WHEN
GOD CAME DOWN
By
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
In this little message, I would like to share with you some wonderful truths about the birth of our Saviour, including the reason and results of His coming and what this marvellous event means to us today.
I have entitled this message, "WHEN GOD CAME DOWN". For truly it was a day in which God did come down upon the earth to redeem mankind.
The Bible declares that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Rom. 1:3-4), that He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21) and that He who was rich became poor, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 8:9).
Zacharias prophesied: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and redeemed His people". (Luke 1:68).
And what a visit and redemption that was: God's Son paying the sin debt that was against us, through His vicarious death for the entire race.
John the Baptist would prepare the way for the Redeemer, who would shatter the darkness of sin, sickness, disease, fear and demon influence and bring peace to the earth. (Rom. 3: 23-26)
“Who His own Self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by Whose stripes we were healed. For we were as sheep going astray: but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (1 Peter 2: 24, 25)
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth: For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus: Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2: 3-6)
LAMB SLAIN BEFORE WORLD'S CREATION!
Before the foundation of the world, God prepared His Salvation to redeem mankind from the snare of Satan. Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev. 5:6). The Redemption Plan was mapped out and decided upon even then. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was to be God's paschal Lamb, the burden-bearer, deliverer and Redeemer of lost humanity.
The Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16). God gave His Son to die for us all and Jesus was willing to go. God had prepared the 'Royal Visitation of Redemption' and when sin, hopelessness and spiritual darkness covered the earth, Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem.
God spread a ray of Heavenly Light into the world to bless humanity, destroy the power of Satan and to liberate mankind! Satan's plan for domination of man was thwarted, upset and nullified because God shed His love and Grace toward His creation:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."(Eph. 2:8-9): “But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Gal. 4:4-5).
PROPHETS FORETOLD MESSIAH'S COMING!
For 4,000 years the prophets had been read to the people of God, declaring that God Almighty had promised a Messiah to deliver them. No doubt every young Jewish girl secretly hoped that she would be the one that would be favoured by God to bear the Christ child, because the Scriptures stated:
"Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign, Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel." (Is. 7:14). "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a SON is given and the Government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Is. 9: 6);
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto thee that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2; Matt.1: 23)
"And in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said Hail thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee, blessed are thou among women.
“And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
“And He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there shall be no end." (Luke 1:26-38)
MARY WAS A VIRGIN!
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
“But while he thought on those 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. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call Him JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matt.1:20, 21)
“Then said Mary, How shall this be since I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:34, 35)
MARY NEEDED A PERSONAL SAVIOUR!
For those who love the Virgin Mary, please follow her example and in obedience to the Holy Scriptures, renounce the cult of Mary worship and become a believer in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour!
We are saved by grace alone, faith alone and in Christ alone. Jesus Christ ALONE is the door to God and Eternal Life. (John 14:6)
1. Mary received Jesus Christ as her Saviour: "My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." (Luke 1:46, 47). This godly virgin recognized that she was a vessel that God would use to bring His Son into the world, through the process of incarnation, so He would continue to be sinless. She confessed God's Son as her Lord and Saviour!
It was not difficult for her to confess Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour, because she had been informed by Gabriel of the eternal plan of God for Him. Here is her reaction to Gabriel's message: “And Mary said, Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1: 38)
It is important to understand that Mary is NOT the Mother of God. She was the mother of the infant Jesus and given the privilege of bearing the Christ Child. God doesn't have a Mother. To worship Mary is idolatry and blasphemy. Those who teach that Jesus is a 'Co-redemptrix' or 'Mediatrix' with Jesus, are enemies of the cross sent by Satan to deceive and destroy souls!
2. Mary was filled with the Holy Ghost: “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 1:14; 2:4).
Mary was one of the 120 who sought God for ten days in dedication and prayer, and were filled with the blessed Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. And, yes, Mary spoke in tongues and glorified God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
3. Joseph knew her not until after the birth of Jesus: “Then Joseph, being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife and knew her not til she brought forth her first born son, and he called His Name Jesus.” (Matt. 1:24, 25). Mary lived a normal married life after the birth of Jesus and had several children by her husband Joseph.
4. Mary had children by Joseph: “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him. Then one said unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to talk with Thee. But He answered and said unto him that told Him, Who is My mother? And who are My brethren?
