In the Garden of Eden the genetic material of all humanity was contained in the bodies of Adam and Eve. From these two, the human race descended. We are all related. My novel Fallen is a story of life, death, and the beginning, a novel of the beginning of the human story.
Over the millennia our family tree forked and headed off in all directions, peopling the earth. We developed into many different tribes, nations, peoples, and languages. Yet God intends to bring all groups back together into one family, reunited through the work Christ accomplished on the cross. This will “be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment” and will “bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (Ephesians 1:10).
Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, Isaiah penned in one of his Servant Songs, these verses foretelling Christ’s role as Messiah. God’s words to His Son are recorded by the prophet to a singular “You,” God’s only begotten Son:
“I am the LORD; I have called You in righteousness;
I will take You by the hand and keep You;
I will give You as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations (all of us),
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
(Isaiah 42:6-7 ESV)
To bring the light of salvation to the nations, Jesus fulfilled the terms of this covenant on the cross, representing us as a human being—the One whose birth in human flesh we honor on this holy day. When the baby Jesus had grown to be a man, He made this covenant through the shedding of His own blood, so that all who trust in Him from every part of the planet could be reunited into one family.
Paul emphasized this in his letter to the church in Colossae, where he informed the church there and, through them, all followers of Jesus Christ that we “have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all“(Colossians 3:10-11).
This renewing changes us, transforming us into people with relationships that transcend skin color and ethnic loyalties. Because of this, all believers will one day praise Jesus, as predicted in Revelation 5:9-10:
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Since this is true, as we consider how we can bring peace to this strife-filled world, we must recall that we are all family. Every person from every race, creed, or religion is related genetically to us and has the potential to be related to us spiritually through faith in Jesus Christ. People from every tribe, language, people, and nation will come to Him.
As we are called upon to make decisions during difficult times, are we mindful of this when we speak and act?
In this season of Christ’s incarnation – His birth as one of us, we have yet again encountered refugee decisions and have heard shocking political statements concerning entire groups of people.
Have we remembered the potential for faith within each human being? Have we recalled God’s goal to bring people to faith in His Son and into relationship with us as brothers and sisters in Christ?
Have we remembered the potential for faith within each human being? Have we recalled God's goal to bring people to faith in His Son and into relationship with us as brothers and sisters in Christ? Click To TweetThis season reminds us of the importance of remembering God’s salvific intentions in the world and of His love for all humanity.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16) Click To Tweet“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God" (1 John 3:1). Click To TweetOn this Christmas Day and every day, let us live as the body of Christ, His own hands and feet on the earth, bringing the same love and concern toward others as we display toward our own families on this blessed day.
Merry Christmas to you and yours! And to all people, peace on earth!
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What great love, indeed. Thanks for this outline, Melinda. God bless and merry Christmas!
Thanks, Nancy! God bless you!
It is so hard to comprehend the full measure of God’s love for me and each of us. I do know that I’m grateful for it and thankful for His gift of salvation, love and grace. Thank you Melinda
The enormity of Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself reveals to us just how much God loves us and wants us to commit our lives to Him, turning from our sins, and living lives that honor God. It IS hard to comprehend the full measure of God’s love for us.
Amen. We can show the love of Christ through our words and actions. The love the Father has for us is amazing and wonderful. Happy New Year! I’m thankful you all are feeling better.
Thank you, Melissa! We were definitely grateful that we were fully vaccinated when COVID caught up with us. We had all of those vaccine benefits on board, so we were able to fight it off. Our church brought us food and many were praying for us.
This is a beautiful Christmas message and a good reminder of our connection to every one on the face of the earth. The problems we face in this country remind us that we do need this Savior so much in so many areas. We need leaders who pray and ask for His guidance. We look forward to His second coming!
We definitely need the message of the Gospel far and wide as we deal with so many issues in our country, things we would have never deemed appropriate to interject into grade schools, for instance. Borders that overflow with people who haven’t entered our country legally. And a lack of genuine faith in most parts of the US.
Melinda, this is so beautifully written connecting God’s intention to bring Christ and salvation to all of humanity. And love this statement, “God intends to bring all groups back together into one family, reunited through the work Christ accomplished on the cross.” Hope you are feeling better and recovered from Covid.