The Word – Merry Christmas

Christmas is the celebration remembering the birth of Jesus Christ, who is also called “The Word” (John 1: 14) “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”. Bible tells us that Jesus (Word) was there from the beginning and through him all the things were made (John 1:1, 2).

In the beginning, through this word, the creation happened. Heavens and Earth came into existence through this Word of God. Even the first man was created by the Word of God (Genesis 1:26).

Each and Every major events in the Bible happened by the Word of God. God commanded Noah that the Earth will be flooded. And His word came true (Genesis 6:9, 10).

God called Abraham and gave him a Word that he will become a great nation and so did happen. (Genesis 12: 2).

God gave Word to Moses to raise his staff and stretch out his hand over the sea to divide the water and it happened and the Israelites were saved from the Egyptian army (Exodus 14:15).

In Joshua 10, we see the Word from Joshua ordering the sun to stand still. In science we might tell the earth stood still, but it happened by the Word.

The prophecy about Jesus was told through the Old Testament prophet Isaiah 53 and the Word prophecies how we are going to be saved through Jesus Christ.

In Luke 1: 26 – 38, we see the Virgin Mary got conceived by the Spirit of God through the Word of God.

When The Lord Jesus walked in this Earth, many were healed and demonic spirits were casted out through His Word (Luke 7:7).

Before Jesus ascended into Heavens, He gave a word and promised that the Holy Spirit will be our helper and will guide us (John 14:15-18).

The Word of the same God is with us through Holy Bible and in it contains His Word.

In Proverbs 18:21, we read the tongue has the power of life and death. It gives us the warning how we need to use the words which comes from our mouth.

The power of this Word is described in Psalm 107:20 – “He sent out his word and healed them”. This same word did miracles in Biblical times and today. This same word opened closed doors, rescued faithful children from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3) and is doing the same today. This same word gave birth to mighty servants of God through closed womb, and same is the promise for today.

And today is the celebration of this Word, who came to this World to live among us, took our sins and punishment, died on the cross for us, so that we will be saved and have communion with God. This Christmas, be confident on the Word, trust in it and believe in faith that this word (Jesus Christ) can solve all your problems. Rejoice!

Our Conduct - Corinthians

First Corinthians deals with Christian conduct. After the usual greeting (1 Corinthians 1:1-3), Paul refers to the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:7-8). Then he plunges right into the question of the failure of the church about which he had been told. The source of his information he gives us in 1 Corinthians 1:11 (People lost sight of God through Self-admiration, Self-will and Self-indulgence).

Party politics had entered into the church, dividing it into four parties, each trying to get the mastery (1 Corinthians 1:12). Jesus Christ is the only cure for division (1 Corinthians 1:13). Every eye, every heart, every spirit must be turned to one object – Jesus Christ, our personal Savior. If we lower the standard Christ has set, we give the wrong testimony to the world. You are an epistle open and read of all people.  Righteousness comes from God, but it must be shown in our daily walk.

The church should exclude the wrongdoer so as to prove that it does not condone sin (1 Corinthians 5:13). Discipline in the Church should always commence with mourning and sympathy, not anger or pride or revenge (1 Corinthians 5:2).

Christ has paid a great price to purchase us, and it is His purpose to make us like Himself (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  If our body have been redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ, then we no longer belong to us, but to the One who purchased us with His precious blood “You were bought at a price”. God used to have a temple for His people; now He has a people for a temple.

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul gives a careful account of the beginning of the Lord ’s Supper and then tells of its value. It was a symbol of His body, which was broken for them (1 Corinthians 10:16). It was a new covenant in His blood. It was a pledge of His coming again (1 Corinthians 11:26). We should be careful not to eat or drink in an unworthy manner. “A man ought to examine himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28) and never eat without self-critique and thankful love. And “For whenever you eat”, do it “in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:26). Christ wants us to remember Him. Think of Christ when you go to His table.

In 1 Corinthians 12, we see the gifts the Spirit gives to believers. In verses 1-3, he tells of the change that had come into the lives of these Corinthian Christians when they turned from worshiping dead idols to the living Christ. God gave gifts such as healing, miracles and tongues, we believe, for “sign” gifts (1 Corinthians 12:12), to prove to the world that Jesus is the true Messiah and that the apostles were divinely appointed. The way to use these gifts the Spirit gives is beautifully told in 1 Corinthians 13. This chapter is called the Hymn of Love. Gifts without Love are poor things.

Paul wrote his second epistle, to express his joy over the encouraging news of how his first Epistle had been received, and to define his apostleship. Paul tells us of some things that happened in his life that are revealed only in this letter.

• His escape from Damascus in a basket (2 Corinthians 11:32,33)
• His experience of being caught up to the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12: 1-4)
• His thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7)
• His unusual suffering (2 Corinthians 11L23-27)

He told none of these until he was compelled to, to prove that if we wanted to boast, he had good reason.

