The WHY of CHRISTmas

The HOLY Day celebrated at this time of year is CHRISTmas -- the First ADVENT of GOD The SON, The CHRIST -- MESSIAH JESUS. The FIRST Coming of The LORD JESUS is HIStory -- a FACTual Event in human history. The prophet Micah prophesied The MESSIAH's Birth in Bethlehem 700 years before its fulfillment. CHRIST's actual coming to earth was the CRUCIAL event that divided world history, from B.C. (Before CHRIST) to A.D. (Anno Domini -- the year of The LORD).

GOD's Holy Scriptures details the REALity of CHRIST's Birth: 'And Mary gave birth to her Firstborn SON; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger (feed trough), because there was no place for them in the inn' (Luke 2:7).

But WHY did 'GOD send forth His SON -- born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might REDEEM those who were under the Law' (Galatians 4:4) -- in the most particular way and very deliberate manner that He orchestrated the FACTs of CHRISTmas? 

WHY was the Eternal SON of GOD SUPERnaturally born of a virgin (Luke 1:26-35) -- rather than the natural way, with an earthly father and mother? WHY was JESUS born of the ordinary maiden Mary -- rather than born of a great queen? WHY was HE born in a stable, with sheltering animals, and laid in a feed trough with straw as His crib -- rather than a palatial, magnificent mansion, like Mar-a-Lago?

WHY was The LORD of GLORY born into a "blue-collar" family -- rather than into wealth and luxury, like a Barron Trump? WHY did GOD's SON when He lived in this world, live such a HUMBLE Life -- rather than the POWERFUL life of the likes of Elon Musk? WHY did He work as a carpenter, of the working class -- rather than as a great philosopher, like the much-lauded Jordan Peterson?

WHY the familiar FACTs of CHRISTmas, as detailed in the Gospels? WHY did GOD very deliberately orchestrate CHRIST JESUS' Birth in THIS manner? In Isaiah 55:9, IT IS WRITTEN -- 'For AS the Heavens are higher than the earth, SO are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.' CHRIST's FIRST Coming "stands in direct opposition to the PRIDE, POMP, and OUTward show of FALLEN Humanity" (Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones).

In this thought-provoking CHRISTmas message ("As Little Children"), Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches that the First Coming of The SON of GOD in the manner that GOD ordained -- CONDEMNS the world. 

"JESUS' Birth CONDEMNS humanity's HOPELESS and HELPLESS state due to SIN. HIS Birth shows we NEED a SAVIOR. JESUS' HUMBLE Birth CONDEMNS our PRIDE in humanity and belief that WE can solve our own problems. JESUS' Birth CONDEMNS our belief in OUTWARD Appearances, Splendor and MATERIALISM. TRUE greatness is SPIRITual -- NOT material.

"JESUS' Birth CONDEMNS our belief in Wealth and Money AS Power. HE was born into poverty. JESUS' Birth CONDEMNS our belief in Strength, Might and Power. HE came as a HELPLESS Baby. JESUS' Birth CONDEMNS our belief in HUMAN Wisdom and Philosophy. HE was a carpenter -- NOT an academic.

"JESUS' Birth TEACHES us GOD's Ways are NOT our ways.  We must think SPIRITually -- NOT materially. JESUS' Birth TEACHES us OUTWARD appearances DON'T matter -- the heart and spirit DO. JESUS' Birth TEACHES us MATERIAL values DON'T matter -- SPIRITual values DO. JESUS' Birth TEACHES us Time DOESN'T matter -- Eternity DOES.

"JESUS' Birth TEACHES us our Weakness DOESN'T matter -- GOD's POWER DOES. SALVATION is THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST -- NOT our OWN efforts. JESUS' Birth TEACHES us our RELATIONSHIP with GOD is MOST important -- NOT our circumstances. We must seek FIRST GOD's Kingdom. To enter GOD's Kingdom, we MUST become AS children, be Born AGAIN, abandon PRIDE in SELF and TRUST IN GOD. We will then become GOD's Heirs."

