Titus 1:1-3 (NKJV--bold is mine)
Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect
and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life
which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, 3 but has in due time manifested
His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of
God our Savior.
Lord God, when did You promise eternal life to us? Upon our conversions? When we were born?
Much further back!
The pact was proclaimed in eternity past, before a single page of history could be earmarked or
torn, before one "jot or tittle" was set down on parchment, papyrus or tablet. Only "after" that
pre-ancient agreement did the promise emerge in its fulness, by the Bethlehem miracle, by
proclamation after the Pentecost Wind's whirl.
Since then, "What must we do to be saved?" still rings. That question is answered beautifully
in many Christmas carols. These convey the amazement that leads us to fear God more than
after a chain-breaking earth tremor! More than that, earth's inhabitants should reverence
the Creator Who shook divine order to send to us His promise-carrying, only begotten Son.
Born, away from His rightful Heaven. From there, away to a manger.
Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect
and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life
which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, 3 but has in due time manifested
His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of
God our Savior.
Lord God, when did You promise eternal life to us? Upon our conversions? When we were born?
Much further back!
The pact was proclaimed in eternity past, before a single page of history could be earmarked or
torn, before one "jot or tittle" was set down on parchment, papyrus or tablet. Only "after" that
pre-ancient agreement did the promise emerge in its fulness, by the Bethlehem miracle, by
proclamation after the Pentecost Wind's whirl.
Since then, "What must we do to be saved?" still rings. That question is answered beautifully
in many Christmas carols. These convey the amazement that leads us to fear God more than
after a chain-breaking earth tremor! More than that, earth's inhabitants should reverence
the Creator Who shook divine order to send to us His promise-carrying, only begotten Son.
Born, away from His rightful Heaven. From there, away to a manger.
