Jesus the Prophet, part 5

We can no longer claim to be in ignorance about God’s Will. Many people in the world today claim that we cannot know the mind or Will of God. They say that religion is no more than a constant seeking for truth. They say that all religious expression is a valid path to God. They say that we can decide for ourselves what to believe because every person’s opinion is equally valid.

But since we have God’s final Word through the Prophet, Jesus Christ, we know that this is not true. Peter declares, “I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.” We might have been in the dark about God’s plan for salvation before Jesus came, but now we know God’s plan of salvation. God declares His Will and plan fully and plainly through Jesus. There is no other way to the Father, except through the Son. You have heard the Gospel that Jesus saves, and now you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loves you and wants you to have eternal life through Jesus. 
 

Second, we are called to respond to God’s Will through repentance. The Advent Season is a time of preparation and response. Now that we know God’s Will clearly and completely, we are each called upon to make a decision. Will you (or I) obey God or reject Him? Peter commands us, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you— even Jesus.” 

Through Jesus, we now know what each of us must do: we must respond. Will we choose to repent of our sins so that we can be forgiven? Will we allow God to wipe out our sins through the death of Jesus on the cross? Will we receive the times of refreshing and allow Jesus to enter our lives as Lord and Savior? The decision is ours. God has spoken and we know what God expects. Now the ball is in our court. If we turn from our wicked ways and accept the grace of Christ, we will receive the Holy Spirit and live eternally. 
 

Finally, we can rest and rejoice in the knowledge that God has revealed Himself to us and has promised without a doubt to restore us to the glory we were created for.  Advent is a time of rejoicing. Not because of the gifts we will receive, the food we will eat, or the celebrating we will participate in. No, we rejoice because Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise that all things will be restored to the perfection that existed in God’s perfect plan for Creation. 

Peter says, “He (Jesus) must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets.” We can rejoice in the Advent Season because we know that God’s promises are true, His Word is complete, and His redemption is coming. A prophet cannot speak that which is not true, and Our Prophet, Jesus Christ has promised to return to bring those who have believed His Word into eternal life. 
 

The Prophet has come and He has declared the saving Word of God. How will you respond today? Will you declare that Jesus is God’s true Prophet, accept His testimony as God’s testimony, and respond through repentance and obedience? Or will you declare Him a false prophet, rejecting His claim to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Jesus has come – the Prophet has come! We celebrate that fact that God’s Word had taken on flesh and declared God’s promises to us. How will you respond today?  END