CHRIST BEFORE BETHLEHEM

                                 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  he was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

                                                                            -John 1:1-5 (ESV)

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

                                                                            -John 1:14 (ESV)

This prologue of John’s summarizes the gospel.  Whereas Mark begins his account with John the Baptist, Matthew with Abraham, and Luke with Adam; John takes us to the beginning.   John deliberately quotes Genesis 1:1 and begins her narrative where the Scriptures begin.  John affirms that the Word existed before any act of creation occurred thus conveying the eternality of Christ.  Not only did the Word existence before creation began, but John emphatically declares that the Word is the Creator of all.  He emphasizes the preexistence of Jesus, referring to Him as the Word, an appropriate name to designate Him through whom God revealed Himself to man.

The mystery of God is in the eternal Word being incarnated in the Christ.  The roots of the life of Jesus reach all the way back into eternity.  This title of “Word” declares the unity of the Father and Son. 

John affirms not only the deity of Jesus Christ in the flesh and His preexistence before the incarnation but also the relationship of the preexistent Christ with God, the material world and mankind.  John further asserts his own belief in the preexistence of the Christ (1:30).

This title of the “Word” (Logos) clearly identifies Christ with God and the purpose and function of Christ to reveal God.  Jesus existed, “in the beginning” (1:1) a long time before He assumed human form.  Genesis 1 records how God spoke all things into existence, and now we learn that His creative word is an eternal, Divine Person.  Every single thing and the whole material universe came into being through the creative activity of the Word, Jesus Christ (1:3). The apostle Paul (Col 1:16) and writer of Hebrews (1:2) support this doctrine also. We can now understand better the “Let us make man in our image” from Genesis 1:26.  John fills the “Logos” with personality.  In using the Greek term “Logos” as a title for the Son of God, John did not coin a new word, but gave a new meaning to a word already in use.  John in seeking to reach a Greek audience uses a play on words with a term they are very familiar with.

The Greek word translated “dwelt” is literally “tabernacled among us”.  Christ abandoned the eternal dwelling place before the very presence of God the Father to pitch a tent in the midst of sinners.  When the Word became flesh (1:14) and tabernacle among men, the eternal God came to dwell among men not in a temple or tent, but in the person and humanity of His only-begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  We would never know what God is really like if the Word had not become flesh.  One could never know the love, grace and tenderness of God apart from the incarnation of God becoming flesh.  The Word becoming flesh also refers to the virgin birth.

It was man who sinned in the Garden of Eden, and transferring his allegiance from God to Satan, he forfeited his dominion that God intended he should have (Gen 1:26).  Only by man could the lost inheritance be regained (Rom 5:12-21), but since the whole race had been contaminated by the deadly virus of sin and had been rendered powerless to defeat the deceiver, the Word became flesh in order to do for man what sinful man could not do for himself.

Jesus himself said: “Before Abraham was, I am,” (John 8:58) signifying that He existed before Abraham was born.

A consideration of Christ’s preexistence and His power and wisdom in creation should impress any thinking person with His majesty and glory, and should spur one on to greater discipleship.  All the attributes of God are summed up in the incarnate Logos.  

"GOD WITH US", yes even today!

The Origin & Development of Our Modern Christmas

                         
In the early part of the 4^th Century A.D. the Emperor Constantine established Christianity as the state religion or the Roman Empire and the persecution of Christians came to an end.  From that point forward Christianity increasingly gained political influence and its hierarchy was formed in a pattern much like that of the political system of the Roman Empire.  Regarding the celebration of Christmas as a holiday it was not observed by followers of Christ for the better part of two hundred years after the time Jesus lived on earth.  In the writings of some of the early church fathers in the first three centuries of the existence of the church they did not want this sacred occasion put on a par with pagan carnivals.  One church official, Origen, especially declared against such a practice, asserting that it was sinful to keep Christ’s birthday “as though He were a King Pharaoh.”  Many church leaders denounced the intermingling of pagan with Christian elements in the celebration of Christmas.  Church leaders warned against excessive indulgence of feasting, dancing, and dressing in grotesque costumes.

