Christmas II, ABC
Psalm: Psalm 147:12-20
Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14
Gospel: John 1:1-9, 10-18
Epistle: Ephesians 1:3-14
Psalm: Psalm 147:12-20
Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14
Gospel: John 1:1-9, 10-18
Epistle: Ephesians 1:3-14
Proem. Gospel message: Christ the Creator as well as Redeemer, Savior as well as Judge. There is nothing in Jesus that is not good, but we can look to Him for all things! (Jones, The Divine Yes )
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (ESV)
Or, "The divine Yes has at last sounded in Him. For in Him is the "yes" that affirms all the promises of God!" (Moffat)
I.Jeremiah speaks of temporal blessings in the Future Age, Seeming to be
centered on Israel.
A.This will be a temporary arrangement, as God completes His plan, fulfilling His purposes to build in Israel a nation of righteousness and a kingdom of peace.
B.Paul writes the Ephesians of the spiritual blessings that it is God's expressed plan to give us here and now,
i.What Joseph's brothers meant for evil, God turned to good.
ii.What the devil thought for evil, in bringing sin into the world, God
turned to good: we were made a little lower than the angels, but the Redeemed shall judge them angels!
iii.Adam knew God side by Side, the disciples face to Face, but we may know Him from within, and "we know not what we shall be!"
II.Back to the Gospel: He came into the world He made, even to His own, and was not received: He was kicked out!
A.We live in that world, the world that kicked him out. Out of their lives, out of their world. Do we kick Him out of our lives, or do we welcome Him into our lives?
B. In what ways do we,
i. .,recognise Him?
ii. ..receive Him?
III.As an chance to examine ourselves, "to see whether we be in the faith," let's consider-
A. John wrote,"to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
B. Do we have that experience- are we, am I, are you, truly born of God? Do we know, are we knowing, the Father as our Father? Christ as our Brother?
C. Are our thoughts led and informed by the Holy Spirit? Paul wrote that, "the Spirit bears witness, or speaks in agreement, with our spirits that we are the children of God," and "all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God."
D. Are we His children? Let us examine our hearts today, examine our lives, call on the Lord to examine our hearts and lives in areas where we can't see, to repent of what we must leave behind to fully take hold of Christ! (Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way, everlasting!....)
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (ESV)
Or, "The divine Yes has at last sounded in Him. For in Him is the "yes" that affirms all the promises of God!" (Moffat)
I.Jeremiah speaks of temporal blessings in the Future Age, Seeming to be
centered on Israel.
A.This will be a temporary arrangement, as God completes His plan, fulfilling His purposes to build in Israel a nation of righteousness and a kingdom of peace.
B.Paul writes the Ephesians of the spiritual blessings that it is God's expressed plan to give us here and now,
i.What Joseph's brothers meant for evil, God turned to good.
ii.What the devil thought for evil, in bringing sin into the world, God
turned to good: we were made a little lower than the angels, but the Redeemed shall judge them angels!
iii.Adam knew God side by Side, the disciples face to Face, but we may know Him from within, and "we know not what we shall be!"
II.Back to the Gospel: He came into the world He made, even to His own, and was not received: He was kicked out!
A.We live in that world, the world that kicked him out. Out of their lives, out of their world. Do we kick Him out of our lives, or do we welcome Him into our lives?
B. In what ways do we,
i. .,recognise Him?
ii. ..receive Him?
III.As an chance to examine ourselves, "to see whether we be in the faith," let's consider-
A. John wrote,"to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
B. Do we have that experience- are we, am I, are you, truly born of God? Do we know, are we knowing, the Father as our Father? Christ as our Brother?
C. Are our thoughts led and informed by the Holy Spirit? Paul wrote that, "the Spirit bears witness, or speaks in agreement, with our spirits that we are the children of God," and "all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God."
D. Are we His children? Let us examine our hearts today, examine our lives, call on the Lord to examine our hearts and lives in areas where we can't see, to repent of what we must leave behind to fully take hold of Christ! (Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way, everlasting!....)
'A real Christian is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see, expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another, empties himself in order to be full, admits he is wrong so he can be declared right...'
ReplyDeleteWise words.:)