MC_Shann's Xanga

The Incarnation and it's importance

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 13:23:36 GMT

The Importance of Jesus' Fulfilling All Righeousness For Us

by John Hendryx

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." - Matthew 3:13-15

What an odd passage. Jesus comes to John to be baptized. John, knowing Jesus' identity, tries to stop Him and tells him it should be the other way around. Jesus tells him to do it anyway in order to' fulfill all righteousness'. Huh? What righteousness? Isn't Jesus already righteous, we ask? What actual need would there be to fulfill any more righteousness? While we all acknowledge that Jesus is indeed righteous in His essence, but I propose to demonstrate from the text of Scripture that, in order to become a perfect substitute for us, Jesus also needed to fulfill all righteousness as a man from our side, a man who is 'born under the law' who needed to perfectly keep it in order to be able to impute righteousness to us. Yes we must be quick to acknowledge that our Lord’s atoning death removes sin. Clearly, the curse of the law is removed because Jesus endured the penalty for us. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21). “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Gal. 3:13). Indeed, as the text of Scripture declares, in order for human beings, who are sinners, to have eternal life the guilt and penalty of sin must be removed. But Jesus does this not only by dying the death we justly deserve but by living the life we should have lived. This means, along with punishment for sins, that we must also have a perfect record of obedience to God’s law. When these two conditions are fulfilled people can be justified or declared righteous, before God. Therefore, justification contains one negative and one positive element.

The fact is, if Jesus simply needed to impute the righteousness of God from His essence, there would have been no need for him to live for 33 years. Instead when Herod went to go massacre the infants in Bethlehem, Jesus death as an infant would have sufficed for our justification. But this was not the plan of God because to become a perfect high priest and lamb without blesmmish, Jesus not only had to die for us but he had to live for us. It is clear then that the Scriptures speak of God's people not only being justified by His death (Rom. 3:25; 5:9) but also as being saved by His life or obedience (Rom. 5:10, 19). Aside from the above obvious passages, where else do the Scriptures teach this? Well if you turn with me to Hebrews chapters 4 and 5 we will find a very precise passage on this very topic:

"we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin ... In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 411, 12& Heb 5:7-8)

The author of Hebrews here emphasizes the necessity of Jesus being without sin. He does not mean that Jesus was merely sinless in His essence as the second Person in the Trinity but that through temptations in the world He overcame, as a man, and His prayers were heard by God because, as a man, He revered and obeyed God. Next it says he was made perfect. Now if only Jesus essence were needed for our righteousness here there would be no need for him to be made perfect since he already was. No, what this is speaking of is the same thing he meant when speaking to John the baptist. He was made perfect as a man (fulfilling all righteousness) so that he could become the eternal source of salvation as a high priest for us in the order of Melchizedek.

The notes in the ESV Study Bible by David Chapman of Covenant Theological Seminary are as follows: .

Heb. 5:9–10 being made perfect. During his childhood, Jesus was not lacking in any godly character quality, but he was lacking in the full experience of having lived a perfect human life, obeying the Father in everything, without sin. The lifelong perfect obedience of Jesus (v. 8; 7:26–28) provides the basis for eternal salvation (2:10; 9:23–28) and for the ultimate “perfection” of those who respond in faith and obedience (10:14; 11:40; 12:23; cf. 7:19; 9:9; 10:1).

Remember, Jesus did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. Jesus' fulfilling of the law was done both for God and for us. When the Rich Young Ruler asked what He must do to attain eternal life Jesus told him to obey the commandments and he will live. The question was about eternal life, not just abundant life, so we know Jesus meant that perfect obedience to God's law was the requirement, that if a person were to hypothetically have kept all the commandments they would not need a savior. But Jesus uses this merely as a way of speaking to demonstrate the impossibility to doing so. In the presence of Jesus the Young Ruler soon realizes that he has failed to keep the law against coveting and goes away sad. The disciples rightly ask 'who then can be saved' and Jesus answers that 'what is impossible with man is possible with God'. In other words, Jesus does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. "For by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Rom 3:19). But " God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us." (Rom 8:3)

Therefore, the problem is not with the law, but that it was weakened by the flesh and therefore could not do what it intended (i.e do this and live). But Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh AND for sin without that weakenss so that the righteouss requirement of the law might be met (fulfilled) in us.