“And He stretched forth His had hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of My Father, the same shall be My brother, and sister and mother.” Matt. 2: 47-50
5. Jesus gave His mother away: As the eldest child in the family, it was His duty to look after His mother before His death. Since He was going to Heaven to sit on His Father's right hand, He no longer needed an earthly mother, so He officially gave His mother to John.
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple (John) took her unto his own house.” (John 19: 25-27)
JESUS' BIRTH WAS SUPERNATURAL:
1. Jesus of Nazareth had a Miracle Birth:
He was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Ghost - humanly impossible but quite easy for God - because He is a Miracle God:
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. 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.” (John 1: 1,2, 14)
2. The Bible is a Miracle Book:
“As for God, His way is perfect: the Word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him.” (Ps.18:30); “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass always.”(Matt.24: 35)
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1: 20, 21);
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction in righteousness.”(2 Cor.3:16)
3. We are Born Again by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit:
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit; Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.” (John 3: 3-7)
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. But the Word of the Lord abideth forever. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you.” (1 Peter 1: 23, 25)
4. We are Redeemed by a miracle of God:
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and spot:
"Who was verily foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” (1 Peter 1:18-20); “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed.”(1 Peter 2: 24)
5. We are Baptized with the Holy Spirit:
We experience a Miracle when JESUS baptizes and fills us with the Holy Spirit of God. Our Heavenly Father fills us with Himself. He takes total control and speaks through us with new tongues giving glory, honour and praise unto Jesus Christ the Liberator of humanity and the Saviour of the world!
The prophet Isaiah foretold this great experience seven hundred and fifty years before it happened on the Day of Pentecost about 33 A.D. in an Upper Room in Jerusalem:
“For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak unto this people. To whom He said, This is the rest whereby ye may cause the weary to rest and this the refreshing: yet they would not hear.” (Is. 28: 11, 12):
“In the last day that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7: 37, 38)
The Bible states: “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph. 5:9, 18)
6. Miracles of healing emanate from God and are still happening:
God is a Miracle God and we are His people. Our God has not changed His Word and will always keep His Word as promised. The Holy Bible is filled with testimonies of His goodness and grace. There are many who have been healed by God's power and experienced a Miracle.
“Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5: 14, 15)
“And these Signs shall follow them that believe: In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpent; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and thy shall recover.
So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. Amen.” (Mark 16:17-20).
To God be the Glory: I can testify for His Names' sake that I have seen hundreds of such great miracles through many years of preaching His Gospel! Hallelujah to the Lamb forever and ever!
7. Our walk is a walk of faith:
All who believe that He is Alive, know His ability to keep us from all evil and constantly burning with the Holy Spirit's fire and doing exploits for Him by the power of His Name! There is nothing that can stop the Army of God marching in lockstep, destroying Satan's works and freeing his captives!
“And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19);
“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not, but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him NOT. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” (1 John 5: 18, 19)
He has given us 'The Great Commission' a living, binding document, entailing our job description: Where we are to go? What are we to do? When are we to do it? How are we to do it? Why are to do it? We are to take His Gospel into all the world. We are to preach His Word and minister in the power of His Spirit employing His gifts of Power to bring forgiveness, healing and much blessing to all. Duty calls we Must Answer!
We must do it now because the Hour is late and Christ will soon Return. And the enemy is working at top speed knowing that his time is short! He is a defeated foe and is employing millions of 'enemies of the Cross' but his death knell sounded when Jesus Christ cried, “It Is Finished”.
The word He spoke out was in Greek – Tetelestai – with three essential meanings: To finish something, bring something to an end; to fulfill something; to pay that which is owed! Jesus Christ had finished His redemptive work. He had brought to an end Satan's power over mankind. He had fulfilled the Old Testaments Scriptures concerning the Jewish Messiah and He had paid the price in full for our salvation, forgiveness, healing and deliverance. We are now free for time and for eternity!
TRUE GOD & TRUE MAN!
Everything about our Saviour was miraculous because He was still in the bosom of the Father. He humbled Himself when left the Throne of Glory to be incarnated, God in human flesh so that He could atone for the sins of the world, past, present and future. He was God in human flesh, but He laid aside His Godhood so that He could be true God and True man His virgin birth!
Because He was sinless, death could not hold Him in Hades. He said, “I lay down My life and I will take it again”. No man could take it from Him.
