Living As The Image Of Jesus

Then Jesus called a little child to Him,

set him in the midst of them, and said,

"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you

are convert to and become as little children,

you will by no means enter the kingdom

heaven."

Matthew 18: 2 -- 3

            Many people who come into the religion of Christianity do so by making a simple decision and belief by their making such a decision, believing salvation has come to them. This may be true, or, this may be untrue. Now, it is true, for many that at the beginning of their Christian life saved from their sins. This is true if converted and have not simply made a decision. There is a huge chasm of difference between a simple decision and conversion. When a person makes a decision they have made up their mind towards a difficult choice or a difficult decision and by their decision, they make a resolution towards themselves and feel that they have awarded themselves a victory and this may include their definiteness. On the surface, this seems needed, for one to receive salvation. Decisions with out conversion guarantees, to a person nothing for any decision made today, may be changed tomorrow. Therefore, something more is needed if one is to admit that they are a Christian and saved.  Conversion is such a state whereby a person is changed in character, in function, and is more than a simple belief or viewpoint.  It is more than a simple or even major change that is psychological, or even physiological. When there is a decision to believe in Christianity included as a necessary to conversion there must be more and that more is repentance. For one to be repentance he must review one's actions and feelings or conditions and have a feeling of contrition and regret for past wrongdoings. For one to be committed to their act of repentance there must be a personal change and that change can only come when one is converted and not simply making a decision. Repentance is more than simply making a confession true God in order to attain salvation.  It is more than a simple promise to not repeat past offenses. It is more than simply making some restitution for any wrongs you may have committed. No matter how guilty you may feel and guilt is a major part for a person to come to any knowledge that they must make so as to make decision and be converted.  Any decision or repentance at least in some form there will be a psychological healing that takes place.  We must not allow for piety to be replaced by simple psychological healing.In Biblical Hebrew, the idea of repentance is represented by two verbs: שוב shuv (to return) and נחם nicham (to feel sorrow). In the New Testament, the word translated as 'repentance' is the Greek word μετάνοια (metanoia), "after/behind one's mind", which is a compound word of the preposition 'meta' (after, with), and the verb 'noeo' (to perceive, to think, the result of perceiving or observing). In this compound word the preposition combines the two meanings of time and change, which may be denoted by 'after' and 'different'; so that the whole compound means: 'to think differently after'. Metanoia is therefore primarily an after-thought, different from the former thought; a change of mind accompanied by regret and change of conduct, "change of mind and heart", or, "change of consciousness" Jesus made it very clear soul that we cannot misunderstand what he was saying and how what he said applies to us: we must be converted. Our conversion is to live continually as one of God's children. We do not simply rely upon our own wits rather we rely upon God and his will knowing that God will hold us responsible.  Conversion means that we will immediately bring our bodies, our minds, our line, that naturalness of us, brought into the newness of life that old days the dictates of God.  This conversion or change in our lives and actions may start slowly and even have stumbling blocks a long way, but if we are truly converged, we will turn our lives to God who is willing to forgive us of our past sins and to give us all aid by his Holy Spirit to live according to his dictates.  You see we put a hindrance in our lives that life of Christianity, that spiritual life because we will not continually be converted because there are within us elements of obstinacy.  We deify independence, we wanted our way, we want to live autonomously, and this makes us to live in antinomy. Yes, it is true, we are weak, and yet God looked upon our weakness, that weakness so often we call strength. True conversion is one in which, even though it may come slowly, is one in which we continuously allow that conversion to take full control of our lives. Are we then to walk around as some of the monks in the past that even today do that is to live an ascetic life?  No! We are to live this life, the life that God has given to you and me, and should do so in obedience to God.  In chapter 18, Jesus continue to speak to the people and to his disciples telling them and us that do nothing should separate us from living the converted life to God.

            As we come to the end of the year 2013, take time to take inventory of your life. It is more than making a resolution to do better, to live more as a Christian, it is to simply turn your life over to him and allow the Holy Spirit that indwells all believers and children of God so that they can live a life of obedience.  Do you want to live a life of obedience? Do you want to bring glory to God the father who has saved you for eternity? Yes, we must make a decision that is part and parcel of conversion, and of repentance.  The truth of our conversion in repentance is that we become like little children and live according to our Father’s will. There is much ahead of us in the coming year and how we meet whatever comes our way will be determined by our character and our character if it is to be successful is one that is the character of Jesus Christ's being His image in us and our being the image of Him.

