THE INCARNATION CONTINUES - Christ came to Bethlehem. And then He comes to dwell in you. The Second Coming is actually in you — right now. Christ was first formed in Mary’s womb; now He’s being formed in you. It’s a truth unique to Christianity and no other religion. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Jesus made His first invasion into Bethlehem. His second great act of indwelling happens when you open your heart to Him. Jesus Christ is inside of you this very moment. The incarnation didn’t finish but continues… in you. One day soon, Jesus will return to this earth, with His army, to make a final end of evil and to usher in the coming of a Golden Age. This is referred to as the “Second Coming.” - “[My] labor pains for you… will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.” — And so you’ve celebrated Christmas, the coming of Jesus to this world. And what a thing to celebrate! The entire pageant comes down to this: Jesus took on a genuine humanity. And of course, this late in the Story, I hope it’s nearly impossible for you to celebrate Christmas without your heart turning toward His return. One day soon, Jesus will return to this earth, with His army, to make a final end of evil and to usher in the coming of a Golden Age. This is referred to as the “Second Coming.” But what struck me this Christmas was this: the Second Coming is actually… the Third Coming. Christ came to Bethlehem. And then He comes to dwell in you. The Second Coming is actually in you — right now.

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The Incarnation Continues

Christ came to Bethlehem. And then He comes to dwell in you. The Second Coming is actually in you — right now. 

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Christ was first formed in Mary’s womb; now He’s being formed in you. It’s a truth unique to Christianity and no other religion. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” 

.

Jesus made His first invasion into Bethlehem. His second great act of indwelling happens when you open your heart to Him. Jesus Christ is inside of you this very moment. The incarnation didn’t finish but continues… in you. 

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One day soon, Jesus will return to this earth, with His army, to make a final end of evil and to usher in the coming of a Golden Age. This is referred to as the “Second Coming.”

John Eldredge

 

“[My] labor pains for you… will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.” — Galatians 4:19 NLT

 

And so you’ve celebrated Christmas, the coming of Jesus to this world. And what a thing to celebrate!

The entire pageant comes down to this: Jesus took on a genuine humanity.

And of course, this late in the Story, I hope it’s nearly impossible for you to celebrate Christmas without your heart turning toward His return.

One day soon, Jesus will return to this earth, with His army, to make a final end of evil and to usher in the coming of a Golden Age. This is referred to as the “Second Coming.”

But what struck me this Christmas was this: the Second Coming is actually… the Third Coming.

Christ came to Bethlehem. And then He comes to dwell in you.

The Second Coming is actually in you — right now.

Christ was first formed in Mary’s womb; now He’s being formed in you. It’s a truth unique to Christianity and no other religion.

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” — Colossians 1:27 NASB

Jesus made His first invasion into Bethlehem.

His second great act of indwelling happens when you open your heart to Him.

Think of it — Jesus Christ is inside of you this very moment. The incarnation didn’t finish but continues… in you.

I receive it, Lord!

I receive Jesus Christ into every part of my life and my being!

Yes, Lord — come and be formed in me today!

Your Turn

What part of your life do you feel Christ wants to transform today and in the coming year? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Excerpted with permission from Restoration Year: A 365-Day Devotional by John Eldredge, copyright John Eldredge.

John Eldredge is the director of Ransomed Heart™ in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a fellowship devoted to helping people discover the heart of God. John is the author of numerous books, including Wild at Heart, Epic: The Story God is Telling, Walking with God, Fathered by God, Waking the Dead, Desire, and Love & War (with his wife Stasi). John and Stasi live in Colorado with their three sons.

FaithGateway is brought to you by HarperCollins Christian Publishing and is dedicated to helping you grow and share your faith.

https://www.faithgateway.com/the-incarnation-continues/#.YE8yt9IzaJA

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ENCOUNTERING THE GOD OF BLESSING - The Almighty is portrayed in the Bible as a God of love, mercy, and kindness He’s the God of blessing. EVERY spiritual blessing is available to us in Christ. God was manifested in the flesh in the person of His Son and offered Himself as an atonement for the sins of humanity. Now all who come to faith in Jesus are delivered from the curse of sin, able to enter fully into their Heavenly Father’s blessing! God has always been, and will always be, the God of blessing. You can be confident that “goodness and mercy” will follow you if you are following Him. - “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” - Far too many people today think of God as a harsh, bitter old man who sits on a throne in a land far, far away, just waiting for an opportunity to judge some poor soul who has violated one of His commandments. But the true image of the God of Scripture is just the opposite. The Almighty is portrayed in the Bible as a God of love, mercy, and kindness He’s the God of blessing. “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” John declared simply that “God is love,” and he maintained that without love it is impossible to know God. The apostle Paul encapsulated God’s “blessing” nature in these beautiful words: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”

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Encountering the God of Blessing

The Almighty is portrayed in the Bible as a God of love, mercy, and kindness - He’s the God of blessing 

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EVERY spiritual blessing is available to us in Christ. God was manifested in the flesh in the person of His Son and offered Himself as an atonement for the sins of humanity. Now all who come to faith in Jesus are delivered from the curse of sin, able to enter fully into their Heavenly Father’s blessing! 

