 | The Story Written by Dave Brown Christ Covenant Reformed (PCA) |
| The Story Written by Dave Brown Christ Covenant Reformed (PCA) |
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. 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. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'" Luke 2.8-14
Most people understand that the above story is the story that is central to the Christmas season. And yet, though Christmas is probably the most celebrated (and expensive) holiday year after year, it is one of the least understood stories of all time. The above Bible passage chronicles an event that has had a monumental impact upon the whole world. Have you ever considered when and how the world was created; do you wonder how it will end? For a large number of people this event marked a point between the creation and the end of this world. Prior to this event time counted down, a period which we call "B.C.," that is, Before Christ. From this Child's birth onward the same people call this time period "A.D.," or "Anno Domine," meaning "Year of our Lord."
These glad tidings came to a people who had anticipated the birth of a Savior even from early in their history, and so for those who believed that such a Redeemer would come there was reason for excitement. Their forefathers and prophets had looked ahead to and had prophesied of this day, and their priests had offered sacrifices unto the Creator and their Lord to foreshow the great sacrifice that God would provide. It was more than just an anticipated child that caused great joy, and it was more than just a time of decoration and an exchange of gifts that brought peace, it was Who this Child was and what He represented that marked out time as we know it and changed the central focus of our calendars almost 2000 years ago.
For us to understand the Christian story we must focus our attention on how God's Holy Word, the Bible, reveals the majesty and splendor of this Child's birth. Below is a brief account of this Story and key verses from Scripture that authenticates the truth of God's glorious redemption of lost sinners.
The Beginning
Opposing all other stories of creation, whether by chance, bangs or gods, the Lord God of heaven and earth reveals His-story (History) beginning in Genesis 1: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." It is recorded that God ordered all things into existence by the power of His Word (a power He alone as God alone retains). With this He created male and female and set them in the Garden of Eden to tend the garden, rule over creation and have intimate fellowship with their Creator.
"And the LORD God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.'" Genesis 2.16-17
One rule: do not eat of that tree. It seemed a simple rule really since there was so much more that delighted the eye and was fit to eat, and yet the Bible records that Adam and Eve yielded to temptation and ate of the forbidden fruit. And God judged them for it. He chased them from the Garden and sent them out to struggle for their very existence in a world now tainted with their sin. It pleased the Lord to suspend their physical death momentarily so that a mighty work of His would become evident. In time physical death would indeed come to them and to all of their offspring as well, but something far more serious occurred that day because of man's rebellion - spiritual death. The spiritual union that man had had with God, had been shattered by sin. The perfection and holiness of God was challenged by Adam's crime and it separated the creature from his Creator.
This event is known as The Fall, and its effect has become known as Original Sin. Adam was the representative of his offspring and when he sinned we all sinned in him, as it says in Romans 5.12, "sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin" and verse 15, "the many died by the trespass of the one man" and verse 18, "the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men" and finally in verse 19, "through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners." The result of Adam's sin was to leave us all as sinners, spiritually dead and separated from a relationship with God.
The results of the sin of Adam will be discussed in more detail later on, but it is important to recognize the significance of disobedience against God and His law. Though we are much more comfortable sugar-coating the presence of sin, and though we tend to pacify ourselves with excuses when we sin, God's viewpoint is entirely different than ours. " 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD." Isaiah 55.8 From God's holy perspective any sin, however small or harmless it may appear to us, is fully deserving of His wrath and judgment.
The Promise
By a sheer act of mercy Adam and Eve were not destroyed on the spot for their act of treason. And yet something more was in God's plan than just not giving Adam and Eve what they deserved - God immediately revealed a plan of redemption, an act of grace, which gave man hope that God would restore the fellowship with His creatures that had been violated. As God cursed the serpent (Satan) for his role in tempting Eve to sin He made a promise:
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." Genesis 3.15
God promised to put enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of Satan, and that while Satan would bruise, the bruise that "He" would inflict on Satan would be much greater. In this then is a Promise that there would come a "He" from the seed of the woman that would conquer the deception of Satan. The very first glimmerings of the Gospel are being revealed! From the time of the Fall to the birth of the Child more and more is revealed in Scripture about this Promise.
