'Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he 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 your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."'
-Luke 2:25-35
'The whole life of Christ was a continual Passion; others die martyrs, but Christ was born a martyr. He found a Golgotha, where he was crucufied, even in Bethlehem, where he was born; for to his tenderness then the straws were almost as sharp as the thorns after, and the manger as uneasy at first as the cross at last. His birth and death were but one continual act, and his Christmas day and his Good Friday are but the evening and the morning of the same day. And as even his birth is his death, so every action and passage that manifests Christ to us is his birth, for Epiphany is manisfestation. Every manifestation of Christ to the world, to the church, to a particular soul is an Epiphany, a Christmas day.'
- John Donne, The Showing Forth of Christ, quoted in Watch for the Light, p. 303-304
Dear Christ Our Redeemer Friends and Family,
I love the story of Simeon from Luke 2. Can you imagine this elderly, faithful Jewish gentleman day after day serving and performing his temple duties? He was righteous and devout; a man set upon by the Spirit of God and having been visited by the Spirit who assure him that he would see God's salvation before he died. When Joseph and Mary had brought Jesus to the temple for the rites expected by Levitical law Simeon saw Him. When he set his eyes upon Jesus an old man saw God's salvation. Simeon recognized that this would be God's salvation for all peoples; Gentile and Jew alike. In the new babe Simeon saw what many do not see. He saw hope for all peoples, but also that this salvation would be opposed. Salvation would come at a price. Simeon saw that God's salvation was to be manifest, not by youthful zeal and the hope of a young child, but this salvation would be made manifest by opposition and suffering. Simeon saw God's salvation in a child that would bring salvation through the piercing pain of suffering. Simeon may not have seen God's redemptive plan from beginning to end, but he made the connection between God's salvation and the opposition that was coming to this child. God's redemptive plan included both a manger and a cross. This child was born a martyr.
Rejoicing with Simeon in seeing God's salvation.
Pastor Dan
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
You Must be Born Again
Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
- Jesus to Nicodemus in John 3:7
My search plies the dark, born once and now old, can deliverance come for Israel’s teacher grown cold?
Who is this man, the Kingdom’s King? And with whom and to whom will His Kingdom bring?
This man knows my mind, questions hang with queried force, from whence He comes, and from where is His source?
The Kingdom comes how? Will it be mine to possess? I haven’t a clue, I helpless confess.
I should know these things, I’m Pharisee trained, and I’ve never learned of a Kingdom arranged.
His response is upsetting, two wombs must be? One birth binds to man, the other sets free?
The Spirit a sovereign, the wind blows where He will, in my own mind I’m dead and one birth remains still.
I’m a man and not a child, this talk is absurd, and yet something rings true in the sound of His word.
The Spirit must birth, ere the Kingdom is lost; what must I do to unburden this cost?
This Law’s lawkeeper now bent, bowed under its weight, condemned now my lot is sealed as my fate.
Whose word can command, and bring life out of death? Alas, new life like a very first breath.
One word sets free, good news now believed, one birth falls short, but in two life is received.
The sovereign Wind moves where He will, no boasting allowed, grace alone brings mercy to one arrogant and proud.
Moses saw the serpent raised, a Cross lifted brings life, new birth dawns to an old man full of strife.
Whose stony heart can change? What can make this heart flesh? Only one brings a sign of making men fresh.
The Law’s sentinel at long last, has the Kingdom now seen, the Kingdom’s King is here in Whose presence I’ve been.
- Dan Morse, Nicodemus' Query, Advent 2009
Dear Christ Our Redeemer Family and Friends,
Christmas indicates that a change has come. In the Incarnation the second Adam has done what the first Adam could not do. He has brought new and eternal life and we must be born again.
From our family to yours we hope for you a glorious Advent season. The most amazing thing has happened...the Kingdom's King has come in womb of a virgin. He was born under the Law and met it's every demand. He was crucified at the hands of sinful men. He was raised on the third day, ascended bodily, and will return again. The first glorious Advent points to the glorious second Advent. Christ has come and is coming again.
Merry Christmas!
With great love and affection.
Pastor Dan
- Jesus to Nicodemus in John 3:7
My search plies the dark, born once and now old, can deliverance come for Israel’s teacher grown cold?
Who is this man, the Kingdom’s King? And with whom and to whom will His Kingdom bring?
This man knows my mind, questions hang with queried force, from whence He comes, and from where is His source?
The Kingdom comes how? Will it be mine to possess? I haven’t a clue, I helpless confess.
I should know these things, I’m Pharisee trained, and I’ve never learned of a Kingdom arranged.
His response is upsetting, two wombs must be? One birth binds to man, the other sets free?
The Spirit a sovereign, the wind blows where He will, in my own mind I’m dead and one birth remains still.
