Devotional for Advent

THE PERSON OF CHRIST, THE MEDIATOR

After the fall of man one has to consider the restoration of man which is lifting him from a state of sin and death to a state of grace and life.

The cause of this restoration was the merciful purpose of God. [According to His free good will which He purposed in Himself, Eph. 1:9]  There was nothing in mas which could provide any power to effect this restoration. There was rather much that made to the contrary: there was sin, in which existed enmity towards God, a fact which of itself commends His love towards us. We read in Romans 5:8 where it is written that God commends His love towards that that…”while we were yet sinners [Jesus] Christ died for us”.

Restoration is in two parts, redemption and application. Redemption applies to each and all for whom it was obtained in the intention of God. Jesus said in John 6:37 that whatever the Father gives to Him will go to Him. This redemption establishes man in freedom from the bondage of sin and the devil by the payment of a just price.  This price, which could not be paid for by man, required the work of a mediator to intercede between God and man in order to make a perfect reconciliation between them. The Church of God which He purchased with His own blood, the man Christ Jesus who gave Himself as a price for our redemption  1 Tim. 2:5, 6; Acts 20:28. (From The Marrow of Theology – William Ames)

And this is why God took on flesh, became incarnate, and the mystery of the birth of Jesus which the world, believing it or not, is celebrating at this time of year, the perfect child born that came to die to redeem man and reconcile man and God.