Going Deeper for Life Change
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude ~ Colossians. 2.6.7
Why Did Jesus Come To Earth?
1. What is the significance of the repeated phrase - ‘Truly, truly, I say to
you…?’
2. How do verses 14 and 15 relate to the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus
Christ?
3. Despite Nicodemus’ status as ‘the teacher of Israel’ (cf. v.10) he was in
darkness when it came to the reality of eternal truths. Today there are
many people who are deemed ‘intellectuals’ also, when it comes to
knowing what the Bible teaches, but they refuse to acknowledge its
veracity and relevance to their lives. How can you explain this
‘phenomenom?’ How can you reach out to such people with the gospel?
4. As a very practical application (and a godly spiritual discipline),
identify at least one person in your sphere of influence who does not
know the Lord and begin to consistently pray for their salvation. Write
down their name in the space below or in a place that will come to
attention regularly.
The Miraculous or Incredulous?
By Noah Ressler
Christianity is miraculous. It offers the impossible through belief and
faith in God who has accomplished all we need to become His children.
Yet, it is incredulous (unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true)
because it transcends our understanding. We do not understand God’s
grace and mercy. Therefore we want to offer works in our own estimation
that we can lay hands on – but God rejects our unrighteous works. His
works are right and just, emanating from a pure heart driven by the
motive of love for mankind. Yet, the methodology of God is incredulous
as Nicodemus exclaimed, “How can these things be?”
We live in a time of great skepticism because we want evidence that we
can see or can be scientifically proven. The Virgin Birth of Christ is
rejected because men try to explain it away as anti-intellectual. How can
it be that a virgin can conceive a child, not ever being with a man? It is
unnatural to our senses. Yet, that is the point of Christianity. It is
impossible with men because it comes from a holy God who truly
infinitely loves from a motive of mercy (pity) and grace (gift). Man has
nothing to offer God. God has everything to offer man and God invites
any man to partake of His blessing.
This Christmas season let us focus on the wondrousness of a Savior born
of a virgin, the sinless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of those who
will repent of their sin and turn to a life of faith in Christ Jesus the Lord.
The eternal gift of life is the gift of God offered to the repentant. To the
unrepentant, Christmas is a dark time of despair because it seeks solace
in others, materialism, or self. Where is this “joy of Christmas?” they
might say. It is very near you today, that is, “if you confess with your
mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him
from the dead, you will be saved.” Incredulous! you say? This is God’s
infinite love and you are invited to partake of this blessedness. The
Scripture goes on to say, “For with the heart a person believes, resulting
in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in
salvation… Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed…”
Man looks at the incredulousness of faith in contrast to the infinite love
of God. Yet, in the face of man’s unbelief, God still gives the invitation to
come to the Light (Truth). Do repent of your sins, turn away from them
and turn to Christ. He will save you now if you obey His loving command
to repent of your sins and submit yourself to His sovereignty and
authority over you. Will you come to Him or in unbelief reject His gift
and live life in vain without confessing Christ as Lord and Savior?