A while later a man was born by the name of Noah, and it was said in Genesis chapter 5: "He [Noah's father] named him Noah and said, 'He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed.'" Noah's name literally means "Rest" or "Comfort" and in this we find a hint of the peace that the Child of God was to bring. As the Lord set about destroying the wickedness of mankind in a world-wide flood (the affects of the Fall are clearly seen) God not only preserved the life of Noah and his family in an ark, but also the seed through which the Child was to come.
As God called Noah and set him apart for His purpose, so also He later called Abraham to serve and honor Him. Through God's dealings with Abraham the Promise is brought into even sharper focus:
"And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12.3, Acts 3.25
"And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you." Genesis 17.7
The covenant that God revealed to Abraham was very different than the one that Adam broke in the Garden. The Fall of Adam and the human race left man under the wrath of God, and in such a state God was not their God nor were they His people. Yet God calls to Abraham and announces the Promise that He will establish an everlasting covenant - one that cannot be broken - through which He will be their God and they His people. For this covenant to be effective something must be done about the gap that Adam's rebellion caused and the presence of sin in His people.
And so the Lord continued His work (His-story) in the line of Abraham and gave him a son named Isaac, who in turn had a son named Jacob. As God changed Jacob's name to Israel a nation was born and cared for as a covenant people of the living God. He raised this people, taught them, nurtured them, disciplined them, and loved them as a parents would their very own children. As this nation of people also became a nation with geographical boundaries, in time God gave them a king named David to represent His rule over His people. A promise was given to David which revealed even more about the Promise of a Child to come:
"When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." 2 Samuel 7.12-13
Now while it would seem that the nation of Israel was back in fellowship with God, the truth is that disobedience towards God persisted in such a great measure that it is indeed a marvel that God did not destroy Israel. For while He loved and cared for them they showed dishonor and treachery. Again, His mercy revealed that a mighty work of His would become evident. Time ticked on, but each man who came into the world came with the taint of Adam's sin. Generation after generation was born and lived and died with only one hope, that God would save them through His Promise. The Lord sent men to the nation to warn them once again that sin invokes the wrath of God. These men were called prophets and their unpopular job was to bring the authoritative words of the Lord to the people and expose their unfaithfulness and their sin. Yet even in these rebukes and admonitions God still revealed His Promise and how He would deal with the sin of Adam and His people:
"Then Isaiah said, 'Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with Child and will give birth to a Son, and will call him Immanuel.'" Isaiah 7.13-14
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." Isaiah 9.6-7
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. ... Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities." Isaiah 53.5-6, 10-11
" 'Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.'" Jeremiah 23.5-6
The Law
Most people have heard of the Ten Commandments either because they have seen the movie of the same name or because they've heard the familiar expression "Thou Shalt Not ... ." Christianity is not the only religion to include Moses and the Ten Commandments but it is the only religion to understand that the law of God also teaches us our need for a Savior. While the law given to Moses on Mount Sinai does insist upon obedience to God it must be remembered that this perfect rule of righteousness was given to the people after the Fall. This means that the purity of these commands and the obedience they required was unattainable by an impure and disobedient people, who like all men were born with the affects of Adam's sin. Though one might try to live perfectly and without sin, he will find only frustration, guilt, and the certainty of condemnation from a holy God.
It was because of this certain condemnation that the Lord instituted the practice of sacrifices. God's people continually broke His covenant and sinned against Him; the punishment for this covenant breaking was shedding of blood and forfeiture of life. God set up priests to oversee sacrifices, and He charged His people to slay animals and to shed their blood as an atoning sacrifice to represent 1) that death must come when a covenant is broken, 2) that in God's mercy a substitute was killed in their place, and 3) that one day God would send a sacrifice, the Lamb of God and His only begotten Son, to suffer the penalty for their sin so that the everlasting covenant might be upheld. This is what Isaiah meant in his prophecy concerning the coming Child: "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him."
