Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Christmas is a time of family gatherings, shopping and presents. Sadly, it is also a time when many feel lonely, pressured and even depressed. It is a stressful time emotionally and financially, and some fall prey to these pressures. It is a time that reminds those without a family of what they do not have, and without proper perspective that can remove all joy from the season. What is the right perspective? What does any of this matter?

 

God rest you merry, gentlemen,
let nothing you dismay;
remember Christ, our Savior
was born on Christmas Day
to save us all from Satan's pow'r
when we were gone astray.

 

This is an old English carol (and one of my favorites), but the language can be a little difficult so often the meaning goes over our heads. The first two lines are an encouragement to be merry and not let anything cause us distress. Why should we be merry and how? It helps to remember that the whole point of Christmas is Jesus’ birth and first coming to earth for the purpose of saving us from sin and satan’s power. He planned to save the world, and came to save us even while we were still His enemies, before we ever believed or wanted to believe. He knew we would choose to sin and leave His presence, but He made a plan to save us anyway. That is the hope and joy we have this season! His love that overreaches our sin!

 

From God our heav'nly Father
a blessed angel came
and unto certain shepherds
brought tidings of the same,
how that in Bethlehem was born
the son of God by name.

 

"Fear not," then said the angel,
"let nothing you affright;
this day is born a Savior,
the true and radiant light,
to free all those who trust in him
from Satan's pow'r and might."

  

It is interesting that the first people told about the news of Jesus’ birth were shepherds, mostly women and children and considered some of the lowest. Yet, the fields around Bethlehem pastured the flocks used for the sacrificial lambs. So these shepherds would have full knowledge of the sacrifices and what the Lamb of God meant. Prior to Christ, the only way to atone for sin was through the blood of an animal, but it was not permanent and had to be done continually, for every sin. Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, paid once for all, atoning for every sin in history, free to all who trust in Him. He also defeated satan and death so that they are powerless and we need not fear.

 

Now to the Lord sing praises,
all you within this place,
and in true love and fellowship
each other now embrace;
this holy tide of Christmas
is filled with heav'nly grace.

 

Because of all of these things, we have reason and call to worship God. The knowledge of His love and sacrifice should move all of us to continual praise! It should also motivate us to love and unity, not excusing sin, but choosing to love rather than judge, to help and not exclude. These are things we should do every day of the year, but Christmas is a special time of remembering the purpose of life.

 

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

 

These truly are tidings of comfort and joy; in God’s love and provision, His truth and grace!

 

Titus 3:4-7 New American Standard Bible 1995

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

 

 

Text from hymnary.org

Only Christ

Where is our hope? What does Christ’s work on the cross really mean for us? Does any of it really matter now? Most Christians really don’t think about these questions at all, let alone in depth. Some don’t care, others are afraid of the answers or how the answers would confront modern culture. Yet these questions are fundamental for our life now and in eternity.

 

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

 

Only in Christ should we place our hope and trust. He is the only One eternal and all powerful, the only One completely trustworthy. He should be the One to light our way. He said He is the light. John 1:5 His truth shines in the darkness and reveals what is out there. It shows us where to go, how to live. He is our strength. Only He can give us what we need for this live, and He has already done it. We only need to seek Him. It is only right for us to sing His praises. He is the cornerstone we are built upon, the only cornerstone that provides a firm foundation. Ephesians 2:20 Only He and His truth can withstand the storms of life. We could never comprehend the full height, depth, or power of His love. Ephesians 3:18-19 His peace is beyond understanding. Philippians 4:6-7 Once we trust Him fully, our fears give way. When we stop trying to do life on our own, we find His strength and peace. He should be everything to us. We can stand unafraid because of His love for us.

 

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

 

Jesus is the only Son of God. He has all authority, power and kingship. Yet, He gave that all up to become a man, born as a helpless child, so that He could be a sacrifice for us. Philippians 2:7-8 He freely gives us His love and righteousness, things we could never accomplish or earn on our own. He died for us while we were still sinners, even enemies of God, but He did it anyway. Romans 5:9 How great a love! God’s wrath against all sin was laid on Him and fully satisfied and satiated. Isaiah 53:5 His death brought us life, here on earth and eternity. Prior to belief in His sacrifice we are spiritually dead. Romans 6:23 It is only faith in Him that can make us alive. We can live a full life because of His death.

 

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

 

If Christ had died and stayed dead as every other human, He would not have been God. But He was raised back to life on the third day to conquer death and prove His deity. Acts 2:32-33 He stands in Heaven victorious over sin and death. He paid the debt of sin that we owe so that we could gain His righteousness and live forever with Him. Once we give our lives to Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin. We are free. Not free to live as we want, but free to choose obedience to Christ. Free to live a life free from sin. We are bought with His blood. How can we respond in any way but in grateful obedience and submission!

 

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

 

In Christ, we are no longer condemned by our sin. We have no guilt before God. The enemy tries to make us feel guilty and ashamed, but we are free to reject it and accept the love and forgiveness Christ purchased on the cross. Romans 8:1-2 We no longer need to fear death because Jesus conquered death. Once we die we will be in heaven and free from this life. Jesus is in complete control. He orchestrates our being, our every breath. Yes, we still have the freedom to choose what we do, but we are longer enslaved to sin and unable to make that choice. Nothing can remove us from His love. John 10:28, Romans 8:38-39 We have His power. We can and should live in that power because He died to give it to us.

