I know what sin feels like in my body. I’ve experienced the momentary bliss of sexual sin. I know all too well the pleasure of indulging in too much food or drink. I’ve felt the pulsation of anger and rage in my members. I’ve hurt others with my eyes, my voice, my hands, my body.
And so, oh, how I resonate with Paul’s cry: Who will save me from this body of death?
A friend this week referred to an ongoing, besetting sin in his life as the “it” buried in a shallow grave that keeps rising again and again, seemingly impervious to his prayers and promises.
Oh, I feel it. I can relate.
I know first-hand the palpable sadness, shame, and despair of having done again what I promised myself, my loved ones, and God that I would never do again. I know what a “sin hangover” is—I’ve felt this in my flesh too.
Have you?
Then rejoice with me, it’s Christmas!
In the beginning, we believed the lie that God was holding us back from life in the full, and so we cut ourselves “free” and ran unfettered from God into the fetters of death.
The enemy of our souls uttered lies. We made his words flesh.
God’s response is to make His Word flesh. And His Word does not lambast us with curses and judgment, no “I told you so!” No “serves you right!” He comes with “good news of a great joy, which is for all the earth!”
God’s response to our sin, sickness, helplessness, and hopelessness is to come to us. At Christmas, righteousness has come in the flesh. Life has come in the flesh. Help has come in the flesh. Hope has come in the flesh.
Have you run from God? Is any part of you running from Him still? Are you sick? Do you find within yourself, like I do, any place that does not trust God, does not want to obey, does not love Him?
Then rejoice with me, it’s Christmas! He has come into all that we are. He has come in the flesh!
Lord Jesus, thank You for coming. I need you in my flesh!
I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below.
Rejoice,
Josh
So well written- encapsulates the full story of my sin and my deliverance through Christ. Thank you, Josh, for this significant reminder and encouragement.
Amen!
I like the Luke 2 with notes in “The Passion Translation- TPT”.
Luke 2 (TPT)
10 But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere!
11 For today in Bethlehem [1] a Rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah.[2]
12 You will recognize Him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough!”[3]
13 Then all at once, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven! And they all praised God, singing:
14 “Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven! For there is peace [4] and a good hope [5] given to the sons of men.”
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NOTES-
[1]- The Greek text says, “the city of David”.
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[2]- Translated literally from the Aramaic text. This is one of the most amazing statements found in the Gospels declaring the deity of Jesus Christ.
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[3]- A baby lying in a feeding trough where animals were kept nearby, wrapped in strips of cloths, became a sign of the Man-Savior’s life on earth. He entered the world as a lowly baby, and though He is the mighty God, he lived his life on earth in gentleness before all.
The shepherds that night were possibly near Bethlehem at Migdal Eder, “the [watch] tower of the flock.” This would fulfill both the prophecies of Micah 5:2 and Micah 4:8, which say, “to you it [He] will come, your Dominion [Kingdom] from old will arrive.”
It was at the lower floor of the watchtower (Migdal Eder) that the birthing of the Passover lambs would take place. Selected ewes that were about to give birth would be brought there. After the birth of the lambs, the priestly shepherds would wrap the lambs in cloth and lay them in a manger lined with soft hay to prevent them from hurting themselves, for Passover lambs must be unblemished with no bruise or broken bone.
☆☆》》The miracle sign for these priestly shepherds would be a baby boy lying where the Passover lamb should be—in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth. 《《☆☆
☆☆》》It was at the cradle of Jesus Christ that the Kingdom from ancient times arrived on earth. ☆☆《《
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[4]- Luke’s Gospel is the Gospel of peace. The four prominent sacrifices of the Old Testament are emphasized in the four Gospels.
* In Matthew we see the death of Christ in the figure of the trespass offering.
* In Mark, the sin offering.
* In Luke, the peace offering.
* In John, the burnt offering.
The peace God gives us is emphasized in Luke’s Gospel, which is why the angels announced peace and hope. On the day of His Resurrection Jesus said, “Peace to you.”
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[5]- As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “good will.”
Religion is mainly an accident of birth. If you had been born in Saudi Arabia, you would be just as certain Islam was the truth. If born in India you would likely be a Hindu. “Sin” is a man-made concept, a societal control. Look at evilbible.com and admit there are parts of the bible nobody follows today, nor should they.
Well, Rusty Writer, I guess that you have never heard of conversions to Christianity out of Eastern religions or out of Islam – often at great risks.
Yes, there are parts of the Bible that are no longer followed – because other parts of the Bible tell us that the purpose for which God instituted those laws has been accomplished and they no longer apply.
Of course, anyone who thinks that sin is “a man-made concept” won’t buy what I said above; the reality that every society of which we know anything has a concept of sin and ways of dealing with it shows that it is not man-made, but a universal recognition of right and wrong and the reality that we all do things that are wrong.
If there is no such thing as sin, then there is no such thing as justice or fairness.
Charlie, you did not read the link I provided. In North America 9 of 10 humans die in whatever religion they were raised. Throughout history and in many parts of the world today, conversions have been unthinkable and as rare as hen’s teeth. The bible is not followed by any of the more than 35,000 sects that call themselves Christian even though most see their group as the one true church. And it may surprise you to know that not all religions hold the concept of “sin” a concept that began a mere 6,000 years ago after about 200,000 years of human existence. And justice is never improved by polluting rational arguments with Bronze Age suppositions. If First World nations followed biblical law, we would be as brutal as Sharia law nations. i.e. The bible in both testaments advocates killing kids who disrespect their parents, and accepts slavery as a given, not something to be opposed. Also, the bible got the entire solar system wrong, as Galileo’s telescope proved.
Beautiful reflection, Josh. Full of hope. Christmas Blessings to you and your family and all in Regeneration Ministry.
Josh his is very well written and absolutely pierces my heart as it is all too truth of my life and my daily struggle, yet I am hopeful and with that I continue to move forward. Merry Christmas!