When God Became Man

The countdown to the Christmas celebrations is nearly at an end! Now, I know that the one thing that we may say with certainty is that the Lord Jesus was not born on Dec.25th (personally, I believe that He was born during the Feast of Tabernacles), but it is the time of year when we celebrate His birth.

The anonymous writer of the Letter to Hebrew (Jewish) disciples of Jesus, states: "Thou didst make Him for a little while lower than the angels, Thou hast crowned Him with glory and honour," ( 2:7).

We cannot even begin to comprehend what it meant for the infinite Creator God to become finite man, even coming “in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3), the very flesh that He had created. Nevertheless, we can, and must, believe it, for “every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. ” (I John 4:3).

 

The Scriptures have given us a glimpse of the “emptying” that His incarnation required - the setting aside of certain outward aspects of His deity. He had been “much superior to angels” (Hebrews 1:4), but He had to be “made lower than the angels, ... ... because of the suffering of death,” (Hebrews 2:9)—“put to death in the flesh” (1 Peter 3:18).

 

The eternal Word “was God” (John 1:1), but it was necessary that “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14). “The world was made through Him” (John 1:10), but “the rulers of this age . . . crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8).

 

He, “though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,” (Philippians 2:6). That is, He was not fearful of losing His deity and, therefore, did not have to cling to His divine nature and attributes as He became man. Thus, He “emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:7).

 

Yet that was only the beginning. “For our sake He [God the Father] made Him [God the Son] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (II Corinthians 5:21; emphasis added). Note those emphasised words! For your sake, and for mine, the sinless One not only “bore our sins in His body on the tree” (I Peter 2:24). He actually became the very epitome of sin - sin in all of its blackness, and vileness, and degradation, and evil, etc., etc. Indeed, I firmly believe that it was at that moment in created time, that the Lord Jesus, hanging on the cross, uttered what has become known as 'the cry of dereliction' - “Eli, Eli, la′ma sabach-tha′ni?” that is, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matt.27:46).  The Holy One, Who cannot even look upon sin, turned His face from the Son - and the Son experienced, for that moment of time, separation from the Father. He suffered hell for us, that we might enjoy heaven with Him.

 

Because He was willing to be so humiliated He will, one day - and it may be much sooner than many may think! - be crowned with glory and honour. “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9 -11).

Are you ready for that day? In all of the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, let us not forget that it is only the first part of the story that leads to crucifixion, resurrection, and the glorious return of the Saviour.

The People Said, 'Amen'

For many years now, when I have been leading in public prayer, whether at a Sunday worship service, or a smaller meeting, I end by saying "Hallelujah!". What I do not say is "Amen". This is because the word means "I agree" or "That's right" - and, obviously, I agree with what I have just said, and believe it to be right! It's one of the words at which I look in my first book: "Great Words of the Faith". It may also be said when a particular point has been made during the preaching of the Word.

It is interesting to note the biblical examples of such a demonstration. There are sixteen times in which this or a similar statement occurs in the Bible, all in the Old Testament - not unsurprisingly, considering that it is a Hebrew word! 

No less than twelve are found in Deuteronomy 27:14-26 with the people so responding after the pronouncement of a "curse" on those who commit various sins. The last curse is as follows: "Cursed be he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’" (v. 26) in agreement with the judgment.

 

King David ended his thanksgiving psalm for the return of the Ark of the Covenant with, “Blessed be YHWH, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised YHWH.” (I Chronicles 16:36).  When Jerusalem's wall restoration was being delayed and Nehemiah had to rebuke some of his people for their covetousness, threatening God's judgment on them if they did not repent, then "all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise" (Nehemiah 5:13). After the wall was finished, as Ezra read the Scriptures to the people, "Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground." (Nehemiah 8:6).  The final such reference is in Psalm 106:48 - "Blessed be YHWH, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise YHWH!" (Hallelujah!)

 

If we follow Biblical precedent, therefore, whenever God's Word is read to a congregation, either in denunciation of sin or thanksgiving for blessing and revival, or simply in praising the Lord for His eternal goodness, or signifying our agreement with what has been prayed, it is appropriate for the people to respond with a hearty, and heartfelt, "Amen!"

Fifth Sunday

For a considerable time, I have used these "Fifth Sundays" to merely promote one of my own books. However, in my first post of last month, I wanted to build on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, by referring to some of the millions who die, each year, in situations that most of us are incapable of even imagining.

So, since all royalties on the sale of my books are sent directly to Release International, in support of the persecuted church, I have now decided to use these fifth Sundays to share some information about the persecuted church - but to also mention one of my books! Each time, I shall endeavour to share some of the contemporary situations in which disciples of Jesus are targeted for persecution.

More than 300 schoolgirls and 12 teachers have been taken from a school in north west Nigeria, in one of the largest ever mass abductions in the country. 

The incident happened in the early hours of Friday (21 November) at St Mary’s, a school in the Papiri community in Agwara Local Government Area (LGA). The number taken includes 88 students who were captured as they tried to escape. However, 50 of those taken have since managed to escape over the weekend. It’s believed that 253 students and teachers remain held. St Mary’s is a Romanist school, though it is not yet known what percentage of those taken are Christians. 

