Christians have allowed themselves to be put in an unfair position.  For centuries, the Bible survived as the accepted account of the formation of the universe, the world, and its inhabitants.  However, in the mid-1800's that all changed with Darwin's publication, The Origin of Species.  The book made a fairly convincing case in those days for the idea of natural selection.  I think most Christians could agree that there is nothing fundamentally anti-Christian to the idea of natural selection.  We can obviously see in domesticated animals that the creation of new species is possible.  However, as the years progressed and "science" became god, the culture began to accept the idea that all the diversity of life on earth was a result of the evolutionary process.  Men suggested that, not only were new species formed through evolution, but new classes of animals.  The accepted idea became that not only could evolution account for the fact that there are various kinds of finches, but also the fact that there are birds, reptiles, and mammals, suggesting that all life on earth came from a single ancestor.  Such an idea is of course against the accepted norm of the majority of history and an anti-Christian idea.  Moreover, it is an anti-religion idea.  There are few religious in the world without some sort of an account for a divine creation, though the accounts may vary widely.

Neverthess, there is a rule in logic and philosophical argument called the "burden of proof".  According to this rule is a person makes a claim that he or she says is true, then the burden of proof lies on their shoulders.  If a person wishes to challenge the accepted truth and makes a truth claim which is contrary, then he/she has the responsibility to proove that the accepted truth is wrong and proove that his/her idea is truth.  Therefore, the evolutionist not the Christian has the burden of proof.  The evolutionist must not only show that his ideas about the formation of life are true, but he must also proove that the Biblical account is false.  As of yet, the Bible has not been proven to be untrue.  On the contrary, every time the Bible has been put to the test, it has passed with flying colors and has offered evidence of its validity in a way that has even astonished those who believe it to be true as well as those who are seeking to prove its falsehood.  Evolution as a scientific theory is poorly validated.  It is a theory riddled with assumption, speculation, and often scandal. The supposed truth of evolution changes on a daily basis, which is of course the nature of a developing theory or of science in general.

Therefore, I am more than willing to stand by the Bible, which has been shown over and over to be historically, geographically, prophetically, and internally accurate.  When the evolutionists themselves are finally able to agree on what their version of the truth is, then I will be willing to examine the theory.  When the evolutionists are able to proove that the Bible is false, then I will be willing to examine the theory of evolution.  When evolutionists are able to provide a clear cut case for the validity of their theory then I will be willing to allow for the possiblility that it is indeed the truth.  However, at this moment in time, there are simply too many holes in the theory to be filled, and too many assumptions and speculations made for me to be willing to even call it a science.

As a Christians we have a responiblity, not to proove that the Bible is true.  It prooves by it's own text that it is truth.  Of course, one must truly examine the Biblical text to find this out.  Many who propigate the theory of evolution simply dismiss the Bible without examining the possiblity that it is true.  However, the burden of proof lies upon those who claim that evolution is the truth and that the Bible is false.

The evolutionist must first PROVE that the Bible is false.  Then he must PROVE that evolution is true.  He has the responibility of examining the Biblical text unbiasly, and every shred of evidence for the validity and falsity of the Bible to determine first if it, as the accepted truth, is indeed true or false.  Then he must examine every shred of evidence for the validity of falsity of  the evolutionary theory to determine if it is validated or refuted by the weight of the evidence.

To those who argue for the "truth" of evolution...

I DO NOT HAVE THE BURDEN OF PROOF!  YOU DO!

I'll be quietly waiting here for you to completely examine both sides of this debate, then you may make a truth claim.  For now, I will simply follow what has been accepted for centuries as truth, until proven otherwise.

The Formula For Peace: Part 2

Previously I examined the question of peace.  We saw that there is a distinct difference in the peace that Jesus promises his followers and the so called peace the world offers.  We also noticed that Paul discusses a kind of formula for this peace in Philipians 4:4-7 and the first thing in the formula is to rejoice. 

