Friday, December 18, 2020

Luke 2:10 (Great Joy for All)

Luke 2:10
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."

Christmas is a time of joy! The happiness that comes at Christmas effects nearly every aspect of this holiday. Many people are singing, smiling and laughing together. We bake sweets and treats that put smiles on our faces and dimples in our cheeks. It seems each and every holiday special and Christmas movie is required to have a happy ending full of the merry-making we desire this season.

Boy, the happiness of Christmas sure is wonderful, but it doesn't take much to derail this joyride. Does it? A fight erupts. A turkey gets burned. A relative offends. A news story is haunting. Your brother doesn't get that one thing he was wanting. Your sister will cry, your father will sigh, and your mom gets up and says "Bye-Bye." It is very hard to hold onto joy at this season. Perhaps, we, as believers, would hold on to it better, if we understood what Biblical "joy" really is.

Now, unlike most Greek words in the New Testament that are translated with one or two word equivalents, there are many Greek words that illustrate and depict "joy." It's the same way in English, where we have the words happiness, gladness and delight that all signify "joy." The word for "joy" used in Luke chapter 2 verse 10, though, is χαρά (chara) and it is used 59 times in the New Testament. Chara comes from another Greek word χαίρω (chairó), which means cheerfulness or calm delight. The Bible Dictionary defines "joy" as "a state of delight snd well being that results from knowing and serving God." Based on this, "joy" is delight and happiness that cannot come from just anywhere. "Joy" can only come from God, and God fills His children who trust in Him with great "joy" and with the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

We, as Christians, have a right relationship with God and are filled with the Holy Spirit. Why don't we have "joy" all the time? It's because we forget to be joyful.

We forget to have "joy" in the LORD our God. We forget that we, as believers, have a reason to be joyful in all circumstances; that God is in control of everything, and everything that comes about to us is for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). If we know this, why should we be sad? The greatest problems in our life have already been solved, by our joyful Father in heaven. We forget this, and so God through His words continually reminds us and commands us to rejoice, to remember to be joyful again. Paul writes to a group of outcasts Christians, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near" (Phillipians 4:4-5). We must remember to have "joy" in all our circumstances, because we know that God is with us.
Mary's child, Jesus, was filled with so much "joy", He gave some
 to John the Baptist and his mother even before He was born (Luke 1:44).
We in Christ have every reason to be joyful, and God takes great "joy" in us. In three different parables in Luke chapter 15 Jesus illustrates that God and all His angels are overjoyed for each person who comes back to Him (Luke 15:7,10,24). Our Father is filled with great joy, when we repent of our sins and return back to God. He is so overjoyed by this, that He made a way so that not just some people could come to God but that everyone throughout all of time and the world could come to God. This is the good news that the angels said would bring great "joy" to all people (Luke 2:10). The angels told the shepherds long ago as they tell us today, "In the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12). We have a savior, so we have every reason to rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15). God is with us. With this good news in our hearts let us always remember to "rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We have a Savior, so we have "joy!"

Rejoice! 
Rejoice! 
Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
-John Mason Neale

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Sunday, December 13, 2020

Did you hear about the time St. Nicholas Saved Christmas? (Origin of the Nicene Creed)

Around Christmastime we can hear alot of stories about Santa Claus. Those stories can be fun sources of entertainment, but they are just ficticious fairy tales. Did you know, though, that Santa Claus is a fantastical interpretation of the real St. Nicholas? There is even a true story about a time when St. Nicholas saved the teachings of Christmas. There are several accounts of how this true event happened, however I have written this based on an account to which church tradition typically holds. Grab yourself a chair (if you got one), get cozy next to the fireplace (if there's one close by) and get ready to hear the story (if you read this out loud) about the time St. Nicholas had a part in saving the celebration of Christmas.


'Twas the year A.D. 325 and all through the world, there was contention in the church felt by every boy and girl. 
Men and women gathered to worship on bended knees, wondering if what they just heard may have been heresy.
The Deacons and Bishops argued all through the night, 'cause none of them could agree if what they were preaching was right. 
In every Roman city the pastors caused quite the scene, so a great meeting was called by the Emperor Constantine. 
Across all of Rome from a select group of households, Christians gathered in Nicaea for the first Ecumenical Council.
A depiction of the first Ecumenical Council
To this council came two preachers who were more than opposed, and they may have even thought of each other as foes.
The first was a bold Bishop who was not at all quaint. He is widely known as Nicholas the God fearing Saint.
His love for the Scriptures was deep in his heart. He believed preaching from the Bible is a perfect place to start.
He knew as it is written that on the first Christmas day, God came to the earth as a baby born in a bed full of hay.
If we all read John 1:14 as literal as anyone can, we'll agree with Nicholas that Jesus was fully God and fully man.