 

Is your hope in Christ and what He has done for you? What does this mean for your life? How will it change the way that you live?

 

 

Stuart Townend & Keith Getty Copyright © 2001 Thankyou Music (Adm. by CapitolCMGPublishing.com excl. UK & Europe, adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family, songs@integritymusic.com)

Lasting Change and Hard Hearts

Hard times often bring change. That is when we realize what is really important, and often get rid of the things or habits that are not important or even harmful. Times like great depressions and wars often usher in this change for a people as a whole, bringing families together and back to God. The attacks of 9/11 are a stark representation. The kind of change and how long it lasts reveals a lot about the person. Unfortunately, the end of the hard times can also bring an end to the change.

 

Lent week 5: God's Plan to Save

As we’ve seen over the last four weeks, sin is a problem for all of humanity and has been almost since the beginning of creation. As humans there is nothing we can do about it, for we are made from dust. Sin is a problem for us and for the world and the cause of all suffering, a problem that should make us grieve, yet God is calling us to return to Him. He had a plan to fix the problem of sin from the beginning.

 

Genesis 3:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

And I will make enemies
Of you and the woman,
And of your offspring and her Descendant;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise Him on the heel.

John 3:16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.

John 14:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Romans 6:22-23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 

We have suffered as a result of sin and it should cause us to grieve, but praise God we do not have to remain in mourning over sin! There is an answer to our sin, and life on the other side! We no longer have to remain slaves to sin, dead in our transgressions.

 

Even before the first sin was committed God made a plan to redeem His people and reverse the effects of sin. He made a way to save us from the great debt we would owe. He sent Jesus to live a perfect life, to take our sin on Himself and pay the debt that we owe. We can turn to Him, to His sacrifice, and accept the life He gives, exchanging His for ours. Take some time to consider the provision God has made for new life in Him. What does this inspire you to think, say and feel?

A Futile Way of Life

There are times when life seems pointless, or some endeavor we undertake appears to not be worth doing. Futility is that vain, pointless struggle, literally defined as being pointless, incapable of producing anything useful. Sometimes life feels like that, but for different reasons. Sometimes it is just because it is difficult. We hit a season where life is a struggle, we seem to be moving backward instead of progressing, and things just aren’t working out, yet. But eventually our hard work comes through and we achieve victory. Other times, it is because our efforts themselves are not suitable for what we are trying to accomplish. What we want to do is good, but we are going about it the wrong way. What in our lives is futile?

 

Wrath Vs. Mercy

In our church and culture today, God’s love is the main point of focus. Sermons like “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” are frowned upon, and the idea that God is displeased, let alone upset, by anything is taboo. The idea of God’s wrath is being taken out of doctrine and hymn alike. Is that biblical? Is there danger in straying so far to one side?

Have You Given Your Life To Christ? (Trick Question)

“Giving your life to Christ” is kind of “Christianese” for salvation, saying a person has received salvation. At face value that is. But the question, and the meaning, goes a lot deeper. Just as salvation goes a lot deeper than a one time event, this question goes a lot deeper than salvation itself, and a lot hangs in the balance.

The Helmet of Salvation

A lot of people make a big deal about guardian angels who supposedly fly around watching over us. Some believe we each have one assigned to us, to guard us. It makes them feel better to think that they have something continually with them to watch over them. Others turn to more “practical” methods of guardianship, from actual body guards, to voodoo, to special charm bracelets. We are all aware that there are things, forces from which we need to be protected. We feel strongly the need to guard ourselves and those we love, but one of the best tools we have for that is the helmet of salvation.

Death Is Not The End

In so many ways, death seems like the end, and in some ways it is. It is the end of an earthly life, the end of an earthly relationship. For Christians it is also the end of suffering and pain and, ironically, the end of death. There is more after death. It is not the end of everything, only of what is earthly and temporary. What we believe about God determines what will follow death; life or torment. That is what happened at the first Easter. Jesus defeated death so that it was no longer the ultimate end. We don’t have to fear death anymore. We have victory through the power of the cross and hope in the empty tomb. For those who believe in Jesus, we can look forward to eternity after death in paradise with God. And though we will continue to lose those we love, we need not mourn for them, only for us, for they have seen the end of suffering and pain! If they and we have found true life on earth (salvation) we will share in eternal life in heaven and we will see them again. We can rejoice in death!

Does Your Faith Transform?

After this talk about temptation, sin and confession, some might ask if all that is necessary after salvation. What role does that play in faith? If I am already forgiven, and can’t be saved by what I do, does it matter what I do? Isn’t faith enough so that I don’t have to worry about the rest?

Have You Been Passed Over?

All was still. Darkness covered the land far beyond any mere physical absence of light. There was a silence, a tension, a waiting. Everything was poised in apprehension. A battle between two great powers, wrestling for control, stood in checkmate. Who would win? What would happen next? Suddenly, just after midnight, there arose a cry, a great wailing. Sorrow and terror covered the land as those belonging to one power were stripped of their first born. In every family on that side there was loss. But those on the other side were passed over.