Now I would like to move on to the second part of this formula.  Let's reveiw again what Philipians 4:4-7 says.  "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let all men know you forbearance.  The Lord is at hand.  Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  If you'll notice the next important word used in this verse is forbearance.  That isn't a word we commonly use in our language today. According to Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words it may also be rendered gentle or patient.  The idea is that one will be fair and reasonable not quick to jump to conclusions but examine all of the evidence and wait to make a proper verdict, one on the basis of compassion and justice.  Personally I prefer the rendering of patients if forbearance doesn't make sense to you.  This rendering seems to make the most sense in the context of the verse and is most equitable with the older word forbearance.  However, it isn't a perfect fit.  In some cases patients doesn't really work.  I'm going to stick with the word forbearance in my discussion because it is probably the best translation from the Greek to English.

However, let's dig a little deeper.  We are told we must let all men know our forbearance, but does the Bible say anything else about forbearance?  What are we supposed to have forbearance regarding? 

 Take a look at Luke 6:29-35.  "To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.  Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again.  And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.  If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners do the same.  And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish."  I know that was quite a chunk of scripture but I really wanted to get this point across.  I want to look beyond the immediate lesson we can take away from these verses to something a bit deeper.  I'm going to go off on a limb here and speculate a bit about human nature.  I see this verse talking about forbearance and love in a kind of perfect harmony.  We are to love the sinner and the person who wrongs us and understand that God loves them too.  We are also to look at every situation as an opportunity to teach someone about the gospel.  So, I would say that what this is really getting at is that we are to veiw everyone as a future bother or sister in the Lord who just hasn't come to that understanding for themselves yet.  In this way we are to demonstrate forbearance towards them and demonstrate the love of God as we wait for them to understand it.  No matter how many times a person wrongs us we are to forbear them and demonstrate the love of God to them waiting for the day when it finally clicks in their heads what we've been doing all along and the implications it has for their own souls.  Let me come at this by asking a few questions. If someone hit you on the cheek how much forbearance would it take for" you to keep from hitting him back?  If someone stole your coat right off your back how much forbearance would it take to keep you from chasing him down and taking it back?  If someone stole everything that you had how much forbearance would it take to keep from demanding that he give it back?  We could go through and ask similar questions about each of the cases stated in these verses.  I see this passage as a demonstration of forbearance in our actions.  With that in mind we must notice that we are to have forbearance regarding our actions not just toward the brethren but to everyone we interact with.  Forbearance must be a way of life.  In Romans 12:17-21 it says, "Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'  No, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.'  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  Forbearance must be demonstrated at all times and most especially with our enemies.  How would your practice forbearance in the following situations?  What if someone cuts you off on the way to work?  What if your friend spreads rumors about you?  There are all kinds of opportunites to let all men know of your forbearance.  There are a few more verses in the bible that speak to the idea of forbearance demonstrated in our actions: Proverbs 16:32; Luke 6:27-30; 1 Peter 3:9.

Next I want to go to Titus 3:2.  "to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men."  We should be forbearing in our speech.  Remember that one of the translations for the greek word in Philippians 4:5 was gentleness.  Gentleness and meekness are used synonymously in the King James Version and other standard versions of the bible.  Again we can see that the idea of forbearance is present.  We are to be level headed, and gracious in our judgements.  That includes judgements about what we decide to say!  The Bible speaks quite a bit about controling our tongues.  Usually, when The Bible speaks a lot about something that is a good indication that it is a problem for most people.  What we say especially in the precence of unbelievers or new Christians is vitally important.  Even if people are speaking poorly of you or someone close to you; you have a responsibility to be forbearing in your speech.  We aren't to speak evil of any man!  I think most often for Christians the most difficult group to be totally forbearing in our speach with is other Christians.  Take a look at 2 Corinthians 12:20, "For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means there should be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults"  It seems that Christians have a difficult time in being judicious and forbearing in their speech about one another.  Even in the first century with the death of Christ just a few years in the past, the apostles in their midst, prophesies, and miracles happening every day the people were not able to hold their tongues.  You must ask yourself, are you in a better position than these people to resist the tempation to let you speach go ungarded?  1 Peter 3:10 says, "For "the person who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit He must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it..."  Refraining from speaking evil and deceitful things is here equated with a happy life and peace.  We all know how many problems we've created for ourselves by saying unwarrented and even deceitful things.  I think this is a sin that everyone is guilty of.  Well, now that we're all convicted of our sinfulness what do we do about it.  Repent of course.  As always, that is easier said than done.  However, Jude 10 gives us some help in accomplishing our goal of taming our tongues.  "Whatever these people do not understand, they slander. Like irrational animals, they are destroyed by the very things they know by instinct."  That may not seem all that helpful at first glance, but it really is.  The idea is simple; don't talk about what you don't understand.  If you don't have all the facts on an issue don't talk about it!  So, there we are back to the idea of forbearance.  The idea that we are supposed to be judicious, compassionate, gentle, and patient in the things that we say.  It takes practice to become proficient in forbearing speach, but just because something takes work doesn't mean we aren't required to do our very best.  So, think about what you say.  If you mess up admit your mistake and ask forgivness.