Christ nowhere promises that a Christian will be free from suffering or sorrow, Rather do we hear that “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). Christ allows us to get into trouble that He may deliver us. He allowed Daniel to be put into the den of lions that He might pull him out. He allowed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to go into the fiery furnace that He might deliver them. He allowed Paul to be shipwrecked that He might save him. Our God is able to deliver.

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Paul emphasizes that Corinthians might know themselves – test themselves to make sure of their faith. Do not depend on a mere profession of religion. Do not rely on church membership. Joining the church saves no one. Joining Christ saves us. Examine your standing.

We are taught as boys and girls not to be noisy or boisterous in the church, for it is the house in which we meet God. How much more important that we remember that our body is His dwelling place and that we should do nothing to grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30). Do not let your life be so near the edge of questionable things that someday you will slide off. If you fall, others will fall with you. Watch your testimony. Remember your life is an open letter. Christian lives are about the only religious books the world reads. They do not study God’s word, but they do study God’s people. This gives us a great opportunity for good, for we may lead people to Christ.

Wonderful Salvation - Romans

The book of Romans tells us of God’s method of making guilty people good. The key of this great thesis is found in Romans 1:16-17.

In the New Testament, 13 of the 21 books were written by Paul. Paul was eager to visit Rome church, and sent them this letter from Corinth, from the home of Gaius, a wealthy Corinthian Christian, while he was on his third missionary journey. It was written in the fourth year of Nero, then Emperor of Rome. In this Epistle, he sets forth his gospel (Romans 1:16-17). After Paul’s greeting to the church, he thanks God for their faith (Romans 1:8).

Read every word of Romans 3. You will believe then that the natural heart is desperately wicked. The general charge is stated – “all under sin” (Romans 3:9). Both the gentile (Romans 2:1-16) and Jew (Romans 2:17-3:8) are given the opportunity for a hearing. Against all this there is no defence. The Judge says, “Is there anyone to plead the cause of the prisoners?” and there is no answering voice. Every mouth is stopped (Romans 3:19). There is no room for excuse. The condemnation of the world is settled. The next step in order will be to reveal the plan of God to save a lost world.

Sin is universal – “All have sinned”. Hence we need a world’s savior. Because God is a God of love, He has provided just this one. Repeat John 3:16. The judge on the bench says, “Is there anyone to appear for the prisoners?” then the son of God says, “Yes I am here to represent these. It is true that they committed these sins. It is true that they are guilty, but I bore their guild on the cross. I died in their place that they might go free. I am their righteousness” and the judge sets them free.

Christ not only saves us from the penalty of sin, but He is also able to free us from the consciousness of guilt and the power of sin. Any president or governor or king can pardon a criminal, but not one has the power to remove the guilt. Proper punishment for the deed must be given. This is what Christ has done. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and because all of us “have sinned”, Christ came to die and bear the penalty for the sins committed against a holy God.

Paul gives us illustrations of justification by faith from the Old Testament. Especially does he tell us how Abraham’s faith was counted for righteousness (Romans 4). Abraham received three things by faith: righteousness, inheritance and prosperity (Romans 4:3, 13, 17). We, too, have great benefits when we are justified by His grace. Grace is unmerited favour. In this life, we find that faith is followed be peace, pardon and promise (Romans 5:1-5) and more than all, an assurance of salvation (Romans 5:6-11).

We are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood” (Romans 3:24-25). I am a person condemned to die because of my sin, “for the wages of sin is death”. But I can look on the cross and see that Christ has already died for me. I believe that He died for my sin. And so in exchange for my poor, sinful, condemned life, I can accept His righteousness and His life (1 Peter 2:24).

The person who put faith in Christ an hour ago is just as much justified as the oldest Christian living. We never become any more justified than the minute we received Christ. Justification depends upon something done outside of us, something done on the cross of Calvary.

When I was born in this body, I was born a descendant of Adam; I have his nature, which is sinful. When I am born into the family of God, by Christ Jesus, I have Christ’s nature, which is holy. In the words of scripture, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). I did not choose to be a descendant of Adam; I may choose to be a child of God.

Once in Christ, Christians soon find a new standard for life. They do not try to live up to the Law, for they are no longer under it. They strive to please the One who dwells within them. “For to me to live is Christ” and I “do all to the glory of God”.

The first part of Romans is what God did for us. The last part of Romans is what we may do for God. Until we have been saved by His grace and transformed by His love, we can do little for God. Read 1 Corinthians 13. But when we present ourselves to Christ and become filled with His love we can find much to be done. Christ wants a living sacrifice, not a dead one (Romans 12:1). Many will die for Christ. Few will live for him.

Why was Paul not ashamed of the gospel of Christ? Because it reveals what the sinner needs and what he may have on the ground of simple faith. “A righteousness of God” – the righteousness of Jesus Christ. The gospel had dynamic power. It is the power of God unto salvation. I pray that you realize that nothing short of the power of God could make one Christian.