God Is Love!

God is love (1 John 4:8)

Just like God the Holy Spirit, in 1 Corinthians 13, describes love with numerous "love is" statements, the truth that "God is love" can be described by the numerous "God is" or "the LORD is" statements in the Bible:

The LORD is a man of war (Exodus 15:3)

The LORD is their inheritance (Deuteronomy 18:2)

God is your dwelling place (Deuteronomy 33:27)

The LORD is Peace (Judges 6:24)

God is my strong refuge (2 Samuel 22:33)

But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head (Psalm 3:3)

God is a righteous judge (Psalm 7:11)

The LORD is my shepherd (Psalm 23:1)

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear (Psalm 27:1)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1)

God is the King of all the earth (Psalm 47:7)

God is my helper (Psalm 54:4)

God is our salvation (Psalm 68:19)

God is a sun and shield (Psalm 84:11)

The LORD is my portion (Psalm 119:57)

GOD is my strength and my song (Isaiah 12:2)

GOD is an everlasting rock (Isaiah 26:4)

The LORD is our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)

God is spirit (John 4:24)

God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29)

God is light (1 John 1:5)

I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35)

I AM the Light of the World (John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the sheep (John 10:7)

I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)

I AM the True Vine (John 15:1)

I AM (John 8:58)

The Spirit Glorifies Christ!

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote:

The greatest test is that the true Spirit always glorifies Christ. Christ is always in the center; He is always given the preeminence. And the true prophet is not the man who talks about experiences and visions and what he has done and seen, but about Christ. And when you have heard Him you do not say, “What a wonderful man”; you say, “What a wonderful Savior!” You do not say, “What a wonderful experience this man has had”; you say, “Who is the Man of whom the Spirit is speaking?” The attraction is to Christ; the Spirit glorifies Christ. 

Add Nothing To Christ!

J. C. Ryle wrote:

You may spoil the Gospel by substitution. You have only to withdraw from the eyes of the sinner the grand object which the Bible proposes to faith, - Jesus Christ; and to substitute another object in His place . . . and the mischief is done. Substitute anything for Christ, and the Gospel is totally spoiled! . . . You may spoil the Gospel by addition. You have only to add to Christ, the grand object of faith, some other objects as equally worthy of honor, and the mischief is done. Add anything to Christ, and the Gospel ceases to be a pure Gospel! . . . You may spoil the Gospel by interposition. You have only to push something between Christ and the eye of the soul, to draw away the sinner’s attention from the Savior, and the mischief is done . . . You may spoil the Gospel by disproportion. You have only to attach an exaggerated importance to the secondary things of Christianity, and a diminished importance to the first things, and the mischief is done. Once alter the proportion of the parts of truth, and truth soon becomes downright error!

Looking unto Jesus — Hebrews 12:2

Isaac Ambrose wrote: 

The most excellent subject to discourse or write of is Jesus Christ. Augustine, having read Cicero's works, commended them for their eloquence; but he passed this sentence upon them: "They are not sweet because the name of Jesus is not in them." And Bernard's saying is near the same: "If thou writest, it doth not relish with me, unless I read Jesus there; if thou disputest or conferrest, it doth not relish well with me, unless Jesus [is found] there." Indeed all we say is but unsavory, if it is not seasoned with this salt: "I determined not to know any thing among you," saith Paul, "save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1Co 2:2). He resolved with himself before he preached among the Corinthians that this should be the only point of knowledge that he would profess himself to have skill in, and that, in the course of his ministry, he would labor to bring them to. This he made "the breadth, and length, and depth, and height" of his knowledge (Eph 3:18). "Yea, doubtless," saith he, "and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Phi 3:8).

In this knowledge of Christ, there is an excellence above all other knowledge in the world. There is nothing more pleasing and comfortable, more animating and enlivening, more ravishing and soul contenting. Only Christ is the sun and center of all divinely revealed truths. We can preach nothing else as the object of our faith, as the necessary element of your soul’s salvation, which doth not some way or other either meet in Christ or refer to Christ. Only Christ is the whole of man's happiness: the Sun to enlighten him, the Physician to heal him, the Wall of fire to defend him, the Friend to comfort him, the Pearl to enrich him, the Ark to support him, the Rock to sustain him under the heaviest pressures, as "an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land" (Isa 32:2). Only Christ is that between earth and heaven, the Mediator between God and man (1Ti 2:5), a mystery, which the angels of heaven desire to pry, peep, and look into (1Pe 1:12) . . . we see that man is blind, and no sun but Christ can enlighten him; that man is naked, and no garment but Christ's can clothe him; that man is poor, and no treasure but Christ's can enrich him; that man is indebted, and none but Christ can make satisfaction for him; that man is empty, and none but Christ can fill him; that man is distressed, perplexed, tormented and none but Christ can quiet him. All this, and much more than this appears in the this glass of Jesus.