Then out of them shall

            proceed Thanksgiving

and the voice of those who make merry;

            I will multiply them, and they shall

not be small.

                                    Jeremiah 30: 19

You are the image of the Son of God

Richard L. Crumb

The Coming Of The Messiah

For there is born to you this day

in the city of David a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be the sign to you:

you will find a Babe wrapped

in swaddling cloths, lying in a

manger. And suddenly there was with

the angel a multitude of the

heavenly hosts praising God saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on

earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Luke 2:11–14

            This familiar narrative is one of the most important events recorded in the Bible; the first being the creation, the second the birth of the Messiah (Christ), the third the most important of all events; the death, burial, resurrection, and the ascension into heaven by this same babe in a manger born some 33 years before. It is His birth that we, Christians celebrate on this day, December 25^th, and it is on this day we are reminded of that night on a lonely pasture where shepherds lay watching their sheep that the angel of God appeared and announced the birth of the Son of God, and then a multitude of angels appeared singing; “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”(Luke 23:14). The word “Christ” is not a name of Jesus, it is not Jesus Christ, as in our names whereby we have a first and last name, and probably a middle name, this was not a name, it is a title, a title announcing that the Messiah, the long promised Messiah, the deliver, and savior has come into the world. Yes, it is true that it was the Hebrews that looked for this Messiah and not the world and yet it was for the whole world that Jesus was born and for whom He is the savior: “[H]e took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ‘Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen You salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel’” (Luke 2:28–32). Yes, the babe in swaddling cloths came not only for His national people for He came for all His children that are in any and all nations, those chosen by God to be given to Him: “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are one” (John 17:11). Some will say that this prayer of Jesus just before His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane is only for His disciples. This prayer goes on to point out He was praying not only for His closest followers. It was and is for the whole world for this is the purpose of the life of Jesus and that purpose: bring salvation to the world. His love, this love of God, this love that is so great and not comprehended by our finite minds, may be in us, all who are the children of God: “An I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:26). This “agape” love, a love that has its foundation in that it expresses the deep and constant love and the interests of God towards those who are unworthy. It is this love brought to us by the birth of the Son of God, God’s very own Wisdom clothed in flesh and who came to live as a perfect man, and die a perfect man. He came not only to pay the debt of sin owed to God, a debt man cannot pay, for this babe came to bring salvation to the Children of God. You who convert to Jesus Christ are recipients of this love and salvation, and this is the real meaning behind this celebration: Christmas. Now, this is a fact that the more unbelievers pour scorn on Him, so much the more does He make, His Godhead evident. The things which they, as men, rule out as impossible, He plainly shows to be possible; that which they deride as unfitting, His goodness makes most fit; and things which these wiseacres laugh at as "human" He by His inherent might declares divine. Thus by what seems His utter poverty and weakness on the cross He overturns the pomp and parade of idols, and quietly and hiddenly wins over the mockers and unbelievers to recognize Him as God. Many today attempt to destroy this celebration as if they could destroy Christianity, and this world attempts to replace this special time with much commercialism and yet with all they do they cannot change history. Jesus Christ came, yes as a babe, and yes lived a life of poverty inasmuch as He did not accumulate wealth of goods, and yes, He died a criminal’s death. This cannot be denied, and His birth, life, and death changed the entire world, even those nations; i.e., China, and other far Eastern nations that believe in a form of Hinduism, or Buddhism, know about this babe, this man, Jesus Christ. Jesus did not come to set in place His kingdom on this earth: “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36). You, Christian, are part of His kingdom, and He went away to prepare a place for you so that you may be with Him for eternity. This is what we celebrate on Christmas Day, it is not just His birth, rather it is Him, God in the flesh and all that He has promised to His children are promises of assuredness. We believe, we are not responsible to do what He commanded; to be a witness for Him: “Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37).

Do you believe? Then celebrate, pass out gifts, enjoy time with your family, relatives, and friends, and speak of this day not as a day of just fun and gifts, (good food, had to put that in), rather this day when God came to earth for His children: You!

On that day I will raise up

            The tabernacle of David,

Which has fallen down, and repair

            Its damages; I will raise up

Its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days

            Of old; that they may possess

The remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles

            Who are called by My name,

Says the LORD who does this thing.

