All the Fullness of God in a Man

Angels announced the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem to shepherds tending their flocks, and a star guided the Magi “from the East” to worship the newborn King of the Jews.  The beautiful accounts as provided to us by the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are well known.  Other passages in the Holy Bible expound upon the significance of this holy event: 

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 NIV)

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. (Colossians 1:15-23 NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:1-14 NIV) *

 

 

*  https://biblehub.com/

 

 

Unto Us a Son is Given

Jesus of Nazareth grew up in Galilee, and He spent most of His earthly life there. 

So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother.  But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee.  So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:21-22 NLT) 

The Holy Spirit inspired Isaiah to prophesy that Galilee would be glorified because the Messiah would come from Galilee.  This was His first incarnation; His life among us in a human body about 2,000 years ago.  Jesus will return in the Second Coming, and He will rule ever afterward. 

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory... 

For a child is born to us,

a son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

And he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His government and its peace

will never end.

He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David

for all eternity.

The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies

will make this happen!

(Isaiah 9:1 and 6-7 NLT) *

 

*  All Bible verses were copied from:  https://biblehub.com/

Little Town of Bethlehem

Old Testament prophecy foretold that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.  Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  He is the Christ (Messiah); the Son of God. 

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.  This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city.  Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,  in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was pregnant.  While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the Inn. (Luke 2:1-7 NASB) 

About 700 years before Jesus was born, Micah was inspired by the Holy Spirit to prophesy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.  A similar verse (2Samuel 5:2) refers to King David of Israel; an ancestor of Jesus.  When King Herod asked the Chief Priests and Scribes where the Messiah was to be born, they may have blended the scripture.  It is clear, however, that they were convinced that Bethlehem would be the Messiah’s birthplace. 

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,  “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.  They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 

‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH,
ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH;
FOR FROM YOU WILL COME FORTH A RULER
WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’”
(Matthew 2:1-6 NASB) 

But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His times of coming forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.” (Micah 5:2 NASB) *

Merry Christmas!  Jesus is Lord!

* https://biblehub.com/nasb

Unto Us a Child is Born

It is the Christmas season again, and I hope you have a Merry Christmas!  We get busy with our holiday preparations, trying to give those we love a blessed and happy time, and we may get stressed out.  It can seem like there is never enough – money, time, energy, or whatever.  Don’t let it drown out your joy.  It’s Jesus’ birthday!  Like the song says, “Don’t worry, be happy.”  God is good … all the time … and we can enjoy Christmas no matter what our circumstances may be – if we reflect on who Jesus is. 

Consider that about 700 years before the birth of Christ a prophet named Isaiah spoke of the coming Messiah, His life, His sacrifice for us, and His Kingdom, in terms that unmistakably describe Jesus.  How remarkable.  How miraculous.  Please reflect on it and believe.

 

Isaiah 53

(New Living Translation)

 

Who has believed our message?

To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?

My servant grew up in the LORD’s presence like a tender green shoot,

like a root in dry ground.

There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,

nothing to attract us to him.

He was despised and rejected—

a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.

We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.

He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;

it was our sorrows that weighed him down.

And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,

a punishment for his own sins!

But he was pierced for our rebellion,

crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.

He was whipped so we could be healed.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.

We have left God’s paths to follow our own.

Yet the LORD laid on him

the sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly,

yet he never said a word.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,

he did not open his mouth.

Unjustly condemned,

he was led away.

No one cared that he died without descendants,

that his life was cut short in midstream.

But he was struck down

for the rebellion of my people.

He had done no wrong

and had never deceived anyone.

But he was buried like a criminal;

he was put in a rich man’s grave.

But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him

and cause him grief.

Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,

he will have many descendants.

He will enjoy a long life,

and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,

he will be satisfied.

And because of his experience,

my righteous servant will make it possible

for many to be counted righteous,

for he will bear all their sins.

I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,

because he exposed himself to death.

He was counted among the rebels.