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God has always been, and will always be, the God of blessing. Because of that, you can be confident that “goodness and mercy” will follow you if you are following Him.

by John D. Garr

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

 

Far too many people today think of God as a harsh, bitter old man who sits on a throne in a land far, far away, just waiting for an opportunity to judge some poor soul who has violated one of His commandments.

But the true image of the God of Scripture is just the opposite.

The Almighty is portrayed in the Bible as a God of love, mercy, and kindness He’s the God of blessing.

King David said, “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 145:9).

 John declared simply that “God is love” (1 John 4:8), and he maintained that without love it is impossible to know God.

The apostle Paul encapsulated God’s “blessing” nature in these beautiful words: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

Instead of being promised just a few blessings, the Bible says EVERY spiritual blessing is available to us in Christ.

Reversing the Curse

However, there’s a problem. Even though blessing is implanted by our Heavenly Father into the very fiber of human existence, His Word warns against the curse and consequences of sin.

All men and women initially were slaves to sin (Romans 3:23, 5:12).

David lamented the human condition that had produced his unspeakable sins of murder and adultery: “I was born in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5).

Likewise, the apostle Paul described the pain of sin’s addiction: “The good that I will to do, I do not do: but the evil that I will not to do, that I practice” (Romans 7:19).

The record of human history is clear: “There is none righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10).

Unless Jesus had died for us on the cross, the curse of sin could never have been lifted.

God’s Blessing Plan

God was not content to leave humanity in sin.

He refused to dwell on the “original sin” and focused on His own plan for humanity: “original blessing.”

Instead of seeking our condemnation, God “gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

To ensure the fulfillment of His original blessing to humanity, God was manifested in the flesh in the person of His Son (John 1:14) and offered Himself as an atonement for the sins of humanity (Ephesians 1:7).

Now all who come to faith in Jesus are delivered from the curse of sin, able to enter fully into their Heavenly Father’s blessing!

God has always been, and will always be, the God of blessing.

Because of that, you can be confident that “goodness and mercy” will follow you if you are following Him.

And because His blessings never come to an end, you will dwell in His house forever (Psalm 23:6).

Let the God of blessing show you His love and blessings today!

Dr. John D. Garr has served the Christian church as theologian, presbyter, and educator for over 40 years, including the past 15 years as Founder and President of Restoration Foundation, an Atlanta-based transdenominational, international, multi-ethnic networking organization focused on publishing and education. Learn more at hebraiccenter.org.

https://inspiration.org/christian-articles/encountering-the-god-of-blessing/

THE MIRACLE OF THE INCARNATION - The angels must have been stunned to see the second member of the triune God become a human being. The baby born in that Bethlehem barn was God, and He was born to die. His death delivers us from our fear of death. His suffering on the cross atoned for our sins, allowing Him to understand and help us. And incredibly, the incarnation is permanent. Christ rose in a glorified human body that He’ll have forever. It’s not that Jesus suddenly stopped being a man after the ascension. No, the second member of the triune God will be a human being who reigns eternally on the New Earth. “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us.” The miracle of the cross was made possible by the miracle of the incarnation. The angels must have been stunned to see the second member of the triune God become a human being. The baby born in that Bethlehem barn was God, and He was born to die. His death delivers us from our fear of death. His suffering on the cross atoned for our sins, allowing Him to understand and help us. And incredibly, the incarnation is permanent. Christ rose in a glorified human body that He’ll have forever. It’s not that Jesus suddenly stopped being a man after the ascension. No, the second member of the triune God will be a human being who reigns eternally on the New Earth. He was created from a mother whom He had created… He, the Word without whom all human eloquence is mute, wailed in a manger in mute infancy.

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The Miracle of the Incarnation

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The angels must have been stunned to see the second member of the triune God become a human being. The baby born in that Bethlehem barn was God, and He was born to die. His death delivers us from our fear of death. His suffering on the cross atoned for our sins, allowing Him to understand and help us. And incredibly, the incarnation is permanent. Christ rose in a glorified human body that He’ll have forever. It’s not that Jesus suddenly stopped being a man after the ascension. No, the second member of the triune God will be a human being who reigns eternally on the New Earth.

BY RANDY ALCORN 

 

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us.” — Titus 3:4-5

 

The miracle of the cross was made possible by the miracle of the incarnation.

The angels must have been stunned to see the second member of the triune God become a human being.

The baby born in that Bethlehem barn was God, and He was born to die.

His death delivers us from our fear of death.

His suffering on the cross atoned for our sins, allowing Him to understand and help us.

And incredibly, the incarnation is permanent.

Christ rose in a glorified human body that He’ll have forever.

It’s not that Jesus suddenly stopped being a man after the ascension.

No, the second member of the triune God will be a human being who reigns eternally on the New Earth.

“He was created from a mother whom He had created… He, the Word without whom all human eloquence is mute, wailed in a manger in mute infancy.” — Augustine

Face to Face with Jesus - This blog is excerpted from Randy’s  devotional, Face to Face with Jesus: Seeing Him as He Really Is, which includes 200 entries focused on the person and character of Jesus.

Randy Alcorn, founder of EPM

Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of fifty-some books and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries.

https://www.epm.org/blog/2018/Dec/12/miracle-incarnation

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