Continuing our look at Jesus’ ancestry, we’re on verse 36 : “the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,” (Luke 3:36)

Out of the 8 people in the ark, the remnant comes through Noah’s son Shem (which means Name, Fame, Conscious Knowledge of The Whole of Creation).  Interestingly, we begin to see a pattern.  Seth (third born replacing Abel who was Adam and Eve’s deceased second child and became the second son) and now Shem was the chosen line though he also was the second born.  (Genesis 10:21)

This probably isn’t like the old parenting joke about how the firstborn is the “practice child” on whom every parent makes their mistakes and knows better by the time #2 shows up. 

This is setting down a pattern that God doesn’t go by birth order but by His will.  It affirms His choice and His ways being different than ours.  If we could predict God’s every move, we’d be smarter than God and we’re not.

The Apostle Paul talks about this, what is in Christian circles called “election.”

“Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad– in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls– she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” (Romans 9:10-12)

Paul’s point is that “election” is not because of what any person has done to earn it.  God simply chooses–He elects them for reasons He alone knows, even if a leapfrog (at times) over birth order.

Questions for further thought:

Modern people often have a tough time with the idea that God would elect anyone to salvation because it implies that He doesn’t elect others.  Like He’s picking favorites for a basketball team.

How would it be different if He was electing us to salvation in the Messiah?  In other words, He identified the pathway…in Christ…before a single human was created?

Does it matter that we don’t understand fully why God does things?

In what way is that a function of being made in the Image of God, but never intended to be gods?

Prayer:

Thank You, Father, for making a way for us to be with You in heaven, despite our sin.  We praise You for the greatness of Your wisdom in making us righteous through Your forgiveness in Christ.  Thank You that salvation isn’t something we earn which falls short time and again, but that it is based on Your grace which is always dependable and wise.  We love You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

As we continue looking at the ancestry of Jesus, here’s another familiar name: Noah.

“the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,” (Luke 3:36)

Even people who don’t love Jesus or have a Jewish background know the name of Noah.  He’s just as famous as Jonah and their stories are folklore even among non-believers. 

Who can resist an ark full of animals? 

Of course, the whole event is sanitized for the baby’s nursery.  It’s like people forget the animals weren’t taking a pleasure cruise together as best friends with a traveling buddy.  It was to escape a flood.  A really big flood.  Destroying the earth and everyone and everything except what was in the ark.

The story has more in common with a horror movie than Cocomelon…
except, perhaps, for those in the ark.

Questions for further thought:

Why do you think people conveniently overlook the destruction of all life on the earth except for those in the ark?

Spiritually speaking, why might people prefer to look at this story as a cute child’s fable instead of sobering historical record?

Imagine for a moment being a zebra or giraffe on the ark.  You look out at your family members who did nothing wrong, but because of mankind, you and one other are saved, but the rest of your animal friends and family die.  How could God allow such a thing?

Noah and his wife had family with them totaling 8 persons altogether.  What do you think this remnant of the world’s population talked about during those 40 days and 40 nights of the flood?

Prayer:

Almighty Father, we thank You for being the Creator of all life on earth, including being my Creator.  We do not understand Your ways but understand Your right to do as You choose and exactly what Your will requires for You to be both holy and just.  We are sorry that we sin as if it’s of no consequence, that we ignore the warnings of Your Word and of our past.  We are sorry that we fail to learn from our mistakes and sins.  Help us to honor You as holy, high and exalted.  We give You praise.  Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

There is one notable exception in yesterday’s list: Enoch.  His name appears 13 times in Scripture, including the New Testament. 

“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.  6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:5-6)

Questions for pondering:

Why do you think God took Enoch without his dying first? It doesn’t make sense if we see Hebrews 9:27-28 “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” 

Many theologians expect that Enoch and Elijah, both taken to heaven without dying will return as the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3.  Why might that have credence?

Prayer:

Father God, may the actions we have today and the words that we speak display our faith in You.  May we be found to be faithful in our day-to-day actions, hard at work for You, when Jesus returns.  We ask, Lord, that You would help our focus so our resulting actions would be pleasing to You and would bless You.  Give us spiritual sight so we might see and know You better. For we love You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Do you ever feel like a nobody in God’s plan for this earth?  Like nothing you do really matters or is seen by God?  When Jesus was born to an uncelebrated Jewish virgin and a Jewish carpenter who adopted Jesus as his own, it was a bunch of nobodies in the world’s view.  Three people with nothing remarkable or important about them. 

But not to God’s view in which they were of paramount significance.

So too, with the list of names for today in verse 37 “the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,” (Luke 3:37)

Today’s remnant from the genealogy of Jesus brings up names that mean very little to modern folk.  Only two of the names are highlighted in any way, but here’s what Scripture says:

1 Corinthians 1:26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things– and the things that are not– to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God– that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Regarding most of these people, we never hear their names (meanings in italics) mentioned again: the son of Methuselah (man of the dart, longest living human at 969 years), the son of Enoch (dedicated, initiated), the son of Jared (descent), the son of Mahalalel (praise of God), the son of Kenan (acquire, weaving).