(The personal notes and above material in quotes are from the SERMON BREAKDOWN of MLJ's CHRISTmas sermon -- https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/other-sermons/as-little-children/ at mljtrust.org)

LIGHT vs DARKness

GOD's Holy Word says that people OUTside of CHRIST have NO light, NO understanding, NO true KNOWledge of The ONE TRUE Living TRIune Sovereign GOD Who created ALL things from NOthing. GOD's Holy Scriptures state that people OUTside of CHRIST live their lives 'in the futility of their MINDs and in the foolishness and emptiness of their souls, for their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded.' IT IS WRITTEN that people OUTside of CHRIST 'are alienated and self-banished from the Life of GOD, with NO share in it, because of the willful ignorance and spiritual BLINDness that is DEEP-seated withIN them, because of the HARDness and INsensitivity of their HEARTs' (Ephesians 4:17-18, AMP).

GOD's own special Possessions IN CHRIST are the 2Xborn IN The LIGHT. These Children of The LIGHT are those who -- by GOD's GRACE alone, through FAITH alone, INto CHRIST alone -- were transferred from the kingdom of Darkness into The Kingdom of GOD's marvelous LIGHT. (see 1 Peter 2:9)

IN CHRIST JESUS 'was Life and the POWER to bestow Life and the Life was The LIGHT of men. And The LIGHT shines on in the Darkness, and the Darkness did NOT understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it or overtake it and is UNreceptive to it' (John 1:4-5, AMP)

People withOUT CHRIST are STILL in Darkness -- STILL in their NATURAL state of being SIN-natured SIN-doers who are alienated, separated from the LIFE of GOD, and UNable to pursue what is good and right in GOD's HOLY Sight. But the chosen People of GOD have CHRIST withIN and have been GRACEd with SPIRITual sight to see -- to understand, to know The TRUTH, Who is Himself The LIGHT of the world. The elect People IN CHRIST see the Light of TRUTH and are partakers in The Divine LIFE. (read 2 Peter 1:4)

"The effects of the FALL of Adam and Eve extend to EVERY aspect of Humanity. It corrupts the Mind, hardens the Heart, distorts the Will... we NEED a NEW Heart and Mind that is freed from the mastery of SIN and its domination" (see sermon description of "Darkness and Light" by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/book-of-ephesians/darkness-and-light/). 

The GOOD News is that Repentant SIN-natured SIN-doers may receive FREEDOM from the penalty and punishment of their SINs through the Gospel of GRACE and the SOVEREIGN working of The Holy SPIRIT. The SPIRIT of GOD quickens ALIVE those who are withOUT CHRIST, those who are spiritually DEAD -- and REgenerates them aNEW INto CHRIST, with a NEW Heart, a NEW Mind, a NEW Disposition towards loving, worshiping, serving GOD.

'IF anyone is IN CHRIST -- that is, grafted IN, joined to Him by FAITH IN Him as LORD and Savior -- he is a NEW creature (REborn and REnewed by The Holy SPIRIT); the OLD things (the previous moral and spiritual condition) have passed away. Behold -- NEW things have come (because of SPIRITual awakening brings a NEW Life)' (2 Corinthians 5:17, AMP).

'CHRIST, Who IS our LIFE' (Colossians 3:4)

The LORD of GLORY, CHRIST JESUS Himself -- GOD The SON -- IS "the Source... the Substance... the Sustenance... the Solace... the Object... the Exemplar... the Crown" of our very LIFE! \o/ (excerpt from CH Spurgeon's Morning and Evening)

The Born-AGAIN from Above are to ascribe ALL GLORY to GOD -- The ONE TRUE Living TRIune Sovereign GOD; and to personally, experientially enJOY intimate and infinite Fellowship with Him forEVERmore! \o/

The Risen LORD of GLORY -- CHRIST JESUS Himself -- proclaimed: 'ALL Authority (ALL Power of ABSULUTE Rule) in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me. GO, therefore, and make disciples of ALL the nations (help the people LEARN of Me, BELIEVE IN Me, and OBEY My Words), baptizing them in the Name of The FATHER and of The SON and of The Holy SPIRIT -- teaching them to observe EVERYthing that I have commanded you. And lo, I AM with you ALWAYS (remaining with you perpetually -- regardless of circumstance, and on EVERY occasion), EVEN to the END of the Age' (Matthew 28:18-20, AMP).

rLn's TESTIMONY 2024

TOday, i KNOW (intellectually AND experientially) The ONE TRUE Living TRIune GOD Who is THE Creator and Owner of HIS Universe -- ALL things visible and ALL things INvisible! And because i am HIS, dependent upon HIM for each and every breath, for my very existence -- i owe GOD my total allegiance, committed to gladly obeying HIS revealed Will, as recorded in His HOLY Word, The Bible. i KNOW this Sovereign GOD as my Holy FATHER, as my Beloved LORD JESUS and MESSIAH, as my INdwelling SPIRIT of TRUTH, HOLY Comforter and Helper. HalleluYAH! \o/

