Tuesday after Rorate coeli, The Fourth Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 20, 2022 by under
Scripture: 1 John 1:1-7 (NKJV)
1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Devotion
The Apostle John makes it very clear that the incarnation of the Son of God was a tangible reality. Many in the early days of the Church faced a heresy known as Gnosticism. Gnosticism believed that physical matter was evil. Gnostic teachers claimed that Jesus did not have a physical body, but only appeared to have a body.
The Apostle refutes this heresy by showing us the reality of the incarnation—that Jesus was indeed fully God and fully man. This is the Jesus that the Apostles preached and had fellowship with, whom the Gnostics and other heretics and unbelievers reject. If we believe the Apostle’s teachings, we too have fellowship with this God-Man, Jesus Christ.
As we approach our celebration of the Christ’s incarnation—when our Lord became flesh and was born in a manger—let us also be ready to stand against any false doctrine that would rob us of our fellowship with God. The Son came to be born of flesh, to dwell among us, and give His life for us. That is our hope and joy, and we must not lose the truth that gives us peace.
Prayer: Stir up, Lord, we beseech Thee, Thy power, and come, and with great might succor us, that by the help of Thy grace whatsoever is hindered by our sins may be speedily accomplished, through Thy mercy and satisfaction; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
