 
• He is legally justified, made righteous or set right with God. (Romans 5:1-2) 
• His name is written in the Book of Life. (Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3) 
• He is legally adopted into the family of God. (Romans 8:15-16) 
• Jesus publicly confesses him before the Father and the His angels. (Revelations 3:5) 
• He is legally reconciled to the Father. (Romans 5:9-11) 
• He is declared and made righteous. (2 Corinthians 5:21) 
• Satan no longer has authority over the believer, but the believer has authority over Satan. (Mark 16:17; Luke 10:19)
• He is blessed and given every spiritual blessing by the father in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)  
• He has the promise of eternal life. (1 John 2:25)

Keep in mind that these are but a very small potion of what takes place in the new birth, but these are enough to show us the incredible privileged of being a child of God. The fact is, new birth is an impartation of God's own nature into the believer. (2 Peter 1:4) The Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is not a figure of speech but, literally, if any man receives Christ as his Lord and Savior, that man is a new creation. He is not renovated, patched up, fixed over, or a hybrid, nor is he one who has received eternal life without losing the old nature. No, Paul distinctly says, that he is a new creation and that the old things, that is, the old nature, has passed away. In other words, it would be like an old building completely torn down and replaced by a new one. The new creation is a work that God Himself has accomplished in the believer. It is all of God and the new believer is now a legitimately born again child of God. Not only are we legally born again by God, but we are also legally adopted into His Family which makes our relationship with the Father doubly secure in Christ.  

The Apostle John tells us, "Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:13) The Apostle James tells us, "Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." (James 1:18) The Apostle Peter tells us, "Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever." (1 Peter 1:23) Man, once spiritually dead, hopeless, helpless and without God in the world, a child of Satan, now has the opportunity to become a part of the family of God, simply by confessing with the mouth and believing with the heart, the Lord Jesus Christ and taking Him as Savior. Think about these things and then consider, who would not want to be a true, legal, bought and paid for child of God? Really, no one. So take some time and let some people know that they can be a part of God's family and become a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" is a popular Christmas song written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle. It was recorded and released that year by singer Andy Williams on his first Christmas album, "The Andy Williams Christmas Album." The song is a celebration and description of activities associated with the Christmas season, focusing primarily on getting together with friends and families. But is the Christmas season the most wonderful time of the year? Honestly, for many, they find nothing wonderful about the Christmas season. There are many reasons for this. For some, they are all alone, some remember a loved one who has passed away, some may fall prey to stress and cannot wait for the Christmas season to end and some are of a religious persuasion that do not celebrate any of the aspects of the Christmas season. Every person will experience the many difficult situation that life brings. However, everyone of us has a choice. For all of us, we can focus on the problems, or remember the good things and good times.

For Christians, we should never forget first and foremost, the depths of what the Christmas season really means. I remember the Charles Schulz Christmas program, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" that made its television debuted in 1965 and is still being aired today. Basically, Charlie Brown wants to discover the meaning of Christmas in which Linus explains in brief the birth of Christ the Savior. When we look closely at the birth of Christ, we discover the immeasurable love of God toward humanity. The Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul reveals mans condition since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, "...having no hope and without God in the world." (Ephesians 2:12) and "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Mankind could not find his way back to God on his own. He was in need of a mediator that could stand before God on behalf of man.  The only way that this could be accomplished is that God Himself would assume mans liability for all the crimes which man committed since the fall. This meant that deity and humanity must come together to meet mans greatest need, redemption.

The incarnation of Christ is certainly a remarkable event in the history of man and should certainly be celebrated. It is what Christmas is all about. However, when the difficulties of life try to rob such a wonderful event from our hearts and minds, let's remember that there was even a greater event that took place in humanity. Jesus, the God-Man was born for one main purpose, to save humanity from Satan's power. The Apostle Paul tells us of the commission that he received from Christ for humanity, "...to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ." (Acts 26:18) and "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) The Savior would have to suffer in two realms, the natural through the horrific beating and crucifixion of His body and the spiritual realm. His spirit would become impregnated with sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) and He would be separated from the Father (Matthew 27:46) and spend three days in hell (Matthew 12:40, Acts 2:31, Ephesians 4:9) where He suffered and was tormented beyond our comprehension.

The Bible tells us that Jesus paid in full mans sin debt, by dying a death that all people should die. He then arose from the grave, ascended to heaven, offered His own blood and sat down at the right hand of the Father (Romans 5:17-21, Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 24:51, Hebrews 9:12, 10:12) So during this Christmas season if you feel the weight of life trying to come upon you, let's remember what Jesus the Savior has done for each of us. In doing so, the burdens will be lifted (Matthew 11:28-30) and we can enjoy this wonderful festive Christmas season. Have a very Merry Christmas. 