BUT before August 2003, in rebellious PRIDE -- i was senselessly DISobedient of GOD's  Commandments (whether in thought or word or actual DOing). i broke GOD's HOLY Laws for godly and righteous living. i bowed my knee to my fleshly idols of SELF-Focus, SELF-Pleasure, SELF-Pride.

i was BORN with a sinFULL nature -- a SIN-natured SIN-doer. GOD's TRUTH described my Natural SELF before GOD interrupted my HELL-bound spiral INto EVERlasting PUNISHMENT. GOD's Word says: “The ACTS of the SINful NATURE are obvious -- SEXual IMmorality...debauchery, IDOLatry, witchcraft, hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, SELFish ambition, envy...' Through GOD's TRUTH, i was convicted: 'that SINCE i lived like THAT, i will NOT inherit the Kingdom of GOD!' (Romans 3:10; Galatians 5:19-21)

From the ABUNDANCE of my sinFULL Heart, came forth UNwholesome words, bitterness, anger, greed, gossip, malice, impure motives --  LIES! GOD's Word convicted me of the REALity of my Heart: HOW deceitFULL it IS above ALL things, HOW desperately SICK! i WAS a LOST, helpless, hopeless SINNER -- choosing to do my OWN will instead of doing GOD's Will, choosing to please MY own SELF instead of pleasing GOD, choosing to glory in MY own SELF instead of ascribing ALL GLORY to GOD! (Matthew 12:34; Jeremiah 17:9)

i WAS part of the Walking DEAD -- physically alive, BUT spiritually DEAD! i WAS part of THAT UNsaved Humanity -- 'the cowardly and UNbelieving and detestable, murderers, the sexually IMmoral, sorcerers, IDOLaters, and ALL liars, whose part will be in the Lake of FIRE, which is the Second DEATH' -- EVERlasting HELL. (Ephesians 2:1; Revelation 21:8)

BUT in 2003, GOD IN CHRIST by The Holy SPIRIT's SUPERnatural LIFE-giving POWER, quickened ALIVE my DEAD spirit by REgenerating me aNEW, REbirthing me by GOD's GRACE alone -- by gifting me with REPENTANCE, with a NEW heart to LOVE GOD and others, a NEW mind -- SET on His WORD of TRUTH; with a NEW Disposition of glad OBEDIENCE to HIS Commands. GOD reconciled me back to a LOVE-Relationship with Himself THROUGH and IN CHRIST. i was made a NEW creation, the OLD things that were of MErlin have passed away; and, as rLn -- GOD's NEW things have SUPERabundantly come! \o/ (2 Corinthians 5:17, 19)

TOday, my personal REALity is this -- 'to LIVE IS CHRIST and to DIE IS superlative GAIN!' Because my Beloved LORD JESUS DIED in my place to pay IN-FULL the Price of DEATH for my SINs; because The Holy SPIRIT joined me INto CHRIST's Body; because my Holy FATHER chose me as one of His LOVE-Gifts to His ONE and ONLY Begotten SON -- i am NO LONGER under GOD's Condemnation, NO LONGER under His WRATH, NO LONGER bound for EVERlasting HELL! \o/ (Philippians 1:21; Romans 8:1)

i KNOW (intellectually AND experientially) that i am enABLEd by The Holy SPIRIT withIN to LOVE sacrificially -- that GOD causes ALL things to work together for my GOOD, because GOD PREdestined me to be conformed to the Image of His SON, CHRIST JESUS, The PREEMINENT Firstborn; and like The Risen LORD JESUS -- i also SHALL be glorified: spirit, soul AND body! \o/ (Romans 5:5; 8:28-30)

i KNOW that i was not REDEEMED with corruptible things like silver or gold, BUT with the Precious BLOOD of CHRIST -- born AGAIN through the LIVING and ENDURING Word of GOD. GOD's GRACE is ALWAYS sufficient for ALL my circumstances, for HIS SUPERnatural POWER is perfected in my weaknesses. For united with CHRIST, by the ALL-Mighty SPIRIT working withIN, both to WILL and to DO -- i am emPOWERed to do ALL things through CHRIST Who strengthens me. \o/ (1 Peter 1:18-19, 23; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 2:13, 4:13)