To conclude, Jesus incarnation is important, no, vital to our justificaiton. Those who argue that Jesus active obedience (or living the life we should have lived) is unimportant would appear to be downplaying the importance of the incarnation.

Doctrine is Practical

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:54:43 GMT

Doctrine is Practical

"The word doctrine simply means "teaching." And it's ludicrous to say that Christ is anti-teaching. The central imperative of His Great Commission is the command to teach (Matthew 28:18-20). Yet there's no shortage of church-growth experts, professional pollsters, and even seminary professors nowadays who are cautioning young pastors that doctrine is too divisive, too threatening, too heady and theoretical—and therefore simply impractical. Impractical? I agree that practical application is vital. I don't want to minimize its importance. But if there is a deficiency in preaching today, it is that there's too much relational, pseudo-psychological, and thinly life-related content, and not enough emphasis on sound doctrine. Moreover, the distinction between doctrinal and practical truth is completely artificial; doctrine is practical. In fact, nothing is more practical than sound doctrine, because there's ultimately no basis for godly behavior apart from the truth of God's Word. Practical insights, gimmicks, and illustrations mean little if they are divorced from divine principle. Before the preacher asks anyone to perform a certain duty, he must first deal with doctrine. He must develop his message around theological themes and draw out the principles of the texts. Then the truth can be applied. The New Testament church was founded on a solid base of doctrine. Without that, no practical application matters. True doctrine transforms behavior as it is woven into the fabric of everyday life. But it must be understood if it is to have its impact. The real challenge of the ministry is to dispense the truth clearly and accurately. Practical application comes easily by comparison."

~ Dr. John MacArthur

Unable to come to Christ... Unless!

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:30:02 GMT

Concerning man's inability to come to God on his own, which statement is true:

1. Man cannot come because he will not come.
OR
2. Man will not come because he cannot come.

What is at the heart of man's inability to come to Christ? Is it his depraved will? Is it his spiritual blindness/deadness/bondage?

The natural man is unspiritual, that is, he is not regenerated or indwelt by the Holy Spirit, so he acts in accordance with his own nature. Left to himself he both cannot and will not come to Christ. But let's be clear. God does not stop him from coming, nor coerce him in any way. His innate corruption means that he rejects Christ of necessity. Water does not rise above its source and a thorn bush does not produce figs, as it were.

Another way to consider this: If someone borrowed $100 million to fund a company and then immediately went and spent it all in a week of wild living in Las Vegas, his inability to repay the debt does not alleviate him of the responsibility to do so. So there is no contradiction between his responsibility and his inability. He created his own inability so he is responsible. Likewise Adam, our federal head, who represents the entire human race, fell and plunged all of us into a condition of debt which we cannot repay. Take note: this does not alleviate us of the responsibility to do so. We owe a debt we cannot repay. We are spiritually bankrupt and our heart needs to be renewed in the Holy Spirit who unites us to Christ. Only then do we have the mind and heart of Christ. (1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.) Without the Spirit we are dead (even hostile) to spiritual things. But when the Spirit comes with the grace of regeneration, renewing our heart after the image of God, we both can and will come to Christ. And this coming is not done by force but via our own free and renewed Spiritually living nature and will.

Fav Christmas Song Mixed With Fav Christmas Cartoon

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:54:47 GMT

Charlie Brown Christmas is one of those cartoons that helps set the tone of the season for me. RUN DMC's Christmas in Hollis is just a slammin Christmas song! Put them together and is an epic WIN!!!

Straight No Chaser

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:51:24 GMT

Not sure how many of you have seen this but it is AWESOME! Especially the end!

Merry Christmas Xanga!

Early Christian Writings on Justification

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:10:56 GMT

Some Early Christian Writings on Justification

Clement of Rome on Justification:

And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever.

