Incarnation and salvation

ok the Christmas clock is against me.
So let me just say that for all the talk about incarnation manifesting the triune glory and incarnation giving coherence and consummation to creation, the biblical emphasis falls overwhelmingly on salvation as the reason for incarnation.  (Though of course the interconnectedness of God’s outgoing being, creation and salvation ought [...]

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Incarnation and Creation

Yesterday we looked at incarnation and trinity.  Today I’ll just make some observations about incarnation and creation.
Christ is “The Beginning”, “The Alpha”, “The First”.  His Person is itself the basis for creation.  He is the One who is eternally Other from the Father and the foundation for all else that is other than Him.  Because of [...]

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Incarnation and trinity

Here’s the first of three sketches of posts:
Incarnation and trinity
Incarnation and creation
Incarnation and salvation.
I’ll try to be brief.
Have you ever heard the history of trinitarian thought taught like this:
Once upon a time everyone was a strict monotheist.  And then the incarnation happened.  And it messed with our heads for the first 4 centuries of the church.  But [...]

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Kids Songs

I sometimes post up kids songs.  Here’s a collection I’ve put together for my nephews and neices for Christmas. 
(If you’ve downloaded my other songs, notice an old song not seen on the blog before – the Poison Cup.  I’ve also re-recorded Power and have done the Christmas round in a lower key at the end).  
Anyway, here [...]

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All Age Carols Talk

Preached this last night at Carols by Candlelight.  (audio here)
Lots of kids (there was a nativity).  Readings were Matthew 2:1-12 (the Magi) and Philippians 2:5-11.
I think I managed to say at one point “There was never a time when Jesus and His Father existed.”  Be assured I’m not a oneness Pentecostal.  I meant to say [...]

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Veiled in flesh?

What’s your least favourite Christmas Carol line?
“The little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes” gives me heartburn.
But ironically my least favourite line comes from my favourite carol – Hark the Herald:
“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see.”
Doesn’t this communicate the terrible error that ‘becoming flesh’ obscures the divine glory rather than expresses it?  It seems to [...]

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Being in very nature God… He humbled Himself

6 Christ Jesus, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death–even death on a [...]

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A Christmas Round

A Christmas song on Luke 2:10. 
Actually I haven’t heard it sung as a round. I just knocked it out as a last minute addition to a CD of songs I’m sending to nephews and nieces.  I think it works though.  But it might be a bit tricky for kids.  Dunno.  I hope it’s catchy:
Don’t be [...]

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The Crib and the Cross

I’ve just preached on Hebrews 2 this Sunday.  “He shared in their humanity so that by His death…”  Or again, ”He had to be made like His brothers… in order that He might make atonement.” (v14,17)
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Or to quote Kim Fabricius’ provocative post: “The crib and the cross are cut from the same wood.”
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See the crib and [...]

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In the bleak midwinter – part 2

In my previous post I discussed how appropriate it is to celebrate Christmas at winter.  It is the celebration of Light dawning upon those walking in darkness.
What I find fascinating is the human determination to subvert God’s intentions for the season(s).  Those (in the northern hemisphere) who hold Christmas in the dark determine to fashion [...]

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In the bleak midwinter

I grew up with Summer Christmases.  Mangoes for breakfast.  Roast Turkey for lunch (never mind that it’s 40 degrees/100F outside).  Backyard cricket.  Swims and BBQs.  And I loved them.  But I’ve been thinking recently.  Theologically, a summer Christmas is a contradiction in terms. 
People walking in darkness have seen a great Light.  On those living in the shadow of [...]

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What if God got His hands on you?

What would happen if God really laid hold of you?  How do you respond to that prospect?
Do you fear the idea - worried about how He will treat you up close and personal? 
Do you long for it – maybe then you’d break free from the ruts you’ve been stuck in?
Well Christmas means that God has already gotten [...]

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