i KNOW that my 2xborn soul is wholly GOD's Workmanship, REcreated IN CHRIST JESUS for good works, which GOD my FATHER prepared beforehand so that i would walk in them. i am a citizen of GOD's Kingdom, with a GLORIOUS Inheritance awaiting me. Surely -- i am a child of GOD because The Holy SPIRIT withIN leads me to follow hard after CHRIST, conforming me more and more INto CHRIST's likeness, so that i may BE to the Praise of The GLORY of CHRIST -- my ALL IN ALL! \o/ (Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 3:20; Romans 8:14, 29; Ephesians 1:12)

i KNOW that NO one and NO thing can EVER separate me from the LOVE of CHRIST JESUS. NO affliction, turmoil, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword! i am FULLY convinced that NEITHER Death, Life, angels, rulers, things present, things to come, powers, height, depth, NOR ANY OTHER created thing, will EVER separate me from the LOVE of GOD, which is IN CHRIST JESUS, my Beloved LORD! \o/ (Romans 8:38-39)

Therefore -- the ONE THING i do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching, STRAINING forward to what lies ahead, i PRESS ON -- one day at a time, one step at a time -- with ALL my Soul, Heart, Mind and Strength toward the Goal of CHRIST-likeness: The PRIZE of the UPward call of GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. For i have been crucified with CHRIST, and it is NO LONGER i who live -- but CHRIST lives IN me. And the LIFE which i NOW live in the flesh, i live by FAITH IN The SON of GOD, Who LOVED me and GAVE Himself up for me. \o/ (Philippians 3:13; Galatians 2:20)

BLESS The LORD JESUS! ALL that is withIN me -- BLESS HIS HOLY Name! BLESS The GOD and FATHER of my Beloved JESUS, Who has blessed me with EVERY spiritual blessing in the Heavenly Places IN CHRIST! BLESS The SPIRIT of TRUTH, my HOLY Comforter and Source of LIVING Water! BLESS The ONE TRUE Living TRIune Sovereign GOD! For by GOD's GRACE alone, through FAITH alone, IN CHRIST alone -- i am a Child of GOD forEVERmore! \o/ (Ephesians 2:8)

CONTEXT Matters to GOD

The BEST-known Bible verse is probably John 3:16 -- 'For GOD SO LOVED the World that HE GAVE His ONLY Begotten SON that whoever BELIEVES INto HIM shall NOT PERISH, but have EVERlasting LIFE.' (https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/book-of-john/the-love-of-god/)

You yourself probably KNOW it by heart--but do you REALLY understand, ACTUALLY comprehend its GREATness of meaning and WEALTH of doctrinal TRUTHs? John 3:16 is like a mountain peak with such GREAT elevation that the other great mountain peaks around it are over-shadowed and even remain UNclimbed. (https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/book-of-john/god-so-loved-2/)

But the CONTEXT of John 3:16 is revealed by The Risen LORD JESUS Himself in verses 11-21 as He enLIGHTens the highly educated, but spiritually DEAD Nicodemus -- a Pharisee, a ruler of Israel, a teacher himself, YET ignorant of the REALity of The TRUTH, YESHUA Himself -- The CHRIST of GOD, The MESSIAH of Israel. (https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/book-of-john/understanding-the-spiritual/)

CHRIST JESUS Himself said: 'TRULY, TRULY, I SAY to you, We SPEAK of what We KNOW and bear witness of what We have SEEN, and you do NOT accept Our witness. If I told you earthly things and you do NOT believe, HOW will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? And NO ONE has ascended into Heaven, but HE Who descended from Heaven, The SON of Man. And AS Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, EVEN SO MUST The SON of Man be lifted up; SO THAT whoever BELIEVES will IN Him have ETERNAL Life. (https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/book-of-john/the-nature-of-belief/)

