Hebrews 2:17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

The Virgin Birth is first among the many reasons why people don’t like Jesus or take Him at His Word.  It’s a mystery that had to be.  It was necessary, but it’s too miraculous for some to accept.

Oh yes, the “Science Denier” accusation has a long and storied history.  But the point is a Virgin Birth was never going to be replicated, duplicated, or repeated.  Jesus was enough.

Questions for further thought:

If your science isn’t big enough for a miracle, your vision of God needs expanding.  Why is that a true statement?

If you can explain all science or it can always follow predictable patterns, how does that elevate you to the position of a god?

Regarding miracles and science deniers, read Luke 1:13-35. How does Zechariah’s question in v 18 “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years” differ from Mary’s in v 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”  35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we praise You for the faithfulness of Mary. For her willing submission to the will of the Father. For her enduring what must have been innuendo, verbal attack, nasty looks if not nasty comments…all for being an exemplary model of faith. May our science always be big enough for miracles, big enough to recognize You, our God, who is over this world. May we be willing servants and honor You, the Holy One. Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” 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:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• 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.

To fully understand the reasons why Jesus came, we must begin
by appreciating the role of the priest in Jewish life. 
A holy God simply cannot be approached by sinful people
as if there is no distinction between us. 
The Jewish people of Jesus’ day dating back to Abraham took that as a given.

Modern man has a habit of diminishing our own sin, treating God as a mere equal (if not a totally absent and irrelevant being).  The Jewish people knew better than that.  They had a system of priests including a high priest whose role was to mediate (by way of sacrifice) between a sinful people and a holy God.

They formed a pattern of what to expect as a priest.  But Jesus didn’t come from that line of priests (descendants of Levi, the third son of Abraham’s son Jacob, also known as Israel).  Rather Jesus came from the tribe of Judah (the royal line to fulfill Scripture).  And yet the author of Hebrews reminds us,

Hebrews 2:17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

When Jesus came as our high priest, He also came as a fully human and perfect one. He came as approachable holiness in His perfect humanity.

Questions for further thought:

Why did Jesus come solely from the royal line (Judah) and not the INHERITED priestly line (Levi)?

Why was it more important that Jesus inherited the royalty instead of the priesthood?  Which role continues to eternity for Jesus?

Read John 19:30 and Hebrews 10:11-12.  What did Jesus finish?

What role do believers in Jesus Christ have in heaven?  Read Revelation 5:5-10.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, during this Advent season we praise You that You are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  We thank You that You are our merciful high priest, having made a sacrifice wholly pleasing to God our Father.  We love You; We praise You; and we give You glory. Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” 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:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• 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.

Visitation Principle 7: Jesus Came to Help Abraham’s Descendants
Hebrews 2:16 “For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.”

Wait.  Are you saying Jesus only helps Jews?  Nope.  And that’s not what the author to Hebrews is saying, either.

First, in its context, the author is saying that Jesus isn’t focused on helping angels (who are also created beings but have no hope for redemption when they fell. They are created, but importantly, not in God’s Image.)  Rather He helps “Abraham’s descendants,” those who believe in the Messiah Jesus Christ promised in the Jewish Scriptures.

Second, God is less interested in your ethnicity…than your faith, your heart, and your undivided devotion.  Think about it.  Scripture says (Numbers 14:26-35) that not all Jews entered the Promised Land, but only those who did not rebel against the God (of Abraham).

Ethnicity doesn’t give you a pass on obedience.

Some died in the desert for their lack of obedience. For that reason, would any ethnic Jewish firstborn males standing on the streetcorner during the Passover’s Plague of the Firstborn have been spared because they were Jews or were real Jews by faith protected by the blood on the doorposts out of obedience to God?

God helps Abraham’s descendants by His grace and their faith.

Questions for further thought:

In the mind of Jesus, holding to His teaching is what identifies someone as a descendant of Abraham. Read all of John 8:30-47, particularly v 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill Me, because you have no room for My word.”

Uh-oh.  What does that say about their faith?

Ethnicity vs. faith.  It couldn’t be clearer.  John 8:39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God Himself.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own; God sent Me.”

