Word into the World
12-Dec-07
In the beginning, God spoke the universe into existence (Genesis 1). This was an awesome display of God’s undeniable power (Romans 1.20) by the simple act of speaking. From that time, God spoke through various Old Testament prophets to give us part of the Bible (Remember, biblically speaking, a prophet is someone who speaks on God’s behalf & is not just limited to making predictions). We know God spoke like this because:
Over a dozen prophets continued to preach in the centuries following Amos. Most Bible scholars hold that the last of the Old Testament prophets lived around 460-430 BC, including Malachi, Ezra & Nehemiah. And then Amos’ words came true…
FOR AN UNPARALLELED 400+ YEARS, NO NEW WORD OF GOD WAS PROCLAIMED TO ANYONE!!!
- The Bible is true, does not contradict itself, reality aligns with it & it represents God’s character – Numbers 23.19, Psalm 33.4, 138.2, Matthew 5.18, John 17.17, Titus 1.1-3 – therefore, we consider the following:
- Repeated occurrences of the phrase “And God said…” during the creation account. – Genesis 1
- “God said to Moses” (Exodus 3.14), “the LORD said to Joshua” (Joshua 1.1), “Then the LORD called Samuel” (1 Samuel 3.4), “That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan” (2 Samuel 7.4), “the LORD answered Job” (Job 38.1), “the LORD spoke through Isaiah” (Isaiah 20.2), etc, etc, etc… - 2 Peter 1.20-21.
- False prophets were to be revealed & weeded out! – Deuteronomy 18.20-22.
Over a dozen prophets continued to preach in the centuries following Amos. Most Bible scholars hold that the last of the Old Testament prophets lived around 460-430 BC, including Malachi, Ezra & Nehemiah. And then Amos’ words came true…
FOR AN UNPARALLELED 400+ YEARS, NO NEW WORD OF GOD WAS PROCLAIMED TO ANYONE!!!
And then the unthinkable happened… GOD BECAME A MAN – JESUS CHRIST!!!
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” – Hebrews 1.1-3
Christ came to fulfill all of what the Old Testament was about (Matthew 5.17, Luke 24.44) & most of all to remedy mankind’s sin problem & reconcile us to God. You can think of the Old Testament as a giant arrow pointing to Jesus Christ. The Old Testament sacrificial system was not adequate to forgive sins, but was a picture of what was – Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (Hebrews 10.1-23). The religious rules & regulations of the Old Testament law could never be upheld by anyone (Romans 3.23-24) & rather show us of our need for Christ (Galatians 3.24).
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
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.” – Philippians 2.5-11
Christ also confirmed the Old Testament by:
Before Christ was born, an angel told his step-father, Joseph, “you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1.21). It then says “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’—which means, ‘God with us.’” (vs. 22-24).
This Christmas, when you see baby Jesus in the Nativity or hear the songs about Him, stop & consider: God came in the flesh, even as an infant. Jesus’ whole life ambition was to obediently be punished to death on the cross for yours & my sins, so that if we turn from sin & trust Him, we will have eternal life & peace with God because He was raised to life. It just doesn’t get any more magnificent than that! That is why, at Jesus’ birth announcement, the angels said “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord… Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2.10-11, 14).
Have a wonderful Christmas as you celebrate the Savior!
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” – Hebrews 1.1-3
Christ came to fulfill all of what the Old Testament was about (Matthew 5.17, Luke 24.44) & most of all to remedy mankind’s sin problem & reconcile us to God. You can think of the Old Testament as a giant arrow pointing to Jesus Christ. The Old Testament sacrificial system was not adequate to forgive sins, but was a picture of what was – Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (Hebrews 10.1-23). The religious rules & regulations of the Old Testament law could never be upheld by anyone (Romans 3.23-24) & rather show us of our need for Christ (Galatians 3.24).
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
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.” – Philippians 2.5-11
Christ also confirmed the Old Testament by:
- Fulfilling prophesy – Matthew 2.17, 4.14, 8.17, John 12.38, etc.
- Referencing Scripture – Matthew 12.3-4, Mark 10.6, Luke 11.29-32, etc.
Before Christ was born, an angel told his step-father, Joseph, “you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1.21). It then says “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’—which means, ‘God with us.’” (vs. 22-24).
This Christmas, when you see baby Jesus in the Nativity or hear the songs about Him, stop & consider: God came in the flesh, even as an infant. Jesus’ whole life ambition was to obediently be punished to death on the cross for yours & my sins, so that if we turn from sin & trust Him, we will have eternal life & peace with God because He was raised to life. It just doesn’t get any more magnificent than that! That is why, at Jesus’ birth announcement, the angels said “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord… Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2.10-11, 14).
Have a wonderful Christmas as you celebrate the Savior!
Related Page
Seasons of Reasons
Blackened Friday
Can you trust the Bible?
Got Joy? (What is the true joy of Christmas?)
Blackened Friday
Can you trust the Bible?
Got Joy? (What is the true joy of Christmas?)