Christmas is "the most wonderful time of the year." We get to see family and friends, feast together, give and receive gifts, and primarily, we get to celebrate the dawning of our salvation in the person of Jesus. And yet, so oftentimes Christmas leaves us unfulfilled and causes us to feel the pain of loss more severely. We desperately desire for Christmas to be the best time of the year and yet it almost always leaves us with pain and disappointment, longing for more.   

This reality about Christmas illustrates the already/not yet nature of Christian living. In this episode, Greg and Ben discuss how Christmas gives us a unique window into the already/not yet theology of the New Testament, this time in which Christ's kingdom is inaugurated but has not come in its fullness. They also address how to live with a sober-minded, tempered joy in this time in between the two advents of Christ.

Resources

A New Testament Biblical Theology by G. K. Beale

New Testament Theology by Thomas Schreiner

God Dwells Among Us by G. K. Beale

Biblical Theology by Geerhardus Vos

Magnifying God in Christ by Thomas Schreiner

Music: "Cello From Portland" and "Hello From Portland" by Beautiful Eulogy