I’m a man and not a child, this talk is absurd, and yet something rings true in the sound of His word.
The Spirit must birth, ere the Kingdom is lost; what must I do to unburden this cost?
This Law’s lawkeeper now bent, bowed under its weight, condemned now my lot is sealed as my fate.
Whose word can command, and bring life out of death? Alas, new life like a very first breath.
One word sets free, good news now believed, one birth falls short, but in two life is received.
The sovereign Wind moves where He will, no boasting allowed, grace alone brings mercy to one arrogant and proud.
Moses saw the serpent raised, a Cross lifted brings life, new birth dawns to an old man full of strife.
Whose stony heart can change? What can make this heart flesh? Only one brings a sign of making men fresh.
The Law’s sentinel at long last, has the Kingdom now seen, the Kingdom’s King is here in Whose presence I’ve been.
- Dan Morse, Nicodemus' Query, Advent 2009
Dear Christ Our Redeemer Family and Friends,
Christmas indicates that a change has come. In the Incarnation the second Adam has done what the first Adam could not do. He has brought new and eternal life and we must be born again.
From our family to yours we hope for you a glorious Advent season. The most amazing thing has happened...the Kingdom's King has come in womb of a virgin. He was born under the Law and met it's every demand. He was crucified at the hands of sinful men. He was raised on the third day, ascended bodily, and will return again. The first glorious Advent points to the glorious second Advent. Christ has come and is coming again.
Merry Christmas!
With great love and affection.
Pastor Dan
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Born to Die
'But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.'
- Galatians 4:4-5
'God willed Christ to be our Savior. ...The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, took a human body in order that He might die for our salvation.'
- James Boice, The Christ of Christmas, p. 14
'If there is no incarnation, there is no union with the Son or with the Father, and no regeneration - and no salvation.'
- John Piper, Finally Alive, p. 72
'Every human being longs for a savior of some type. We look for someone or something that will solve our problems, ease our pain, or grant the most elusive goal of all, happiness. From the pursuit of success in business to the discovery of a perfect mate or friend, we make our search.'
- R.C. Sproul, The Glory of Christ, p. 18
Dear Christ Our Redeemer Family and Friends,
This time of year our thoughts are turned to the birth of Christ. We rejoice in God becoming a man. We are enamored and mystified by the stories of angels, cattle stalls, stars, and wise men. But there is more at stake in our remembering the birth at Christ than the celebration of His birthday, for the fact of the matter is there is no salvation without the Incarnation. Jesus was born to die. Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world was laid. In other words, it was God's will to crush Him from the beginning; this is the brutal, but marvelous and incomparable way that salvation has been brought to God's people. In the glorious revelation of the gospel God sent Christ as the atoning sacrifice for sins, at just the right time, under the demand of the law, and as the Passover Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. Christmas points to Good Friday and Good Friday points to Easter; the manger inevitably leads to the Cross. As a result of the Incarnation were are united to Christ in His life, death, and resurrection. We are joined to Him really and truly. His sinless life as the God-man is ours. His atoning death as the God-man is ours. And His resurrection as the God-man is ours. During this Christmas season remember that without the Incarnation there is no salvation.
Remembering that the manger points to the Cross.
Pastor Dan
- Galatians 4:4-5
'God willed Christ to be our Savior. ...The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, took a human body in order that He might die for our salvation.'
- James Boice, The Christ of Christmas, p. 14
'If there is no incarnation, there is no union with the Son or with the Father, and no regeneration - and no salvation.'
- John Piper, Finally Alive, p. 72
'Every human being longs for a savior of some type. We look for someone or something that will solve our problems, ease our pain, or grant the most elusive goal of all, happiness. From the pursuit of success in business to the discovery of a perfect mate or friend, we make our search.'
- R.C. Sproul, The Glory of Christ, p. 18
Dear Christ Our Redeemer Family and Friends,
This time of year our thoughts are turned to the birth of Christ. We rejoice in God becoming a man. We are enamored and mystified by the stories of angels, cattle stalls, stars, and wise men. But there is more at stake in our remembering the birth at Christ than the celebration of His birthday, for the fact of the matter is there is no salvation without the Incarnation. Jesus was born to die. Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world was laid. In other words, it was God's will to crush Him from the beginning; this is the brutal, but marvelous and incomparable way that salvation has been brought to God's people. In the glorious revelation of the gospel God sent Christ as the atoning sacrifice for sins, at just the right time, under the demand of the law, and as the Passover Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. Christmas points to Good Friday and Good Friday points to Easter; the manger inevitably leads to the Cross. As a result of the Incarnation were are united to Christ in His life, death, and resurrection. We are joined to Him really and truly. His sinless life as the God-man is ours. His atoning death as the God-man is ours. And His resurrection as the God-man is ours. During this Christmas season remember that without the Incarnation there is no salvation.
