Backstage at Bethlehem

John 1:10 says, "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him," or "did not recognize Him" (NIV). There are three supreme things in this verse: (1) The Supreme Fact of History: Christ "was in the world" (v. 10a); (2) The Supreme Truth of History: "The world was made through him" (v. 10b); and (3) The Supreme Tragedy of History: "The world did not know him" (v. 10c).

Everything starts with this fact—that Christ "was in the world" (v. 10a). John means more than just a fleeting visit. God walked on earth for 33 years. He was a flesh and blood man, born of a woman, with a human nature just like ours, only without sin. He was born as we are born, and grew up through all the stages of childhood—infancy, toddler, young child, teenager, and young adult. He wasn't a robot or an angel or some kind of strange alien from a distant galaxy. He was one of us and walked among us.

There has always been a great divide among people—and not an even divide either. The majority has never recognized Jesus for who He really is. When He came the first time, Herod hated Him, the scribes ignored Him, and there was no room for Him in the inn. Only the shepherds and the Wise Men—the poor and the foreigners—welcomed Him to earth.

It is the same today. Christmas has almost disappeared from our culture. Where we used to say "Merry Christmas," now we say "Happy Holidays" for fear of offending someone. Where students used to have "Christmas holidays," we now have "Winter break." And we have nearly sanitized the birth of Christ out of every public school in America. Christmas has become the "C" word—unmentionable in polite company. So nothing has changed. Christ came to the world He created, and the world had no idea who He was.

John continues, "He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him" (v. 11). But the world's ignorance is not the worst of it. John tells us that Christ came to "that which was his own" (v. 11a, NIV). You could easily translate this as "His own home." He is moving from the general (the world) to the specific (the nation of Israel). He came to His own home—the Holy Land, and to His own people—the nation of Israel, and they did not receive Him.

Perhaps you've heard it said that "home is where, when you go there, they have to take you in." Jesus came "home" to His own people—and they wouldn't take Him in. He came to the people who should have known Him best—and they wanted nothing to do with Him. They should have known better. They knew He was coming—God had told them over and over again many times in many ways. They had ample warning. Even some pagan astrologers in Persia figured it out when they saw His star in the east (Matt. 2:1-5).

Moses said, "He's coming." David said, "He's coming." Isaiah said, "He's coming." Jeremiah said, "He's coming." Daniel said, "He's coming." Micah said, "He's coming." Zechariah said, "He's coming." Malachi said, "He's coming." Every book, every chapter, every page of the Old Testament testifies to one great truth—"He's coming." That's the whole theme of the Old Testament—that God would one day send the Messiah to the earth to deliver His people Israel. And when Jesus finally arrived, they didn't believe it. And some of them decided to put Him to death.

Think of the long history of Israel. Over and over again they rebelled against God's law. Time and again they killed the prophets who delivered God's message. Is it any wonder they crucified the Son of God?

He came to His own people—to the one place where He might be welcomed—to His "hometown" and to "His own family"—and they did not want Him. They did not receive Him. They did not believe Him. Finally, they crucified Him. And that rejection continues in large part to this very day.

John adds, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" (vv. 12-13). The news is not entirely bad. While it is true that the world ignored Him and His own people rejected Him; not everyone ignored Him and not everyone rejected Him. Some people recognized Him and welcomed Him into their lives as Lord and Savior. It is useful to recall that all the apostles and 100% of the earliest disciples were Jewish. Even in the midst of general rejection, many followed the Lord.

Verse 12 is one of the greatest verses in all of the New Testament because it tells us how to be saved. There are three key words in verse 12:

(1) "Received" (v. 12a) means to welcome a visitor into your home. It is what you do when you have planned a Christmas party and asked your guests to arrive at 6:30, but then you hear the doorbell ring at 5:50, and you're not ready yet. So you walk to the door, open it, smile and say, "Please come in." You "receive" your guests even though they have come early. To "receive" Christ means to welcome Him as an honored guest and to have Him make your heart His home.

(2) "Believe" (v. 12c) means more than just saying a prayer or signing a card. It has the idea of believing that Jesus is the Son of God from heaven and trusting Him with all your heart. It means resting on Him so completely that He is your only hope of heaven.