"That's My King!" In 1 John 2!

Jesus Alone Has Done No Sin
He's The Greatest That's Ever Been
And Though We Sin Through Him We Win
For He Was Crushed For All Our Sin
So Turn And Trust In Him Within
Then You Won't Sin New Life Begin!

That's my King!

All The Commandments Christ Did Keep
The Truths In Him Abide So Deep
O'er Those Who Break Commands He'd Weep
And Die For His Beloved Sheep
Then Rise The World In Joy He'd Steep
Now All His Words By Grace You'll Keep!

That's my King! Do you know Him?!

Christ Is The Beloved Who Came To Do
All That's Loving, Right, And True
The Way He Loved Now That's What's New
He Died For Those Who'd Hatred Spew
Then Rise And By His Love He Drew
His Sheep To Make Them Loving Too!

That's my King!

Jesus Paid It All For The Sake Of God's Name
His Son Always Has Been And Never Became
He Overcame The Devil And All That He'd Claim
When He Died For Our Blame And All Sinful Shame
Then Rose For The Glory And Fame Of God's Name
How The Father Loves You Just Like Jesus The Same!

That's my King!

Christ Did Not Love The World We See
From Every Kind Of Sin He'd Flee
And Love His Father To That Tree
Where He Would Die For You And Me
To Cast Our Sins Into the Sea
And Then Arise To Set Us Free
To Do God's Will – Forever Be!

That's my King! I wonder if you know Him today?!

Christ Never Went Out From God's Good Way
His Father's Will He Did Obey
And Serve And Love And Heal And Pray
Until That Cross Where They Would Slay
To Take His Perfect Life Away
Yet He Did Rise On That Third Day
To Keep Us Always In His Way
Now He Will Never Let Us Stray!

That's my King!

Jesus Christ Is The Anointed Son
He Died And Rose The Work Is Done
The Holy One's Great Reign Begun
To Have The Father Confess The Son
He's God And Man Second To None!

That's my King!

Christ Is The Beginning We Have Heard
The True, Divine, And Perfect Word
On Him Our Sins Have Been Transferred
He Died And Rose Up On The Third
Abide In Him – The Son's Preferred
From Righteousness Don't Be Deterred!

That's my King! That's my King!

"That's My King!" In 1 John 1!

Christ The Beginning Has Been Heard
And Seen And Touched The Living Word
Our Sins To Him Have Been Transferred
And All God's Wrath On Him Incurred
But Then He Rose New Life Was Stirred
Now He's Our Joy Most Preferred!

That's my King! Do you know Him?!

Christ We Proclaim He Is The Light
In Him There Is No Darkness Night
He Died To Save And Make Us Right
And Rose With Joy, Hope, And Might
His Blood Does Cleanse Us In God's Sight
In Him We Shall Walk In The Light!

That's my King! That's my King!

My King Is Risen!

Christ The LORD Is Risen Today

"He Is Not Here!" The Angels Say
He Is Alive To Evil Slay
He Died And Rose To Be The Way
We Worship Him And To Him Pray
We Long To See His Face Someday
He's God The Son Whom We Obey!

That's my King!

"That's My King!" In Proverbs 12!

Jesus Took The Lowest Low
When He Came And Died Below
He'd Listen, Learn, And Humbly Grow
Response To Insults He'd Forgo
He Died And Rose To Grace Bestow
All Faithfulness To Him We Owe!

Jesus Christ Is The Best Of Good  
All Favor God Could Give He Should
Bestow On Christ Who Righteous Would
Die In My Place Condemned He Stood
Then Rose To Conquer All; He Could
And Bring Salvation To The Hood!

That's my King! Do you know Him?!

Jesus Is The Excellence Of His Lovely Bride
For Her He Bled And Wept And Died
He Rose To Crush All Death Worldwide
And Grant Her Beauty By His Side
He Loves The Church His Crown And Bride
In Him Alone She's Satisfied!

