Posts Tagged ‘ Gospel ’

A Faith Old Enough to Drink?

Today is my wonderful mother-in-law’s birthday.

Also, it is what I call my Re-birthday.

21 years ago today, in a small Nazarene church in Bloomington, IL, at 6:46 pm CST, I realized that I believed the Gospel message. Jesus got a firm hold of me, and that is when everything began to change for me.

And I celebrate with a cake.

Why?

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:7, 10, 24

Just like the song says, this wretch was lost and dead, but now I am found and alive. This calls for celebration!

Being as I am now re-21, and I mentioned drinking in the title:

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”
Luke 5:37‭-‬39 ESV

I am not who I was 21 years ago. I am not who I was 10 years ago. I have grown and learned much in Christ. I have been made new to carry the New Covenant of our Lord into our world as I commune with Him by His Holy Spirit.

Therefore, let us celebrate our common salvation and share this faith with our fallen world!

VerseD: Matthew 2:10-11

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:10‭-‬11, ESV

Whether we have riches or nothing, feel like experts or novices or somebody’s or nobodies, God gave us the ultimate sign of hope through the gift of His Son.
Let us worship Him with everything we have, are, and do. For this baby grew to become our ransom from sin and death, and He is coming again!

VerseD: Luke 2:14

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2:14, ESV

Our Father in heaven deserves praise and honor for sending His Son, the Prince of Peace, to give us the hope of our salvation.

VerseD: John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14, ESV

God became one of us to bring us grace, truth, forgiveness, and hope.

VerseD: Matthew 1:21

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21, ESV

A faithful servant of God carried The Faithful One because of the hope of His saving blood, and her faithful betrothed helped.
What a picture of what the Church can be with Christ.

VerseD: 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.
Isaiah 7:14, ESV

God came to us in a most unexpected way: as a human baby. But the man He grew into brought us hope and salvation from God’s wrath through His death and resurrection!

VerseD: Luke 12:40

“You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Luke 12:40, ESV

Jesus can return at any moment. This should give us a sense of urgency to proclaim the Gospel and of hope in the end of suffering and evil.

VerseD: Mark 1:2-4

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Mark 1:2‭-‬4, ESV

Just as John got people ready for the ministry of Jesus by teaching repentance, we should be getting people ready for the return of Christ.

VerseD: John 1:12

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
John 1:12, ESV

We are adopted children of God by faith in Christ. We are siblings by Blood.

VerseD: Jeremiah 31:3

the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
Jeremiah 31:3, ESV

God has appeared to the True Israel, now from a distance of time, and demonstrated His love and faithfulness by bearing our punishment and shame. And He is with us always until His return.