Christmas is the time of year to rediscover the meaning of the one and only "Emmanuel" of God, Jesus Christ. Emmanuel means 'God With Us'. But it means much more than that. We shall see. The Christmas story tells us that the WORD stepped out of eternity and became one of us, a fully human being. This WORD had always been with God and WAS God. ( John 1:1-4). John tells us that He was the originator of Creation, of Life, of everything.(As does Paul. Colossians 1:15-17).
The name "Emmanuel" actually means , God with us. But Jesus' coming in the flesh did much more than just dwell with humans. He became one of us, became one WITH us and became One IN us. IN US !!! And us IN Him. He makes this clear in John 14:20 when He says that we will know that He is in the Father, the Father is in Him and He is in us. In John 17:20-26, He phrases it this way, " that He and the Father will be in us and that He himself will be IN us."
Paul says it this way in Colossians3:4, " that when Christ who IS your life appears." The physical life we all have now in the fallenness of Adam is only temporary. Jesus enters into all of us and gives us His life and that life is ETERNAL. ( I Corinthians 15:22).
Jesus is the SOURCE of life. If He is not present inside of a living organism to give life, that organism is not alive but dead. He is life. John 1:4. ( Note: All things are sustained or upheld by Jesus Christ.)
Christmas is much more than shepherds, wise men, camels, and Santa. It is about EMMANUEL. God with us. God one of us. God IN us. AND, We IN Him. And He is there within us permanently with no possibility of being separated from us ever. Romans 8.
Finally, Paul calls all of this the greatest secret of the ages. The greatest mystery of all of humanity. He calls it a GLORIOUS truth. It is in Colossians 1:26-27. "Christ IN you the hope of Glory." AND, AND, AND, it applies to EVERYONE. EVERYONE!!!
See verse 28 of Colossians 1. God simply loves all of His creation and has saved and redeemed and reconciled it in Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:20. The KEY for us is will be believe?
Christmas is for the whole world because Emmanuel is FOR the whole world. All who ever lived.( John 3:16-17; I John 2:2.)
Maybe now you can more clearly than ever before, " BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD". (John 1:29)
Blessings, and Merry Christmas!
Paul
( P.S. To comment, just click on 'comments' and use your Google identity or account . If you dont have one you can just register and then comment. Thanks. It is free. )
.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Thank you so much for your blog! We are learning so much!! We have been visiting all the blogs on The Adopted Life site and gleaning so so much!! Thank you for the articles! We are starting a family (My husband, daughter, my Mother & Step-father and I) Bible Study this Sunday to begin studying Christ-centered theology together!! God bless you Paul!!
Dear Spykers
Great to see you are "getting it". If you need any help with any questions just give me a call or email me.
Paul Kurts
256-468-8081
Paul.Kurts@wcg.org
www.newlifewcg.org
PS. Let me know where you all are located. We may have a local church in your area.
Paul
Post a Comment