Romans 1:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (Good News) of Christ, for it is God's power working unto salvation (for deliverance from eternal death) to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Verse 17 goes on, "For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith (disclosed through the say of faith that arouses to more faith), as it is written, the man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."
When Jesus was born of a woman, He took upon Himself flesh and blood in order to die, a Sacrifice for mankind. His body wasn't of man's kind of flesh, because His Father and His Blood were without sin. The body of Jesus was like the body of Adam, before his transgression...There was no sin in it. Jesus must surrender to death on His Own or mankind would stay in his dead condition. We can only be saved from death, by believing in Jesus' death and resurrection and believing that He is the Son of God.
Our first act of faith (springing from faith to faith) was believing that Jesus could and would, forgive our sin and give us new life. Romans 1:17 said, "A righteousness that God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith." What we didn't understand then, was that "Faith comes by hearing (what is told) and what is heard comes by the preaching (of the message that came from the lips) of Christ (the Messiah Himself)," according to Romans 10:17b (Amplified).
Once faith sprung up, this faith opens us to the revelation of the fullness of what Jesus delivered by His death. Every part and portion of God's plan of deliverance, must be revealed by faith. Many see the Gift of the Christ Child was simply God's forgiveness of sin. Many in today's Church, stop their faith journey at salvation. They get born again, are going to heaven and are saved, but they don't allow their faith to "lead them into more faith."
The Gift of Jesus in the manger is still being unwrapped to this day and we will never see the end of this gift. The faith you had that led to your salvation, leads you into more faith, so you can see deeper into this precious Gift that was so carefully wrapped in swaddling clothes.
When faith opens the "eyes of our understanding," we can see how many things in this Gift remain unwrapped. We see this Gift of Righteousness is opened up to us and we no longer need to struggle into order to be in right standing with God. Romans 3:23-24 (Amplified) says, "Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus."
This "saving faith" has led the way into righteousness by faith. As the knowledge of Jesus grows in our hearts, the faith in His sacrifice grows with it, by faith. And, it "springs from faith, and leads to faith." Many of the Gifts wrapped in swaddling cloth are still unwrapped. Those Gifts can only be unwrapped and seen by faith. These Gifts have your name on the package and belong to you, but you must, by faith, continue unwrapping them until you see their depths.
We sometimes only see the Baby in the manger and only see God's Love, but by faith, we can see everything that Love has prepared and delivered to us by this Gift. The Baby born in Bethlehem's manger was simply the "Body that was prepared." Hebrews 10:5 (Amplified) says, "For Him to offer as a sacrifice for us." Only this body could take on the sin, guilt, curse and death that was mankind's price for redemption. The Christ that came in the flesh, always was, always is, and always will be. We see and celebrate that which we can see and identify with, but Jesus always was.
When I celebrate Christmas, I celebrate the Gift of Life that was His Gift from the foundation of the world. God's Love was so great and full of faith in His creation, that He could trust the One Who became Life and Light into the hands of a mortal woman. His Love was so great that God would trust mortal Mary to raise His Own Son, for Him.
I can barely imagine what kind of Love can trust in and believe in someone so much that He would trust a woman to raise the "Unblemished Sacrifice" for the altar of the cross. We can now understand what Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) means in saying, "Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever." God's Love can shine in our hearts. 2Corinthians 4:5-6 (Amplified) says, "For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves (merely) as your servants (slaves) for Jesus' sake. For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as (to beam forth) the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God (as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed) in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
Notice how the above scripture didn't say that, "God has said for light to shine in our hearts," but God Who said, "Let Light shine this God has shone in our hearts." God Himself has shone as Light in out hearts. It's not just the Light, but the God Who created Light, Who shines in our hearts. This Light, Who is eternal, is Jesus the Light of the world.
Thank God for this Light, which is His Word, Who is Jesus Himself.
Merry CHRISTmas and a Blessed New Year in His Blessing!
Love you,
Jim
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