Why would we want to read the Bible? The Bible tells a story of our fallen nature and our redemption. We need to see these truths. According to the book of Hebrews, the word is shaper than any two-edge sword piercing us to the core and leaving us exposed to Him whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
If we must give account, we’re in big trouble. According the Paul in his letter to the Romans, all men have sinned, none are righteous and all have fallen short of the glory of God and all are dead in their trespasses (Romans ch. 3). How can we possible give account, exposed of the truth before out creator when we know all have sinned and fallen short? We look to Paul again and to a beautiful passage describing the Gospel in Colossians.
Colossians 2:13-14
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Our debt has been cancelled? Christ nailed it to the cross by being nailed to the cross. “He who knew no sin became sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God,” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Again from Colossians, Paul layouts the results of this debt being nailed to the cross. By cancelling our debt on the cross, we have forgiveness of sins and we have been transferred from darkness into the kingdom of God – from eternal death to eternal life through Christ’s work on the cross alone.
Colossians 1:13-14
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Finally, to complete the loop, Paul shows in Romans 8 what the rewards is for this cancelling of our debt. We are now made brothers with Christ. We are adopted into the family of God, given a new birth right and now a new inheritance…the kingdom of God.
Romans 8:12-17
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
We read the Bible so that we can see the great truths of our need for redemption, the debt we owe, to whom we owe it and the good news that the debt has been paid and we have been adopted through faith in Christ into the family of God and have a new inheritance that is eternal reward. Why wouldn’t you want to read that?
Have you ever considered Jesus Christ before the incarnation - when he was born into this world as a baby?
Did he exist before then?
Was he created by God the Father at his birth?
Or has he always existed?
There is a fairly easy scriptural answer, but I want to look at a lot of scripture concerning Jesus while NOT on the Earth. Jesus answers these first questions himself in Revelation chapter one, verse 8:
I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
He also states later in Revelation that he is the first and the last. Jesus has always existed from the very beginning of beginnings as stated in John chapter one, and we can see that he IS the beginning in Colossians chapter one. Paul tells us in this Colossians passage that everything was created for Christ and THROUGH Christ. How could something be created through Christ if he did not exist before time and creation began.
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Colossians 1:15-18
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.For byhim all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Knowing that Christ, the Son of God and second person of the trinity has always existed and he was integral in creation, we must ask why he would leave the glory of Heaven to come to Earth. Before looking at why he came and how big of a sacrifice his coming was, we must build the contrast between Heaven and Earth. Jesus’ life on Earth will be examined in Part 3.
We have to remember that the spiritual realm that God inhabits is outside of time and space so when we look at visions of Heaven from the Old Testament and the New Testament there is no chorological order. Visions from Revelation are not chronologically after Christ dies on the cross. These visions of Heaven and our Lord are representative of Christ’s glory.
Isaiah’s memorable vision is a good place to start.
Isaiah 6:1-5
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.
This picture of the Lord on his throne with winged seraphim creatures worshipping him is beyond what our imagination can visualize. Isaiah tried to put his vision in words that we could understand, however the best we can do is get the general feeling. As the Lord sits on his throne with the train of his robe so long and majestic that it fills the whole temple, we have to remember that he is the person who created the entire universe and upholds it with the word of his power (Hebrews 1).
John’s vision from the Book of Revelation is similar to what Isaiah experienced. While Jesus Christ was on Earth he never experienced anything like this scene from Heaven.
Revelation 5
And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Similar to Isaiah’s vision, those who are near the Lord can not help but to break into song and worship him. They all fall to their faces and cry Holy! And Worthy! Why would Christ leave this realm to be born in a manger?
Finally, let’s look at one more vision. This is Ezekiel’s account of when the Heavens opened up and he could see the Lord on the throne. These strange creatures and wheels are Ezekiel’s best attempt at describing the indescribable. Is the Lord Jesus Christ surrounded in worship and glory in Heaven? I think so.
Ezekiel Chapter 1
As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal.And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.
Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them.As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel. When they went, they went in any of their four directionswithout turning as they went. And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatureswas in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads. And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body. And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings. And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings.
And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire;and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.
Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
We will all fall on our face when we see the power, glory, and majesty of Christ in Heaven. Those who believe will be entered into his glorious presence forever and will be able to join in the joy and awe creating worship of he who is worthy! We’ll all cry Holy! Holy! Holy!
Why would Christ want to leave this realm? Why would He want to become a human and wander the dusty trails of Israel and be persecuted and hated? It is beyond our understanding; however, Part Three will address what life was like on Earth for Jesus. It was nothing like Heaven. I hope this demonstration of Christ’s glory in Heaven will remind us who it was that became a baby and died for us. How could one man die for the sins of many? He had to be infinitely valuable to pay the price.The scriptures above point out Christ’s infinite value.
