“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
The Christmas narrative in the Bible is the unfolding of God giving that one and only Son. Trust Him and you will live forever.
Merry Christmas!
Royce
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What a remarkable chapter of God’s word and revelation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have taken the liberty of highlighting phrases and words that jumped out me as I read and reread Romans 5. The resulting emphasis is amazing and wonderful. There is a series of causes and results as follows.
v1 “We have been justified…we have peace”
vs 2,3 “We have gained….we now stand” “we rejoice in hope….we rejoice in sufferings…..because we know”
v5 “God has poured out His love…He has given”
vs6-8 “Christ died for the ungodly….died for us…..God demonstrates”
v9 “we have now been justified….how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath?”
v10 “We were reconciled….we have been reconciled….we shall be saved through His life
v11 “how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath…have now received reconciliation.
v15 “God’s grace….the gift….overflow”
v16 “The gift….brought justification”
v17 “those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness….reign in life”
v18 “One act of righteousness….life for all men”
v19 “through the obedience of the one man…. the many will be made righteous”
v20 “grace might reign through righteousness… to bring… eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This is the justified sinner’s declaration of dependence. At least a dozen times in this rich chapter Christ is referenced. He came, His death, His life, His obedience, His gift…
The story of redemption and the grace of God toward wicked sinners is not about a partnership. It is about a benevolent God who in grace and mercy obeyed in the sinners stead, He died in the sinners place, He was raised again because of the sinners justification, and we reconciled sinners are alive forever by His life.
God is a lover of sinful, wicked people…and he loves you. He spoke and things lept into existence from nothing except His power. He needs no help to make sinful men and women fit for heaven. The work was done before we got here. Our decree of pardon has been signed, sealed and delivered. The gospel extends God’s offer to receive the gift and live.
This is the love of God, this is the grace of God, this is to the glory of God alone.
Royce
We have all heard it said “Remember the reason for the season“. Good advice I’d say because for many it is a season without reason. Today as I reflected on this happy time of year and the ever faster approaching day, I thought about these things.
We celebrate Christ’s birth, and that is a good thing. I have little patience with those holier- than- thou types who have decided celebrating Christmas is bad because of some pagan, demon inspired conspiracy to cause Christians to celebrate an evil day. Without regard to how much one loves Jesus or how dedicated one is to him and his teachings, people the world over remember him at this time of year. I am glad.
Jesus’ birth is something to be celebrated. His humble birth though would be virtually meaningless but for his cruel death. His willing dying is what makes his birth so special. Had he not died, been buried, and then raised again to life, his birth would get no more attention than most others who were born in Bethlehem (Except his mom was a virgin, not an insignificant fact) near the time Jesus was born.
Born to die so I can live, my sin my shame to him I give. Immortality is his gift so free, a gracious offer is the gospel plea. I remember well when I heard the story, and bowed my will to the Lord of glory. Merry Christmas to me.
Christmas is marked by giving, pretty presents covered with colorful paper and beautiful bows. But all the giving of ten million Christmases cannot match the gifts by God to sinners. Gifts? Yes, gifts. God gave his one and only Son that he loved to die bearing the sins of the world. Jesus gave himself a sacrificial lamb to die the death for every man. And, God gives forgiveness and eternal life to everyone who will accept.
Looking back to a lowly manger in the City of David so many years ago does not compare to looking forward to the new Jerusalem, a city not built with hands. All who truly love Jesus will inhabit God’s city, feast at his table, enjoy Christ and bask in his glory forever.
In birth God with us, in life on earth God among us, teaching us, at Pentecost God in us, today God shaping us, using us to love others, displaying his holiness in our lives to a watching, hurting world.
The final gift is yet to be fully appreciated. Sin, sickness, sadness, sorrow, shame, separation, are all limited to this fallen world, they have no place in our future with Jesus. There is only Light, Peace, Joy, Praise, Glory, Worship, and …..well, language is inadequate to begin to describe even the microscopic glimpse we have of our certain future.
Why on earth would a Christian not say a hardy and heart-felt “Merry Christmas!“?
I appreciate each of you who read Grace Digest. May God’s peace rule in your hearts as we have a tiny taste of God’s glory in this holy season.
Gratefully,
Royce
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
Jesus Christ died for sinners in that he took their sins upon him and paid for them by suffering God’s wrath and dying on a cross by bloodshed. He was the sacrificial lamb offered to God for the sins of the world, (“the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”). His perfect life lived fulfilling the law by perfect obedience and his substitutionary and sacrificial death were authenticated by his resurrection from the dead.
Jesus fully satisfied God’s demand for perfect obedience, for a holy life, one with no sin. He took the punishment for sin by giving his own sinless life to suffer and die under the penalty of sin and for sin. His resurrection defeated our common enemy death, and his life is now our life, we can live forever because he lives.
Because of what Christ has already accomplished God can declare a wicked sinner “just” and not violate his justice, his holiness, or compromise his hatred of sin. Those who trust Christ and what he has done on their behalf have eternal life and forgiveness of sins, now, and a promised future with Christ after their days on earth are done.
This is the very good news!
Doing right, being right, acting right saying the right things, belonging to the right church, being born in the right family, having the right heritage and a million other things cannot do for you what Christ alone can do. Church attendance, holy communion, baptism, confirmation, confession, and every other ritual are meaningless unless in back of them and supporting them is a personal trust in Jesus Christ and his work for sinners like us.
Have you, or will you, turn from your own way to living Christ’s way? Are you depending on Jesus and him alone to forgive you and give you eternal life? If so you should tell a friend who is a Christian, or a minister, the local pastor, or chaplain that you want to follow Christ. You should be baptized at once by immersion reenacting Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and by doing so you will be saying to a watching world “I am dying to myself and my ways and I am going to live for Christ in the new life he has given me”. You should join yourself with a group of people who love Jesus and want to do his will and who can help you grow in grace and in knowing Jesus even more.
If you do not trust Christ you are rejecting him and the sentence is death.
“the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23)
You have before you a life or death choice. You can accept the gift of eternal life or reap the wages of sin and die, it is your choice. I hope you have or will choose life.
for Jesus,
Royce
Grace Digest 