One last point.  Take a look at 2 Peter 3:9.  "The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some people understand slowness, but is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to perish, but wants everyone to come to repentance"  Here we see that God is being patient with us, holding off Christ's second coming so that as many people as possible have an opportunity to obey the gospel.  That's an amazing thought.  God has waited all this time in sending Jesus back to end the world just because he wants you and I to have the chance to come into his kingdom.  God has been amazingly forbearing with us.  Think about all of the things that you've done that are outside of God's will.  Nevertheless, he withheld his judgement willing that you would come to him in obedience and submission rather than punishing you for your sins.  In this we see that God has, as usual, given us the greatest example to follow.  He has been forbearing in his preaching, teaching, evangelism, and judgement so that we could have a chance to obey.  We should be applying the same principle to others.  How many times have to met someone for the first time and pronounced judgement on them.  Maybe you haven't verbalized that judgment, but often time we think to ourselves, "That person is really a terrible sinner.  There is no way that he would recieve the gospel.  So, I just won't worry about bringing it up."  In that way we pronouce judgemnt on them immediately and dismiss entirely the example of God to be forbearing, and patient.  We must take every opportunity to teach and be patient for results.  Rarely will you have someone decide to become a Christian after they've heard the gospel one time.  Often times it takes quite a while before individuals truly come to an understanding of their responsibility in the face of God's will.  Furthermore, new Christians aren't always where we think they should should be.  We shouldn't think of these people as being unspiritual or irreverant.  Rather, we should understand that they are simply not as mature.  Like physical maturity, spiritual maturity takes time.  We must be patient with these people, taking every opportunity to instruct, correct, and encourage them.  Not everyone is ready for the "meat" of The Word.  Some people still need to be nourished with "milk".  We can't expect all Christians to be at the same level of understanding as those who've been Christians for a lifetime.  Therefore, be forbearing when unbelievers violate a point of God's will in ignorace.  Take the opportunity for instruction not condemnation.  God was forbearing with you so be forbearing with others.

Therefore, we can see that by an examination of Philippians 4:5 we should practice forbearance.  This may be one of the most difficult parts of this lesson.  I know that for myself, it is very difficult to be forbearing with everyone, and I often fall short.  Nevertheless, I understand that I have a duty to follow God's will on this matter and a resolve to do so.  The benefits of true forbearance with everyone, believers and non-believers alike, are innumberable.  But, as Philippians 4:4-7 says peace will most definately come.

Stay tuned, We still have a great deal more to cover in examining The Formula For Peace!

The Formula For Peace: Part 1

We do not live in a peacful world.  Anyone can simply look around or read the news to understand this truth.  The Bible also makes this point clearly known.  Just read what Psalms 74:23 has to say, "Do not foget the clamor of thy foes, the uproar of thy adversaries which goes up continually!"  Those who oppose God have been active since and before David's time and are continually active.  Just think of all the wars in just the last century.  Not just the wars in which the United States has been involved with but ALL of the wars.  That's a pretty stagoring thing to imagine.  We can obviously see that peace does not exist in the world.  However, Jesus promises peace to his disciples in the book of John.  In John 14:27 it says, "Peace I leave with you: my peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you."  Furthermore, In John 16:33 the Bible says, "I have said this to you , that in me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  Just notice in these two verses the distinction between the peace Jesus gives and the "peace" the world offers.  The peace the Jesus was talking about is not the lack of war or the ability to get along with everyone all the time.  The peace that Jesus desires for his diciples is a peace that dwells in the soul.  This peace is between God and every believer and consequently between every believer and his circumstances.