Over 2000 years ago Jesus Christ, the perfect, sinless, and eternal son of the living God - who is and was and always will be - left the splendor of Heaven and entered time and space here on earth which is temporary, fallen, corrupt, and full of darkness. He shed His robes of righteousness and glory to become like us – human. He left His magnificent crown on the cushion of the throne at the right hand of the Father to be born in a stranger’s barn in a tiny worthless town in Israel. This is no simple matter.
Have we ever gazed into the depths of the transformation the Son – the second person of the Trinity – underwent? Do we understand the cost of Jesus Christ’s voluntary descent to the ranks of mere mortal man?
I am afraid that we rarely, if ever, consider what Jesus actually did for us 33 years before going to the cross.
Why would Jesus lay His crown down and leave Heaven?
Why would Jesus leave the infinite joy of fellowship with the Father?
How could He who created the universe for His pleasure sacrifice for the creation?
How could He who the angels bow down to become a servant to sinful man?
I want to look into these three points:
1. Glory before the manger. 2. Humility and sacrifice on Earth 3. Why would Christ do this?
I hope to reveal the contrast between Jesus Christ’s infinite glory and His infinite humility over the blog posts to follow.
Hebrews 1:3 "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."
All was quiet under the stars. The fragrant smell of field grass lingered in the calm cool air. Each pinpoint of light from the distant stars above joined together and pooled into a subtle glow across the sky. Deep darkness fading into the belt of stars was accented by one particular star hanging low and heavy just above the horizon - as if it was hanging from a string. The muted sounds of sheep whispered down the hillside to where the shepherds congregated. Two of the shepherds lounged lazily on the grassy slope. They picked at the blades of grass and pebbles while the others stood above them sharing amusing stories. Each shepherd carried long wooden staffs, crooked and gnarled in their natural shape but worn smooth from years of use. The recent appearance of the star was odd as it seemed so close that it consumed the horizon.
Suddenly the tranquil night sky and grassy hillside exploded with devastating white light as if the sun exploded. The shepherds stumble back and shielded their eyes. Then out of the light, an angel of the Lord stepped forward only a few feet from them. The shepherds fell flat on their faces and trembled in fear.
The angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
The shepherds, although shocked and afraid, rose to their feet together and listened to this supernatural being from Heaven speak to them. They were raised with stories of prophets and miracles, but none could have ever imagined the glory and power from the Lord in this one angel before them.
The angel continued, “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
The shepherds listened intently and leaned closer. Again, as suddenly as the angel had appeared moments ago, a multitude of the heavenly hosts were with the angel. The sky opened up and more of Heaven’s glory blasted the poor shepherds. The Heavenly Hosts praised God by saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom he is pleased!” Their collective voices stormed down and destroyed the peaceful calm. The hillside was aglow like nothing they had ever seen before.
Then, nothing. The multitude was gone, the angel was gone, the voices were gone, and the shining glory was gone. All was quiet and dark again as if nothing had happened. Sheep scattered about spooked and uneasy and the shepherds knew life would never be the same.
Immediately the shepherds looked and one another and said, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
This is the story found in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 2 verses 8 through 15. It is a story of simple men who were given an amazing message – a message we are given every year at Christmas: “I bring you good news of great joy!”
Good news of great joy? What good news could this be that brings great joy?
It is the message from a loving God who came to earth to redeem us. He came as a baby so that he could live a perfect sinless life while growing to be a man who would obediently be persecuted, beaten, bloodied, nailed to a cross, become sin (the sins of the whole world) and absorb the righteous wrathful judgment of the creator of the universe. His death paid the price for our sins and because of him, those who are in him have become the righteousness of God and will inherit the kingdom of God as heirs and brothers with he who died for us.
Philippians 2:5-11
” Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so 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.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Romans 3:21-26
“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Now, this is a message of great joy. Will we be like the shepherds who ran to Jesus after they received the message?
What are we really celebrating this week? Why do we stop everything and celebrate the birth of a baby 2000 years ago. What baby is this? This classic Christmas carol from 1865 written by William Chattertan Dix tells the story so well.
What Child is this who, laid to rest On Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste, to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear, for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you. Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The Babe, the Son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh, Come peasant, king to own Him; The King of kings salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone Him. Raise, raise a song on high, The virgin sings her lullaby. Joy, joy for Christ is born, The Babe, the Son of Mary.
He is the glorious living God. He came - born as a baby - in order to die. He died for us; for our sin. We have inheritance into the kingdom of God through Him, which brings us great everlasting joy and hope.
What child is this? This child is our hope, our Lord, our joy, our peace, and our salvation. Are we remembering what child this is this Christmas?