How does Jesus’ having been born and arriving in the usual way create a fulcrum of faith in which you either believe as a descendant of Abraham, or you don’t?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank You for setting us free from sin and death and for giving us a permanent place in the family of God. May we live up to this calling by living as sons rather than sinners. Grant us confidence in sharing this freedom in obedience to Your Word.  Thank You for showing us the way, the truth, and the life You came to give.  Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” 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:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• 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.

Don’t you see?  It had to be this way.

Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death– that is, the devil– 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

God doesn’t die. Therefore, God couldn’t die for our sins, nor could He conquer death while remaining true to the mortality He outlined as the consequence of all sin to mankind.

Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

God doesn’t sin.  Therefore, He could not overlook the sin man committed or appoint a simple sinful man to die.

To conquer universal death that comes to all humanity,
Jesus who was fully God had to become also fully human.

Questions for further thought:

Read 1 Corinthians 15:45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven.”  Who is that second man?

Why does it say that the first man became a living being, but Jesus became … “a life-giving spirit?”  What was Adam before he was created?  What was Jesus before He became the life-giving spirit?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank You for coming as the second man from heaven to be a life-giving spirit. Thank You for the forgiveness You purchased.  We adore You, all year long and forever, not just in this season of remembering Your birth.  Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” 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:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• 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 Letter to the Hebrews and finding “Visitation Principles,” the mysterious unknown author develops his (or her) Christology even further.  Angels worship Jesus.  But what of this “firstborn” stuff?  Will we all be gods? No. Firstborn is inheritance relationship, and it’s based upon Jesus’ obedience and setting a standard of righteousness only He could achieve.

Hebrews 1: 6 And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him” …8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of Your kingdom.  9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has set You above Your companions by anointing You with the oil of joy.”

Jesus is over every human being and every angel.  For ever and ever.

Visitation Principle 5: Jesus Came to Set the Standard of Righteousness.
His standard of justice,
rewarding righteousness and hating/punishing wickedness,
will prevail eternally. 

Questions for further thought:

Why can no human being apart from Jesus Christ, Son of God, establish the standard (God’s standard) of righteousness?

How do human rulers fall short of true justice?  What is their standard of righteousness and tolerance of wickedness? Read 2 Timothy 4:3-4, and 2 Timothy 3:1-5 for insight. 

1 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth”

2 Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God– 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” 

How is this list a reflection of fruit of an unholy or worldly spirit and a tolerance of wickedness (which is the way of the world)?

Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You gave us a standard of righteousness in Your Son, Jesus Christ.  We thank You that He lived, taught, and died by Your standard of holiness so that we might receive forgiveness through His sacrifice—a forgiveness we could never earn while violating a standard we could never keep.  Lord Jesus, we offer You praise and adoration today and always!  Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” 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:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• 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.

So long as Jesus was fully God, but not also fully man, He couldn’t have paid for our sin in full because He lacked the relationship with mankind.  Humanity was the one under the death sentence, not God!

Therefore, we see our Visitation Principle 4: Jesus came to man in the usual way, as a baby.  But He never stopped being God.

That’s why the author of Hebrews writes,

Hebrews 1: 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father”? Or again, “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”?  6 And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”

Uh-oh, are you saying Jesus “became” God’s Son?  Nope, read it again.  That’s not what it says.  You are my Son. Today I have “become” your Father.  First, it’s the crucial distinction between “identity” and “relationship.” But that’s not the important reason why Psalm 2:7 is quoted when it continues in verse 8 “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”

When it says, “I will be His Father and He will be My Son”
that’s relationship and inheritance.

Jesus’ identity has always been co-equal with the Father in the 3-in-one Godhead—You are My Son.  Present and active agency in Creation, working as “the angel of the Lord” in His pre-Incarnate role, His identity is—and has always been—God.  That’s why the angels (also spiritual beings but created ones) worship Him…even at His birth…as a baby.  Fully God, fully human.

