| Parousia Patris News
Volume 9 issue 8 The Incomparable CHRIST CHRISTmas 2008 "Looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem and purify for Himself His special people---" Titus 3:13-14a. "For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord! And this shall be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." Luke 2:11. This a fulfillment of the prophecy given 700 years before in Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold the Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel, (which means, God is with us). Isaiah further prophesies in Isaiah 9:6-7a, "For unto us is born, unto us is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. 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." "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17. "Thanks be to God for His indescribable (unspeakable) gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15. That gift is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. "When the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children. Because you Gentiles have become His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child, everything He has belongs to you." Galatians 4:4-7 (nlt). "When the right time came," God sent Jesus to earth to die for our sins. For centuries the Jews had been wondering when their Messiah would come. God's timing was perfect. We sometimes may wonder if God will ever respond to our prayers. We must never doubt Him or give up hope. At just the right time He will respond! Are you waiting for God's timing? Trust His judgment and trust that He has your best interests in mind. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice because, although He was fully human, He never sinned. His death on the cross bought freedom for us who were enslaved to sin so that we could be adopted into God's family. Jesus took young children into His arms, He ate with sinners. He washed His disciples feet; yet He was before all things. He is Head over all things, Heir of all things, and will subdue all things, and He is the 'glue' that holds all things together!! He left the glories of heaven, made Himself of no 'reputation', and took upon Himself the role of a servant. He was wounded for our sins and bruised beyond recognition for our iniquities. He gave His back to be beaten raw. He gave His beard to be plucked out, but He hid NOT His face from shame or to be spat upon. He was despised by men, rejected betrayed, mocked, and beaten; He was made a curse for us and was executed as a criminal. Yet He is the Rock of Ages, our sure foundation, the Creator of the universe, the Living Word! He is the bread of life, the true Vine, God's unspeakable gift, and the Prince of Peace. He is the Chief Shepherd, the one altogether lovely, the almighty God, the victor over death, the Savior of the world, the coming King Jesus!! He was born in a stable, His first cradle was an animal feeding trough, and angels announced His birth. He had nowhere to lay His head, (Matthew 8:20; yet He offers us mansions He has gone to prepare. (John 14:2-3). He is coming again to, "receive us unto Himself, that where He is, there we will be also" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). He lived in poverty, yet He has blessed many people with His unsearchable riches. He was often weary but offers rest to those "who are weary and heavy laden."(Matthew 11:28-30). He was often hungry and thirsty, but He said in John 6:35, "I am the Bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst!" He had no home, Luke 9:58 He was buried in a borrowed tomb, but all who receive Him, He will give eternal life! John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, (you and me), that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, will have everlasting, eternal life." He was put to death as a common criminal, now He sits at the right hand of God the Father, making intercession for you and me! In His life here on earth He had no position of authority, yet at His Name, every knee in heaven and earth shall bow, and every tongue shall confess He is Lord!! He took upon Himself the sins that were ours and gives the righteousness that was His. He is the central character of history, the theme of true preaching, the source of all true life and happiness and the foundation of all true progress! CHRIST JESUS IS:-- Incomparable in His Humility: "He made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross."Philippians 2:7-8. Incomparable in His Love: "Christ has also loved us, and has given Himself for us and a sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:2. Incomparable in His Grace: "For we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor that we through His poverty might be rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9. Incomparable in His Sacrifice: "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and give His life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45. Incomparable in His Power: "All power is given to Me in heaven and all the earth, go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all things that I have commanded you; and I will be with you always, even to the end of the age!" Matthew 28:18-20. Incomparable in His Honor: "He who is the only Sovereign, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords." 1 Timothy 6:15. Incomparable in His Glory: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" Revelation 5:12. Incomparable in His Salvation: Jesus said to her, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He (or she) who believes in Me, though he (she) may die, yet shall he (she) live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die! Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God!" John1:12-13. Incomparable in heaven or earth; Incomprehensible His worth; Wonder of wonders! Christ I see on Calvary's cross- for me (and you)! (F.M. Eagleson) Jesus Christ IS the Incomparable One. He was with the Father at the very beginning at creation. Genesis 1:26. John 1:1, 2, 14. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and brought sin into Garden of Eden, God planned to atone for sin of each of us, by sending His Son Jesus who was sinless to the cross to be the sin bearer. Jesus took our sins to the cross, making us righteous before God, our Heavenly Father. He is now, at this moment, at God's right hand making intercession for you and me and all who believe Jesus as their Savior!! Yes, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord left His glory with His Father, to be born as a human baby boy to a virgin, in Bethlehem of Judea. All was prophesied in the Old Testament hundreds of years before. This is what our CHRISTmas is all about, the birth of our Savior. We have no way of knowing the exact day of His birth. This a Holy time whenever it was. It is NOT "Happy Holidays"!! JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!! Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He lived as a working man, a carpenter to the age thirty, then began His ministry of teaching, healing, filling spiritual and physical needs of all who came to Him. He was falsely accused by the 'religious crowd' and was crucified between two criminals on a cross, the horrible Roman means of punishment. He asked His Father to forgive His executioners, "For they know not what they do." Even the Roman Centurion, in charge of the cross detail, was convinced Jesus was innocent!! Luke 23:47 & Mark 15:39. One of the criminals crucified with Him realized who He was and said, "Remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Jesus replied, "Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." Isn't that a comfort to know we will see Jesus immediately when God calls us to 'come home'!! Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season!! We commend the ones who still have Christ in their Christmas decorations. Jesus came that by believing in Him as our Lord and Savior, we have eternal life in His presence, in the place He said He was preparing for us. John 14: 1-3. He is coming again for us, to meet Him 'in the air'. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. What a glorious day that will be for all believers!! Friend Reader, Are you looking for Jesus to return? Do you know Him as your personal Savior and Lord? If you do, He will be coming for you too. If Jesus is not your Savior, He is waiting for you to ask Him. If this is your desire, pray a prayer like this; Lord Jesus, I want to You to be my Savior. I confess I am a sinner and want to repent of my sins. Please forgive me my sins and make me a child of God. Thank you for loving me so much, that you died on the cross to take away all my sins. I am looking forward to being with you for eternity in heaven, Amen You may write to us and tell us of your decision. Our address is: Parousia Patris News, PO Box 1393, Ava, MO 65608. We wish you a blessed Jesus' Birthday Blair and Pam |
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