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The Real Reason for the Season

By Gary F. Zeolla

 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

In the midst of all of the hustle and bustle of this day,
don’t forget to take a few minutes to meditate on
The Real Reason for the Season:

 

            18Now the generation [or, birth] of Jesus Christ was in this manner: For His mother Mary, having been promised in marriage to Joseph, before they came together [fig., had sexual relations], was found having in [the] womb [fig., to have become pregnant] by [the] Holy Spirit. 19But Joseph her husband being righteous and not wanting to publicly disgrace her, intended to privately send her away [or, to secretly divorce her].

      20But while he was thinking about these [things], look!, an angel [or, a messenger] of [the] Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, you should not be afraid to take Mary [as] your wife, for the [Baby] in her was conceived by [the] Holy Spirit. 21And she will give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus [“Yahweh saves”], for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:18-21).

 

      4But when the fullness [or, completion] of the time came, God sent forth His Son, having been born of a woman, having been born under [the] Law, 5so that He should redeem [or, set free] the [people] under [the] Law, so that we shall receive the adoption [or, the formal and legal declaration that we are His children] (Galatians 4:4-5).

 

            5Indeed, be letting the frame of mind [or, attitude] be in you* which [was] also in Christ Jesus, 6who existing in the nature of God, did not consider being equal to God something to be held onto, 7but He emptied Himself, having taken the nature of a bondservant, having come to be in the likeness of people, 8and having been found in appearance as a person, He humbled Himself, having become obedient to the point of death—even of death of a cross. 9And so God highly exalted Him [or, put Him in the most important position] and gave to Him a Name, the [Name] above every name, 10so that at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of heavenly [ones] and of earthly [ones] and of [ones] under the earth, 11and every tongue [fig., person] shall confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord to [the] glory of God [the] Father! [cp. Isaiah 45:23; Rom 10:9] (Philippians 2:3-11).

 

      15Trustworthy [is] the word and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinful [people], of whom I am first [fig., the foremost of all]. 16But because of this, I was shown mercy, so that in me first [fig., as the foremost of all] Jesus Christ should demonstrate all His patience, as a pattern for the ones about to be believing on [or, trusting in] Him to life eternal. 17Now to the King of the ages [fig., the King eternal], incorruptible, invisible, [the] only wise God, [be] honor and glory into the ages of the ages! [fig., forever and ever!] So be it! (1Timothy 1:15-17; ALT3).

 

 

Books and eBooks by Gary F. Zeolla, the Director of Darkness to Light


The above page was posted on this website December 25, 2021.

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