Clearly, the question arises, "How does a person recieve and maintain this Christ given peace?"  I believe that Philippians 4:4-7 gives one of the best answers to this question.  It says, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let all men know you forbearance.  The Lord is at hand.  Have no anxitey about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I know that I don't post often on here, but over the next few weeks I want to discuss the answer to the question above and the answer given by this verse from Philippians.  I don't want to take complete credit for the observation that we are given a sort of formula for peace in this verse.  The idea first came to me by way of an abbreviated section in a larger sermon by a preacher who's last name is Corley.  I have forgotten the man's first name but I think he might have prefered it that way.  The message he left with me was of far greater importance than his name.  So, everything that I am going to say on this topic will be an expansion of his ideas which he delivered in about ten minutes of an hour long sermon on the subject of peace.  Of course my thoughts are hingend on Philippians 4:4-7 and I would suggest that as you read, keep that passage in your bible marked and refer back to it often.  I might even suggest that you memorize that passage.  In doing so you will have memorized the basic outline of this discussion and will have a sermon or short talk ready as the need should arise.  As you will most likely see this can be a great way to preach the gospel to someone.  Nevertheless, I won't focus on the evanglistic potential of this text in Philippians, but I think that if you are an intuitive thinker you will get the idea of how it might work.  So, let us get right into the discussion with the first point.

I think the first idea we can draw from this passage  in Philippians is that a person should rejoice.  As much as we like to believe differently, ultimately this flesh, without the soul that God has breathed into every one of us, is just an animal.  At times we must treat ourselves simply as animals, knowing that the simple actions we take have a great effect on our souls.  The habits that we maintain do indeed directly effect our souls.  God realized this and so used it to make us better servants for him in that he appointed that we should take his Lord's Supper every week. By this habit and its necessary actions we are made to frequently remember the Lord's death and thus a great impression of its importance is cultivated in our souls, along with an understanding of the graditude we should have for his sacrifice.  Consequently, we are more frequently inclined to think about the Lord's death outside of worship and are then motivated to a great many actions and attitudes as a result.   The simple act of rejoicing even when the world seems to be coming down around you may indeed go a long way to producing a real feeling of joy in your soul.  We all have at least one thing to rejoice about.  Even in the midst of the worst circumstances God will not leave you totally despondent.  Of course, for the Christian we have one of the easiest things in the world to rejoice about.  We should rejoice in hope just as the Bible says in Romans 12:12, "Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."  If we as Christians will simply focus on Christ's return and heaven's reward every situation, no matter how drear, will suddenly become a great time of rejoicing and joyful worship.  I would even go as far to say, and rightly so, that we should make a habit of rejoicing even outside of those drear times.  We should rejoice in heaven's reward when we face easily happy circumstances as well.  Think about Luke 10:20, "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."  Obviously having evil spirits in subjection would be something that would thrill every believer.  Nevertheless, the circumstances are not to be the focus, whether good or bad.  We should always be looking ahead.  By activly looking ahead to the reward we keep this life in perspective.  We realize that our time here is temporary and that both the good and bad times will pass away with time itsself.  As a result of this focus our actions will be dirctly effected.  We will be more joyful people, more courteous, more evangelistic, more loving, and ultimately more like our focus which is Christ Jesus.