He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. [1]

---

[1] https://biblehub.com/nlt/isaiah/53.htm

 

 

Past Behavior Predicts Future Behavior

It would take a book to do an in-depth analysis of the multiple variables that are contributing to a pattern of Russia’s military aggression against its neighbors.  The historical observations here are provided  for perspective, but what I am offering is an actions/outcomes description.  The conclusions are opinion, but the opinions of informed persons are information for decision making. 

Historically Russia has consistently pursued three goals.  Russia needs warm water ports (like Sevastopol in Crimea) for trade and military purposes.  They need ports that remain ice free all year long.  The French under Napoleon and the Germans under Hitler invaded Russia from the West, and Russia was nearly conquered.  Russia wants a buffer zone of client states between itself and Western Europe in which to stop invasions before they reach the motherland.  Since the time of Peter the Great, the Russians have worked to develop and modernize their industrial base. 

Following the Soviet acquisition of nuclear weapons in 1949, the Soviet Union rapidly developed into a nuclear power.  More recent Russian national goals have included becoming a military and economic superpower that has the ability to project power on a worldwide scale.  To further those ends, they have also sought to develop a network of friendly countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and South America as a market for their goods, a location for their military bases, a source of raw materials, and as potential allies against the United States and other NATO nations. 

Beginning with the destruction of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the Soviet Union gradually began to fall apart, and by 1992 it ceased to exist.  During the Soviet Era, Russia controlled the other Soviet Socialist Republics and the nations that made up the Warsaw Pact (Eastern Bloc).  The fall of the Soviet Union was a major setback for Russia.  The countries she had formerly dominated and oppressed declared independence. 

Russia’s currency was worthless.  The transition from a centrally directed economy to a market driven economy initially resulted in economic chiaos. 

Great numbers of Russians took advantage of the relaxed controls on emigration and left the country.  They often joined Russian speaking minority populations in the Baltic States and former Soviet Socialist Republics. 

Eventually, Russia began to recover economically, with the help of aid and expertise provided by the United States and other industrialized nations.  After the election of Vladimir Putin as prime minister in 1999, Russia has regained its position as a major military power and a provider of raw materials for European energy production. 

Historically, the Russian economy has been based on exporting raw materials and importing finished goods.  Real prosperity has eluded them due to economic mismanagement under the czars and communists, lack of diversified industrial development, and the nature of their foreign trade.  In the last 20 years, Mr. Putin and a collection of industrialists known as “oligarchs” have brought prosperity to Russia’s urban areas by exporting energy products, but the rural areas have remained poor. Due to this prosperity, Mr. Putin has enjoyed high job approval and personal popularity among the Russian people. 

At first, Adolph Hitler brought prosperity to the German people, and they loved him for it.  Later, he enhanced his popularity with the people by successfully dominating Austria and Czechoslovakia.  He squandered the prosperity of his people, and his political capital, by engaging in foreign military adventures that ended in failure and Germany’s destruction.  Will the same be true for Vladimir Putin? 

As long as Joseph Stalin was the dictator, everyone was afraid to dissent.  After Stalin died in 1953, unrest among the Eastern Bloc nations that were oppressed and controlled by the Soviet Union began to surface.  It began in Poland in 1956 when a workers’ strike was suppressed by the Polish Army.  In subsequent negotiations, however, the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) agreed to withdraw its troops from Poland. 

Some feel this emboldened the resistance movement in Hungary, and a rebellion began.  It was crushed by the Soviet military, and those rebels who were not killed in the fighting were executed.  I was eight years old when television newscasts of the fighting were aired in the United States.  I will never forget how I was affected by the scenes of Hungarians beating their fists on Russian tanks.  Their only antitank weapons were Molotov cocktails, but they still fought and died for freedom. 

I was 20 years old in 1968 when the Soviet Army led troops from the other Warsaw Pact countries into Czechoslovakia to suppress efforts to liberalize the communist government there and achieve greater independence from the USSR.  Nobody came to Czechoslovakia’s defense. 

It was my Junior year in college, and I was taking a Military Science class taught by an Infantry Lt. Colonel.  We asked him if he thought we would be going to war to help the Czechs.  He said didn’t think so, and that he hoped we wouldn’t have to fight “Ivan” any time soon.  He thought we could win, but he was aware of the price we would have to pay. 