Jesus' Heart Is One Of A Kind
His Thoughts Are Just And Pure Refined
All Greatness Is In Him Combined    
For Sinners He Was Bruised Maligned
But To That Tomb He's Not Confined
He Rose And Left The Grave Behind
So Now In Him We Have His Mind!

That's my King!

In Christ Is All Our God's Delight
His Words Are Pure From Him Upright
He's Righteous With No Lying Slight
Yet He Would Not Escape The Fright
Of His Great Father's Angry Might
But Then He Rose As Heaven's Light
To Make Your Heart And Mouth Delight!

Jesus Cares For Every Beast
His Mercy Cannot Be Increased
He Shed His Blood For Great To Least
The Lamb Of God Our Great High Priest
He Rose So Soon All Death's Deceased
And We Will Everlasting Feast!

Jesus Works With Pure Pursuit
No One Can Bear Like This Man's Fruit
Yet Him They Treated As A Brute
He Died And Suffered Wrath Acute
But Rose His Power None Refute
And Now All Nations Are His Fruit!

That's my King! That's my King!

21 Reasons God The Son Took On Human Flesh And Dwelt Among Us

The incarnation was, for the Son of God, a humiliation beyond compare. The Son who thirsted was the same who made water; the Son who was too tired to carry his cross was the same who upholds the entire world; the Son whose side was pierced was the same who gave breath and life to the one who did it. The incarnation of the Son of God, in this world of sin and misery, was truly an act of humiliation. It began at his birth and continued to his death and burial . . . All that belongs to God, Jesus possesses. All that makes someone truly human, Jesus possesses . . . Jesus learned and Jesus knew all things; Jesus died and Jesus gives life to all living creatures; Jesus drank from his mother's breasts and Jesus provided his mother with the milk to feed him. Only the incarnation of the Son of God can explain such statements. Mark Jones (Knowing Christ)

1. So that God might be with us

Matthew 1:23: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). 

2. So that He could die in order to destroy the devil

Hebrews 2:14: Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil

3. So that He could destroy the works of the devil

1 John 3:8: The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 

4. So that He could deliver us from death

Hebrews 2:14-15: Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 

5. So that He could be a merciful and faithful high priest

Hebrews 2:17: Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God

6. So that He could make propitiation for the sins of the people

Hebrews 2:17: Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 

John 1:29: Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 

7. So that He is able to help those who are being tempted

Hebrews 2:18: For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. 

8. So that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us

Romans 8:3-4: For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

9. So that we could be redeemed and receive adoption as sons

Galatians 4:4-5: But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 

10. So that He, as a human being, could perfectly do the will of God

Hebrews 10:5-7: Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'" 

11. So that He could be the mediator between God and man

1 Timothy 2:5: For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 

12. So that He might humble Himself and be exalted

Philippians 2:8-11: And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

13. So that He might be the victorious last Adam

1 Corinthians 15:45: Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 

14. So that all the fullness of God might dwell in Him bodily

Colossians 1:19: For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell

Colossians 2:9: For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 

15. So that we might see God

Colossians 1:15: He is the image of the invisible God

16. So that we would know the Spirit of God and truth

1 John 4:2: By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God

2 John 1:7: For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 

17. So that we might know the mystery of godliness

1 Timothy 3:16: Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. 

18. So that we might know and experience God's great love for us and live through Him

1 John 4:9: In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 

19. So that we would have an image to be conformed into

Romans 8:29: For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son

20. So that we might have an example to know how to live and love one another

1 Peter 2:21: For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 

John 13:34: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 

21. So that we might have an everlasting reminder of His great love for us

Luke 24:40: And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 

John 20:27-28: Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

More On The Incarnation 

1. What Is The Incarnation? by David Mathis

2. What Is The Hypostatic Union? by David Mathis

3. Desiring God Resources On The Incarnation

4. Monergism Resources On The Incarnation

5. Ligonier Resources On The Incarnation

6. Behold Your Triune God

God And The Gospel

To learn more about the great and true Triune God, the God-Man, Jesus Christ, His cross, and His glorious Gospel message and everlasting Kingship, please watch American Gospel: Christ Alone. You can watch the full documentary here and here for free!

My Other Christmas Blog Posts

1. It's Christmas, But The Cross Is Comin'!

2. "That's My King!" Who's The Christmas Celebration, The Incarnation, And The Holy Causation Of Our Great Salvation!