'For GOD (The FATHER) SO (intensely and supremely, eternally and infinitely) LOVED the (perishing and ALREADY judged and condemned) World (of SIN-natured SIN-practicing Humanity), that He GAVE (delivered up to shameful degradation, excruciating crucifixion) His ONLY Begotten (NOT created) SON (Who IS CO-Equal, CO-Essence, CO-Eternal with The Holy TRInity), that whoever BELIEVES INto Him shall NOT PERISH (condemned INto EVERlasting HELL), BUT have ETERNAL Life (with GOD The FATHER and GOD The SON and GOD The Holy SPIRIT -- forEVERmore). For GOD did not send The SON INto the World to JUDGE (condemn) the (ALREADY condemned) World, but that the World (of hopeless, helpless, perishing Sinners) might be SAVED (from the Power of SIN, Satan, SELF -- from HELL EVERlasting) THROUGH Him (The Sacrificial LAMB of GOD, The PRINCE of Peace, The KING of kings and LORD of lords -- CHRIST JESUS Himself). (https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/book-of-john/man-and-his-need-of-salvation/)

'He who BELIEVES IN Him is NOT JUDGED; he who does NOT BELIEVE has been JUDGED ALREADY, because he has NOT BELIEVED IN the Name of the ONLY Begotten SON of GOD. And THIS is the JUDGMENT, that The LIGHT has come INto the World, and men LOVED the Darkness RATHER than The LIGHT, for their deeds were EVIL. For EVERYone who does evil hates The LIGHT, and does not come to The LIGHT lest his deeds be exposed. BUT he who practices The TRUTH comes to The LIGHT, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been done by GOD.' (https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/book-of-john/the-light-has-come/)

The LORD JESUS proclaimed: 'I AM The (ONLY) WAY, The (REAL) TRUTH, and The (EVERlasting) LIFE. NO ONE can come to The FATHER (IN the Heavenly GLORY) except THROUGH Me' (John 14:6). (https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/book-of-john/the-only-way-to-god/)

Friend -- your personal response to GOD's ONLY Way of SALVATION determines your IMmortal soul's ETERNAL Destination. Your stubborn rejection OR grateful acceptance of GOD's Invitation to His Kingdom of GLORY through His ONLY Begotten SON, CHRIST JESUS, seals your EVERlasting Place. Your willful UNbelief OR heart-and-soul FAITH in The TRUTH, The Incarnate WORD Himself -- cements your Eternal NOW. May you respond GOD's Way. AMEN. \o/

You MUST be Born AGAIN!

CHRIST JESUS Himself said -- "TRULY, TRULY, I SAY to you, unless one is born AGAIN -- he CANNOT see the Kingdom of GOD.

"TRULY, TRULY, I SAY to you, unless one is born of water and The SPIRIT he CANNOT enter INto the Kingdom of GOD. That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of The SPIRIT is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You MUST be born AGAIN’" (John 3:3,5-7).

The Kingdom of GOD is the eternal RULE over ALL Creation of the BLESSED and ONLY Sovereign, The KING of kings and LORD of lords, Whose throne is in the heavenly realm of UNapproachable LIGHT. The Kingdom of GOD is the SPIRITual RULE over the hearts and lives of those who have trusted and believed in the SAVING Work of CHRIST JESUS. The Kingdom of GOD is the ETERNAL destination of the born AGAIN from Above.

To enter INto GOD's PERFECT Heaven, His utterly PURE and HOLY and RIGHTEOUS and altogether LOVELY Kingdom of LIGHT -- YOU must be utterly pure, holy, righteous and altogether lovely! Since every SOUL born physically is a SIN-natured SIN-doer, he cannot enter GOD's Holy Domain. GOD abominates SIN. And His hatred of SIN was demonstrated at The CROSS, where He smote His ONLY Begotten SON, CHRIST JESUS, for your SINs and mine. 

BUT at The CROSS where The LAMB of GOD was sacrificed to SAVE penitent SIN-natured SIN-doers like you and me -- GOD also demonstrated the UNsurpassed greatness of His amazing GRACE, the UNfathomable depth of His amazing LOVE, the INcomprehensible GLORY of His amazing SALVATION! HalleluYAH! \o/

'He saved us, not by works which we did in righteousness, but according to His mercy, through the washing of REgeneration and reNEWing by The Holy SPIRIT' (Titus 3:5).

By the GRACE (UNdeserved Mercy and Favor) of GOD alone, through genuine FAITH alone, IN CHRIST alone (His perfect LIFE, atoning DEATH, historical RESURRECTION and witnessed ASCENSION back INto The GLORY of Heaven) -- repentant SIN-natured SIN-doers are quickened ALIVE from spiritual DEATHness! Believers IN The Risen LORD JESUS are REborn, REgenerated, REnewed children of GOD. HalleluYAH! \o/

https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/book-of-john/you-must-be-born-again/ -- What is so dangerous about the religious life? "It is the mistake of trying to grow BEFORE you've been born" (Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones). He says that often times people who claim to be Religious are trying to live as CHRISTians without actually being SAVED. They try to be Sanctified without being Justified.

https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/book-of-john/born-again/ -- Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones speaks about the clear and visible marking of the TRUE CHRISTian in that the child of GOD ought to be more interested in the state of one’s SOUL than in their nationality, class, or ability. CHRIST-like LOVE is the one common language that binds the Church together.