(3) "Right" (v. 12b) means "honor" or "privilege." The moment you receive Christ into your life, God gives you the honor of becoming a member of His family. This teaches us that not everyone is a child of God. All are created by God, but not everyone in the world is a child of God. Sometimes people carelessly say, "We're all God's children," but the Bible says no such thing. God only gives the privilege of being His children to those who by personal faith receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Verse 13 explains how we become God's children. There are three "nots" and one "but"—and all four are important:

(1) "Not of blood" (v. 13a). Grace doesn't automatically run from one generation to another. You aren't a Christian just because your parents were Christians or because your grandfather was a pastor. And you won't get brownie points with God just because you come from a good family and have a fine education. Family background doesn't count when it comes to salvation.

(2) "Nor of the will of the flesh" (v. 13b). This is the literal rendering. It has to do with human decision. It means there is nothing you can do to save yourself—so don't bother trying.

(3) "Nor of the will of man" (v. 13c). This means you can't get some bigshot to get you into heaven. No man is big enough to swing open the gates of heaven on your behalf.

(4) "But of God" (v. 13d). Here is the heart of the gospel. Salvation is of the Lord. It is a free gift—totally free and totally of grace. It is not a cooperative venture where you do your part and God does His.

But someone may object, "Don't I have a part to play in salvation?" Sure you have a part. Your part is to be hopelessly lost in sin and God's part is to save you. That way God alone gets the credit. Salvation is a work of God from first to last.

Have you ever received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? The world ignored Him, His own people rejected Him, now what will you do with Jesus? It is not enough that He came to earth. His coming will do you no good as long as Christ remains outside of your life. You may say, "I believe in Jesus," and that is good. But have you ever welcomed Him into your heart?

John 1:12 says, "Yet to all who received Him" (NIV). Think of those words "to all who." There is no limit to the number of people who can be saved. "To all who" includes you! Many have received Him—what about you? Many have welcomed Him—what about you? Many have opened their hearts to Him—what about you? Amen.

A Thankful Heart

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Paul says, "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." That simple, direct statement allows us no excuses whatsoever for ungratefulness. "In everything" (v. 18a) refers to all that occurs in life. It might be translated, "In every circumstance." As a Christian, no matter what struggles you may face, no matter what trials you may go through, you are to give thanks. "In everything give thanks" (v. 18a). As a Christian, you are to have a constant thankfulness about you.

Romans 8:28 gives us the basis for this principle: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." It is God who "causes all things to work together for good… according to His purpose" (v. 28). It is God who is at work in you and in your life. Trust Him. He will see you through all circumstances of life and bring good out it. It is God who causes you to be thankful in all circumstances of life, knowing that whatever happens fits into His eternal purpose for you. Therefore, "in everything give thanks" (1 Thess. 5:18a).

Paul's statement, "for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (v. 18b), refers to all three of these commands in verses 16, 17, and 18. It is the will of God that all who are in Christ Jesus should express constant joy, constant prayer, and constant thanksgiving. That's who we are in Christ—people who are joyful, prayerful, and thankful at all times, every day. It is our way of life as Christians. Amen.

A Prayerful Attitude

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul says, "Pray without ceasing." Another directive that seems on the surface to be impossible to live by. It refers to constant prayerfulness. Remember, prayer is as much an attitude as it is an activity. Joyful believers recognize their own insufficiency and, as a result, find themselves constantly in an attitude of prayer.

"Pray" (v. 17) translates a Greek word that is the most common New Testament word for prayer. It refers to all aspects of prayer: submission, confession, petition, intercession, praise, and thanksgiving. Without ceasing means "constant." It defines prayer not as a continual activity of kneeling and interceding, but as a way of life marked by a continual attitude of prayer.

Prayer is more than just kneeling and speaking to God with thanksgiving and praise and petition. The essence of prayer consists of lifting your heart to God. Understanding that truth enables us to carry into practice this injunction to "pray without ceasing" (v. 17). We can't have words of prayer on our lips all the time (activity). However, we can be in the spirit of prayer at all times (attitude). When you realize your complete dependence on God for everything and you recognize His presence with you wherever you are, then you will find yourself continually yielding yourself prayerfully to Him to be guided and used by Him.

This inward attitude of prayer will find outward expression in the activity of verbal prayer on a regular basis. Without notice you will find yourself breaking out in praise and prayer to God. When this inward attitude of prayer exists you will find yourself constantly talking with God—praying while walking, or while driving, or even while talking with others. The more you practice the presence of God through prayer, the more you will find yourself continually in an attitude of prayer. That is what it means to "pray without ceasing" (v. 17). Amen.