In response to this latest kidnapping, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has ordered the hiring of 30,000 more police officers, as well as the removal of all officers from VIP protection services to focus on core duties, especially in remote areas prone to attacks. The government has instructed the closure of nearly 50 federal colleges, and public schools in some states have been shut.  

Whilst kidnappings for ransom have commonly been used to terrorise and impoverish communities, former Minister of Information, Jerry  Gana, believes that the sudden escalation in abductions could be because armed groups want to use children as ‘human shields’ following the recent increase in global attention paid to violence against Christians in Nigeria. 

The apparent failure of the government to protect civilians has widespread effects, with more than 10,000 schools closed in northern Nigeria due to the current insecurity, exposing millions of children to illiteracy, early marriage and poverty. This vulnerability makes it easier for Islamist militant groups to recruit them, worsening the spiral of violence and oppression. 

“We are deeply saddened by these latest kidnappings in northern Nigeria,” says Jo Newhouse*, Open Doors (another organisation that my wife and I support, and that works as does RI) spokesperson for the work in sub-Saharan Africa. “We are immediately taken back to the Chibok girls kidnapping in 2014, of which many girls – now women – are still in captivity. We urge the Nigerian government to do everything in its power to safely return these student and teachers to their families, and ensure that schools are protected from such attacks. Closing schools are a short-term solution and all children should be free and safe to attend school and receive an education.” 

This book, available in both paperback and e-book (Kindle) forms, uses the wording of "The Apostles' Creed" to explain, in everyday terms, the basics of the Christian Faith. There are links at the top of the blog, and you may read the beginning, free of charge! 

Stand Fast

"Stand fast!" It's the command that one might hear as a soldier facing an attack by the enemy. The order is, in effect, to hold one's position even in the face of what might appear to be overwhelming odds.

So some might be surprised to hear the apostle, Paul, give the same command to the disciples of Jesus in the city of Philippi, located in northern Greece, near the border with modern-day Macedonia. The city was founded by Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, in the 4th century BC. It was later conquered by the Romans and became an important Roman colony.

In his letter to the local believers, Paul exhorts: "Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand fast thus in the Lord, my beloved." (4:1)

Several adjectives precede the command contained in this text. Not only does Paul twice use "dearly beloved" to describe his relationship with the Philippians, but he also insists that he longs for them and anticipates joy at the recognition of the "crown" he will receive in heaven.

 

These are intense words. "agapetos" is the descriptive Greek term translated "dearly beloved." The Heavenly Father uses that same word to express His love for His "beloved Son" (Matthew 3:17). Most of the New Testament letters freely use agapetos to describe various personal relationships with their brothers and sisters in Christ. That unique and deeply spiritual love is what demonstrates our difference to the unsaved. So John records the words of the Lord Jesus: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35).

 

Since Paul is separated from the Philippian church (almost certainly writing the letter from prison in Rome), his love for them caused him to "yearn for [them] all with the affection of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:8). That passionate ache is mitigated by the joy coming from the certain knowledge that his work will result in a "crown" (4:1; Greek stephanos - a victor's crown, often associated with achievement and honour) when God rewards our service. "For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?" (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

 

So, "let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel," (Philippians 1:27). "Be watchful, stand fast in your faith, be courageous, be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13). "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1). Stand fast in the liberty that salvation provides. Don't become tangled up in the bondage of legalistic burdens . "For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 3:8).

Signs of the Everlasting Covenants

I have just completed the text of my fourth book in "The Faith" series. This one, that is now going out for proofreading, and endorsements, is entitled "Living the Faith", and is based on the Letter from James. There is, however, an Appendix on what is referred to as "Replacement Theology" or "Supersessionism". Preparing that, over recent weeks, has made me think a lot about Bible covenants and, in this post, I want to share on four of them.

The first mention of the key word "covenant" is in Genesis 6:18, where God promised to establish a covenant with Noah after the Flood. "I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you." 

This everlasting covenant was made with all the earth's future populations and is still in effect, symbolized continually by the beautiful rainbow arching through the sky after rain. "When the bow is in the clouds, I will look upon it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth." (Gen. 9:16)

Almighty God also made an everlasting covenant with Abraham and Isaac. "And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. And I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Gen. 17:7-8). This time, the symbol of God's everlasting covenant between them and their descendants, the people of Israel, was that of circumcision, "You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you." (Gen. 17:11).

There is still another everlasting covenant with the Children of Israel. "I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts, that they may not turn from Me." (Jeremiah 32:40). These are just some of the covenants that Almighty God has made with the Children of Israel, and that confirm their right to the land that is now the State of Israel.

Finally, God has made this "new covenant" applicable to all of the saved and, this time, the sign of the covenant is nothing less than the precious blood of the Christ, shed on our behalf. "Now may the God of peace, Who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory for ever and ever. " (Hebrews 13:20-21). 

Are you in that covenant relationship? If not, why not? If I may be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me at the e-mail address at the top of the page.