Unfortunately opposing this truth was a belief that was scariest, and no one promoted it more than the heretic Arius.
This man showed his followers what every blind heart can see, that God is not Jesus and there is no Trinity.
He told everyone things contrary to Colossians 1:15, that Jesus isn't God but merely a divine created being.
If you believe Jesus was good but maybe not perfect, then you'll be stuck wondering if the cross was all worh it.
You can see how this false preaching caused quite a schism, and you know about the heresy known as Arianism.

During the council when Arius was giving a speech, Nicholas thought his words were just a terrible screech.
On and an on Arius went winning Constantine's ear, and Nicholas couldn't stand it each time the Emperor cheered.
In that room Arius spread such evil and blite, going against what the shepherds heard on the first Christmas night.
Arius believed God didn't come as flesh or the Word, but angels said that Jesus was Savior and He is Christ the LORD.
Every last heresy that Arius cried and did spout, just made Nicholas want to get up and shut close his mouth!

So that's what he did.
"AUGH!!!" They all gasped at what they had seen, Nicholas just struck a Bishop which goes against Psalm 105:15.
So quickly they grabbed Nicholas with sorrowful wails, and threw that Biblical man out and right into jail.
In a prsion all chained up he had time to measure, what might have come about if he kept reign on his temper.
Yes, Christians should fight falsehoods as we understand, but we fight with the Bible and not with our hands.
So Nicholas now apart from that grand council room, wondered if the teachings of Christmas might well meet their doom.

After a long night in prison of thinking and praying, Nicholas was invited back to hear what the council was saying.
And to his astonished surprise what should he hear, that Arius was kicked out that night sent flying on his rear.
The council decided what he preached was a lie, and they hoped Arianism would just shrivel up and die.
They ruled in favor of a literal view of the Scriptures, that you have to hold fast to God's words with fervor and stricture.
And with the council finished as their final deed, they sat down and wrote out the affrimed Nicene Creed.

And it reads as follows:
So at this Christmastime with your sons and daughters, think back to the history of your dear church fathers.
To sing of the virgin birth and the greatest gift, Arianism was kicked out with some thanks to St. Nick.
It's assured in our Bibles we always will read, about the promised offspring from way bach in Genesis 3:15.
He would be called Ruler and Master among us to dwell. He is Messiah, Savior, and King. Emmanuel.
Yes, God came to earth and this we should know, He came to save everyone just as the Bible tells us so.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

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Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Romans 15:4 (We have Hope)

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Hope is a great virtue to keep in mind at Christmastime. We, as believers, know that our hope is in Jesus Christ (Psalm 33:20-22), and we know that our hope was realized on the first Christmas. We even read in Paul's letters that the God of all hope will "fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). What Christian wouldn't want that? Boy, hope sure is a good thing. That's why I've got one question: What is hope?

We've all got our own ideas about what "hope" is, but what does the Bible say "hope" is? To find out, surprisingly, we'll have to look outside of the Christmas story. Yes, the word "hope" is not used in the Nativity story, and moreso it is seldom used throughout all four gospels. In fact the word "hope" appears most in the New Testament in the book of Romans, where it is used 13 times (five more times than any other book in the New Testament). The word for "hope" in the New Testament, and throughout all of the book of Romans, is ἐλπίς (elpis). Biblical "hope" is defined as an expectation of some event, putting one's trust in something or having confidence in someone. We see "hope" used according to this definition in this verse, "Against all hope [expectation], Abraham in hope [with trust and confidence] believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him," (Romans 4:18).

"Hope" is used to describe the expecting or trusting of things we don't yet have but are awaiting. We don't "hope" for things about which we have not been told. We, as believers, "hope" for things about which we have been told, especially by God.

With this in mind, it makes sense why the word "hope" does not appear in the Christmas story or in the gospels. That story is not about hope, but "hope" being realized. That "hope" being realized was the coming of the promised Messiah, the savior of the world. In the same way Abraham put his "hope" in God's promises, so too did God's people put their "hope" in these promises: The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), He would have a virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), He would be called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1), He would be worshipped and given gifts by distant kings (Psalm 72:10-11), He would be a descendant of king David (Isaiah 9:6-7) and many more. God gave all of these promises, and He fulifilled them all in the Nativity story. This is one of the reasons why after Mary is told she will conceive and give birth to a son, eventhough she is a virgin, she responds saying all generations will call her blessed (Luke 1:48). She knows that the baby she will carry is the realization of her long awaited "hope".