Yet, each of them was instrumental in bringing forth the next generation,
carrying the torch of the remnant through to today. 
Had they not done what they did, obviously not for any ongoing fame
since most of them fade into the pages of history,
Jesus wouldn’t have this genealogy.

Questions for further thought:

How might you be encouraged to pick up your torch and light your world with the Gospel?

Those with notable names like Dwight Moody or Billy Graham often have silent heroes to thank and whose recognition is primarily in heaven.  Are you willing to be a silent hero instead of a notable name?

Prayer:

Lord God, thank You for the silent heroes in the pages of Scripture who teach us that carrying the light forward in hidden ways can yet be seen by You. And because of You, we can have a ministry of profound importance. We can be part of a result in the Kingdom of God that far outshines any fame we would have here on earth. Thank You, Lord, for choosing each of us in ways large and small to participate in Your Kingdom here on earth with the fruit being in the Kingdom of heaven. May we be found faithful when we see You face to face. Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Continuing our look at the remnant visible in Jesus’ lineage, we can see that remnant not only as Adam’s true image in Seth, but Seth’s remnant of faith heralded with the birth of Enosh.

Genesis 4:26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD.

Enosh’s name in the Hebrew means man, frail and weak, and mortal. 

Man’s weakness and mortality explain why people would begin to call on the name of the LORD.  Unlike the Babylon Bee’s humorous depiction of Christians ( Disappointed Christian Republicans Briefly Consider Placing Trust In God Again | Babylon Bee ) those of us who worship God, not politics, understand that there is a remnant who call on God no matter what the politics of the day might do.

Questions for further thought:

How does acknowledgment of one’s own inability create a desire for calling out to God?

In the Scripture for today, does the word “people” mean all people or just that praying to God became an acknowledged thing for people to do?

What types of events and circumstances remind us of the truth of what Jesus said?   “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

Prayer:

Lord, when I am frail and weak, please help me to remember that by faith in You, I am strong.  Help me to acknowledge You in my everyday life, not just when life is difficult and my flesh at its weakest.  May I always remember that with You, all things are possible. I praise You, Lord Jesus, who has made the impossible for me, a possibility and reality in my life by faith in You.  You are a good Lord and I praise You. Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

If you look at Jesus’ genealogies recorded in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:21-38, you’ll notice Matthew looks forward through the lens of Judaism beginning with Abraham. Luke’s record looks backward through the family of man, all the way to Creation.  Both display a remnant which is the theme for our 2022 Advent Devotionals.

Let’s look at Luke 3:38 “the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”

This by far is the strangest.  Adam’s father is considered God because he was created from the dust of the earth.  Mankind was made in God’s Image beginning with Adam.  But with the fall of man came the need for a Savior.

Whose line would produce the Savior?  Certainly not Cain—the firstborn who had sin crouching at his door. He could not become the remnant.  Genesis 4:25 Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”

And here we see the beginnings of a remnant for salvation, not a family tree. 
This is important. 
Only one son of Adam would carry the remnant: Seth.

Genesis 5:3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.

Jesus’ lineage goes all the way back to the Creation of man with God the Father and Seth, the child in Adam’s true image.

Questions for further thought:

Why might Eve, the mother of all living, have associated the third-born Seth with being in place of Abel, her second born who was killed?

In what ways might redemption already be in the picture?

Why does redemption focus on the remnant and not promote the trunk of a family tree?

Wait, you might say, how do I know other sons of Adam didn’t form the remnant too?  Noah.  Stay tuned for Luke 3:36.

Prayer:

Father God, we praise You for the written record that we have of Your faithfulness all the way back to Creation.  We praise You and thank You for preserving this written word for us to read so that we might have encouragement that Your plan of salvation is from old.  We thank You for the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.  We ask, Lord, that You would make us people of faith bearing Your image in clear proclamation of the Gospel.  Thank You for this season of Christmas and for the work that You’ve done to give us hope of salvation in Jesus Christ our Messiah. Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Can you imagine life if Christians were to look different after they commit their lives to following Christ? We could spot believers a mile away and focus our evangelism on those who still looked fallen…lost…or hopeless. But that’s not how it works.

The Spirit is invisible, but His actions are visible.  As Jesus says in John 3:6 “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Christians—as humans—will still look the same, but our actions should be visibly Christian.  Faith in Christ is not like a Costco membership where you can flash a little card you keep in your back pocket to get the benefits when you want to use them.

No, being born again is different.  It’s to be employed all the time to make our Christianity visible–by our love, by our faith, and by our actions in everyday circumstances.  It will show when Christ lives in us.

Paul says it beautifully: 

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Do you see how the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ
made an eternal and supernatural difference?

Christians are “crucified with Christ”.  And because we have been crucified with Christ, our old nature (including its sin, guilt, and shame) is gone!  We have a new spirit nature thanks to the Holy Spirit, and we’re born again in the likeness of our Savior. 