He voluntarily laid it down. When the time came to arise from the death, He simply rose from the dead. He freely gave it for mankind's salvation. And He is alive forever more!
His life was a continuous miracle. He healed the sick, raised the dead, multiplied loaves and fishes, walked on the water, forgave sinners. (John 10:17-18). His resurrection was a miracle (Acts 1:9)
And when He returns in the clouds to receive us to Himself, it will be another miracle.(1 Thes. 4:16). He is our Miracle God and we are His Miracle people, living by faith in the finished work of Calvary, found in His Holy and Divine Word!
THE ANGEL VISITS JOSEPH:
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise, when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
“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". (Matt. 1:20); "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." (Matt. 1: 23)
When Joseph realized his wife-to-be was expecting a child, he was shocked and suspected, of course, unfaithfulness to purity and chastity from Mary, but as he thought along these lines, the Angel of God came unto him and revealed God's Divine Plan for the child which was to be born.
JESUS IS THE ONLY SAVIOUR:
Jesus Christ is the Only Saviour of the world. No one else can save you from your sins. Buddha, Muhammed, Confucius, the Pope, were born as humans and have died as humans but Jesus Christ was born as Saviour and died as Saviour and when He arose, that crowned the Event of events, as He was declared to be the Son of God with power through the Resurrection (Rom. 1:4).
Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life". (John 14:6) "I am the door, by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." (John 10:9)
No one else can forgive sins but Jesus - The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from sin (1 John 1:7). "Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate, for many I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." (Luke 13:23-24)
"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." (Luke 13:28)
The Holy Bible says: "There is no other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12). The prophet stated: “... His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Is.9:6). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
JESUS: GOD'S UNSPEAKABLE GIFT!
His Name is greater than anything or anyone we could consider. We stand in amazement at the Only ONE who has the credentials to forgive our sins, heal our bodies and minds, and adopt us eternally as His children! The WONDER of it all, is greater than our rational minds can understand!
St. Paul explained it this way: “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” (2 Cor. 9:15). There are no words in human language to explain, articulate or verbalize God's Gift of His SON as His pascal Lamb to atone for the sins of world, past, present and future!
“For He hath made Him to be sin (offering) for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor. 5:21); “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes, He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich,” (2 Cor. 8: 9)
JESUS WAS BORN KING!
As the wise men entered Jerusalem, they asked "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and are come to worship Him". (Matt. 2:1-2) When Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth was born, she was born a Princess and became Queen.
Nearly every reigning Monarch has been born as a Prince and then become King years later but when Jesus was born, He was not born as a Prince! He was born King and he is still King today, greater than the kings of the earth and of His Kingdom there shall be no end. (Isaiah 9:7)
In Acts 17:7 Paul and Silas were preaching, the multitudes came together and charged Jason saying, These men preach that there is another King, one Jesus. Paul preached it, that Jesus Christ is King.
He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Thomas, that man of doubt and unbelief, when He saw Jesus he fell down and cried out "My Lord and My God". He wants to be your Saviour but also your Lord and Master and King; Supreme in your life.
In Rev. 19:11-16 we see Jesus riding on a white horse. He is going out to destroy the Anti-Christ with the breath of His mouth. On His thigh and vesture, which has been dipped in blood, a Name is written, "The King of kings and Lord of lords". Won't you let Him come in and be the ruler and King in your life?
Wise men today also seek for Jesus! "Ye shall seek for Me and find Me when ye search for Me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13) "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God." (Ps. 14:1) The Wise Men worshipped Him (Jesus), not His mother. (Matt. 2:11)
THE ANGEL'S VISIT TO THE SHEPHERDS:
How surprised and fearful the shepherds were when suddenly the glory of the Lord shone round about them as the Angel of the Lord came upon them. As they fell to the earth, the Angel said:
"Fear thou not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12)
Many have wondered why God would send Angels to the shepherds. It was because David was the shepherd king and Jesus Christ was born of the lineage of David and so the poor shepherds were the first to be told.
When someone has a baby, they quickly send their neighbours and friends announcement cards - but when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, God the Father sent Angels down to herald the birth of the Saviour. And when the shepherds had found the Messiah as told by the angels, they went everywhere telling people about this wonderful happening.
When the artist paints the picture of the Saviour and His mother, they usually depict a halo around their heads. The Scripture doesn't mention any halo, however, but the Swaddling Clothes were given as a sign, in which the Christ Child was wrapped, and the Manger.