Remembering that the manger points to the Cross.
Pastor Dan
Friday, December 11, 2009
What Child is This?
'And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"
- Luke 1:34
Salvation to all that will is nigh;
That All, which always is all everywhere,
Which cannot sin, and yet all sins must bear,
Which cannot die, yet cannot choose but die,
Lo, faithful virgin, yields Himself to lie
In prison, in thy womb; and though He there
Can take no sin, nor thou give, yet He will wear,
Taken from thence, flesh, which death's force may try.
Ere by the spheres time was created, thou
Wast in His mind, who is thy Son and Brother;
Whom thou conceivst, conceived; yea thou art now
Thy Maker's maker, and thy Father's mother;
Thou hast light in dark, and shutst in little room,
Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb.
-John Donne (1572-1631), Annunciation
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
- Charles Wesley, Hark the Herald Angels Sing
'View Jesus in the light of God and against the dark background of sin, view Him as the satisfaction of man's deepest need, as the one who alone can lead into all glory and all truth, and you will come, despite all, to the stupendous conviction that the New Testament is true, that God walked here upon the earth, that the eternal Son, because He loved us, came into this world to die for our sins upon the cross.'
- J. Gresham Machen, The Virgin Birth of Christ, p. 381
Dear Christ Our Redeemer Family and Friends,
One of the things that sets biblical Christianity apart from other religions is its pervasive supernaturalism. Christianity is dependent upon the truth and reality of God interposing Himself into human history in ways that contravene normal, non-supernatural ways. Consider these examples: God created the world 'ex nihilo' or out of nothing, by the word of His mouth; God held back the Red Sea for the Israelites' safe passage and closed it again on the Egyptian armies; God's presence led Israel in a cloud by day and flame of fire by night; God provided food to eat for the traveling hordes of Israel; God rained fire on the pagan altars at Carmel at the prophets' request; God filled a starving widow's jar with oil for food... Oftentimes, these miraculous events were indications of a long-awaited deliverance. We see the very same in the Gospel. It is in the Gospel that we see the apex of redemptive history made manifest in an astounding supernatural event--A virgin will bring forth a son. The Holy Spirit is the active agent in a supernatural conception and, bypassing normal human conception, God brings forth His Son in the womb of a virgin. This is truly an amazing story of God's supernatural interruption in human history. And this tells us several things. God is active in the events of history, God is in control of human history, and God has a purpose for human history. Rejoice!, for immensity is cloistered in a virgin's womb. Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!
Rejoicing in Immanuel, who is God with us,
Pastor Dan
- Luke 1:34
Salvation to all that will is nigh;
That All, which always is all everywhere,
Which cannot sin, and yet all sins must bear,
Which cannot die, yet cannot choose but die,
Lo, faithful virgin, yields Himself to lie
In prison, in thy womb; and though He there
Can take no sin, nor thou give, yet He will wear,
Taken from thence, flesh, which death's force may try.
Ere by the spheres time was created, thou
Wast in His mind, who is thy Son and Brother;
Whom thou conceivst, conceived; yea thou art now
Thy Maker's maker, and thy Father's mother;
Thou hast light in dark, and shutst in little room,
Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb.
-John Donne (1572-1631), Annunciation
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
- Charles Wesley, Hark the Herald Angels Sing
'View Jesus in the light of God and against the dark background of sin, view Him as the satisfaction of man's deepest need, as the one who alone can lead into all glory and all truth, and you will come, despite all, to the stupendous conviction that the New Testament is true, that God walked here upon the earth, that the eternal Son, because He loved us, came into this world to die for our sins upon the cross.'
- J. Gresham Machen, The Virgin Birth of Christ, p. 381
Dear Christ Our Redeemer Family and Friends,
One of the things that sets biblical Christianity apart from other religions is its pervasive supernaturalism. Christianity is dependent upon the truth and reality of God interposing Himself into human history in ways that contravene normal, non-supernatural ways. Consider these examples: God created the world 'ex nihilo' or out of nothing, by the word of His mouth; God held back the Red Sea for the Israelites' safe passage and closed it again on the Egyptian armies; God's presence led Israel in a cloud by day and flame of fire by night; God provided food to eat for the traveling hordes of Israel; God rained fire on the pagan altars at Carmel at the prophets' request; God filled a starving widow's jar with oil for food... Oftentimes, these miraculous events were indications of a long-awaited deliverance. We see the very same in the Gospel. It is in the Gospel that we see the apex of redemptive history made manifest in an astounding supernatural event--A virgin will bring forth a son. The Holy Spirit is the active agent in a supernatural conception and, bypassing normal human conception, God brings forth His Son in the womb of a virgin. This is truly an amazing story of God's supernatural interruption in human history. And this tells us several things. God is active in the events of history, God is in control of human history, and God has a purpose for human history. Rejoice!, for immensity is cloistered in a virgin's womb. Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!
