Men and women are born in bondage to sin, Satan and death. There was a veil of sin and death over the whole earth (Isaiah 25:7) until Christ came. Satan
Jesus is the only way a person will enter heaven. In these days of conformity and inclusivity, however, people rail against anything exclusive. Yes, Jesus is exclusively the only way to heaven, but all humans are invited to accept Him .
The science behind COVID-19 has driven much of our national, social, and even ecclesiastical policies. If biblical principles of care and compassion are considered, we can ask: Did we give appropriate freedom for those less at risk to make their own decisions about worship, continuing to work, or getting access to convalescing friends or relatives.
7 Jan
Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Salvation is not because one did something to their skin or not. Salvation is granted only by believing in the finished and sufficient work of Christ (Romans 10:9-17; Acts 4:12; 16:31). Since salvation is of the Lord, there is no way for salvation to be through having our skin modified or not, just as there is no way for it to result from our behavior, morals, ethics, or performance.
Salvation from beginning to end begins with the finished and sufficient work of Jesus and is only obtained by believing in all that Christ has done.
Aristides (d. AD 134) attests that Christians in his day affirmed that Jesus âfrom a Hebrew virgin assumed and clothed himself with fleshâ (
Apology §2), and Irenaeus (d. 130) states, âThe Church . . . has received from the apostles and their disciples this faith . . . [including] the birth from a virginâ (
Against Heresies 1.10).
It is vital, then, that we have an opportunity each year to reflect on this staggering, foundational fact of Christianity: Jesus â unlike any other human who ever existed â was born without a human father.
âBorn of the Virgin Maryâ
Where do we see this in Scripture? Letâs begin with the first part of the creedal phrase, â