1. Christ has received the mark of law that we might be marked with the gospel, with the sign of his holy cross on our heads and hearts as redeemed children of God.
  2. This Christmas season we are thankful that even though we “fallers” are unable to climb up to God, he came down the ladder to us.
  3. What we are asked to believe as we ponder the birth of this child is that in his coming, a new creation has dawned.
  4. The Advents of Christ (past, present, and future) elicit faith in the word of Christ, confirmed by his presence.
  5. The thought of losing even one of those for whom his Son died pains God beyond belief, and the angels rejoice when even one of his children repents.
  6. Jesus is both the image bearer and the image giver. In Jesus’ incarnation we are redeemed and re-imaged.
  7. Getting ready for Christ’s coming is a practice in humility.
  8. Each week during this year’s Advent series, we will take a look at a specific implication of Christ’s incarnation. This week, we will discover how God reaffirms the goodness of his creation by making all things new in the incarnation.
  9. “The days are coming,” and God said it. God, who kept his promise that Christ would come at Christmas.
  10. If Jesus is indeed the same yesterday, today, and forever, everything his enfleshment brings is already assured: life, salvation, and forgiveness.
  11. In Genesis 1-2, the Lord reveals—or, at a bare minimum, starts dropping some big hints—that he will be quite comfortable becoming a human being himself someday.
  12. The youths that mock Elisha are representative of Israel’s collective contempt and disregard for all things relating to their One True God.