A Joyful Spirit

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Paul says, "Rejoice always." It is a command. But what does it mean? It means just what it says—never cease rejoicing. As a Christian, you are to have a constant joyfulness about you. As impossible as this may seem on the surface, a full understanding of what Scripture teaches concerning joy in the life of Christians can make this experience a reality in your life.

The New Testament continually stresses joy—not a self-generated joy, but joy that comes directly from the Holy Spirit who indwells us. Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Joy is the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in your life when you let Him guide and control you daily.

The phrase translated "rejoice always" (v. 16), literally reads, "at all times be rejoicing." The idea is that you can experience and express joy continually because of your deep-seated confidence in God's love and power. You might call this "joy of faith," which is certain both of salvation in Christ and glorification to spend eternity with Him in heaven.

The New Testament church permeated with a spirit of joy. Just read through the Book of Acts and you will see this clearly, especially in Acts 2:42-47. There, verses 46-47 concludes, "Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."

Throughout the Book of Acts, the believers are not dampened by affliction. In the midst of sadness and persecution, joy gives proof of its power. They suffer together and they are glorified together. It is all based on the glorious purposes of God. That is why James can say, "count it all joy" when encountering "various trials" (James 1:2). It is all based on God and His work in your life.

You are to have a joyful spirit about you at all times. Remember what God has done for you, and you will "rejoice always" (1 Thess. 5:16). Walk daily by faith, letting the Spirit of Christ within you give you His joy, and you will have a joyful spirit for all to see. Amen.

A Transformed Life

Not only your body, but your mind must be given over to God. Only when both your mind and body are completely given over to God are you fully devoted to Him, but it all begins with the mind. In the mind, we make choices as to whether we will let our new nature manifest itself outwardly in holiness, or if we will instead let our old nature manifest itself outwardly in acts of ungodliness or sin. Which is it? It all comes down to who controls your mind.

Romans 12:2 makes it clear that the dedicated life is also a transformed life. Verse 1 has called for a decisive commitment to be devoted to God ("a living sacrifice"). Verse 2 deals with the maintenance of that commitment—how we are to live (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 10, [Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1978], 128).

Paul commands us, "And do not be conformed to this world" (v. 2a). "Be conformed" (v. 2a) refers to an outward expression that does not reflect what is within. It is used of masquerading, or putting on an act, specifically by following a prescribed pattern or scheme. It also carries the idea of being transitory, impermanent, and unstable. The negative ("not") makes the verb prohibitive. The verb itself is passive and imperative, the passive indicating that to conform is something we allow to be done to us, the imperative making it a command, not a suggestion (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, [Moody Publishers: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1994], 149).

The command is that we are "not" to allow ourselves to "be conformed to this world" (v. 2a). We are not to masquerade as a worldly person for any reason. J.B. Phillips translates this phrase: "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould." Do not pattern yourself or allow yourself to be patterned after the ways of this world. Do not become victims of this world. Stop allowing people around you, who are not believers, to fashion you after their image—an image which is anything but the image of Christ.

Paul continues: "But be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (v. 2b). "Be transformed" (v. 2b) is from the Greek verb metamorphoo and refers to a change in outward appearance. It is the term from which we get the English metamorphosis. Matthew used the word in describing Jesus' transfiguration: "He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light" (Matt. 17:2). Christ's inner divine nature and glory were, for a brief time and to a limited degree, manifested outwardly. Our inner redeemed nature is also to be manifested outwardly, as completely as possible, in our daily lives. Your new inner self must show through in how you live.

The only other appearance of this word in the New Testament is in 2 Corinthians 3:18, where Paul said, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." Here, we are being changed into the likeness of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit within us. This gives good commentary on Romans 12:2. There, "be transformed" (v. 2b) is a passive imperative—in this case a positive command. We are commanded to allow ourselves to be changed outwardly into the image of our redeemer.

This transformation is "by the renewing of your mind" (v. 2b). The outward transformation is affected by an inner change in the mind. The Spirit transforms our minds through God's Word. In Psalm 119:11, David said, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." God's Word is the instrument the Holy Spirit uses to renew our minds. God's Word is the instrument the Holy Spirit uses to transform our living. "Present" yourself to God daily (v. 1), get into the Scriptures daily, and watch your life begin to be "transformed" into the very image of Christ (v. 2).