However, let us revisit the idea of rejoicing in hard times for a bit.  In Romans 5:2 & 3 the Bible says, "Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.  More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance..."  We are to go beyond just rejoicing in hope we are to rejoice for the troubles and sufferings themselves.  To most that would seem to be absolute insanity!  Are Christians to be some kind of sadists?  No, we are not going to derive pleasure from suffering.  However, we are going to be able to see beyond the immediate suffering to the reward and rejoice in the change that will come about deep within ourselves because of the suffering.  What Christians are really rejoicing in is the endurance that is produced by the suffering.  There are several verses in the Bible the attest to this fact.  James 1:2 & 3 says, "Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trial, for you kow that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."  Here we see a different word used as the reward of suffering.  Steadfastness implies the idea of being imovable and firm.  Through suffering we are made steadfast in our faith.  We are forced in hard times to truly rely on the Lord and the knowledge that he has a better plan.  We are forced to really put our faith into action.  (Notice again the connection between our actions and the state of our souls!)  Of course there is an obvious danger involved in testing our faith.  There are individuals who, when tested, reject the faith and turn away.  These people are not strengthened by suffering but truly torn down. There can be all sorts of speculation about why God allows this to happen, but I think the best answer I can come up with (note this is only my opinion) is that these people didn't have the kind of faith that was allowing the Holy Spirit to work in them.  Therefore, they were already not allowing themselves to be made into the kind of souls God wants in his kingdom; they have already lost their faith on the very deepest level.  Regardless of God's reasoning, we are blatantly told in 1 Peter 1:6 & 7 that trials do indeed prove faith to be genuine.  This passage reads, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may rebound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  We prove ourselves in how we handle trials.  God has told us that we are to rejoice in trials, so we are proven when by faith we handle tough situations in the way that he has commanded.  Finally, I have noticed that scripture seems to provide us with a great circle of reasoning.  In Matthew 5: 11 & 12 it says, "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you."  Here we see that suffering ultimately should cause us to look towards the reward of heaven, in which we are again to rejoice. 

Therefore, we are to rejoice when things are good or bad.  We are to be joyful for victories over the devil, for the steadfastness and genuineness that is produced through trials, and ultimately and most importantly for the hope of heaven.  This is the first element in the formula for peace. "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." 

Come back next week for more of the story and the next element in the formula!

The Faith

The words "the faith" are given several times in the scriptures (Jude 3; Galatians 1:23; 1 Timothy 6:12; Revelation 14:12; Colossians 1:23).  A general reading of the scriptures might simply pass over these words without taking much notice.  However, the words "the faith" have significant meaning and a true understanding of the definition of this term has important implications concering doctrine.  When attached to the article "the" the word faith, according to Thayer's Lexicon, refers to "the religious beliefs of Christians."  According to Strongs Lexicon it means the "conviction of...the system of religious (Gospel) truth."  In this way "the faith" refers to the conviction of the truth which leads to salvation.  Of course, faith being vitally connected with knowledge, this truth is hinged on understnding the gospel (Romans 10:17).  Therefore, "the faith" is a referance to the understanding of what it takes for a person to be saved and the conviction of that truth.

This has great implications for unity and the nature of God's revelation to man.  First of all every Christian should be defending the same faith.  this means we should be defending the same understanding/doctrine that leads to salvation.  Of course this means there is only one truth that leads to salvation just as it is stated in Ephesians 4:5.

Furthermore, we are told in Jude 3 that the faith, or the doctrine and conviction that leads to salvation, has been once for all delivered to the saints.  This means that the faith does not change.  The faith that was revealed in the New Testament of the 1st century is the same faith we should be following today.  Let me pose two important questions.  First, what would be the implications of adding new revelation to the faith today?  Secondly, what would be the implications fo leaving out parts of the faith relied on in the 1st century?  To answer the first question, if revelation continued aftger the 1st century and the writing of the New Testament then the church of the 1st century did not have the whole faith.  they could not have been saved without the faith as it is defined by the Greek language and biblical context.  To answer the second question, if we take away from the faith that was relied upon in the 1st century then we remove part of the body of knowledge or the doctrine that leads to salvation.  Therefore, today we must neither add to nor take away from the faith established in the New Testament.

Just think about the implications this has on your practice of Christianity and the doctrine you defend.  Do you defend the same gospel that was defended in the 1st century?  Does your church add to the Word?  Does your church have a creed book or statment of faith other than the Bible that guides the chruch?  Is the Bible your sole source for determining what you should do to be pleasing to God?  Do you think the Holy Spirit is still revealing God's will today?  Is your religion or brand of Christianity based on "the faith" or on your on man's desires, creeds, traditions, or your own feeling about what is right and wrong and what you think is pleasing to God?

These are all very very important questions that every person must ask himself.  Remember the faith was once for all delivered to the saints!  Once for all means forever.  Once for all means it doesn't change.  Once for all means that you should be preaching, teaching, and living the same thing as Paul!  Are you?