THESE Things are TRUE JOY Always!

TRUE JOY is Holy, Serious, Deep... IT is the JOY of The LORD JESUS! THIS Pure JOY that was set before CHRIST strengthened Him SUPERnaturally to endure The CROSS of shame and torture and abandonment. THIS UNassailable JOY of GOD The SON was absolutely INdependent of earthly circumstances, of people that negatively impacted His Life on earth. And THIS same UNfathomable JOY of JESUS is available to ALL 2xborn Believers and Followers IN CHRIST! HalleluYAH!

The LORD JESUS Himself said to His disciples before His Crucifixion: "THESE THINGS I have spoken to you so that My JOY may be IN you, and that your JOY may be COMPLETE. THESE THINGS I speak in the world SO THAT they may have My JOY made FULL in themselves" (John 15:11; 17:13). What are "THESE THINGS" we must know and understand SO THAT the JOY of The LORD may be our REALity, our experiential JOY for the world to see for GOD's GLORY?

THESE THINGS are TRUTH. 'DO NOT LET your heart be troubled; BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN Me. In My FATHER’s House are many dwelling places; IF it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And IF I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL come AGAIN and receive you to Myself, that where I AM, there you may be ALSO' (John 14:1-3).

For TRUE Believers IN CHRIST, there are NO IFs -- only AMENs! We who are born again from Above by the GRACE of GOD will be WITH The LORD of GLORY, IN His Kingdom of GLORY, even NOW positionally -- and actually, forEVERmore! HalleluYAH!

THESE THINGS are PROMISES of GOD. 'And I will ask The FATHER, and He WILL give you another ADVOCATE, that He may be WITH you forEVER; The SPIRIT of TRUTH, whom the world cannot receive, because it does NOT see Him OR know Him. You KNOW Him because He abides WITH you and will be IN you. I WILL not leave you as orphans; I WILL come to you' (John 14:16-18).

The Holy SPIRIT Who INdwells EVERY child of GOD is the Almighty ADVOCATE against the devil Satan. The SPIRIT of TRUTH illumines and transforms our MINDset with the Mind of CHRIST (1 Corinthians 2:16) -- GOD's TRUTH as WRITTEN in Holy Scriptures. The SPIRIT of The Risen LORD JESUS is our Comforter, Helper, TRUTH-Teller -- conforming the BLOOD-bought Redeemed into the Image of CHRIST, from glory to Glory to GLORY (2 Corinthians 3:18)! HalleluYAH!

THESE THINGS are HOLY Scriptures. 'Just AS The FATHER has LOVED Me, I have ALSO LOVED you; ABIDE IN My LOVE...Greater LOVE has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends IF you DO what I COMMAND you. NO LONGER do I call you SLAVES, for the slave does not know what his Master is doing; but I have called you FRIENDS, for ALL things that I have heard from My FATHER I have made known to you. You did NOT choose Me but I CHOSE you, and APPOINTED you that you would GO and BEAR Fruit, and that your Fruit would ABIDE, SO THAT whatever you ask of The FATHER IN My Name He may give to you' (see John 15:1-16). 

The born-again IN CHRIST are lavishly LOVED by The GODhead, are INtimate Friends of GOD, are CHOSEN Fruit-Bearers, are APPOINTED witnesses for the GOOD News -- richly supplied with GOD's sustaining Providence! HalleluYAH!

THESE THINGS include PEACE -- the INcomprehensible Peace of GOD that surpasses ALL human understanding (see Philippians 4:7). 'Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I AM not alone, because The FATHER is with Me. THESE THINGS I have spoken to you, so that IN Me you may have PEACE. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I HAVE OVERCOME the world' (John 16:32-33).

CHRIST's UNassailable PEACE was His KNOWing the REALity that His FATHER was with Him ALWAYS! And THAT is ALSO the REALity for the Believer IN CHRIST -- experiential PEACE from The PRINCE of Peace Himself. The LORD CHRIST JESUS IS The OVERCOMER of Death and Sin and Satan and the world system -- and IN CHRIST, we ALSO are more than conquerors (see Romans 8:37)! HalleluYAH!