- Clement of Rome, (his, not Paul's) 1st Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 32

Ignatius on Justification:

But to me Jesus Christ is in the place of all that is ancient: His cross, and death, and resurrection, and the faith which is by Him, are undefiled monuments of antiquity; by which I desire, through your prayers, to be justified.

- Ignatius, Letter to the Philadelphians, Chapter VIII (Short Version)

To such persons I say that my archives are Jesus Christ, to disobey whom is manifest destruction. My authentic archives are His cross, and death, and resurrection, and the faith which bears on these things, by which I desire, through your prayers, to be justified.

- Ignatius, Letter to the Philadelphians, Chapter VIII (Long Version)

Mathetes on Justification:

But when our wickedness had reached its height, and it had been clearly shown that its reward, punishment and death, was impending over us; and when the time had come which God had before appointed for manifesting His own kindness and power, how the one love of God, through exceeding regard for men, did not regard us with hatred, nor thrust us away, nor remember our iniquity against us, but showed great long-suffering, and bore with us, He Himself took on Him the burden of our iniquities, He gave His own Son as a ransom for us, the holy One for transgressors, the blameless One for the wicked, the righteous One for the unrighteous, the incorruptible One for the corruptible, the immortal One for them that are mortal. For what other thing was capable of covering our sins than His righteousness? By what other one was it possible that we, the wicked and ungodly, could be justified, than by the only Son of God? O sweet exchange! O unsearchable operation! O benefits surpassing all expectation! that the wickedness of many should be hid in a single righteous One, and that the righteousness of One should justify many transgressors!

- Mathetes, Letter to Diognetus, Chapter 9

Justin Martyr on Justification:

For if there was no need of circumcision before Abraham, or of the observance of Sabbaths, of feasts and sacrifices, before Moses; no more need is there of them now, after that, according to the will of God, Jesus Christ the Son of God has been born without sin, of a virgin sprung from the stock of Abraham. For when Abraham himself was in uncircumcision, he was justified and blessed by reason of the faith which he reposed in God, as the Scripture tells. Moreover, the Scriptures and the facts themselves compel us to admit that He received circumcision for a sign, and not for righteousness.

- Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter 23

Irenaeus on Justification:

And again, confirming his former words, he says, “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore, that they which are of faith are the children of Abraham. But the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, declared to Abraham beforehand, That in thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which are of faith shall be blessed with faithful Abraham.”47304730 Gal. iii. 6, etc. Thus, then, they who are of faith shall be blessed with faithful Abraham, and these are the children of Abraham. Now God made promise of the earth to Abraham and his seed; yet neither Abraham nor his seed, that is, those who are justified by faith, do now receive any 562 inheritance in it; but they shall receive it at the resurrection of the just. For God is true and faithful; and on this account He said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

- Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 5, Chapter 32, Section 2

For the Lord is the good man of the house, who rules the entire house of His Father; and who delivers a law suited both for slaves and those who are as yet undisciplined; and gives fitting precepts to those that are free, and have been justified by faith, as well as throws His own inheritance open to those that are sons.

- Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 4, Chapter 9, Section 1

And that man was not justified by these things, but that they were given as a sign to the people, this fact shows,— that Abraham himself, without circumcision and without observance of Sabbaths, “believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.” Then, again, Lot, without circumcision, was brought out from Sodom, receiving salvation from God. So also did Noah, pleasing God, although he was uncircumcised, receive the dimensions [of the ark], of the world of the second race [of men]. Enoch, too, pleasing God, without circumcision, discharged the office of God’s legate to the angels although he was a man, and was translated, and is preserved until now as a witness of the just judgment of God, because the angels when they had transgressed fell to the earth for judgment, but the man who pleased [God] was translated for salvation. Moreover, all the rest of the multitude of those righteous men who lived before Abraham, and of those patriarchs who preceded Moses, were justified independently of the things above mentioned, and without the law of Moses. As also Moses himself says to the people in Deuteronomy: “The Lord thy God formed a covenant in Horeb. The Lord formed not this covenant with your fathers, but for you.”

- Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 4, Chapter 16, Section 2

The Lord, therefore, was not unknown to Abraham, whose day he desired to see; nor, again, was the Lord’s Father, for he had learned from the Word of the Lord, and believed Him; wherefore it was accounted to him by the Lord for righteousness. For faith towards God justifies a man; and therefore he said, “I will stretch forth my hand to the most high God, who made the heaven and the earth.”

- Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 4, Chapter 5, Section 5

For “all men come short of the glory of God,”41834183 Rom. iii. 23. [Another testimony to the mercy of God in the judgment of the unevangelized. There must have been some reason for the secrecy with which “that presbyter’s” name is guarded. Irenæus may have scrupled to draw the wrath of the Gnostics upon any name but his own.] and are not justified of themselves, but by the advent of the Lord,—they who earnestly direct their eyes towards His light.

- Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 4, Chapter 27, Section 2

And that the Lord did not abrogate the natural [precepts] of the law, by which man [Editor's footnote: That is, as Harvey observes, the natural man, as described in Rom. ii. 27.] is justified, which also those who were justified by faith, and who pleased God, did observe previous to the giving of the law, but that He extended and fulfilled them, is shown from His words. “For,” He remarks, “it has been said to them of old time, Do not commit adultery. But I say unto you, That every one who hath looked upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

- Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 4, Chapter 13, Section 1

Christmas Christ vs. Christmas spirit

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:18:44 GMT

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Well it’s Christmas time again and I’m sure that if your like me in any way that at some point you're going to offer your opinion to someone about how far this holiday has gotten off track from it’s origins. That’s all fine and well, but I wonder if we have it right as well.

I guess the one thing I hear most from people is that we are supposed to show the “Christmas spirit” and love our fellow man. It’s the time of the year that we give till it hurts and do all that we can to make a difference for those that are less fortunate. We show our love for our family and friends by getting them gifts and hosting parties. It truly is a wonderful time of love and joy. Now these things are awesome and I would never take a shot at knocking those things….. BUT!

As I see it and as the scripture reveals it. Christmas (despite it's pagen roots)ultimately must be seen, if it is to be celebrated as the time where God showed His love for us. So it’s not about the loving of each other, but the fact that God set in motion His salvation plan because He loved us. A plan btw that included being born of a virgin. living a perfect and sinless life. suffering at the hands of His created people. being crucified, buried and rising from the dead to pay the price for our sins…. How awesome! The verses below capture the thought ever so clearly….

Romans 5: 6. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

That is Christmas to me! AND not just Christmas but everyday! Check out how the living translation puts verse 9.….

Romans 5:9 And since by His blood He did all this for us as sinners, how much more will He do for us now that he has declared us not guilty? Now he will save us from all of God's wrath to come.

What an excellent time to reprioritize our world view and focus on what Christ did for us! Now what about this Christmas spirit idea? Should not what we call the "Christmas spirit" actually just be the Christian spirit? The world defines this spirit as one that seeks to go and do acts of love for family, friends and especially those that are less fortunate. But I ask, shouldn't we be doing that all the time? God does not need our good works and He really does not need them at Christmas time. Our neighbor however does... Yet they need them all year round!

So… get ready! Set your hearts on Him and enjoy the Love of a God who does so despite the fact that we are not worthy of such a great gift as His Son. Take this Christmas and put Christ back at the top of "what it's all about" while continuing on in your work for your neighbor……

Grace and peace!

~Michael

Rewards and Hell

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:25:24 GMT

Romans 12:1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

---------------------------------------------------------------

After 11 chapters of doctrine Paul finally moves on to what we should do with all that we have now heard. This might not hit you at first but what we really need to see in this (beyond just the words) is how important doctrine is in the life of a Christian. Is your thinking self centered or Christ centered? To find out I ask this question... What is the motivation for service in a Christian life?

Is it fear of punishment?

Is it hope of a heavenly reward?

