Peniel Pentecostal Holiness Church

3239 Rosebud Road Walnut Cove NC 27052
Pastor: Dr. Tim Nelson -  Church Office 336-591-36112
A Place To Encounter God Face To Face. Gen. 32:3

A Word From The Pastor Archives 2022
December 2022
 

Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born…. John 18:37b

Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born as part of God’s master plan of redemption which He prophesied in Genesis 3:15. Jesus would be the one to ultimately bring redemption for the sin of the world, reconciling all things unto Himself. His miraculous conception and natural birth was the incarnation of God Himself - the Word made flesh here on earth in human form. 

God’s plan of redemption for humanity has made it possible for men and women to surrender their lives to the One who is King, allowing Him to rule and reign in one’s heart and life, until the day we will rule and reign with Him in eternity. Jesus fulfilled His purpose. Will you allow Him to fulfill His purpose in you?

Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I unto the world…. John 18:37

For what cause was Jesus born? One could make a rather lengthy list of reasons why Jesus was born. One of the most significant reasons is to show humanity God. When God made the world, our first parents lived in God’s presence and had ongoing access to Him. Upon sinning against God, humanity was cast out of the Garden of Eden and separated from God’s presence. Sin separates humankind from God, and without God, humanity is hopeless. Yet the humanly hopeless situation was not hopeless from God’s perspective. 

We read in John’s Gospel, (1:1-3, 14, 17-18) that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son… Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” Jesus was born to reveal God the Father in His glory. Each event of Jesus’ life revealed in Scripture reveals some aspect of God the Father. When Jesus went to the cross, we were able to witness the glory of God’s love for humanity, as He willingly offered His only begotten Son to die, paying the sin debt humankind owed. 

In Jesus, we see the glory of God the Father, who so loved the world that He gave His Son who has provided God’s rescue plan to save whosoever will from drowning in the sea of sin that separates humankind from God. Jesus said, for this cause came I into the world. This is a glorious revelation!

Jesus answered, …for this cause came I unto the world to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate said to him, ‘What is truth?’”  John 18:37-38
 

This conversation between Pilate and Jesus was surely quite different than any other Pilate had ever experienced. Despite the authority given to Pilate to determine the fate of Jesus, Jesus was not intimidated by him, for Jesus knew that all true power came from his Father above (John 19:11). In this passage, Jesus affirmed what Pilate spoke about Jesus being a king. However, unlike the earthly kings, Jesus was fully committed to a life of truth. As Jesus said earlier in this Gospel, he was “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

In a world where corruption abounded within politics and even religion, Jesus came to shine light into the world, true light from the Father. In Jesus, no darkness could be found. He spoke truth; he lived truth; he modeled a life of obedience to truth. 

What truth or whose truth guides and guards your life? Are you listening, living, and loving according to the voice of truth?

Adapted from: 
https://biblestudymedia.com/blogs/daily-lectionary-devotional/what-is-truth

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7  And she brought forth her firstborn son,? Luke 2:6-7a

Christmas is the beginning of a glorious story with all the right ingredients: love, joy, peace, goodwill, reconciliation and relationship. The true meaning of Christmas is about God loving man. It is about God giving the most amazing and spectacular and miraculous gift. Miracles surrounded Christ’s birth and continued throughout His earthly ministry to bear abundant testimony that “truly He was the Son of God” .

In addition to Jesus supernatural birth, He lived a supernatural life, died a supernatural death, arose from the dead, and returned to Heaven by supernatural power. Jesus Christ was, and is, the eternal God. Why, then, did Christ leave the glory of Heaven to be born in Bethlehem and eventually to die on the cross? It was all because of God’s supernatural love for mankind, a love that extends far beyond any human love. God so loved He gave.