THESE THINGS are PRAYERS of CHRIST for Believers. 'I ask on their behalf; I do NOT ask on behalf of the world BUT of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; and ALL things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been GLORIFIED IN them... I have given them Your Word; and the world has HATED them, because they are NOT Of the world, even as I AM NOT Of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to KEEP them from the evil one... The GLORY which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be One, just AS We are ONE; I IN them and You IN Me, that they may be PERFECTED IN Unity, SO THAT the world may know that You sent Me, and LOVED them, EVEN AS You have loved Me' (see John 17:9-23).

TRUE Believers are prayed for by GOD The SON Himself (as our Great High Priest -- see Hebrews 4:14-16), are granted the highest privilege of glorifying His amazing Name, are kept by The ALL-Mighty FATHER, are LOVED by GOD The FATHER just AS He loves GOD The SON -- INfinitely, INtimately, Eternally! HalleluYAH!

THESE THINGS The LORD JESUS Himself 'have spoken to you SO THAT you may be kept from stumbling... SO THAT His 'JOY may be IN you, and that your JOY may be COMPLETE' (John 16:1; 15:11). Are you personally experiencing the exhilarating REALity of the Holy, Serious, Deep JOY of The LORD JESUS?

O magnify with me The LORD JESUS! GOD The SON, The CHRIST of GOD, is altogether WORTHY of ALL Praise and Honor and Worship and GLORY! \o/

WHEN (not IF) GOD my Holy FATHER has called me UP to be with my Beloved JESUS, His ONE and ONLY Begotten SON -- The LORD of my rejoicing Heart, The SAVIOR and LOVER of my immortal Soul -- i pray that GOD The Holy SPIRIT will use my other GAZILLION words for GOD's GLORY! \o/

Glorifying GOD IN CHRIST

WHY did GOD The SON, The LORD of GLORY, leave His heavenly Kingdom of LIGHT to come down to this corrupt, evil world of Darkness? To glorify GOD, The FATHER of GLORY. WHY did GOD The FATHER and GOD The SON send GOD The Holy SPIRIT into this fallen world? To glorify CHRIST JESUS, The SON of GOD and SON of Man. "WHAT is the chief end of man? To glorify GOD (The ONE TRUE Living TRIune SOVEREIGN: Creator-Sustainer-Controller of The Universe) and to enJOY Him forEVERmore" (The Westminster Confession of Faith).

HOW did GOD The SON glorify GOD The FATHER? By fully succeeding in the Work of REDEMPTION that The FATHER sent Him to do -- by fulfilling ALL that GOD required for the Redemption of SIN-natured SIN-doers like you, like me. As SON of Man, JESUS was born of a virgin, a real Human Who lived a perfectly sinless, blameless, righteous earthly life. As The Anointed HOLY ONE sent of GOD, CHRIST is The LORD and SAVIOR of those who would REPENT of their SINs, who would TRUST IN Him, in His Sacrificial DEATH at Calvary's CROSS to PAY-IN-FULL the JUST penalty and JUST punishment for SIN-natured SIN-doers like you, like me (see Philippians 2:6-8).

HOW did GOD The FATHER glorify GOD The SON -- CHRIST JESUS? By approving of CHRIST JESUS' own BLOOD-Payment to redeem LOST sinners; by raising JESUS CHRIST from the Grave and seating The Risen LORD JESUS at the Right Hand of The MOST HIGH. 'GOD also highly exalted CHRIST JESUS, and bestowed on Him The NAME which is ABOVE EVERY NAME, so that at THE Name of JESUS EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the GLORY of GOD The FATHER' (Philippians 2:9-11).

HOW does The Holy SPIRIT sent of GOD The FATHER and of GOD The SON glorify The Risen LORD JESUS? By testifying about The LORD JESUS; by applying the INfinite riches of GOD's superabounding GRACE paid for by the Precious BLOOD of CHRIST JESUS for those born-again of GOD; by conforming the 2xborn Believers into the image of CHRIST, The SON of GOD (John 15:26; Ephesians 1:3-14; Romans 8:29).

