When did the earthly life of Jesus Christ really begin? John 1:14 tells us that “the Word (referring to Jesus Christ) became flesh and lived among us.” Christmas did not begin in Bethlehem, but nine months earlier when the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and implanted within her the divine-human Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Wealth and treasure are the number one contenders for our hearts. Jesus teaches through the parable of the rich man in Luke 12 that we can eliminate the competition for our hearts by being givers. If we give on earth, our reward will be great in heaven, because we have learned to be rich toward God.

The story from Mark 12 about the widow who gave all that she had at the Temple is a lesson in how Jesus viewed wealth. Often, the more money a person makes, the less generous they are. But God is not impressed by how many zeros are at the end of your offering. God is looking for a percentage. 

Amassing earthly riches will give you a false sense of security. Instead of putting your hope in the provisions of the world, you should put your hope in the Provider who has given you life and all you need to sustain it. Not only that, God has provided you with the gift of eternal life. 

Today, we’ll unpack the attitudes of Jesus’ first team and the affect they had on the culture around them.

Every human has intrinsic value because the image God, imago Dei, has been given to him or her. This elevates human dignity over animals. The way we interact with the world in light of the imago Dei must be shaped by our theology. All lives are created in the image of God and have worth. All life, all the way to the point of conception must be protected. The reason that Satan loves murder is that it represents an attack on the image of God.

Does God really want us to know for sure that we are saved? Yes, just like a good father doesn't want his children wondering whether or not they are loved, God loves us and wants us to have assurance in our salvation. When you believe in the name of the Son of God, you are resting in His actions to save you. The gospel, by its very nature, produces assurance. Because you are not depending on how well or how much you’ve done to earn your way to heaven, you are resting on His finished work.

We are discussing how we can know with certainty that we are saved. So, how we can be sure that we are followers of Christ? 1 John 4 says that our relationship with God is measured by our love for others. Love is how others see God in us.

What dominates your life? Is it the love of the Father, or love of the world? John describes the world as it is arrayed in rebellion against God. He defines this as the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life. John then teaches that the way to overcome the world is by embracing the love of the Father.

In 1 John 1:5-10, John identifies three signs of someone who doesn’t know God—even though they think they do. John says that you don’t know God if you sin willfully and habitually, you say you have no sin, and you have no confidence before God because of your sin. John says that being unaware of the sinfulness of your heart is a sign you don’t know God. The clearest sign that you are growing in grace is not that you no longer sin, but that you are more aware of how much sin pervades your heart.