                                    Amos 9:11–12

God Came To Plant You In His Land

Richard L. Crumb

The Coming Of The Messenger Of The Covenant

“Behold, I send My messenger,

and he will prepare the way before Me.

And he Lord, whom you seek, will

suddenly come to His temple, even

the Messenger of the covenant,

in whom you delight. Behold He

is coming.

Says the Lord of hosts.”

Malachi 3:1

            We are just two days away from the great festival: Christmas. While this is first, and foremost a Christian festival it has become a time when non–Christians have commercialized it to the point that the Christian meaning is almost lost. It is lost when are motive for celebrating this festival is more about gifts, parties, etc., and not a time to focus on the event that it celebrates: the coming of the promise Messiah. Some may want to apply this verse to John the Baptist, but this is a poor understanding for it is the Messiah promised and is the Messenger of the Covenant. Matthew writes the words of Jesus Christ in relation to the question of John the Baptist in prison: “For this is he whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You” (Matthew 10:11). The words of Malachi, albeit that we have given chapter numbers and verse numbers, falls on the previous words where he admonished the Jewish people: “You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you say, ‘In what way have we wearied Him?’ “In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them,’ “or, ‘Where is the God of justice?’” (Malachi 2:17). Yes, it is true that John the Baptist was the messenger that prepared the way for the Messenger of the Covenant, Jesus Christ and John the Baptist’ ministry called people to repentance a preparation of the people who repented for the coming of this long promise and prophecies of His coming was about to be fulfilled. Jesus then when answering John the Baptist now imprisoned and questioning about Him and what said about Jesus was answered and the prophecy in Malachi found it meaning in Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Messenger of the Covenant, prophetically foretold of His coming and His role as Messenger of the Covenant by Isaiah: “Thus says the LORD: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth. To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages” (Isaiah 49:8). There are Churches that have ignored this warning to Israel about calling “evil” “good” and allow homosexuality in their churches, and adultery not addressed according to the command of God. Those liberal churches are a stain upon the Messenger of the Covenant who came as a babe, God in the flesh, to restore the heritage that was lost, first by Adam, then this loss was carried forth in greater sinfulness so that man in no way could restore himself to receive what God willed for man. Jesus Christ came to His temple, and I do not mean the actual, physical, building called the temple for the temple of God is His elect: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have form God, and you are not your own” (1Corinthians 6:19)? If we are to obtain favor from God, and from His Messenger then we must meet the Messenger in His temple, and since you are the temple of God, the temple that the Messenger comes to by means of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; then ought we not take time to cleanse the temple? Since we cannot do this alone, we have something so great as that the ministry of Jesus Christ prepares the sinner’s heart to be His temple, a temple cleansed, holy, and sanctified and this He does by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. God does not care about sacrifice. God desires us to be obedient to Him. This obedience shown by our conversion and cleansing of ourselves by adhering to the commands of God and this too, we have help to be able to do so. By your will you act, one way or the other, therefore it is by our will that we choose to follow the Messenger and be the temple in which He comes into and lives within. It by our will to follow Him, and by Him, we are separated from indwelling corruptions. This babe lying in a manger that, the One who will care for His people and refine them as is done in refining gold, or precious stones came to do just that, the One who will care for His people and refine them as is done in refining gold, or precious stones. It is by this babe laying in a manger in swaddling cloth that will by His grace, that grace that only God can give, makes us acceptable to God. This babe is not ordinary babe, no, for He is God, incarnate, and it is He the Messenger of the Covenant, the One who fulfilled all prophecies abut the Messiah who came to do His Father’s will, that is to die for sin, to pay the debt owed to the Justice of God. It his babe that by His coming that the way to eternal life is guaranteed to all those who believe upon Him. It is by this babe, surrounded by the trappings of a manger, the place where cattle, sheep would eat and sleep, that He would not only die by the will of the Father, He makes now eternal intercession for all those called by God.

            As you prepare for this great festival, do not allow this time of joy and happiness to override the real meaning behind all that we celebrate: the coming, dressed in human flesh, complete man by His mother Mary, and complete God, by being begotten by God who is His Father, and yet is Him, one in essence with the Father. Our joy is: God has come to save His children.

Yet from the days of your fathers

            You have gone away from

My ordinances and have not kept

            Them. Return to Me, and

I will return to you,

            Says the LORD of hosts.

                                    Malachi 3:7a

Give God Praise

Richard L. Crumb