CHRIST JESUS, The LORD of GLORY, communing with GOD The FATHER of GLORY, said: "I AM glorified in them" (John 17:10). "THEM" are those who have repented of their SINs and have believed the GOOD News of SALVATION, who've admitted to GOD that they are indeed helpless, hopeless SIN-natured SIN-doers, needing His merciful FORGIVENESS for their rebellious sins against The MOST HOLY GOD. "THEM" are those who have humbly acknowledged that they are SAVED from EVERlasting HELL by the GRACE of GOD alone, through FAITH alone, IN CHRIST alone.

So then -- HOW do we (who are IN CHRIST, who are born again from Above, who are NOW the adopted children of GOD) glorify our Beloved LORD and SAVIOR, CHRIST JESUS? By being a "LIVING PROOF of the FACT that The LORD JESUS CHRIST has finished the Work which His FATHER sent Him to do" (Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, "Safe In The World" p.94).

Are we manifesting to the world the finished Work of CHRIST -- that we have been quickened ALIVE spiritually, living OUTwardly HIS Resurrection Life IN us, walking by HIS Light so that we do not stumble in Darkness? Are we repenting DAILY of our daily stumbling? Are we proving to the world by our Life-101 the literal TRUTH that 'CHRIST is the POWER of GOD, and the WISDOM of GOD' (1 Corinthians 1:23-24)? Are we who are the REDEEMED proving to the world that The LORD JESUS CHRIST has been made Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption (1 Cor 1:30) IN us, and that to us individually -- HE is THE ALL in all?

Are we hungering and thirsting for the SPIRITual nourishment of The Word of GOD? Is GOD's Written VOICE speaking into our hearts, illuminating our minds with the very Thoughts of GOD? Are we eager to meet with GOD with unceasing adoration and loving fellowship with Him through our prayers, so that we may be granted the GRACE of KNOWing Him more intimately and experientially as GOD reveals Himself to us personally? 

Are we demonstrating to the world of our NEW position IN CHRIST -- that we have been 'rescued from the Authority/Dominion of Darkness, and transferred to the Kingdom of The SON of GOD's LOVE' (Colossians 1:13)? "Are we a LIVING PROOF and example that the tremendous POWER of The SON of GOD has literally taken hold of us and transferred us into the Kingdom of GOD's dear SON?" (MLJ, p.96) Do our lifestyle, mindset, and worldview reflect our NEW citizenship in GOD's Heaven?

Are we glorifying our LORD JESUS by confidently KNOWing that ALL our SINs have been forgiven by the efficacy of His ATONING Death? Are we showing the UNfathomable PEACE of GOD withIN that flows from having PEACE With GOD (Who was IN CHRIST, reconciling sinners back to Himself, 2 Cor 5:19)? Are we rejoicing IN The LORD, even when assailed with trials that are but common to all humankind living in this fallen world (see James 1:2)?

Are we running after the Holiness of GOD? Are we proving our SALVATION from the Power of SIN by no longer practicing or immersing ourselves in that sinful lifestyle that we were rescued from? Are we mortifying our UNredeemed Flesh by the SUPERnatural emPOWERment of The Holy SPIRIT withIN? Are we becoming more aware of the subtlety of SIN and is hatred of our own SINs increasing? Are we resisting the devil and overcoming temptations?

Are we LIVING PROOF that we have the Promised Holy SPIRIT living IN us -- leading, teaching, controlling, conforming us into more and more CHRIST-likeness (Romans 8:14-17, 29)? Is the INdwelling SPIRIT growing and maturing His Fruit of LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL (Galatians 5:22-23), as well as The SPIRIT's Fruit 'in all GOODNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and TRUTH' (Ephesians 5:9)?

Our LORD JESUS Himself declared to our Heavenly FATHER that "IN THEM" (who belonged to The FATHER and were given to The SON) -- "I AM GLORIFIED" (John 17:10). We IN CHRIST are the special LOVE-gifts from The FATHER to His ONE and ONLY Begotten SON; and we have been given the SUPERLATIVE privilege of being part of glorifying The GODhead. As for me -- "i am one of a people in the world today through whom CHRIST is glorified. i am NOT here for mySELF, or for ANYthing i want to do -- the Main Thing for me this day is that CHRIST should be glorified and praised in me" (MLJ, p.104).

Are you a LIVING PROOF of the FACT that The LORD JESUS CHRIST has finished the Work which His FATHER sent Him to do? \o/

(This blogpost was developed from my notes from the book's chapter, "Manifesting the Work of CHRIST.")