Long awaited precious promise
Son of God and son of man
Heaven's glory in a manger
Has come to us in Bethlehem
-Francesca Battistelli

So, since the people of Israel put their "hope" in God's promises about the coming Messiah, does that mean we, as Christians in this present age, can put our "hope" in those prophecies as well? To be honest, no. Why? It's because we already have a Messiah. We can't "hope" for what we already have. This is why Paul writes, "But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently" (Romans 8:24-25). So, that begs yet another question: Is there anything for which we are patiently hoping? Yes. Paul writes that we, as Christians, "groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved" (Romans 8:23). We are waiting for the day, when our bodies will be made anew, our place in God's kingdom will be revealed, and our "hope" will be realized. I know this, because God promised this to all believers. These are the promises God made about the end of time: God will take His vengeance on His enemies (Jeremiah 46:10), God's holy Temple will be established in the highest heavens (Micah 4:1), our strength will be renewed and we will rise on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31), God's perfect kingdom will last forever (Daniel 2:44) and many more. This is for what we "hope"; the coming of God's perfect kingdom.

All of these promises from God about when He will restore all things were given to us in the past to teach us and give us strength. To summarize this, Paul writes "everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). God's promises revealed to us through Scripture give us hope. If we don't know what Scripture has promised, then we won't have hope, or we will hope for things that have not been promised and as such will never come. We must put our "hope" only in what God promises. When we do that, we will know that what Paul wrote is true, "Hope does not put us to shame," (Romans 5:5). If we put our "hope" in God, He will never let us down, just like He didn't let down all His followers who had been waiting for their Messiah.

Messiah! Messiah!
A baby born to save us all
Messiah! Messiah!
On our knees we fall
-Francesca Battistelli

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Sunday, December 6, 2020

Why are there so Few Nativities this Year?

Every Christmas season I play a game, based on the Christmas decorations I see. For my game, it's minus ten points for every Santa Claus I see, because he's not the true meaning of Christmas, and it's minus five points for every reindeer and light up snowman, because those are abundant where I live and they have very little to do with Christmas. The only way I get points in my game is if I see a Nativity scene. Every Nativity I see is worth 50 points. As the Nativity depicts the Christmas story, seeing it keeps the true meaning of Christmas on people's minds and hearts. It's honestly the only Christmas decoration that's worth any true value.

In previous years when I would play this game I'd score considerably high. Typically when I'd go out, I would see an average of 12 Nativities per drive. This year the number of Nativities I have seen is the lowest ever. As of now, I have seen less than five Nativities total. During an hour long drive to the mall and back, while even taking a different route home, I passed by only one Nativity. That saddens me. Now, while it is not required for believers to put up Nativities, or wear cross necklaces, or dress in shirts with Bible verses, doing these things for God's glory is certainly not discouraged.

When it comes to Christians not putting up their Nativites this year, two bad reasons behind this that come to my mind are "shame" and "fear". Christians should not be ashamed to show everyone that they are believers in Jesus Christ and what He has done, and putting up a Nativity can be a great way to demonstrate this. Paul writes to fellow believers, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). We should not be ashamed of what God has done for us. Jesus says, "Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:26). What a terrible thing it would be to miss out on the everalasting joy at Christ's second coming, simply because we were ashamed to openly proclaim our faith in Jesus. If, for you, showing you are not ashamed of the Gospel means putting up your Nativity, then you should be encouraged in doing so.

What if you're afraid about what will happen to you and your household, if you put up your Nativity this year? I can understand that. I have had personal experience witnessing the desecration of Nativity decorations. I've seen terrible things done to Nativities and houses that display them, but this sense of fear and dread is no reason not to put up a Nativity. If you are a believer in Christ, then you should know that people will tend to not like you or how you celebrate Christmas. Peter writes to fellow believers that they should not be surprised when they suffer for their beliefs (1 Peter 4:12). The early Christians suffered as martyrs for their faith. Perhaps, we as believers should be willing to face the negative pushback that can come from displaying a Nativity. If you do receive negative pushback for putting up your Nativity, then may this encourage you, "If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you" (1 Peter 4:14).

