Calvin Synod Herald, 2007 (108. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2007-11-01 / 11-12. szám
4 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD The Amazing Birthday Continuedfrom Page 3 B. God had promised the Messenger would come to the Temple where Heaven and Earth meet. “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1) C. God had promised a Messiah who would set right what had gone so terribly wrong at Eden. “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is bom, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.” (Isaiah 9:2-8) III. THE VIRGIN BIRTH KEPT GOD ’S PROMISE A. The Virgin Birth enabled God to become man without falling under the curse from the Garden of Eden. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) B. God explained to Mary that she had been selected to bear the Savior. “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be bom of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:34-35) C. The birth to the Virgin Mary fulfilled the promise God made to Eve at the dawn of time. “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15) “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 1:18) D. The holy birth and the name Jesus reaffirm the promise that God Himself would be the Savior of the Elect. “And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” (Matthew 1:25) E. As people came to know Jesus, they came to know the God of grace and truth. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) F. God’s love was finally and ultimately expressed in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the son of Mary. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) G. God became man so that believers might have eternal life. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9) Dr. Edwin P. Elliott Reformed Presbyterian Church Manassas, Virginia Presbyters and Church Workers Meeting Report The District Conference of Presbyters and Church Workers, which met in Columbus, Ohio, on August 11, was a huge success. We attempted to address the issues that plague each church in the Calvin Synod and discussed Church Growth and Visitation by laypeople. Many important pieces of literature were handed out to each member attending for their personal or church use. The UCC was very helpful with advising and sending out packets for the convention. We addressed maintaining boundaries, being gracious and discreet in your visit, keeping the conversation on target and how to make future visitation. We also discussed how to be clear about the purpose and nature of the visit etc. We attempted to take the fear out of people’s minds in visiting members that no longer attend or have gone by the wayside from the church. It was interesting and educational to all. We pray that these few hours have helped in understanding that we must grow in our churches today and not in the future to survive. May God help us to understand our mission and give us the strength to be successful in it. John Evanko Hungarian Reformed Church Fairport Harbor, Ohio era