Why the Nativity:

A Christmas Message

Christmas has been a long standing tradition in the western world.  Many of the things we do today were established long ago, like giving gifts.  This tradition is intended to remind us of the birth of Jesus.  The gifts remind us of the three wise men and their gifts to the baby Jesus.  They also remind us of the great gift Jesus was and is to us.  Most people know the nativity story pretty well.  However, have you ever taken a moment to think about why it had to happen?  Why does this world need a Messiah?  What was Jesus’ purpose on this earth?  What should be my response to his ministry?  I want to try to answer some of those questions, so if you would, please grab your bible and check out the scriptures I’m going to point to.  Let’s examine these things together and learn the answers to these life-changing questions.

I think the best place to start in order to answer these questions is the book of Genesis.  This book, written hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, explains the reason for his coming.  In Genesis chapter 3 it tells of the fall of man, a time when sin (disobedience to God’s will) entered the world.  Further in Gen. 3:15 the first prophecy of the Messiah is given.  Therefore, in this passage we have God’s great plan for the Messiah and man all in one chapter hundreds of years before it would come to pass.  We learn from this that the purpose of the Messiah is to redeem man from sin.  Look at these other scriptures that attest to the same truth.  Isaiah 53 gives one of the most vivid descriptions of what the Messiah was to do.  Take special note of vv. 10-12.  We are told here that he was to be an offering for sin.  There are a host of other passages that speak to this very truth:  Mt. 1:21-23; Jn. 1:29; Acts 4:12.  Of course, those aren’t all of the passages, but I think you get the point.  It was the plan from the beginning that this little baby born in a stable would suffer and die for the sins of men.

Therefore, he suffered and died for you.  Think about it.  Have you ever done something contrary to God’s will?  Have you ever lied (Mt. 5:33-37)?  Have you ever stolen anything?  Have you ever committed adultery (Mt. 5:27-32)?  Have you ever committed murder (Mt. 5:21-26)?  If you’ve done these things you’ve sinned against God.  Romans 3:23 says, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  That means what Jesus came to do he came to do for you!  What a comfort to know that the creator of all that you see, the whole universe, loved you enough to send his son to save you from your sins (Jn. 3:16).  This is probably the most amazing Christmas gift anyone could ever hope to receive.  This is the grace of God, he sent his son to reconcile you to himself (Col. 1:19-22).

Thus, Jesus did the hard part in this plan.  Does he want you to do anything?  What is your responsibility now?  That, of course, is the next logical question.  Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, has laid out some important things that are necessary to receive this gift of salvation.  The first condition is that we must believe that Jesus is who he says he is (John 1:12; Acts 13:39).  Of course there are many scriptures that attest to this fact, but in all reality all we need is one verse that gives this command to make it a part of the conditions for receiving the gift. 

What more?  Is belief all that is required?  Examine James 2:18-20.  It is obvious that belief is not the only requirement.  The bible also places great emphasis on repentance.  Take a look at the following verses: 2 Peter 3:9; 2 Cor 7:9-10; Acts 2:37-38, 3:19, 8:22.  As you can see there are many verses speaking to the necessity of repentance and many more are given in the scriptures that aren’t listed here.  However, there are still two more conditions to receive the gift of salvation.  The bible also stresses confession of Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God.  The following verses speak to this truth: Mt. 10:32; Rm. 10:9-10; 1 Jo. 2:32. Again, there are many more verses in the bible that say similar things.  Finally, the last condition to be met in order to receive the gift of salvation is immersion (baptism) for the remission of sins, as the following verses attest: Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:37-38; Rm. 6:3-8; 1 Pet 3:20-21.

Thus, we have the whole purpose of the Messiah and the conditions to receive the gift of salvation.  The gift of salvation was and still is the greatest Christmas gift any of us can receive.  It all began in a little stable, with a little baby, on a beautiful starry night.  The real meaning of Christmas isn’t all the material possessions we exchange among ourselves, or the food we eat, or even the family we spend it with, though all those things are precious and wonderful.  The real purpose and meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of the Messiah and the offering of a great a perfect gift to each one of us.  I hope, that this Christmas and throughout the year, you will take time to reflect on these things.  It doesn’t matter if you are or are not a Christian now.  We all need reminders of the amazing grace of God and what he has done for us.  Therefore, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyful, God-centered year to come.

Clayton Clark