Have a Merry Abundant Life

The "Christmas Story" is one of the most remembered and by far the most told of any other story in human history. Not only does this story reveal the birth of Christ the Lord, but a closer look reveals the movement of creation itself in bringing forth the Savior. It is the Gospel according to Matthew and Luke that uncover the events of the "Christmas Story." So as we look at these events, we will see the infinite wisdom and love of God at work in human history for only one reason, "to open their (humanity) eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'  (Acts 26:18)

In Luke 1:5-25 we see a priest named Zacharias chosen to minister before the Lord in the temple in the form of burning incenses. His wife's name was Elizabeth and they were both descendants of Aaron, Moses' brother and first Priest chosen by God along with his sons. (Exodus 4:14, 28:1)  Zacharias was a praying man and his prayers were heard. The angel of the Lord, Gabriel was sent to give him the good news concerning what was about to break forth into human history. However, we see that Zacharias first response was doubt. Like Zacharias, we too can get so caught up in doing our regimented Christians duties or building our own personal kingdoms, that we miss what God is about to do. Then when God reveals to us His plan we again like Zacharias do not believe. I believe that most Christians today struggle with a lack of faith for the very same reason. They pray, look for God, but when He reveals Himself doubt enters and they forget the very things that they were praying for. Most often, God revealed Himself His way not their way. Although, Zacharias doubted God's Word, what the angel had spoken still came to pass.

Next, Luke 1:26-38 records another miraculous event happening. The same angel, Gabriel appears to a virgin woman whose name is Mary who was betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph. He reveals that she is “highly favored" by God and "blessed among women" and that it would be Mary who would be used by God to bring forth the One who would be the Deliverer. Mary questions Gabriel, but his answer should cause believers to see God for who He really is, "For with God nothing will be impossible." This is an important key to having prayer answered as well as living a victorious life. Jesus says it this way, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23) Not only are all things possible with God but He makes all thing possible to all believers who exercises faith. It is very apparent that Mary believed Gabriel's report, "Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her."

Although we see Mary exercising faith for the impossible, we see a different picture with Joseph, her betrothed. Again, we see doubt take the place of faith. (Matthew 1:19) However, we do see an angel of the Lord appear to Joseph in a dream explaining the situation to him, which caused Joseph to respond to what the angel had spoken. (Matthew 1:20-25) You may be thinking, "Well getting the news that your wife is with child and you have had nothing to do with it certainly would cause one to doubt." This may be somewhat true, but remember Zacharias had a visitation of an angel of the Lord but he still doubted. Also, Matthew records that Joseph was a "just man' which means, "justly, righteously, in accordance with what is right."So we have to assume that for Joseph to have this type of character, that he attended synagogue and or was versed in the the scriptures. If so he had available to him what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14) But isn't that the problem that the children of God have struggled with then and still struggle with today? For most believers, although we have the Word of God recorded in what we call the Bible, many still chose to look at the circumstances in the natural like Zacharias and Joseph and entertain doubt rather than faith in a faithful God, "that what He has promised He is also able to perform." (Romans 4:21) Although it appears that Joseph had some doubts, he still responded to the command of the angel to take Mary as his wife.

The incredible events continue to unfold. Luke 2:1-7 records that not even Caesar Augustus the top official of the human government at that time could do nothing more than to bring the prophetic Word of God spoken 700 years prior through Micah to pass, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2) Joseph following the orders of the government, made his way with Mary to the very town where Christ was to be born, Bethlehem.

Finally, Luke 2:8-20 shows us the culmination of the events of the birth of Christ. Again, an angel of the Lord appears. This time to "shepherds living out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." It is recorded that the"angel stood before them and the glory of the Lord shown around them" and the angel reported the most incredible event to date in the history of humanity, "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." Once the angel gave this report "suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Not only were the people of the earth moved to be participants in the ingenious plan of God (whether they knew it or not) but even the angels of God rejoiced. Think about that. The angels of God who are spirit beings were excited for humanity that now the plan of God was manifested for the salvation of humanity. Deity and humanity has now come together as Jesus Christ the Lord.

We all should see Christmas as a time for great rejoicing. A is new birth. A new birth in our love towards God and toward one another. A new birth in dedicating our lives to His service. Christmas not New Years should be a catalyst for change, hope and increased faith. A great expectation of what God can and will do through those who believe. For some, maybe we need to see Christmas through the eyes of three wealthy wise men who left their nation and traveled a great distance to behold an infant King. Three men who apparently exercised faith having only the knowledge of ancient writings and a star that guided their way. Christmas is not just about a baby in a manger, it's about the complete redemption of humanity. We should celebrate Christmas as one of the two greatest moves of God in human history. That baby, the Christ, had come into the world to save humanity from Satan's power, to reconcile God to man and man to God for us to have "life and to have it more abundantly." Have a wonderful and very "MERRY CHRISTMAS."