In the first part of this blog, think of at least two reasons God signaled the Wise Men all the way from Mesopotamia and didn’t communicate to priests.
First, the priests wouldn’t even make the 16 mile trip from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. While the Magi traveled hundreds of miles to see him. Second, the priests were as troubled by the news as Herod—not good company for religious men. Stoked with anticipation, the entire message of Christ’s birth brought JOY, PEACE and FORGIVENESS to the Wise Men. Why would God waste all that on those TROUBLED when hearing it? God is always anxious to teach us, but the ones most ready to learn are those anxious to be taught! End Part III New Apologetics book at: Amazon Check out Virg Hurley books at Amazon Check out Virg Hurley Digital books at: Smashwords
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The second antinomy in the message heralding Christ’s birth centered on his appearance in the Temple at 40 days. The aged Simeon and Anna surfaced there. Two senior saints, who faithfully followed God’s word and waited for God’s Son. Young adults didn’t surface there, though devoted to Moses.
Because the ancients observed the Law’s sacrifices while embracing personal faith in God. And the young hadn’t yet developed the spiritual maturity to look beyond the forms of Moses to his substance, beyond his types to the Anti-Type held in Simeon’s arms. The third antinomy surrounding Christ’s nativity centered on the Wise Men. News of Christ’s birth came first to them—philosophers/astrologers—in Mesopotamia, not to priests and rabbis in Jerusalem. A strange reversal. Since the priests KNEW Bethlehem as Messiah’s birthplace, shouldn’t they have been told first? Since the wise men had to ask, shouldn’t they have been told later? End Part II New Apologetics book at: Amazon Check out Virg Hurley books at Amazon Check out Virg Hurley Digital books at: Smashwords Antinomy is a word that refers to an apparent contradiction of ideas, beliefs or practices when considered separately, but in combination are perfectly compatible. Two great Bible antinomies illustrate. First, GOD IS—yet had no beginning and has no end. To us, an impossible concept. But not when God declares it. Second, Jesus died by crucifixion, a death reserved for the worst criminals. Yet, Jesus was as GOOD a man as ever lived. But not only GOOD, but PERFECT. A condition enveloping goodness but exceeding it as an eon exceeds a second. His perfection transformed the shame of crucifixion into a GLORY the apostle embraced, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” Galatians 6:14. That songwriter John Bowring could write, “In the cross of Christ I glory, tow’ring o’er the wrecks of time.”
Consider one of three antinomies that accompanied Christ’s birth. That news of his imminent arrival came first to an aged priest in the Temple, not to a young rabbi in the synagogue. For while the synagogue taught God’s word, humanity’s second-greatest need, the Temple addressed humanity’s greatest need—removing the sins that kept us from God. Jesus...Savior; never in human language did two words combine more appropriately! We need forgiveness of sin to more clearly understand Christ’s message; to more completely obey him; to more easily overcome temptation; to see Christ incrementally formed more completely in us. Any sin we retain diminishes scripture’s impact on us. Increasing freedom from sin’s treacherous presence empowers God’s Presence in us. Since he came as Savior, that has to be our first message to those outside Grace. We must prioritize forgiveness to the unsaved in our preaching, teaching and witnessing. We must never minimize that message to maximize entertainment and feel-good sermons. Churches exist for the healing of sinners by being converted to Jesus from self-will. End Part I New Apologetics book at: Amazon Check out Virg Hurley books at Amazon Check out Virg Hurley Digital books at: Smashwords Today in China university professors encourage students to accept Christ. Political leaders don’t like it. Members of the Communist party convert to Christ. Political leaders hate that, since Marxism claims to take the place of God.
Nobody takes the place of God. The point is, while Chinese universities are open to Jesus, the government isn’t. In America university professors aren’t open to Jesus, but the present Presidential administration is. In fact, Christianity will get stronger in China despite governmental opposition. It will not get stronger in America with governmental assistance. Jesus needs no one in society to sponsor him for him to wage successful warfare against Satan. In the first century, Paul’s in jail, Peter’s on the run, and everywhere Christianity is attacked. Yet sinners are being saved and baptized everywhere. Remember what happened to Marxism in 1989. Down came the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain all over Eastern Europe. In America, meanwhile, our anti-God, anti-Jesus rebellion will bring only harm and sorrow to this land! While God marches on! Americans must answer a single question. Do we want to pledge allegiance and life to a temporary or permanent cause? If we don’t care to matter 1000 years from now, we can support any cause. If we want to have a new body and mind in a 1000 and 10,000 years, surrender to Jesus Christ. He alone provides life full of meaning now and fully of permanence beyond the grave. Fini New Apologetics book at: Amazon Check out Virg Hurley books at Amazon Check out Virg Hurley Digital books at: Smashwords |
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