Sadly many who consider themselves Christians have wrongly understood the whole purpose of the law and sacrifices and have hoped that if they observe the law as best as they can God will be satisfied with their efforts and allow them back into fellowship with Him. This viewpoint is incorrect in two ways. First, it is wrong to think that fallen man can somehow earn God's favor and restore a relationship with Him on his own. As said before, when Adam sinned he sinned as our representative; when he fell he fell as our representative; the guilt that is Adam's is ours as well and the covenant he broke he broke for us too. As sinners it is impossible for us not to sin, and as sinners we cannot be tolerated in God's presence. Secondly this viewpoint misunderstands the Promise of the Child to come, that He would be the One to redeem what Adam had lost - that He would uphold the law on their behalf and that He would be the substitute for their punishment. If we misunderstand the necessity for this Child we will misunderstand the Christmas story. As the Bible teaches:
"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin." Romans 3.20
"What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; ... Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." Galatians 3.19,24
"For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Romans 8.3-4
"For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Romans 10.2-4
As God revealed His righteousness and His demand for flawless obedience, the law also revealed our utter inability to please God through our tainted efforts. God recorded in His Word through the prophet Isaiah that our best deeds are as "filthy rags." It is of the utmost importance to recognize then that the law was not given to provide us a way to save ourselves from death, but it was given to further expose our grievous sins against God. By uncovering sin, the law proved the need for the Promise of God. And because of our sin and inability to reestablish what had been lost in the Fall, a Child was born.
The Birth
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.' So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us.' Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS." Matthew 1.18-25
A Savior has been born! Such is the magnitude of this birth that an angelic host suddenly appears praising God: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." The long-awaited Child had come as the Covenant-Keeper, as the one true Promise-Keeper, with the role to repair the broken covenant by fulfilling its human obligations and sacrificing Himself in the place of covenant-breakers. The faithfulness of this Child as He grew, obeyed His Father in all ways, and died on the cross effected the restoration of a spiritual relationship between the Creator and the creature. Immanuel, the Son of God, was born in the flesh to be a Savior and redeem what Adam had lost: "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous." Romans 5.19
But it was more than just a man that became a savior. For from the Fall even to the present there has not been even one who has been sinless or righteous before the Lord. When people casually say "nobody's perfect" they are making a very profound statement. But even if someone were able to be perfect and blameless, how could they save anyone but themselves? And so God took the salvation of His people into His own hands and sent His Son, who is God as the Father is God, to meet the terms of the covenant. For this reason Christians can truly appreciate that Christ set aright the relationship that Adam fractured, when Scripture calls Jesus "Immanuel (God with us)."
When Jesus began teaching the people of Israel about sin, eternal punishment in hell, salvation, the kingdom of God, and His Father He was met by mostly hostile people. Just as the Christian story is misunderstood in our time so too was the Christmas story unappreciated in Christ's time. Eventually Jesus' fulfillment of the roles of prophet, priest and king was denied, and He was crucified. But while these crucifiers had intended His death for evil purposes God had intended these events for good reasons, so that He who was righteous and innocent might bear the unrighteousness and guilt of His people. The Promised Child became the sacrificial Lamb.
Yet death could not hold this Lamb. On the third day after His crucifixion He rose from the dead bodily and later ascended into heaven to receive glory and honor from His Father. "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose the third day according to the Scriptures ... But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have [died]. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead." 1 Corinthians 15.3-4, 20-21 By this we are assured that Christ has conquered death and that we, like Him, will be resurrected to spend eternity in heaven.
"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight." Colossians 1.13- 22
The Counselor
"Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'" Galatians 4.3-6
Looking around the world today it seems hardly likely that Christ was successful in reinstating the intimate, spiritual relationship between God and man. There are so many other religions that worship other gods, and there are many who have no religion and prefer to focus on themselves - this has of course been true ever since the Fall. But whether men worship other gods or themselves it does not appear that Jesus reconciled the union that Adam had in the Garden. In America a large majority claim to believe in God but show no evidence of worshipping Him above themselves. Even among many of those who claim to be Christians there is little recognition that the Child is their Savior and the Lord of their lives. Once again it is good to keep in mind that the Christian story is one of the most misunderstood stories of all time.
When spiritual death came after the Fall it affected more than just the outward person, it affected his heart and his mind as well. The rebellion of Adam against God brought the rebellion of all men against God, just as the Bible says in Romans 1.18-22: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools."