With Russian support and encouragement, the provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia declared independence from the Republic of Georgia in 2008.  In response to shelling by separatist forces, the Georgians attacked.  Russia entered the conflict and defeated the Georgians.  Although defeated militarily, the Republic of Georgia has continued to seek closer ties with the West. 

There was very little response from the nations of Western Europe, who just called for a ceasefire.  The Obama Administration was in the process of trying to “reset” relations with Russia, after what they thought was ham-handed and offensive treatment of them by George W. Bush.  So they did nothing.  It is generally believed that these mild reactions caused the Russians to believe they could do what they pleased with the former Soviet Socialist Republics in Eastern Europe.  Some think it emboldened Vladimir Putin to start trouble in the Donbas Region of Ukraine and to annex Crimea.  I recall saying at the time that if we did not help Georgia, Russia would continue its aggression elsewhere. 

One way of looking at the war between Russia and Ukraine is by thinking of it as one long and sporadic conflict that began in 2014 and continues to this day.  As in the case of Georgia, the excuse for beginning hostilities was alleged mistreatment of Russian speaking minorities in Crimea and Ukraine’s Donbas Region.  Militias that were organized and trained by Russia entered into conflict with the Ukrainian Army, which continued fairly steadily until Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.  It has been open warfare ever since. 

In a 2014 election, “supervised” by Russian paramilitary operatives, Crimean voters opted for Crimea to be annexed by Russia.  The Crimean plebiscite is not regarded as a free and fair election.  Ukraine is attempting to return Crimea to Ukrainian control as part of its war effort to expel the Russian invaders. 

In this Blog, and in emails and letters, I have repeatedly called upon the US Government to provide Ukraine with greater assistance, short of committing US troops to the conflict.  I urge every American to contact their US Senators and Representatives urging them to give Ukraine everything they need to win. 

Why? Because in the last 67 years, Russia has repeatedly used military force to thwart their neighbors’ desire for freedom, independence, economic ties with the European Union, and NATO membership.  It is generally recognized that past behavior may be predictive of future behavior.  If Vladimir Putin and his supporters among the “hardliners” and oligarchs in Russia are not stopped – if they are allowed to succeed in Ukraine – it will only be a matter of time before they strike somewhere else.  Then the cost in lives and treasure for ending their aggression will be far, far greater.

Question Everything?

Lamp in a Corner is focused on Jesus Christ, the doctrines of orthodox Christianity, and providing a conservative Christian look at current events.  Consequently, I try to avoid explaining other religions and philosophies.  I like to leave that to their devotees.  No attempt is being made here to describe Philosophical Skepticism.  I am sure I could not do it justice.  By comparing and contrasting a few of the ideas of Philosophical Skepticism with Christianity, I hope to show how the Christian way of salvation depends on faith. 

Professors often urge college students to “question everything.”  It is not something new.  The ancient Greek philosophers Euripides and Socrates taught their students to question everything.  More recently, Albert Einstein has been quoted as saying that we should question everything.  Skepticism seeks to verify claims of knowledge about things with evidence. 

In the popular culture, questioning everything has come to mean a skeptical approach to conventional wisdom and what is commonly accepted as truth.  However, some skeptics believe that the human mind is too limited to grasp the absolute truth about anything, and therefore all ideas about the nature of things should be questioned. 

Some writers say that The Apostle Paul advocated questioning everything when he wrote: 

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil. (1Thessalonians 5:19-22 ESV) 

However, in context he seems be referring to the exercise of the spiritual gift of prophetic utterances (1Corinthians 12:10) spoken by someone in a church meeting. 

In fact, Paul cautions against following worldly philosophical traditions.  Rather, the Apostle directs us to rely on the all sufficiency of Christ: 

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.  (Colossians 2:8-10 ESV) 

Christianity does not ask the believer to abandon all critical thought or spiritual discernment, and some of what people say is Christian teaching cannot be supported with scripture.  However, ultimately the very nature of the Christian way of salvation depends on accepting Jesus Christ by faith.  The Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write: 

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  (Ephesians 2: 4-10 ESV) (emphasis added) 

Compassion International explains grace like this: “God’s grace is usually defined as undeserved favor. Grace cannot be earned; it is something that is freely given..." [1] 

The Holy Bible explains itself, and in it faith is described as follows: 

Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.  For by it the people of old gained approval. 

