THE CHRISTMAS STORY

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Matthew 1:18-25

It has been said that if something is worth saying the first time, it is worth repeating. To believer’s in Christ, I repeat myself in today’s post as we observe Mary in Scripture. What an example to the New Testament believer in letting the Word dwell in you richly!

MARY’S SONG OF PRAISE
DECEMBER 21, 2016

After Mary’s visit from the angel Gabriel and during her visit with Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother, Mary exalted the the Lord.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify (to make great) the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden [female bond (willing) slave]: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed (count me happy).

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy (set apart) is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath holpen (helped) his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Luke 1:46 – 55

Mary’s song is full of Old Testament Scripture. It contains parts of approximately two dozen Old Testament passages in these nine verses.* John MacArthur lists the passages in the notes of his NKJV Study Bible and he summarizes her song as follows:

Mary’s Magnificat is filled with OT allusions and quotations. It reveals that Mary’s heart and mind were saturated with the Word of God………….These verses also contain numerous allusions to the law, the psalms, and the prophets. The entire passage is a point-by-point reciting of the covenant promises of God.*

What Mary’s song reveals about her is that she is a willing and obedient servant unto the Lord God. She is trusting in God’s promises of provision for her own sin. Mary is trusting in God her Saviour and she is happy!

Mary is the Old Testament equivalent of a New Testament Spirit filled believer. She knows God’s Word and she let’s it dwell in her richly. The result is humility and obedience.

Her response to the angel Gabriel in verse 38 is; Let it be to me according to your word. This should be the prayer of all believers ; Let it be unto me, O Lord, according to your (written) Word.

Note: Although Mary’s song reveals much about her, her song is really all about God.

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

Word definitions are from W.E. Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Copyright 1984, 1996, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN.

*Notes on Luke 1:46-55 taken from the MacArthur Study Bible NKJV – Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God (II Timothy 3:16a).  The word inspiration means God breathed.  All Scripture is God breathed as to source.

Do you know that if you deny something that God makes clear in His Word, you are accusing Him of lying,…….and you are making yourself wiser than God?

The Scripture declares: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)  There is none righteous, no, not one. (Romans 3:10)

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him (God) a liar, and his word is not in us.  I John 1:10

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly… 

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Just before the apostle Paul made the statement above he gave his pedigree as follows: Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  Philippians 3:4-6

When Paul submitted himself to the righteousness of Christ, those former things making up his pedigree, became loss to him.  MacArthur’s notes in his NKJV study Bible indicate that the terms Paul used in Philippians 3, loss and gain, were accounting terms.* Those things that were gain became loss and were now liabilities.  Those things that were loss became gain and were now assets. 

The apostle Paul’s statement makes us ask ourselves: What things are gain to me?  What are those things that cause me to trust in the flesh?  What are those things that draw me away from trusting Christ?

What things cause us to trust in the flesh?

Personal glory

Reputation/Respect

Making a Name for Myself

Pedigree/Accolades

Intellectual Prowess

Acceptance/Recognition/Admiration

Riches/Success/Accomplishments

Pleasure/Leisure

Friends (of stature)

Financial Security

Titles

What did the apostle Paul conclude about the things that were gain to him in the past?

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

If by any means I might attain unto (arrive at) the resurrection of the dead.  Philippians 3:7-11

Works establish self-righteousness.  Salvation by grace through faith is based only on the merit of Christ and Christ provides believers with the righteousness of God.

                            The just shall live by His faith.  Habakkuk 2:4, Romans1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38.

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

*Notes on Philippians 3:7 taken from the MacArthur Study Bible NKJV – Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.     2 Corinthians 2:14

              Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,                         Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;                               Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way                        With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And guard us through all ills in this world, till the next!

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son, and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven—
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

Now Thank We All Our God
Martin Rinkart – 1636

copyright status – Public Domain

Courtesy of Timeless Truths Publications – Copyright © 2002-2020 Free Online Library

We built a new garage several years ago.  The overhead doors have automatic openers, but they have never operated properly.  We suspect that the original installer did not fully understand how they were supposed to operate and neither did we.  A trouble shooter that we invited out to check their operation later, rewired one of the doors but that failed to resolve the problem.