Paul concludes verse 2, "that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Our lives can "prove what the will of God is" (v. 2c, NASB) only by doing those things He approves of—things that are "good and acceptable and perfect" (v. 2c) to Him. "Acceptable" (v. 2c) comes from the Old Testament sacrificial language and refers to the kind of holy living God approves, a "living sacrifice" (v. 1a) without spot or blemish. "Perfect" (v. 2c) refers to being complete, or being everything you should be. You are to desire what God desires and to seek to do only what He wants you to do. A transformed mind produces a transformed will, eager to do what God wants you to do, no matter what the cost. This involves the strong desire to know God better and to follow His purpose for our lives.

God wants to change you completely. He wants to take the person you once were and remake you into the absolutely beautiful person He designed you to be. To have your old life transformed into the image of Christ involves a complete change of heart—an entire alteration of your state of mind. This change involves the whole person. It begins on the inside and works its way outward until all can see it. Only when you begin to live outwardly by the same faith by which you were saved, will you be transformed into the person God intended you to be. Amen.

A Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1 reads: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." "Therefore" (v. 1a) establishes a connection with the entire first eleven chapters of Romans. Those eleven chapters clearly presented "the mercies of God" (v. 1a) to us. That mercy has to do with our salvation. "Therefore" (v. 1a), because the Lord has saved us, our lives must change.

"Beseech" (v. 1a) or "urge" (NASB) is from the Greek word parakaleo, which has the basic meaning of coming alongside in order to help or give aid. It later came to mean exhorting, admonishing, or encouraging. The force of the word lies somewhere between commanding and beseeching. It possesses something of the element of authority that is more forcefully expressed by "command," and has in it something of the element of appeal that is best expressed by "beseech." Hence, the KJV and NKJV rendering: "I beseech you therefore, brethren" (v. 1a).

Essentially, Paul not only strongly urges us as to how we ought to live as believers, but by all respects, he gives us a command. It is not optional. Paul wanted to come alongside his fellow believers to strongly encourage them to fulfill the inner desire of their new hearts—to dedicate themselves without reservation to their Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

That is what the word "present" (v. 1a) means. It means to "yield" or "offer" (NIV). In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), "present" was often used as a technical term for a priest's placing an offering on the altar. It therefore carried the general idea of surrendering or yielding up. Here it is an imperative or a command. As members of God's "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), you are here commanded to perform what is essentially a priestly act of worship.

The word "present" (Rom. 12:1a) is actually what is called a final infinitive, meaning the final purpose. According to Colossians 1:21-22, the final purpose of our reconciliation through the death of Christ is "to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight" (v. 22b). "Blameless" (v. 22b) or "without blemish" (NIV) is "a technical sacrificial term... used of animals that were without flaw and therefore worthy of being offered to God" (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 11, [Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1978], 187). The reference then, is not to our personal conduct but to our position in Christ. Through faith in Christ you stand holy and blameless before God and you will be holy and blameless when He takes you home to glory—it is final.

In Romans 12:1, the final purpose of our reconciliation (or salvation) is to "present" yourself in total devotion to God. Because you are holy and blameless in His sight, you are worthy to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God" (v. 1b). The former animal sacrifices of Israel were dead sacrifices that had no lasting value. The new sacrifice is a "living sacrifice" (v. 1b), your body or your entire self. You have been set apart to be "holy" (v. 1b), a reference to being set apart for a special purpose. You have been set apart for God—consecrated to Him for His service. Let the righteousness of Christ dwell in you. Give yourself completely unto the Lord each day, letting Him work through you. That is what is "acceptable" (v. 1b) or "pleasing to God" (NIV).

"This is your reasonable service" (v. 1b) or "your spiritual service of worship" (NASB) or "your true and proper worship" (NIV). God isn't interested in the ceremonial acts, like animal sacrifices. He is interested in a living and perpetual sacrifice—the giving of yourself to worship Him, walk with Him daily, and to serve Him in whatever way He leads. This sacrifice of yourself to God is never to be neglected or recalled. It is a day to day, moment to moment sacrifice. Obedient lives is our only "reasonable" (v. 1b) response to God.

Surrender to God all your hopes, plans, and everything that is precious to you. That is what the Lord asks of you. Give all of yourself to Him. Be fully devoted to the Lord and watch Him work in your life. Amen.