If either of these are the thrust of your works done in the name of Christ then you may be lacking true salvation... I first want to say that I in no way intend to say that anyone who is seeking a reward is un-saved. My statement was “you MAY be”. I am a strong proponent of always examining ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith. The difference I think is this. The type of reward seeking I am exhorting against is that of greed and excess. If a person is working so that he/she can receive more in Heaven; then they need to examine their motives.

Matthew 5:12 speaks of the reward as something we have. My works or good deeds will not get me something more, or help me to sustain my place. I am saved. I have a reward. I will walk in all the good works that God has ordained for me to walk in (Eph 2:10). Therefore my motivation is not one of trying to work my way up the “corporate ladder“, but one of sincere gratitude from a renewed mind. God has promised me the reward not because of what I have done but rather because of who I am in Christ.

I do not work or serve that I might be counted worthy in the judgment and avoid punishment in Hell. Nor do I serve that I might be given many things or rewarded beyond measure in Heaven. I serve because my heart is filled with gratitude for all that Christ has done for me "the sinner". I was without hope! I was lost! This is why Paul states “by the mercies of God”, we should do this. We have been shown such great mercy that if we have received Christ as Lord and truly understand what we are saved from our hearts will overflow with thankfulness. Beloved, this section of scripture is not about having to work for anything. It is about worship in it’s truest sense! A pouring out of oneself as an act of “spiritual worship” over all that has been done for you. Paul is saying that this is the natural or “reasonable” effect that will come from one who has been transformed by the Spirit of God. Theologically stated, our motivation for holy living is the result, not the cause of our salvation."

If I am motivated by reward alone, I am no more than an animal, a "beast" as Peter calls them in 2 Peter 2:12. The motivation for my life in Christ is this: pleasing the Father out of gratitude for what He's done... by the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is the only pure motivation there is. Want verses? "All our righteousness is as filthy rags." "Not my will, but thine be done." Numerous places in Acts where the Holy Spirit specifically leads Paul and Peter in what to do next. The mere fact that people pray at all (which in Scripture is to petition and discern the will of the God that we may walk in it, not the cultural mindset today of a Heavenly Santa Claus). "Paul, a bondservant of Christ." "I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me bears much fruit." Clearly the branch does not try to bear much fruit in order to receive more from the vine? Now I am aware of the premise that a person may be placed in charge of more or less because of what they have done with their gifts but again I ask "What is the motivation"? Gain? Or serving from love and gratitude?

If your doctrine is off; you will have answered the questions I asked above with a “yes” or “I suppose”. Beloved, don’t be disheartened! If you are in Christ, (that is trusting on His works and His righteousness in order to stand before God) you need not fear punishment in Hell... Ever! You have eternal life! And Heaven will be your reward! If you are having trouble finding this gratitude in your heart and the sense of joy that comes with it, I suggest that you go read a section of scripture that deals with the requirements of the law and what Gor requires of man in order to attain salvation! Then think upon how you are saved in Christ Jesus because He has clothed you in His righteousness! Amen and Amen...

True Thanksgiving Story

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:17:08 GMT

True Story of Thanksgiving

By Rush Limbaugh

The original contract the Pilgrims had entered into with their merchant-sponsors in London called for everything they produced to go into a common store, and each member of the community was entitled to one common share. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belong to the community as well. Bradford, who had become the new governor of the colony, recognized that this form of collectivism was as costly and destructive to the Pilgrims as that first harsh winter, which had taken so many lives.

"He decided to take bold action. Bradford assigned a plot of land to each family to work and manage, thus turning loose the power of the marketplace. That's right. Long before Karl Marx was even born, the Pilgrims had discovered and experimented with what could only be described as socialism. And what happened? It didn't work! Surprise, surprise, huh? What Bradford and his community found was that the most creative and industrious people had no incentive to work any harder than anyone else, unless they could utilize the power of personal motivation! But while most of the rest of the world has been experimenting with socialism for well over a hundred years – trying to refine it, perfect it, and re-invent it – the Pilgrims decided early on to scrap it permanently. What Bradford wrote about this social experiment should be in every schoolchild's history lesson If it were, we might prevent much needless suffering in the future."

