Christ is Born!

Christ can be celebrated in His full glory. Though a stable and its company may have been the immediate audience for the birth of Christ, all creation knew that the King had been born in human flesh that night in Bethlehem. It is amazing that to most people it was just the birth of another baby. His announcement came from the praises of angels and the God intended direction of a brightly beaming star. Humble men from completely different lifestyles set out to find this Babe with the intended purpose of worshiping Him. Shepherds heard the joyous cries directly from the heavenly host that Christ had been born. They went from watching their sheep to seeking their Shepherd. Wise men watching in anticipation saw the star and immediately sought where this new King could be found. He was not in a place that would be expected for a King, but this location could not be questioned because of the Father's direction. Wise men responded in the same way the shepherd's did. Worship was automatic. All who saw the Babe were amazed by the supernatural. There was something very different about this baby. Why would the heavens split open and supply a symphony of praise to tell all of His birth, or why would creation submit to the will of God in order to lead men to Bethlehem? I suggest that what the centurion said in Matthew 27:54 was quite evident at our Savior's birth too. "Truly this (is) the Son of God." All creation's willingness to submit to the fleshly birth and death of its Maker is testimony to the character and abilities of the One worshipped and obeyed. This response by all to Jesus Christ causes me to evaluate whether my life shows off whether I believe Him to be the Son of God! My life belongs to the King. Where He leads, I must go. What He says, I must obey. When I am with Him, I must worship. These are all automatic responses to the knowledge of the Truth. He was the Son of God come in human flesh to save His people from their sins. His complete life, from birth to death, was necessary for the fulfillment of God the Father's will. The greatest thing I can do this Christmas is rejoice in the One through whom God has worked in such amazing ways. May this Christmas season cause you to rejoice and worship the One who is worthy of all creation's praise!

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all

The Spirit opened this verse to me in a new way recently. The One (Christ) died for all (the elect), therefore all (the elect) have died. This text means that I identify literally with Christ's death on the cross. Jesus satisfied the wrath of the Father for me - His death is my death for the sins I committed. And His death applies specifically and definitely. He could not have really died for every person who every existed, for then every human would have died with him on the tree...and thus every human would have propitiation of the Father's wrath. This is obviously not the case.

that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

The Savior's flock died with Him they might live for Him and like Him. First, life in Christ is precious - new, everlasting, joyful and satisfying. Next, living for Him as a result of our close and intimate union with Him. If we died with Him we also live with Him. We abide in Him and enjoy blessing in obedience to His commands. How selfish to live for myself! As Galatians 6:14 gives our theme - God forbid that I should boast in anything but he Cross of Christ. Boasting in it involves living for it and for Him.

The big little lessons from these verses demonstrate a great principle. The depths of the Gospel are unfathomable and satisfying. The entire Bible funnels to it. May the Lord continue to take all of us deep into the treasures of the Gospel.

Cessation?

I've been thinking about this issue for a while now. After hearing some men at The Pursuit a few weeks ago tell me about Sovereign Grace Ministry's position I see a distinction between what some consider charismatic and the modern pentecostal movement. There are basically 4 "movements" regarding this issue today. (This is a regurgitation of an article I read last night, found here from the Master's Seminary Journal) One is classic pentecostalism, another is the modern charismatic movement, the third is "third wave" theology and the last is cessationism. The article referenced gives excellent history to all of these.

From a child the fourth view has been presented to me as truth. The first two believe that the baptism of the Spirit follows Salvation which is unbiblical and therefore I reject both. However, the third viewpoint (what was presented to me at the conference) is rooted in good Scriptural exegesis and honest conviction. Stitzinger, in the article noted above, mentions that the third wave opinion is held by men such as Piper, Grudem and Lloyd-Jones.

I need the Spirit to move me and illumine me from the Word to know which direction I should take on this issue. Right now I see good evidence for both views, but I don't have a leaning either way. So, for the few people that actually know this blog exists, please gives your thoughts and the Scriptures behind them for a good godly discussion. May the Lord lead us into His perfect Truth!

You Must be Born Again

John Piper recently began a sermon series on this topic. A few months ago I got a book he wrote entitled What Jesus Demands from the World. I read the first couple chapters - one of which was "You must be born again". I used that chapter as a lesson for the Bible study we lead at the time, and I never realized how much I didn't understand what the New Birth is.

The image of new birth because more vivid a year ago when my son way born. He never asked for it. He was simply passively born. Birthing is done to us, not something that I choose to do. The Holy Spirit takes my spiritually dead life and gives it life, placing me into God's family when He saves me. This new birth must precede faith because without a newborn heart a sinful man will NEVER choose to be saved. At that moment of regeneration a person is saved.

I must do much more study on this topic. It is controversial. I spoke with a fundamentalist friend the other day who claimed that to believe this way about being born again implies double regeneration...I disagree. Then many semi-pelagians will argue that regeneration follows a choice of faith. I believe the Scripture clearly teaches that a man does not choose to be birthed - just as with physical birth (John 15:16).

This Christmas season we celebrate THE birth. This birth makes possible the new birth for the second Adam fulfilled the law and purchased pardon for entrance into the royal, heavenly family for His elect. Praise Him for His great work!