However, Jesus’ relationship (to God and man) became nuanced on account of His obedience and humility.  He received inheritance rights to the Kingdom, that’s what the “will be His Father…will be My Son” is all about.  Inheritance didn’t change His identity, but conferring the Kingdom upon Jesus was an act only possible by the Father to His Son…because it’s a Kingdom and any inheritance passes from Father to Son in an Old Testament Psalm 2 context.

Questions for further thought:

Consider Philippians 2:6-11and notice the word “therefore.”

Jesus, 6 “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; 7 rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death– even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:6-11)

What about this one?  Acts 5:30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead– whom you killed by hanging Him on a cross. 31 God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. (Acts 5:30-31)

Why is proper understanding in Christology critical?  Why might it involve both Jesus’ identity (fully God all the time) and His relationships to God and man (in order for God to confer a Kingdom to Him)?

Prayer: We praise You, Lord Jesus, for Your obedience from Your birth to Your work on the Cross, shedding Your blood for our forgiveness.  We honor You as Prince and Savior and exalt Your holy Name.  We look forward to seeing Your Kingdom come! Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” 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:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• 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.

Urgent times call for urgent measures.  The Last Days are like that.  To the Jews (even of Jesus’ day), they were looking for a great political leader who would vindicate their people toward the conclusion of earthly time.  But earthly time wasn’t ending quite as quickly as they thought because God had something better planned.

No political leader can bring forever change. 
I don’t care what political leader we’re talking about;
they all fall into the same category: sinners.

When it comes to sinners (which all of us are), any final Judgment decided before forgiveness was purchased would be ruinous and definitely not something any of us should want.  As Scripture reminds us, “Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:9-10).

So Last Days call for urgent measures.

Hebrews 1: 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Visitation Principle 3: Jesus Came to Provide Purification for Sin.
Bam.  It is done.  It is finished. Sin was dealt with once and for all times.

Questions for further thought:

How easy is it for us to minimize our own sin or deny its power in our own lives?

A famous quote by Ravi Zacharias is “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”  Can you think of any sin you have experienced where that is true, it seemed okay at the time but ended up being detrimental?

How did Jesus’ Visitation Principle 3 about dealing with sin offer an eternal correction to the power sin has over our lives?  Do you know the freedom that forgiveness brings?

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You didn’t leave us in our sin to figure it out.  That You didn’t minimize or whitewash our sin, but You dealt with it.  Permanently.  Thank You for Your sacrifice on the Cross.  Thank You for purchasing my freedom.  I love You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” 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:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• 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.

Hebrews 1:1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word.

Visitation Principle 2: Jesus Came to Be Born, but He Was Already God.

Jesus didn’t begin at His birth. His ministry didn’t even begin when He was 30. He’s always been God, creating the universe, and doing all the ministry God-things that God does because Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and exact representation of His being.

Where was He in the Old Testament, you might wonder? Many scholars think “the angel of the Lord” (note: a specific “the angel” reference in the Old Testament, ex. Genesis 22:11-18, Exodus 3:1-6) was the pre-Incarnate Christ. However, He revealed Himself to the world personally through His Incarnation. The Word became flesh from the moment Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit, and it happened in the course of time in order for Him to be revealed as Messiah. But He existed before time itself. His Incarnation lasts into eternity which reminds us of His exemplary act of sacrificial humility.

Why is this an important principle of Christ’s first Advent?

Well, there are Christian-ish religions out there that do not acknowledge Jesus as God (Jehovah’s Witnesses) and those which believe Jesus wasn’t born God but became God over time (Mormons).  It doesn’t mean we don’t love the people, but please don’t be fooled by their Christian-ish literature or great choir.

The corrective message to them is as helpful today as it was to the Jewish believers for whom the Letter to the Hebrews was written. To anyone who feels like the Gospel was not final by Christ’s ascension; thinks it is always progressing as accommodation to modern culture; or to those feeling like they had left something special behind that was better that the Gospel alone, the corrective message we can all take to heart is that Jesus isn’t an add-on to the core of Law and Scripture. Jesus is the Core to which the Law pointed, and He is the One all Scripture proclaimed (Luke 24:27). He was born, incarnated from the moment of Mary’s conception as a virgin birth, but He was (and is) God the whole time.