Although in the early centuries of the Christian era the exact date of the nativity was not known, by the third century some had been observing the event on these varying dates:  January 6, February 2, March 25, April 19, May 20 and November 17.  (During this period of time there were five different calendar systems of reckoning time.)  At the request of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Julius I (Bishop of Rome from 337 – 352 A.D.) made an investigation into the matter of the date.  In 350 A.D., December 25 was set as the most probable time.  The Feast of the Nativity was first observed on this day at Rome, perhaps in 353 A.D.; and from then on the custom spread throughout the empire. About a century later near 440 A.D. the Bishop at Jerusalem also accepted this ruling, as did most of the other Christians, except the Armenians, who still observe Christmas on January 6.  Although many authorities did not agree then and many still do not agree today that December 25 was the correct date—the world will no doubt continue to celebrate on this date.

It is interesting to note that different sources have suggested reasons why the early Church officials selected this date.  Many of the Roman soldiers were adherents to Mithraism, a religion that for a time was a strong rival to Christianity in the empire.  Its most important feast day, (Birth of the Unconquered Sun), occurred on December 25.  The Church authorities may have set the date of Christ’s birth to correspond to celebrations already in practice through earlier pagan beliefs.  Perhaps they thought it wise to give a sacred meaning to pagan observances, rather than antagonize new converts by doing away completely with old customs.

But attempts to combine pagan and Christian events led to difficulties and the pollution of the church by pagan practices.  When the Church found it impossible through repeated bans to abolish all the pagan customs, it “Christianized” them and incorporated them into the Christian observance of Christmas.  This explains the use of greenery (like trees), candles and other lights for decorating the home.  In the Roman world the Saturnalia (December 17) was a time of merry-makinig and the exchange of gifts.  December 25 was also regarded as the birth date of the Persian mystery god Mithras also known as the “Sun of Righteousness”.  On the Roman New Year (January 1) houses were decorated with greenery and lights.   Gifts were also given to children and the poor.  Although at first Christians were expected to observe Christmas as a religious holiday exclusively, gradually secular, even pagan elements, such as those listed above and practiced today, were added.

So, the question for us today is:  Will we celebrate Christmas as Christians or as Pagans?  If Christ is left out of Christmas then it is simply a pagan festival.  Nowhere in the New Testament does it instruct us to celebrate the birth of Jesus as some special holiday observance.  The same could be said of Easter too (another term from pagan history).  The only observances we are instructed to do are worship on the Lord’s Day, baptism and communion. 

So was the observance of the birth of Christ as some special holiday to be remembered each year spawned from the nativity in Bethlehem or from the politicized Church of the 4^th Century A.D. combating Pagan religious celebrations and striving to “Christianize” them?   Something to think about for this Christmas season.  In a real sense every day for the Christian is a celebration of the Incarnation and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.   Don’t limit your praise and celebration to just one day a year.

DON'T TEMPT ME!

Matthew 4:1-11

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He ^[a]then became hungry. ³ And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” ⁴ But He answered and said,“It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

⁵ Then the devil *took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ and *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’;and‘On their hands they will bear You up,So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “^[b]On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

⁸ Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;⁹ and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and ^[c]worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and^[d]serve Him only.’” ¹¹ Then the devil *left Him; and behold,angels came and began to minister to Him. (NASB)

When was the last time you were tempted?  

Did you yield to it or resist it?

What is temptation?

Theologians and Bible scholars have examined and written much about the doctrine of sin but in comparison very little has been considered about the doctrine of temptation.    It seems reasonable to consider what the Scriptures say about temptation in order to prevent the possibility of sinning. 

Is temptation a positive or negative thing?