Sometime ago an acquaintance referred us to a relative who had a lot of experience installing and servicing automatic overhead doors. Unfortunately, we had become so accustomed to operating the doors the hard way, we lost the urgency to do anything about it.

When referring to the hard way, that means getting out of the vehicle each time we wanted to open or close the garage doors and operating them from the switch just inside the walk-in door.

Recently we finally called the expert.  After moving an object that was blocking sensor signals and replacing a set of sensors that were miscommunicating, he gave us a normal operation.  He gave us doors that now open and close from the vehicle and that operate by one press of the control at the walk-in door, rather than holding the button down for the duration of the door’s operation.  What joy!

Yes, we coulda, woulda, shoulda, but we didn’t.  We became content and satisfied with something that was clearly substandard. How silly!

But you know that is exactly how many of us live our Christian lives. Yes, we coulda, woulda, shoulda, but we haven’t.  For some of us it is moving an object that is blocking the signal, like dealing with unconfessed sin.  For others of us, it is laying aside the burdens that so easily beset us so that we can run the race unencumbered.

What comes to mind?  Are we going to be satisfied with less than normal or are we willing to experience a new norm (God’s will) through a simple act of obedience?

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up it’s life) in you richly…

Is your spiritual life a roller coaster ride?  Does your spiritual well being depend on good feelings and/or emotional experiences? 

There is no sustaining power in good feelings or emotional experiences.  Only in Christ do we have sustaining power and saving faith.  Scripture, the written Word, reveals Christ.  Do you want to know Him?  Do you want to walk with Him?  Let His word dwell in you richly.  

Faith is a firm persuasion or conviction based on hearing the Word of God.*

*W.E. Vines Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words – copyright 1984, 1996  Thomas Nelson, Inc. Nashville, TN

Speaking of the mystery revealed by God, that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs (with the Old Testament believers), of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, the apostle Paul wrote; of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power, Ephesians 3:7.

No man can make himself a minister (lit. servant) of God, because the calling, message, work, and empowering of genuine ministry to and for God are His prerogative alone to give.*

Ministry is not a title, a position, or a vocation.  It is a gift from God.

*Notes on Ephesians 3:7 taken from the MacArthur Study Bible NKJV – Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

One is not a sinner because he sins. He sins because he is a sinner. 

Author Unknown

The real trouble with the unregenerate is that they do not know and understand the truth about sin…..The moment a man understands the true nature and character of sin he becomes troubled about his soul and seeks for a Saviour.  It is the peculiar function of the law to bring such an understanding to a man’s mind and conscience.*

*D. Martin Lloyd-Jones, Romans 7:1 – 8:4 (Banner of Truth, 1973),     p. 114, as cited by Christopher Ash, Discovering the Joy of a Clear Conscience (P&R Publishing, 2014), p. 92.

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10

And, behold, one (rich young ruler) came and said unto him (Jesus), Good Master, what good thing (righteous deed) shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  And he (Jesus) said unto him, why callest thou me good?  There is none good but one, that is, God: 

(Two things from Christ: Are you calling me God?  Are you calling yourself a sinner?)

Jesus continues, but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  He (the rich young ruler) saith unto him, which?  Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

(As we learned in an earlier article, the Law is God’s standard to show us that we fall short, that we are all, at best, sinners alienated from God by our sin.)

The young man saith unto him, all these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? (The young ruler was not being honest with himself or with the Lord).

Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect (the Law demands perfection, so if you are going to achieve eternal life by your righteous deeds, do this…), go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow     me.  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away                                                      sorrowful: for he had great possessions.                                                  Matthew 19:16-22 and Luke 18:9-14

Jesus was looking for a humble admission from the rich young ruler that he could not keep the law and therefore needed God’s mercy. but the rich young ruler held fast to his own merit.

And he (Jesus) spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I (Jesus) tell you, this man (the publican) went down to his house justified (acquitted) rather than the other:                                        Luke 18:9-14a

Note: The Pharisees believed in the resurrection, but they elevated tradition and ceremony to a level which overshadowed the Scripture, and promoted their self-righteousness.  Jesus challenged them at every opportunity and condemned them for their hypocrisy.

The publican was a hated and despised tax collector who worked for the Roman government and was considered a traitor by his fellow countrymen.

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…