Nativities are a great way to show a household's love for the Gospel, and no Christian household should be afraid or ashamed to show the Gospel by putting up a Nativity. If you strongly believe that your house should put up your Nativity, or you may even feel God is convicting you to be bold for Him and put one up this year, then you should do so. Heed this caution, "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them" (James 4:17). Don't keep your household quiet out of fear or shame this year or any other year. Spread the good news of Christmas on your yard, in your house, at the mall or wherever you may go. If you do this for God's glory, know that one day He will look upon you and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21).

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
Our Jesus Christ is born
- John Wesley Work Jr.

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Saturday, December 5, 2020

Luke 2:14 (Peace on Earth)

Luke 2:14
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests."

On a night long ago in the first year there were shepherds watching their flocks. Unto these lowly men working an uncoveted profession, God sent His heavenly hosts to deliver this message, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11). After they had said this good news, the messengers praised God saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests" (Luke 2:14). The shepherds overjoyed went into Bethlehem and saw their Savior as a newborn baby lying in a feeding trough. Amazed to see that what God's messengers said was true, the shepherds went out to spread the word that their Savior, the Messiah, had come (Luke 2:17-18).
A Depiction of the Shepherds receiving
good news from the heavenly hosts
If you are a Christian, then you believe that story. Still, at times I find some of what those angels said hard to believe. I do not doubt whether the virgin conceived and gave birth to the Messiah, according to the prophets (Isaiah 7:14). What is hard for me to believe is that there is peace on earth. Well, I look around the world, and based on what I currently know about "peace", I'm hard pressed to find it on earth.

And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men
-Casting Crowns

Of course, I would be a fool if I didn't believe what those angels said long ago on the first Christmas night. I believe what they said about the Savior being born, because there is evidence to show the truth of their statement. I can't just take the evidence that what the angels said is true, and then disregard some of what they said. I can't pick and choose which things God says to believe. God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). I'd better believe everything He says.

So, what does it mean that there is "peace" on earth? Typically, people think of "peace" as a passive virtue relating to non-violence. Well, the word for "peace" in Luke 2:14 is εἰρήνη (eiréné) and it is used nearly 100 times in the New Testament, occuring in every book in the New Testament except for 1 John. Given this word's recurrence in Scripture, it would be wise to truly understand it's meaning. In verses such as Colossians 3:15, which speaks to believers, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful," it appears to confirm that "peace" represents a passive virtue with which it is typically associated. In another verse, however, "peace" describes God who "will soon crush Satan under [believers'] feet," (Romans 16:20). Crushing someone isn't a very passive, let alone non-violent, activity. 

According to the NIV Bible Dictionary, "peace" is "a condition or sense of harmony," and in the New Testament it refers "to the condition and sense of being safe and secure." "Peace" is removing hostility and replacing it with saftey and security. With this information, peace in the Bible relates less to today's modern peaceful protesters demanding non-violence and more to today's armed officials safe guarding people with the use of force.
When Jesus said "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called
children of God" (Matthew 5:9) to whom do you believe He was referring?
If peace is keeping people safe and secure from hostility, then from what hostility does God keep people safe? We can read the answer to that in the prophecies of Isaiah, where it is written of the Messiah, "He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed," (53:5). Isaiah continues on to write "it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the Lord makes His life an offering for sin, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand," (53:10-11). What all this means is that it was God's will for Jesus to come and suffer the rightful punishment all sinners face, God's holy judgement. For those in Christ, Jesus bore God's hostility towards sinners, so that those who believe in God and have been chosen by Him will be kept safe and secure from God's righteous judgement and wrath. That is what peace on earth means, that we, as believers, are safe from God's riighteous judgement.

Not everyone has this peace with God, which is why the Bible says this peace on earth is "to those on whom His favor rests." Those who have not saught favor with God, are not safe from the hostile punishment for their sins that awaits them. If we seek favor with God, He will not hide from us. He says "you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart,” (Jeremiah 29:12-13). Those who find God will be kept safe from His judgment. Goodness and love will follow them throughout their life, and when they leave this earth they will live in God's house forever (Psalm 23:6). We all deserve God's righteous wrath for our sins, but we believers have found peace with God, and He will keep us safe.

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor does He sleep
Peace on earth, Peace on earth
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men
-Casting Crowns

We have peace on earth because of one reason:
"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us," (Romans 5:8b).

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