I.             Word Study:

a.   Old Testament:  In the Old Testament the Hebrew term which is translated as “tempt” or “temptation” is nasah.  It occurs about 40 times in the Old Testament but is also translated as “test” or “prove”.

b.   New Testament:  The verb form “peirazo”  occurs about 40 times in the New Testament as well.  It is translated as “tempt” or “test”.  The noun form “peirasmos” is found about 20 times and is translated as “temptation” or “trial”.

II.           UNDERSTANDING: 

In the Scriptures the term often translated as “test” or “temptation” is actually a neutral term.  Whether it becomes positive or negative depends on the source and intent behind it. When the source has a negative intent to tear someone down or entice to do evil then it is “temptation” or “tempt” that we see.  This is what most people think of with regards to temptation. If the source has a good intent to build someone up and see them improve then it is seen as “test”, “trials”, or “prove”.  Yes a test is a good thing.  Just like in school a teacher gives a test to gauge that you understand the material.  The intent of the test is not to see you fail but to see what your knowledge is so as to proceed in striving to pass the course.  It is the same Greek term as that used above.

The good news for us is that what the world or Satan intends to tear us down with God can actually use it to build us up.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”   -Romans 8:28 (ESV)

So whether we pass the “test” or yield to “temptation” is really up to us!

III.          POINTS TO PONDER:

What are some ways you can resist temptation? 

What have you found useful to build up your arsenal to resist temptation?

Some ideas to consider are:

1.    Read Scripture regularly.

2.   Have at least a 5 minute devotional time with the Lord each day.

3.   Prayer

4.   Listen to Christian music regularly.

5.   Strive to keep positive sources feeding your mind and spirit.

6.   Start each day asking yourself, “What is one task to focus on that will honor God today?”

7.   Attend the assembly of the saints regularly.

8.   Ask yourself before doing or viewing anything, “Can I see Jesus doing this?”

Ever since the Garden of Eden temptation has been with us.  But by the power of the Holy Spirit we can resist the evil intent of temptation and pass God’s test to be a better servant in which to honor Him.   I won’t say “good luck” because its not a matter of luck, it’s a matter of the will.  So when tempted will it be God’s will or a worldly will you follow?  Something to consider isn’t it?  Your response will determine whether you honor or dishonor the Lord.   

The Law of Liberty

In reading the New Testament the term “law” is used frequently and usually refers to the Old Testament and the laws given under Moses.  This law teaches us what our problem is, namely sin.  The Law of Moses shows us what our problem is but does not provide the solution or remedy since no one can keep all the Law.  With the coming of Jesus and His death, burial and resurrection the Old Law was fulfilled in His perfection and a new law was put in place.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves.  For  if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”        -James 1:22-25 (ESV)

“So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.  For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.”     -James 2:12-13 (ESV)

Let’s make two observations about the Law of Liberty…

First, the Law of Liberty requires a preserving action demonstrating a life of freedom from sin.   This is the heart of James message in his book.  Faith must be shown and acted upon not merely stated.  Anyone can say that they believe in Jesus, even demons believe that, but a true follower of Christ will demonstrate it and strive to live it out.  You will see it in the fruit of their lives.  It must be seen in the deeds and lifestyle of the believer.  When one truly understands what spiritual freedom from sin really entails it should drive one to live a life of thanksgiving in deeds and actions not merely in words.

Second, the Law of Liberty was created by and remains driven by mercy.  We are to demonstrate mercy to others just as Christ has shown it to us.  A judgment day is coming and each of us will stand before the author of life.  Do you want to be judged according to the Law of Moses or according to the Law of Liberty?   I choose the latter!  Look at James 2:13 again, “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

So here is a question to ponder…Which law is at work in your life?


                                 

THE DREAM (by Michele Jones)

This week is different, I'm posting a story that Michele wrote as a result of a dream she had.  I think you may find it very interesting.