Rejoicing in Immanuel, who is God with us,
Pastor Dan
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The Importance of the Incarnation
'...[E]very spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.…'
- 1 John 4:2
'Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after His incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof, were communicated unto the elect in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein He was revealed and signified to be the Seed of the woman, which should bruise the serpent's head, and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world being yesterday and today the same, and for ever.'
- Westminster Confession of Faith 8:6
Lo! th’ incarnate God ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood:
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude
- Joseph Hart, Come Ye Sinners, pub. 1759
'We see Him among the thousands of Galilee, anointed of God with the Holy Ghost and power, going about doing good: with no pride of birth, though He was a king; with no pride of intellect, though omniscience dwelt within Him; with no pride of power, though all power in heaven and earth was in His hands; or of station, though the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Him bodily; or of superior goodness or holiness: but in lowliness of mind esteeming everyone better than Himself, healing the sick, casting out devils, feeding the hungry, and everywhere breaking to men the bread of life.'
- B.B. Warfield, a sermon on 'Imitating the Incarnation', The Person and Work of Christ, p. 564
'If, however, Christ is the incarnate Word, then the incarnation is the central fact of the entire history of the world; then, too, it must have been prepared from before the ages and have its effects throughout eternity.'
- Herman Bavink, Reformed Dogmatics, volume III, p. 274
Dear Christ Our Redeemer Family and Friends,
The Christmas season has begun, but often what is lost during this time of year is the importance of the Incarnation. Truly, the Incarnation alone, makes sense of the beginning, center, and end of world history. In fact, history is unintelligible without it. Without the Incarnation the study of history is a fool's errand, for without the Incarnation there is no 'telos' (purpose or goal) to man's existence. The Incarnation offers explanation for man's inhumanity to man; the Incarnation offers remedy for man's predicament; the Incarnation gives hope for man's present life; and the Incarnation provides assurance for man's future. Under the conception by the Holy Spirit, God became a man. In Christ, this God-man lived a life of unblemished perfections. In Christ, this God-man died at the hands of sinful men for sinful men. In Christ, this God-man was raised on the third day in a body of flesh and blood, yet, now incorruptible. In Christ, the God-man now lives bearing humanity-inflicted wounds for all eternity in His own fleshly body.
As we consider this Christmas season, let us consider the importance of the Incarnation.
Pastor Dan
- 1 John 4:2
'Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after His incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof, were communicated unto the elect in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein He was revealed and signified to be the Seed of the woman, which should bruise the serpent's head, and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world being yesterday and today the same, and for ever.'
- Westminster Confession of Faith 8:6
Lo! th’ incarnate God ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood:
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude
- Joseph Hart, Come Ye Sinners, pub. 1759
'We see Him among the thousands of Galilee, anointed of God with the Holy Ghost and power, going about doing good: with no pride of birth, though He was a king; with no pride of intellect, though omniscience dwelt within Him; with no pride of power, though all power in heaven and earth was in His hands; or of station, though the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Him bodily; or of superior goodness or holiness: but in lowliness of mind esteeming everyone better than Himself, healing the sick, casting out devils, feeding the hungry, and everywhere breaking to men the bread of life.'
- B.B. Warfield, a sermon on 'Imitating the Incarnation', The Person and Work of Christ, p. 564
'If, however, Christ is the incarnate Word, then the incarnation is the central fact of the entire history of the world; then, too, it must have been prepared from before the ages and have its effects throughout eternity.'
- Herman Bavink, Reformed Dogmatics, volume III, p. 274
Dear Christ Our Redeemer Family and Friends,
The Christmas season has begun, but often what is lost during this time of year is the importance of the Incarnation. Truly, the Incarnation alone, makes sense of the beginning, center, and end of world history. In fact, history is unintelligible without it. Without the Incarnation the study of history is a fool's errand, for without the Incarnation there is no 'telos' (purpose or goal) to man's existence. The Incarnation offers explanation for man's inhumanity to man; the Incarnation offers remedy for man's predicament; the Incarnation gives hope for man's present life; and the Incarnation provides assurance for man's future. Under the conception by the Holy Spirit, God became a man. In Christ, this God-man lived a life of unblemished perfections. In Christ, this God-man died at the hands of sinful men for sinful men. In Christ, this God-man was raised on the third day in a body of flesh and blood, yet, now incorruptible. In Christ, the God-man now lives bearing humanity-inflicted wounds for all eternity in His own fleshly body.
As we consider this Christmas season, let us consider the importance of the Incarnation.
Pastor Dan
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