Christmas Study – Page 3 – Semper Reformanda

Peace, Love, & Joy | LOGOS | Christmas Special | Devotional Series | Part 22 of 27 | December 21, 2019

Once I naively asked my pastor, what is the difference between me and God? I mean, I am going to live forever after I die. Aren’t I? And so, it is just a matter of heaven and hell. So basically, I am eternal too, just as God. To my then adolescent mind, I held the perfect argument against God. But my pastor dismantled my whole argument in one amusing sentence. He said, “you have a birth date, but God does not”. I laughed. And quickly dismissed myself from his sight.

The Apostle John terms Christ as LOGOS – the definitive principle of life. John writes, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Jn 1:1, NLT) In other words, Jesus was born on earth as a man. And we celebrate his birth every year. So, yes. He has a birthday. But John says, He does not have a birth date. Because, prior to existence itself – He existed. Another thing we celebrate on Christmas is His Kingship. Christ is King. Right? But His Kingship did not come after His resurrection. His Kingship did not come after Christianity was founded. No. Christ was already King. Because He is LOGOS. Therefore, when Pilate confronted Him – Jesus replied, I came so that the world would know its King. (Jn 18:37)

It is amusing, how limited our rationality is. But it is encouraging beyond reason, that Christ our LORD is King in all in all. His Kingship predates us. His sovereignty predates us. And most awesomely, His Kingdom predates us. How fortunate – oh how fortunate we are – that He came to grant us adoption into a family, that is older than the ancient. How blessed are we, that Christ granted us fellowship into a community, that predates the whole of existence? What do we have to worry? What ails you? How dare we, that we let this world steal our joy, when Christ – the Alpha and the Omega – has promised to be with us and never leave us – until we taste the glory of eternal life together with Him. Praise YHWH!

Read previous entries in this Series:

(i) Introduction: What Christ wants this Christmas (ii) December 1: Prepare the Way (iii) December 2: Mary’s Magnificent God (iv) December 3: The Confidence of Redeeming Hope (v) December 4: A Big God for Little People (vi) December 5: What He Willed to do (vii) December 6: Peace to those with whom He is pleased (viii) December 7: Messiah of all (ix) December 8: Christ is Central in Christmas(x) December 9: Two Kinds of Oppositions (xi) December 10: Our Treasure (xii) December 11: Why Jesus came (xiii) December 12: Replacing the Shadows (xiv) December 13: Christ, the Real Thing, the Perfect Priest (xv) December 14: Making Transformation Real (xvi) December 15: Abundant Life (xvii) December 16: An Unlikely Route to Victory (xviii) December 17: Freedom & Joy Secured in Him (xix) December 18: Pass Me Not (xx) December 19: Overcoming the Power of Death (xxi) December 20: Salvation Unites Us

Peace, Love, & Joy | Salvation Unites Us | Christmas Special | Devotional Series | Part 21 of 27 | December 20, 2019

YHWH adopted us through Christ into the family of God. (Eph 1:5) Changing, our whole heritage, and our heredity, we are no longer slave under the law of sin as “Children of Disobedience”. The adoption has granted us a new identity into a new family – one that is holy, and obedient to the Will of God. We are now co-heirs with Christ – we now belong to the Father of Eternal life – of righteousness, not sin.

Our adoption also means, new filial life. It means, we are one and equal with other regenerated elects of God. Therefore, Christ gave us the two commandments – love God, and love one another.

This season, if you are struggling with a certain sin. I want to encourage you – you have a family beyond the biological one. I want to encourage you – you have friends beyond the people who know your name, but don’t know your struggles. Because you have not been saved in isolation. You have been saved into the family of Christ. Pray, and reach out for this family. I also want to urge you, if you see fellow brethren struggling – reach out to them this season. Comfort them with the Father’s love. And encourage them with the Father’s words. No one has to be alone. Because we are united by the love of Christ. Let us remember the Apostle Paul’s words, “(I)… urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Eph 4:1-6, ESV)

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Peace, Love, & Joy | Overcoming the Power of Death | Christmas Special | Devotional Series | Part 20 of 27 | December 19, 2019

The fear of death has a certain power, and that is – shortsightedness. The fear of dying, arises from the fear of unknown. It is the fear of not knowing what will happen to us after we die. The power, such fear holds on us, is one of nonchalance. It makes us care less about the future. And urges us to indulge in the present bodily pleasures. It is hedonism govern by mortality. You don’t know what happens after you die, so you might as well enjoy life while you can.

The fear of death, is the power of sin – this is the law of sin and death at play. This is one of the two laws that governs human lives; the other being the law of righteousness. (Rom 8:2) The Apostle Paul explains, you are either a slave under the law of sin, or you’re a slave under the law of righteousness. (Rom 6:15-23) The latter of which, is a status that Christ came to grant us. (Heb 2:14-15) And so, for that reason – Christ had to reincarnate as a man – to pay the debt as a man, for the sins of mankind. Because no man could meet the requirements of the law.

Piper writes, “Jesus became man because what was needed was the death of a man who was more than man. The incarnation was God’s locking himself into death row.” (pg. 39) Christmas marks this incarnation or perhaps more appropriately – incarceration. Jesus subjected Himself to the law of sin and death, that through Him we could partake in His victory over it. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1Pe 2:24, ESV) “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.” (Rom 7:4, ESV)

Christ has overcome the power of sin and death. It means, He has granted us victory over it, and through Him, and in Him – we overcome the power of death. It means, our life after death is certain. He has secured eternity for us. If we are truly His, and if we truly believe Him, it means there is no uncertainty (after death) staring back at us. It means, fleeting moments of temporary pleasure, holds no greater sway on us, because we are confident about eternal life. It means, you are victoriously living with the whole armour of God put in place. (Eph 6:10-18) It means a life that is not indulgent in sin; which ultimately means, a life free from guilt and condemnation. In other words, overcoming the power of death means – a life of righteous living, in pursuit of holiness.

Christmas should mark a commencement of such life for you and me. Rightfully so, the Prophet Isaiah proclaimed Christ as the Father of Eternal Life. (Is 9:6) He overcame death, so you and I could begin living, as people risen in Christ.

Note: All of Piper’s quotations are from “Good News of Great Joy”

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