The Dream

In my dream, my friends and I were excited to visit a new worship center. We arrived early and stepped eagerly from our cars mesmerized by the grandeur of the place, sprawled out before us on pristine manicured lawns and gardens. We stood in awe of the marbled tones of the building with towering and ornately carved columns supporting the portico. Here, valet parking was not the exception, but the rule. A massive sea of people brushed against us. Busily they came and went being ushered through the great hall entrance and tiled corridors. Everyone's faces smiled and glowed with delight. They too were mesmerized by such regal surroundings and with each other. Polished leather laced up tightly and tailored, buttoned vests made the men appear stylishly handsome. Ladies of all sizes were adorned in large plumed hats and silk dresses. Everyone beamed from ear to ear with anticipation. Curiously, there were no children. 

Surprisingly, my friends and I passed with great ease through the maze of people and found our way to seats in the main worship center.  I was pleased to find a multicultural center with its stage already teaming with singers and prayer warriors while others formed circles to dance together in the aisles. Ladies in white robes chanted and sang in a different dialect, which concerned me at first. As I listened closer, I became excited because they were not merely rambling strange sounds but they actually sang in Hebrew, the mother of all languages.

Men in Victorian coattails raised gloved hands high in the air as they stood on the multi-level steps of the platform to offer prayers to those in need. Huge, colorful banners of silk and linen lined the walls. Monitors of many different shapes and sizes were strategically placed throughout the entire facility so that no one would miss any happenings on center stage.

My eyes darted from one side of the room to the other trying to absorb all of the activity and scenery of the massive sanctuary. My attention soon turned to polished serving trays being passed from one row to the next that carried a communion of delicate wafers and crystal stemware filled with wine. Many in the room took the remembrance, as some sat with heads bowed and others humbly knelt on the floor in front of their seat. I became frustrated, because in that moment a pause should have been taken and reflection been giving on what and why this ceremony, yet most of the room refused to cease its noise and distractions. Those of us who wanted to pray were interrupted by relentless chaos. People did not stop their singing, shouting and lively conversations.  People still moved all around the room even though ample seating was provided.  As I studied closer, different areas of the room began to illuminate and I saw that around the perimeter there were grand buffet tables each with a designated white-gloved butler ready to serve the patrons from silver pans steaming with hot food. The room buzzed loudly with jumbled conversations, while silver tongs clinked against fine porcelain china. People laughed and talked while having their plates piled high, again and again. Still I observed there were no children.

I waited for the corporate worship where the body in one voice sings out praises.  I waited for the sermon to commence to encourage the believer and bring the sinner to repentance, yet neither happened. Everyone was busy doing their own thing in their own way. The activities of singing, dancing in the aisles, loud conversations and continuous eating became overwhelming. Then everything ended rather abruptly with ushers who flashed wide smiles across their faces and pointed to the left. The crowd moved in the same direction as we were all ushered out of the area through the side doors to exit the campus via the gift shop.

Like a grand bazaar, there were booths, tables and polished glass display cases. Trinkets sparkled in the cases casting prisms of colors around the room. Fabrics in varying styles and materials draped mannequins and clothing racks. Gold clocks were displayed on ornately carved boxes near the four chairs lined ready and quietly waited for anyone who wanted to have their hair done. As we pushed our way through this new chaos, I soon found myself alone in my attempts to escape the madness. Sadly my companions were being absorbed by the trappings of the bazaar and were soon transformed into shop owners peddling their wares.

Though the dream was vivid and quite strange, it disturbed me enough to try to put it all down on paper. I am sure my words hardly do the dream justice, but there are images that have disturbed me.

 Is this what is to become of our churches today? Are we meeting for a grand celebration of ourselves and what we have built? Have we become so engrossed in the huge facilities and ultra-modern conveniences that we have lost sight as to why we are there? Are we the white washed tombs Jesus referred to? Do we come with our white gloves and plumed hats in celebration of ourselves? Are we at this place of worship because that is where all of our friends are or have we come to this place of worship because the Truth is being taught and lived out and where souls are being saved?