The Village Church (Dallas, TX) lead pastor Matt Chandler was diagnosed with a frontal lobe brain tumor. Chandler is a healthy young man (35yrs) with great zeal for the word of God and preaching his savior. This sudden diagnosis is shocking and sad for those who have been following Matt for a while. I pray for recovery and strength for his wife and kids. Matt is very encouraging and this video is true to his spirit and faith. Matt will not waste his tumor, but will instead glorify God with this surgery and tumor and recovery.
Watch this video and be encouraged by Matt's courage and faith.
Are you comfortable in a room full of strangers or do you compare yourself to everyone; focusing on your flaws?
I think many of us struggle everyday with who we are. I’m not talking about how we wish we could lose 20 lbs or how I wish my hair hadn’t started falling out in my mid-twenties. Those are minor cosmetic issues. I’m talking about the big stuff that becomes chains shackling us to the walls in the dungeon of depression.
Our society is going through many trials in these difficult times. Many are losing homes and jobs, going bankrupt and feeling like failures.
Do you feel like a failure?
Do you feel not good enough?
Are you jealous of those who seem successful and have it all?
Do others have better jobs?
Are others more attractive?
Is their house, wedding ring, or motor home that much bigger and better than yours that you feel like a loser around them?
Do you ask why them and not me?
These thoughts of discontentment will eat away at our self-confidence and self-worth. But what is self-confidence and self-worth? Where does self-confidence and self-worth come from?
We need to start by taking our eyes away from the mirror for a change and look up. We need to look up toward our creator and savior Jesus Christ. We spend so much time looking at ourselves and comparing ourselves to other people that we don’t have time to look at God. Let’s get into the encouragement that can only be found in the Word. Here is what God says…
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let us make manin our image, after our likeness.”
Each one of us is uniquely and specially made in the image of God, which means we each carry unique attributes of God. We are all different, but no less made in God’s image.
Psalm 139:13-14
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
God crafted our bodies, minds, and spirit in our mother’s womb in a unique and special way. We are wonderfully made in an awe-inspiring and fearful way. We are no accident. We are different, but each one of us is formed by the hands of the living God, who is infinitely holy, perfect, and good.
Isaiah 43:1-2 & 7
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine… 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
God is very serious about these facts: He made us in His own image. He uniquely formed us from the inside out in our mother’s womb. He made us for His glory – for His purposes. Based on these scriptures (many others tell the same story), we should be able to deduce that we are not a freak occurrence of nature or and accident. We were not the results of strange biological evolutions or random chemical combinations. Each and every one of us was uniquely planned, creatively designed, precision engineered, and delivered with a purpose. God made us the way we are for a reason…for His glory. God made us just as we are for His purpose and His glory alone. There is nothing more valuable or perfect in the universe than God’s delight, purpose, and glory.
I hope you find comfort and confidence in this. We can not compare ourselves to others when we know we are unique for God’s purpose. We should instead search out where God has gifted us and apply our lives fully to those gifts and let God do the rest.
But why has he made us this way or that way?
But, if God makes us in His image, why is everyone else more interesting, more desirable, more rich, more important, more everything?
Is it not enough that you are the image of God?
My current favorite passages of scripture finish the story. These verses add power to our created nature and they describe the scope and depth of the power of the God who created us.
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,for those who are called according to his purpose.
Ephesians 1:11
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will…
These two phenomenal verses show that God’s will and purpose rules our existence. All things work for good – good in God’s eyes, not our own – and He works all things according to his predestined purpose. We and our lives are chosen and planned before time began in order to fulfill God’s ultimate design, purpose, and pleasure. This is good news. There are no mistakes and no failures…ever. Everyone has a purpose.
Not only do all things work for good, but all things are being maintained and held together by Jesus Christ. Right now, Christ is holding the stars in place in the sky, choosing the exact amount, size and speed of the rain drops falling in another part of the world while He is orchestrating the events of your life. I’d even argue that He is beating your heart to keep you alive.
Hebrews 1:3
…and he [Jesus] upholds the universe by the word of his power…
Colossians 1:17
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
The best part is that it is all good. It was all planned to be this way. You were planned to be this way. Have hope and have courage to serve your purpose to God’s glory. Find your purpose and work it out.
If, however, you are not encouraged and you still want to complain to the all knowing living God, I would caution you. We must be careful in complaining to the creator. Gratefulness and thankfulness should rule our hearts. We in today’s society have lost the healthy respect for God. We need to know our rightful place in the universe. This verse helps keep perspective:
Romans 9:20
20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”
Do we have higher standards than God? Or should we find peaceful contentment in how we were molded? Should we change our self-consumed focus from what we don’t have to God, His purpose, His glory, and His genius? I’d say so.