This can explain how Jesus could “experience” shame
without the internalized experience of guilt.
It was on Him, like second-hand smoke…
but only because that was the environment surrounding Him.
On Him. Never “in” Him.

While sin, guilt and shame may try to attach themselves on our flesh like they did “on Jesus”, they can’t get in because we’re crucified with Christ.  It isn’t “in us” anymore as born-again believers because it was never “in Him.”  Shame (as internalized) died when you were crucified with Christ. It’s in our environment–surrounding us all the time– but do you see the beauty of what Christ did and the freedom He gives? 

In Him, you can be free…truly free…from all sin, guilt, and yes, shame. 
That is good news indeed!

Seriously?  During Advent?  Yes.  With Kanye West and Kyrie Irving in the news recently over accusations of antisemitism, God laid it on my heart to address Jesus’ lineage and patterns of a remnant I see in the Old Testament, with the threads of a remnant winding all the way to Revelation.  I see a time coming soon when God will awaken the remnant. 

“So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.” (Romans 11:5)

What remnant?  I’m glad you asked.

Why do Evangelicals like myself often have such a soft spot toward “the Jewish people?”  Not all Christians do.  I know a few self-proclaimed Christians who hate “the Jews.”

One social media platform seems dedicated to disparaging all who share Jesus’ lineage and to do so while claiming to follow Christ.  To them, Christians have replaced “the Jews” as God’s chosen people though that is nowhere in literal Scripture.

That makes me think that maybe there’s more than one remnant…or the big-picture-remnant in need of the wakeup call is far more diverse than one nationality, people, and language. 

First, regarding “the Jewish people” (whom we will define as we go along).  The Apostle Paul writes, Romans 9:1 “I speak the truth in Christ– I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit… For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.”

OK, but there is a remnant.

Paul continues, Romans 9:27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.”

Wait.  Paul isn’t done.  Romans 11:25 “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in… 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all.”

The full number isn’t 100% (universalism), but rather, the full faith subset of the general population.  For Gentiles like myself, there is still a narrow gate that many people don’t consider important.  So, during this Advent season, let’s look at the remnant to be saved…among the Jews…and within the pews.

Awaken, Remnant.  The time is now. “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11)

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Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

No amount of good works we do can provide us with a new nature.  This was a hard lesson for me.  There was pride involved in doing all the good I could to distract from the sinner Scripture says that I am. 

I didn’t feel like a big sinner. 
I wasn’t an axe murderer, terrorist, con-artist, grifter, thief or anything. 
In fact, I was a “pretty good” person doing “pretty good” things. 

But no amount of good works covers that horrible trifecta:
sin, guilt, and shame. 
It was part of my nature as a member of the human race.

And so, I struggled with shame.  It’s still a weak spot for me because my heart desires perfection but I will not be perfect on this side of eternity. Only in heaven will it be so.

Before Christ and His work on the Cross, we had routine blood sacrifices of animals.  They substituted for us—in flesh—as a placeholder.  But when Jesus came, lived, was Crucified, and rose from the dead, there was a fundamental change of process for us. 

No more goats or sheep.  No!  Now we could be “born again” by the power of the Holy Spirit.

It’s a hard concept to be sure.  But it is essential to understanding the profound consequences of Jesus’ Crucifixion and His Resurrection. 

Think about this high privilege bestowed by our Lord upon a Pharisee when Jesus tried to explain it ahead of time to Nicodemus who came to Jesus at night.  Under the cover of darkness, Nicodemus stated,

“John 3:2 “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. “

4″How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”   (John 3:1-6)

It’s the new birth—through the Holy Spirit—that gives us a whole new nature and the power to live the Christian life.  This isn’t a flesh birth or a flesh death.  Jesus’ body was Crucified, resurrected, and He appeared to His disciples as the Risen Lord. That was His human body, but His spirit was always untouched. Think about it: our bodies still look the same after deciding to follow Christ, but the Christian’s spirit has been born again to a whole new nature.

“Born again” is a phrase that is often derided, but it is truly life-changing in its significance. Spirit gives birth to spirit–and means there is another realm we now experience.  We can live like it–free from sin, guilt, and shame–but will we?

Jesus was no whipping boy or scapegoat.  There’s far more going on here than punishment which happened when He took away our sin (which was both the offense and the point source of all our guilt and shame). 

Here’s the key: we don’t just start with a clean slate, as good news as that is.  Yes, our sin got “imputed” to Christ, and God accepted His sacrifice.  That’s the clean slate and it never needs to be repeated (Hebrews 1:3, 7:17-8:1), which is in itself amazing…

But, here’s something more glorious:
there’s an exchange possible
only because He is God Incarnate and He identified with us! 

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

By our faith in Him and His redemptive work, we’ve already received forgiveness for our sins, are able to reject our own moral agency through the power of the Holy Spirit, and then, His righteousness gets imputed to us in return.

Read again “For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.  And so He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.  The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.  Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.  You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:3-10)

Just how was God willing to give us the righteousness of Christ?  Stay tuned…