By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.  (Hebrews 11:1-3 NAS) (see also John 1:1-3 for the role of the Living Word – Jesus Christ - in creation) 

Jesus made it clear that salvation comes by believing in Him: 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 ESV) 

After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples, but Thomas was not present.  Later, when they told Thomas that they had seen the risen Lord, Thomas refused to believe, and he said these fateful, skeptical words: 

Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.  (John 20:25 ESV) 

I understand that Thomas was grieving, disappointed, and embittered, but I never read these words without being stricken by their hardheartedness.  Thomas was with Jesus during His earthly ministry for about three years.  He touched Him, heard His words, and witnessed His miracles.  Ten of Thomas’ trusted friends told him they had seen their risen Lord.  Yet he would not believe.  Indeed, he went so far as to say that unless he could violate the sanctity of Jesus’ resurrected body by placing his fingers and hands in the very wounds Jesus suffered to save his soul – he would never believe. 

Then, Jesus appeared again to His disciples eight days later, and this time Thomas was with them.  In loving patience, He gave Thomas what he needed to believe. 

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:27-28 ESV) 

Again, the words of Thomas thunder down through history, “MY LORD AND MY GOD.”  What a complete change of heart.  Jesus saved Thomas.  He worked on me for years with the same loving persistence, and He saved me.  He has already given His life to save you.  All you need to do is to believe it and receive it. 

Jesus then spoke, not only to Thomas, but to all who would come after him: 

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29 ESV) 

Fundamental to Christianity is the faith to believe in things that are not tangible.  Like Thomas, there are those who have difficulty with believing by faith.  In the 19^th century some scholars advocated for what was called “higher criticism” of the claims in the Bible.  They disputed its inerrancy primarily because, at that time, they could not find sources outside the Bible that supported its claims.  Although subsequent investigation has found archeological evidence, and references in secular writings of the Biblical period that support what is in the Bible, higher criticism still has many adherents today. 

The Apostle Paul wrote: 

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. (Romans 1:19-20 ESV) 

Those who demand tangible evidence often ignore the obvious.  For example, estimates vary, but one commonly occurring approximation is that it would take over 90 billion years to travel across the known universe at the speed of light.  Could anything that big have happened by accident?  Writing for the Journal of Theoretical Biology, Hubert P. Yockey has calculated that the probability of the spontaneous biogenesis of life described by Charles Darwin to be one occurrence in 10⁹ years.[2]  That number is large enough to show that life could not have occurred by chance.  Shouldn’t even one of these facts cause us to believe in a Creator?  Life comes through Jesus Christ. (John 1:4, 14:6; 1John 5:11-12)  Who are we – mere specks of protoplasm on the face of a tiny planet – to question so great a God? 

The honest scholarship that has been done to prove the accuracy of the Bible is greatly appreciated.  It has helped many to believe and to remain strong in their faith.  When it comes down to choices, however, one must make what has come to be called “a leap of faith.”  You believe, or you don’t.  Without belief, the faith in Jesus that is fundamental to salvation may be shaken by every new scrap of information that comes down the pike. 

Some skeptics say that pure, absolute truth is unknowable with certainty.  Jesus said: 

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 ESV) 

If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32 ESV) 

How do we find saving faith? In accord with John 8:31-32, the Apostle Paul tells us: 

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 NKJV) 

Pray for guidance, earnestly seek God in the Holy Bible, and He will give you the faith to believe … if you will accept it.  Believe in Jesus.  He loves you and wants you to be with Him forever.  

Acknowledgement: 

All of the Bible verses quoted were copied from https://biblehub.com/

 

---

[1] https://www.compassion.com/christian-faith/bible-verses-about-grace.htm 

[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0022519377900443

Thanksgiving 2023

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,

give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

(Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV) [1]

---

[1] https://biblehub.com/esv/1_thessalonians/5.htm