Here now, in its entirety, the William Bradford journal, what he wrote about the social experiment after abandoning what essentially was socialism shortly after the Pilgrims had arrived in the United States or in the new world:

"'The experience that we had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years...that by taking away property, and bringing community into a common wealth, would make them happy and flourishing – as if they were wiser than God,' Bradford wrote. 'For this community was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and children without any recompense...that was thought injustice.'

Do you hear what he was saying, ladies and gentlemen? The Pilgrims found that people could not be expected to do their best work without incentive. So what did Bradford's community try next? They un-harnessed the power of good old free enterprise by invoking the undergirding capitalistic principle of private property. Every family was assigned its own plot of land to work and permitted to market its own crops and products.'"

Not just use themselves and not just send to a common store but they could market. They could grow as much, they could sell it for what they could get for it, and the incentive was clear to do as much as possible on both sides. "And what was the result? 'This had very good success,' wrote Bradford, 'for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.' Bradford doesn't sound like much of a Clintonite, does he? Is it possible that supply-side economics could have existed before the 1980s? Yes. Read the story of Joseph and Pharaoh in Genesis 41. Following Joseph's suggestion (Gen 41:34), Pharaoh reduced the tax on Egyptians to 20% during the 'seven years of plenty' and the 'Earth brought forth in heaps.' (Gen. 41:47) In no time, the Pilgrims found they had more food than they could eat themselves. So they set up trading posts and exchanged goods with the Indians. The profits allowed them to pay off their debts to the merchants in London. And the success and prosperity of the Plymouth settlement attracted more Europeans and began what came to be known as the 'Great Puritan Migration.' Now, let me ask you: Have you read this history before? Is this lesson being taught to your children today? If not, why not? Can you think of a more important lesson one could derive from the Pilgrim experience?

Truly Thankful

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:03:53 GMT

33 Years Of Perfection

A large number of American family’s know the horrible feeling of sending their children off to war. Some time ago I listened to a Mother express her inner turmoil as her son left to begin his military career in the United States Marines. While I myself do not have children I could easily see and feel her emotions in the countenance of her face and the emotions of her words. There are many places her son may land, and quite a few of them are quite far from danger. However the chance does remain that he could be stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Thus placing him in a combat zone.

Can you relate? Perhaps you have a child that is off to war. If not place yourself in this mindset; Your sending your son off to war to save a people and you know that the end result will be his death. Not only that but every day he is gone from you he will be facing situation after situation where if he fails in his mission the war is lost! Would your child be worth losing for the sake of the many? Your only son?

John 3: 17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Beloved, the greatest soldier to ever live was the only soldier to have victory in the longest most bloody war ever fought. The Lord Jesus Christ was “in country” for 33 years and the battle most often talked about was the final one where His life was given. Don’t get me wrong, his death is where the victory was finally won for all who believe. His battle was sooo much longer however. From the moment of his first temptation to sin He fought! His flesh and Spirit constantly under attack from the enemy. Don’t be fooled about this enemy either. The commander of this army is the most sinister of all created beings. His Generals were relentless and each demon specialized in some specific form of terror. The foot soldiers were as numerous as the stars and loved serving the commander. Strange thing is, it was those foot soldiers whom He came to fight for and win for! Yes beloved, we were those soldiers and we loved serving our Commander the Devil. It was us for whom the Father sent His only Son off to fight for and win for!

For 33 years he battled against temptation and sin to secure for us a righteousness that could be given to us apart from our having to keep the law. For 33 years He fought and dealt with the fullness of His humanity to grasp for us the one requirement that God demands.. Holiness! He was tempted in everyway like us we are told in the Scriptures. Yet without sin! Praise God! We have a Savior who battled daily to provide us with a righteous covering that we receive by faith in Him.

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22. even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe.

This Thanksgiving I hope and pray that all of you will be comforted by the fact that Christ came in to the world to save sinners. Be comforted by the fact that He came for 33 years to keep the law that we could not (and did not even want to). Let your hope rest on His finished work of fulfilling the law and giving that perfection to everyone who believes. Amen!

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5. to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Happy Thanksgiving