Sin alienated us from God by darkening our minds and hearts against the truth of God and His Word. The passage in Romans agrees with the above passages in Galatians and Colossians, in that they describe the spiritual condition of mankind. Colossians 1.22 says that men are "alienated and enemies" of God, Galatians says that man is "in bondage" to this sinful world, and Romans says that they "suppress the truth in unrighteousness" and that their "foolish hearts" are darkened. Later in Romans 3 the spiritual "deadness" of fallen man is further explained: "they are all under sin. As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God; they have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one ... There is no fear of God before their eyes.'" Spiritual rebellion truly persist in the hearts of the children of Adam to such a degree that none seek after God.
If it is true that Christ has effectively given a spiritual relationship with God back to man, why is it that few seem to have it? Galatians answers this question: "because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts." Before Christ died on the cross He told His disciples that as He fulfilled His role as the Promised Messiah, His reconciliation would send "Another" to guide His people into the truth. The Holy Spirit, being the third Person of the Triune God, also fulfilled a role in the salvation of God's people. He was to work in hearts of rebellion and radically transform them into lovers of God and understanders of truth. This Person is called the "Helper," the "Counselor," and the "Comforter," but is best known to us as the Holy Spirit. He is a Counselor and Helper in that He teaches us the things of God and aids us in our weakness to obey the King: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." John 14.26 He is our Comforter by convincing us that we have true peace with the Father: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." Romans 8.14- 16
When we look in Scripture at the fathers of the Christian faith, such as Noah, Abraham, David, Isaiah, and the disciples of Christ and see that they have a desire to follow God and serve Him, we can be sure that the Spirit has worked in their hearts and changed their spiritual deadness into a living faith in the Lord. The same is true for us today. The verses below show the effective and necessary work of the Spirit:
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." Ezekial 36.26-27
"Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2.11- 14
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins." Ephesians 2.1
To appreciate the Holy Spirit is to appreciate the marvelous work He does in the hearts of sinners, causing them to turn to God for salvation. Many people today see the Holy Spirit as an electrifying force that produces miracles, healings, wild and erratic voices and quivering and quaking. While some of these signs and wonders are in Scripture it should be understood that these great acts were relatively minor throughout the course of history and in the text of Scripture. It is a common thought that if God were to work mighty miracles today many would believe in Him, but such is not the case. When Moses sent the miraculous plagues upon the Egyptians and the Red Sea was split to allow the escape of the Israelites, these wondrous works of God were quickly forgotten. When Christ performed miracles and healings, even raising people from the dead, though some did believe the majority demanded His execution. Without the Spirit working in our hearts, miracles may amaze us, but they will not save us. We must understand that these temporal signs and blessings accomplished by the Holy Spirit do not compare with the eternal work He does inwardly, renewing and transforming fallen sinners into faith-filled children of God and partakers of Christ's work in the everlasting covenant.
The Gospel
As we look back at what Christ did, our excitement ought to equal that of the shepherds, who had heard the good tidings with great joy. The promise of God to save sinners did not stop in the 1st Century, A.D. and the Child that was born so long ago continues to be a Savior even in our time. The Gospel has the same relevance to the world today as it proclaims a message of peace between God and man. No longer are His people under the wrath of God nor does a punishment for sins hang over their heads. And the Gospel message is this: for those who trust in Him, Christ's blood was shed that their sins might be forgiven, and they are brought back into fellowship with God through the righteousness of His Son and the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel message shouts out: LOOK AT WHAT GOD HAS DONE TO SAVE SINNERS!! This is the essence of the new covenant, the everlasting covenant, that what was once lost by man has been found by God; that though Adam failed, God did not.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2.4- 9
The new covenant, the covenant of grace, is the Promise that we will be His people and He will be our God. This covenant reveals God's mercy and love through the gift of salvation, not because we deserved this from God (sinners do not deserve mercy but justice), but because He was willing to save. People are not saved by their good deeds, their "goodness," or because they are better than others; they are saved by the sheer grace of God.