Questions for further thought: 

Why might people prefer the Law with its to-do lists and checkboxes?
Think about control and self-determination rather than an ongoing relationship with God through Christ Jesus.
Why might Christian-ish religions have a hard time believing that Jesus is and has always been God? How do they take advantage of people who are not well-educated in the Scriptures?
How does denying the eternal divinity of Christ strip the power out of the Cross and the work God did through Jesus there?  Read Romans 5 for insight.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You that You did not negate the Law but, in Your grace, You fulfilled it perfectly that we might live by faith. We praise You for Your grace and lovingkindness. We thank You that Your mercies are new every morning and Your love never ends–something proven supremely on the Cross where You died.  We love You and praise You.  Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” 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:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• 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.

In the Letter to the Hebrews, the author sets out to encourage Jewish believers in Messiah Jesus Christ that what they felt like were missing from their traditions wasn’t really missing out at all.  It was an upgrade.

The Jewish believers loved their prophets and their Scriptures and held a nostalgic feeling for them.  I get that.  It’s kind of like how some of us are old enough to miss the squeal of dial-up Internet and AOL proclaiming “You’ve got mail!”  But it wasn’t better, faster, or more advanced in its capabilities.  Traditions can be that way, both nostalgic and insufficient— becoming a dear bondage, if we’re not careful.

The Last Days call for better measures than being so stuck in the past that we miss out on the encouragement and superiority of the upgrade.

Hebrews 1:1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.

Visitation Principle 1: Jesus is God’s Final Word, the Last Prophet, the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End, the Heir, the Pioneer, but still the Creator God who spoke the world into existence and the Scriptures to the prophets they loved.

Questions for further thought:

Are there any traditions in your life that are holding you back from the freedom you have in Christ?
Are there any customs or style preferences that you elevate above the Word of God?
Are there any sins for which you can’t forgive yourself, that Jesus has already proclaimed forgiven by faith in Him?
How does Hebrews 1:2 tell us that Jesus is the true Last Prophet?
Think of ways in which Jesus’ being God’s final word is an upgrade over historic prophets alone.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, during this Advent season where our traditions are elevated and our focus is on Your birth, may we always be reminded that Your first Advent was not the beginning of something, but a continuation and fulfillment of the prophecies and promises from Your Word. We thank You for Your incarnation and the hope of forgiveness that You came to finalize, and by Your grace and mercy, You did this before returning in Judgment.  We praise You and worship You.  Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” 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:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• 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 my themes of Jesus as our Jewish Messiah (from last year’s Advent) and the series on the mystery of how Jews and Gentiles are heirs together in Christ, I invite you to join me in a study of the Letter to the Hebrews, one of three New Testament books/letters designed to relate to the Jewish people, their backgrounds and customs. 

The other two strong in their Jewish appeal are (1) the Gospel according to Matthew which is notable in its continual assertion that Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah, and (2) the Letter to the Romans (which was the Jewish Apostle Paul telling a Gentile audience how only in Christ can a sinner be born again to sufficient righteousness, which as all good theology does, it preaches to both Gentile and Jewish people.)

Like Romans, Hebrews is a theological masterpiece, and one dear to my heart.  First, because it’s mysterious…we don’t even know for sure who wrote it but also, the secret author (man or woman) loved theology and is an “explainer” by nature.  I can relate.  And third, it is written as encouragement to Jewish believers about how Christ’s first Advent made everything better. I like encouragement.

So, during Advent 2024, we will explore Visitation Principles of Jesus’ first Advent that we can glean from the letter to the Hebrews. As we go along, we will see WHY Jesus came and why His first Advent was NECESSARY in order to make His second Advent (His Return in Judgment) something to embrace, not simply fear.  We wouldn’t want the Judgment without the certainty of the offer of forgiveness.

Please consider joining me beginning December 1, 2024, for this annual tradition of Advent devotionals to grow our faith, encourage our hearts, and remind us how to live between two Advents.

===

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” 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:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• 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.