"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." - Ephesians 1:13 (NKJV)Paul outlines a clear progression here: hearing, believing, and being sealed. First, "you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation." Every single person who has entered this Christian life has...  Read More

"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory." - Ephesians 1:11-12 (NKJV)Paul tells us that "we have obtained an inheritance." This isn't something we might get someday if we're good enough - this is something we alre...  Read More

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11 NKJV)On this Christmas Day, we celebrate the birth of One Who is both Savior and Lord. The angels announced both roles - these are inseparable. Jesus cannot be your Savior unless He is also your Lord.In Colossians 1:15-20, we see Jesus described as the Image of the invisible God, the Creator of all...  Read More

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 NKJV)Christmas is the story of love coming down. God could have remained in heaven and loved us from a distance, but His love moved Him to action - to send His Son, to become human, to live among us, and ultimately to die for us.This love is not based on our worthiness. Romans tells u...  Read More

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God'" (John 3:3 NKJV)We celebrate the birth of Jesus, but Jesus told Nicodemus (John 3) that we must also experience a birth - we must be born again. The new birth is a process: you're convicted of your lostness, convinced that Jesus is the Answer, and converted by the Holy Spirit...  Read More

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16 NKJV)Christmas is about gifts, but the greatest Gift ever given was Jesus Himself. God gave us His most precious Treasure - His only begotten Son - because He loved us. God could have simply said, "I love you," but instead He showed that He loved us b...  Read More

"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21 NKJV)Jesus was born to be King, but not the kind of king people expected. They wanted a political ruler who would overthrow the Romans. Instead, Jesus came to be a spiritual King Who would overthrow sin, death, and Satan.The Jewish people wanted a Messiah to get the Romans...  Read More

"And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds" (Luke 2:18 NKJV)God sent His angels to announce Jesus' birth to shepherds - humble, ordinary working people. You wouldn't have wanted to be a shepherd in that day and time. It was a humdrum job - sitting out there making sure the sheep didn't die, hour after hour, day after day.The inclusion of shepherds sh...  Read More

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11 NKJV)The angels announced "good tidings of great joy" because the solution to humanity's greatest problem had arrived. True joy is different from happiness. Happiness depends on what happens - the happenstances of life. Happiness depends on circumstances, but joy depends on Jesus.Paul said "rejoice...  Read More

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (Luke 2:14 NKJV)The angels proclaimed peace on earth, but this world still knows war and conflict. The peace Jesus brought is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God in the midst of trouble. It's peace with God that leads to peace in our hearts.Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have pe...  Read More

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14 NKJV)The greatest miracle of Christmas is not the birth of Jesus, but the incarnation itself - that God became man. Jesus is completely God and completely man. Though all illustrations break down at some point with reference to God, when I was...  Read More

"She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21 NKJV)Even before Jesus was born, His mission was clear. The angel told Joseph what the Child's name would be and why: Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins. The name Jesus means "Jehovah saves" or "the Lord saves."We celebrate the Baby in the manger because w...  Read More