In my dream communion was served and observed by some, but not all. Many people were too busy in the “act” of worship making sure they were noticed for their chants and dances. That saddened my heart.  The time of communion should be precious and sweet as we observe what Christ did for us on the cross. In reality there are those today that would rather whisper or scroll though screens on their phones or other electronic devices rather than take the time to acknowledge Christ for who He is and what He has done for all of us that we might have forgiveness and restoration to the Father by His sacrifice. We all fall prey to our enemy’s attack of distractions. I want to be focused and my thoughts purposed so that my heart and mind are in true worship of Him and His sacrifice. Worship is never about me; it’s all about Him.

I am sure that would be a sight to see if we showed up for worship and found buffet tables all around filled with our favorite delicacies.  Worship is not about satisfying our physical state. We come to feed on the pure Word of the Lord and drink of His living waters so that our spirits will be refreshed and strengthened for the battles we must face. We come to hear words both of conviction and encouragement. We come to honor and celebrate our Heavenly Father and rejoice over those being saved.

I visited a group once that had a small café at the entrance of their meeting place. Everyone was welcomed to have some coffee or a pastry and take a few moments to visit with each other. I liked the idea, especially if I were running late and missed my breakfast. I also liked the idea that a stranger might feel more at ease talking over a latte. I was saddened later when during the worship service I noticed a man singing praises only to stop to take another sip of his creamed coffee before he continued the song.  Have we really become that casual with God? What about reverence?

Where is the true worship when we are more concerned about our espresso than singing out our praises? 

The gift shop was an interesting feature in the dream. I like shops, especially the ones off the beaten path where wonderful treasures await discovery. But would we really turn our worship center into a marketplace? In the Bible we can read where the Jews did and it made Christ so angry he turned over their tables and chased the merchants away. Are we the merchants trying to “sell our wares,” our beliefs that may be contrary to what is valuable and important? Do we come to worship with a shopper’s mentality picking out only certain aspects that make us happy and leaving out others because they are too inconvenient or convicting? The enemy will always try to dazzle us with sparkling trinkets to take our focus away from the One of true value and worth. Christ is the treasure that we seek.

I suppose the strangest element of the dream was the corporate worship setting without children. It made me think of our own children who are the voice for the next generation in the world. They will be the ones to carry the banner of Christ to the lost and dying in sin. Isn’t worship both personal and together as a family? We should hold them close and let them see and experience our worship of God.

 My prayer is that we will show them what true worship is really all about whether we are gathered together in a corporate setting or in the privacy of our homes.  When we rise up and when we lie down and all the time in between may we be teaching our children the love of Christ and how to truly worship Him in reverence and humility and also with joyful celebration.

REAL WORSHI IS...(Part Five)

   
                                   

              REAL WORSHIP IS SECURE

"Then Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you."  -Genesis 22:5 (ESV)

Three days after the Lord instructed Abraham to go sacrifice his son Isaac he approaches near the area he was to go.  Abraham did not know all that was going to happen.  No doubt many possible scenarios may have gone through his mind during the three day journey.  However, Abraham obeyed and started the journey believing that God was a God of miracles and that perhaps one would be delivered to him. In any case, Abraham believed that his worship of God would not be in vain.

Even today, genuine worshipers may not understand everything.  One may not like the various twists in the road of one's life but true worship strives to offer itself unreservedly to the Lord in spite of what it cannot comprehend.  True worship bows to the Lord in the face of whatever comes into one's life be it good, bad or ugly.  Real worship exalts the Lord knowing Who He is, what He has done, and where the journey of faith will ultimately wind up.  

Abraham was secure in his mind that he and the boy would return together (vs. 5).  He was also secure in his thinking that it was a real miracle in itself to be permitted to worship the Lord in the first place.  

In summary for this series of blogs on worship it is good to understand that what made all this possible for Abraham was his willingness to be available to the Lord.  In Genesis 22:1 we read, "After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, 'Abraham!'  And he said, 'Here I am."    Abraham was in the place he was supposed to be and prepared to hear the voice of the Lord.  He was ready to worship!   

"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him."  -John 4:23 (ESV)

God is seeking real worshipers today. So here is a question to ponder... 

Is your worship genuine?