NO ROOM IN THE INN:
There was no room in the Inn. Jesus Christ, God's Son was born in a Stable (barn) in Bethlehem. I often wondered why He was born in a stable and then I realized that that is where lambs are born and Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
Today many people have no room for Him in their lives. They have no room for Him in their hearts. They have excluded the Son of God from the throne of their souls. They have been too busy to think about Christianity - about God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Too busy with business, making money, along with the cares and pleasures of this world, with no time for Jesus. But He stands and knocks at your heart's door!
HE INVITES: "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with Me". (Rev. 3: 20). Don't be so rude - He's been standing knocking on your heart's door for a long time. Why don't you let Him come into your heart and set up His throne in your life.
HOW CAN WE BE BORN AGAIN?
What
does Jesus' birth, death and resurrection mean to us today? And what
must we do to receive the great blessings which His Redemptive work
affords us: It means that God has given His best to bless humanity.
Jesus came to bring life, health and happiness.
He
came to give peace and joy to those who would believe, here on this
earth and Eternal Life for evermore. The Jewish nation rejected Him
and turned Him over to the Roman Authorities for crucifixion.
Jesus of Nazareth died according to the purpose and will of His Father, as God's Paschal Lamb bearing the sins of the world, past, present and future. On the the third day He arose from the dead, having met the righteous demands of divine justice in the Courts of Heaven, for the sins of mankind!
St. Peter's stated: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved. 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 in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 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)
1. ADMIT THAT YOU ARE A SINNER: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3: 23); “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.” (Is. 23: 6)
2. BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD: “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through might be saved.” (John 3: 16, 17); “He that believeth the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him.” (John 3: 36)
3. REPENT OF YOUR SINS: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Is. 55: 7); “Then said Peter unto them, Repent , and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” ( Acts 2: 38)
4. RECEIVE JESUS AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOUR: “For this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5: 11-13)
“Behold , I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him and he with Me.” (Rev. 3: 20)
5. CONFESS HIM BEFORE MEN: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10:9, 10);
“Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” (Luke 12: 8, 9)
CHRIST JESUS: THE GIFT OF GOD!
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” (2 Cor. 8: 9); “Thanks be unto God for the unspeakable gift.” (2 Cor. 9: 25)
In
His great mercy and by His grace, God the Father of all mercies, has
chosen the weak, base and foolish things of this world to confound
the things that are mighty.” (1 Cor.1:27).
St. Paul wrote: “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of
God is made unto wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification and
redemption.” (1 Cor. 1:30)
Only by the grace of God have we been chosen to become partakers of Christ's nature thereby making us children of God, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. In His great mercy, kindness and love, He has made us 'accepted in the Beloved'. (Eph. 1: 6)
Not only has He saved us from Satan's evil power and our own carnal and sinful ways, but He has given us through His own Son, Jesus Christ, His Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption. (1 Cor. 1:30)
He has taken the foolish things of this world, like ourselves, and made us His very own sons. We were redeemed by His precious blood, from the curse of the Law, when Jesus became a curse for us. (Gal. 3:13)
WHY DID ALMIGHTY GOD DO THIS?
What
was the purpose of Christ's Incarnation, miraculous Ministry, His
meritorious, vicarious death on the CROSS, and His glorious
resurrection from the dead? It was the out flowing of our Father's
great mercy, love, grace and goodness toward the Human race.
His great
heart of love planned and executed it all before the worlds were
created. He would have a church, a people and family to love and
cherish and to use as the expression of His mercy and grace!
Who can understand such love? No-one is able to comprehend His greatness and the magnitude of His Grace. It is beyond our human power to assimilate or even imagine!
He wanted us! He called us! He forgave us! He saved us from our filthiness, pride and unrighteousness. He lifted us from the muck and mire, to sit with His Son Jesus Christ at His Heavenly Throne.
No wonder St. Paul says, “That no flesh should glory! We have nothing to Gloat about. It was all His plan, His work and His goodness that gave us all this! Where would I be?
Where would we all be without His Mercy? Lost in our sins, bound by chains of Lust, Greed and Pride – doomed forever in a lost eternity – filled with fear, agony and torment. O' what a Saviour! O' what a Redeemer! O' what a Blessedness, we have in Christ our Lord. To Him be all the honour, glory and praise forever and ever! Amen.