3. Use Christmas Time And Other Times To Store Up Treasure In Heaven!

"That's My King!" Who's The Center Of All Thanksgiving As The God Of The Living Through His Merciful Forgiving!

As you enjoy your thanksgiving food
Don't forget the Seed and serpent feud
When Adam fell the war ensued
Because the serpent crass and crude
So bad the lying devil shrewd
God's Word to Eve and Adam skewed
Then in the world all evil brewed
From garden bliss He did exclude
All sinners with their attitude
But God sent Christ to change the mood
In this dark world Light would intrude
His whole life worthiness accrued
And at His death He's stripped and nude
And treated as unwanted lewd
He won the war – it did conclude
Death's jaws He would finally elude
By evil He won't be subdued
This the whole world He renewed
And in your sin and hatred rude
By mercy He in love pursued
So you in heaven He'd include
Through faith in Him His beauty's viewed!

That's my King!

Now He's the center of all your praise
All His good gifts are merely rays
That point us back to the Ancient of Days
He's the Sun that burns our idol haze
And sets our hearts for Him ablaze
He blesses with gifts in manifold ways
But to the Source our eyes must raise
With Him alone allegiance stays
His grace and glory all amaze!

In every delight you've ever desired
Christ is the joy you most truly admired
Every good gift from Him is inspired
For lasting deep joy He's required
With the Father and Spirit He's conspired
To ensure fullness of joy in Him is acquired!

Be thankful that He saved from hell
Now with your soul it all is well
In His house forever you'll dwell
All your sin He'll finally expel
In righteousness you'll truly excel
So from the mountain go and yell
And everyone His Gospel tell
For His great love this will compel!

That's my King! Do you know Him?!

Be thankful He's a sovereign King
Elect He chose under His wing
Totally depraved – a sinful spring
He died for them to make them clean
Irresistibly to God He'll bring
To Him alone they'll always cling
His glories praise – forever sing!

Be thankful He loves Himself the most
He'll fill you with His Holy Ghost
And with His pleasures be engrossed
He's greatest joy from coast to coast
He's the delight of heaven's host
May He be your only boast!

Be thankful Christ is the center from Genesis to Revelation
He's the Word God spoke at the beginning of creation
And this Word became flesh in the glorious incarnation
He's the fourth man in the furnace of the Shadrach conflagration
He's the greater Adam Who overcame the Devil's temptation and passed the earthly probation
He's the greater Moses Who lead His people without hesitation
Into the promised land where there'd be no tribulation
He's the greater David Who represented His congregation
In the great confrontation where He endured condemnation to save them from damnation!

That's my King!

Be thankful for His Gospel every day
We need it for the power in all we do and say
It's not just for the beginning when we start to walk Christ's way
But something to always live out in its manifold array
With our holy lives we must put it on display
It'll keep us from going astray
Help us pray, and we must always seek to give it away!

Be thankful for His lovely Bride
For her alone He bled and died
He always stands right by her side
She displays His beauty worldwide
To principalities outside
Her every need He will provide
In glorious bliss she'll forever abide!

All the thanks you could ever render
Could never repay the Christ our Defender
He came and defeated every contender
He sends to endless hell every offender
And unmasks the heart of every pretender
So bow to Him by faith and surrender
And He'll fill your heart with everlasting splendor!

That's my King! I wonder if you know Him today?!

He's the God of the living Who conquered the grave
He puts an end to death's cold wave
Through the cross and resurrection He forgave
All sinners who repent and believe He'll save!

Mercy-Heart is His beautiful name
I'm so glad He took the shame and blame
That I should claim for my every wicked frame
But He became the same and by imputation my sin became
His Father's wrath He'd finally tame
So that “Freedom!” we could forever exclaim
If “Mercy!” too we'd cry and proclaim
May His glory alone be our only aim
All for the sake of the fame of His beautiful name!

He taught me “Christ is all!” through rejection and pain
And to boast only in the cross off the coast of Bahrain
So many earthly treasures I fought to attain
He taught me to live is Christ and to die is gain
May I wholly die now, fall to earth like a grain
Then fruit I'll produce that He can sustain
All praise and honor to the Lamb Who was slain
And with Him someday we'll forever reign
Then every reason for all the pain
In His love He'll forever make plain
As we enjoy His pleasures that will never wane!

That's my King! That's my King!