What then is grace? When the word grace is used in the Bible it literally means "gift," and it is to be understood that in the new covenant of grace God redeems people by giving them the gift of salvation. We are not given eternal life as a reward for what we do, either by our good efforts, our good intentions, or even our decision to be saved. It was Adam's failure to observe these things that made it necessary for God to take upon Himself the salvation of man. These things do not save us, and if they did, grace would not grace nor would salvation be a gift from God. This point is established by the following verses:
"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1.12-13
"So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy." Romans 9.16
"So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." Romans 11.5-6
Grace is not a gift in the sense that it is an object that sits on a shelf. Grace is not a gift- wrapped package that may or not appeal to us; it is not something we take back to the store to get our money back if we are disappointed with the gift. The grace of God, the gift of salvation, is an active work inside the child of God as the Spirit of God is sent into that person's heart. Without this gift at work within a person he will remain a rebellious being and will not trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. But if grace is at work in someone's heart and his life, then that work is being done by the Spirit and that person will turn to the Lord of life for salvation. It is God who causes us to turn towards Him and repent from our sin: "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" Romans 2.4 It is God who causes us to desire Him as our Lord: "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Philippians 2.13 It is God at work within us that makes us His workers, desiring to live for Him: "by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." 1 Corinthians 15.10 It is His work of salvation in us that gives us confidence that we are His children and He will be our God: "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1.6 In short, we must see that in the covenant of grace, grace is not the result of our desire to follow Christ, but the cause of it.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2.8
"When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, 'Who then can be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said to them, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" Matthew 19.25-26 God promises that those who recognize their own sinfulness and trust in the sufficiency of the righteousness and sacrifice of Christ, that what was impossible He made possible, will be saved. They must not only believe in the existence of God but also realize that without His grace they will perish; with this knowledge firmly planted in their hearts, in faith they confess their sinfulness and ask for Him to save them. At times it has been said that this is so easy and simple, that instead of earning God's favor all that is necessary is to trust in Jesus. This is not so! Salvation is not easy. It was not "easy" for Christ to come to earth, suffer and die for sins that were not His. It was not "easy" for Him to endure dishonor and ridicule to save and protect lost sheep. Was it an "easy" thing for Him to save men who from the Fall have been rebels and mockers of His Father? Nor should it seem too "easy" for sinners to come to Him in faith for salvation. This is not "easy" for man, it is impossible. But what was impossible for man, God did through His Spirit so that they might truly believe in Him. In the covenant of grace, it is God who saves and God alone; and thus grace is grace.
By the command of Christ this Gospel is to be spread throughout the whole world. The Child not only died for Israel in the Old Testament, but for His sheep of "every nation, tribe, tongue and people." Revelation 14.6 How glorious this Gospel is! To be given peace, to be declared "just" and innocent before the Lord, and to have our sins forgiven - all because of the grace of God through His Son, Jesus Christ. And to know that what was unattainable by our efforts is given as a gift to those who receive this Gospel with the certainty that God has saved them. As believers share this Gospel with others they have the assurance that the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, continues to watch over His flock and will bring them into the pastures of salvation (Psalm 23). "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd." John 10.14-16 As the sheep come into the fold they are fed by this Shepherd through the Church, the gathering of believers throughout all ages. In the Church they fellowship together, encourage one another, study the Word of God, pray for each other and worship their God and Savior.
The End
Time ticks on and the Story nears an end. Daily, monthly and yearly we flip our calendars to keep up with time as it moves forward. And yet, in another sense, time is really ticking down for us, because we will each die one day. We do not know that hour, and we cannot mark our calendars for that day. Time ticks down for another event as well, and its day and hour is also unknown; yet it signals the finality of time as we know it. Time has indeed run out. This event is the Second Coming of Christ, when the Promise will be fulfilled to its fullest. The Scriptures declare that at His coming all people who have died will be resurrected and will join those living to face the final judgment before God's throne. On that day, He will separate those who are His people and are covered with His righteousness from those who remain guilty for their sins.
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world'... Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels'... And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25.31-34, 41, 46
For those who continue in their fallen and unrepentant state, who reject the Gospel of grace, or who pretend to love the Lord while they really continue to hate Him, there remains a curse that will come upon them: "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. And again, 'The LORD will judge His people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10.26-31
But for those who have found rest for their souls in the midst of God's love, and have trusted in His Promise to save through His Son; for those who have understood and been saved by the Christ of the Christian Story, there remains a blessing in Hebrews 13.20-21: "Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
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