GOD’S PEACE COMES THROUGH GRACE (Outline)
December 20, 2009 -
ADVENT 4 -
Romans 1:1-7
INTRO: Every day brings us closer and closer. Christmas Day with the blessing of the birth of the Savior of mankind is soon upon us. In connection with Christmas Day believers recall that each day brings us closer and closer to the Last Day. Both days are and will be joyous times of celebration and rejoicing for every believer. At Christmas we remember God’s gift of grace to us. Long after Christmas God’s gift of grace is still the center of our living. Jesus, our Savior, is God’s gift of grace. As with any gift God freely gives his Gift. No one deserves any of God’s good gifts. "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy" (TITUS 3:4,5a). With great joy we carefully study God’s undeserved grace.
GOD’S PEACE COMES THROUGH GRACE.
I. God sends Christ to provide grace.
II. God sends saints to proclaim peace.
I. GOD SENDS HIS CHRIST TO PROVIDE GRACE
A. God’s message contains two constant teachings – law and gospel. God’s law is connected with sin.
1. God’s gospel is always connected with Christ, verse 2. God promised a Savior after first sin.
2. Verse 3. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph (David’s line) went to be counted.
B. Verse 4. There was more to Jesus’ life than his birth. Jesus lived, suffered, died, and rose again.
1. Almost everyone recognizes Jesus as a good teacher or a miracle worker.
2. Jesus is also God’s Son. This truth takes a “leap of faith”. Jesus’ resurrection proves his deity.
C. Verse 4b. Jesus is the name that saves. Christ is Messiah and means anointed. Lord is God.
D. Grace is God’s undeserved love for mankind. This very fitting description beautifully describes God’s Gift – His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. God’s grace at times goes beyond our limited human understanding. Therefore it is important for every believer to faithfully, carefully examine God’s undeserved love with deep thought and a grateful joy. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" (2 CORINTHIANS 8:9). This is Jesus our Savior, God’s grace. Jesus left his throne of glory and was born in a cold manger at Bethlehem. Jesus lived a humble, poor life so that we would inherit heaven.
E. God’s promises also sometimes moves beyond our human understanding. God promises and promises and promises. God also fulfills all of his promises. The Lord promised Adam and Eve a Savior. God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a Savior. Joseph and Mary were told about that promised Savior. Every one of God’s promises made are all always kept. This is quite different from promises that we make and do not always keep. This is quite different from the rest of the world that makes promises and seldom delivers. Remember God is not a man that he should lie. A promise made and a promise kept is God’s grace. "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit" (GALATIANS 3:14).
F. At Christmas we examine closely the manger in the town of Bethlehem. It is not always that easy to also connect the manger with the cross. Birth and death have very little in common. Jesus’ birth for mankind has everything to do with his death to save mankind. There is a vital connection from the humble town to a tortured death on a cross. Jesus is the only one ever born with the specific purpose of dieing. "You were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, (but) with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect" (1 PETER 1:18b, 19). It is only the perfect blood of Jesus that can and does cleanse us from sin and purify us from all unrighteousness.
GOD’S PEACE COMES THROUGH GRACE.
God sends His Son Jesus as a Gift of grace for us. Jesus is truly God’s Gift of peace and joy and hope to us and for us to show others sitting in the dark.
II. GOD SENDS HIS SAINTS TO PROCLAIM PEACE.
A. Verse 1. Paul is a servant of Christ. No longer is Paul a self-serving, selfish, proud Pharisee.
1. The Lord Jesus Christ has called Paul out of darkness. God appointed Paul to preach.
2. Paul is God’s apostle – sent to proclaim God’s gospel. It is not Paul’s gospel, but God’s.
B. Paul was greatly humbled by God’s choice upon him. Paul wanted other believers to understand.
1. Paul was not God’s only one called to proclaim peace, verse 6. All believers are called.
2. All believers belong to God. All believers are loved by God and forgiven by God, verse 7.
3. Knowing God’s call, love, and forgiveness gave these believers God’s grace and peace.
C. Verse 5. Called and loved and forgiven by God each believer is now sent by God to others.
1. Paul was an apostle – sent by God. All believers are given this same “apostleship”.
2. There is only one, singular message to proclaim. It is the message of peace through Christ
D. Today all too often all too many try to wish everyone well without Christ. There is no Christmas without Christ. Try all they will, mankind will not remove Christ from Christmas. There are many who celebrate the season and then wonder if that is all there is. People unwrap their gifts and clean up the mess. Sadly, many lives remain empty. There is no joy. There is no hope because there is no peace. "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts" (EPH. 4:18). God’s grace has been showered on us.
E. God has worked faith in each of our hearts. We look at the manger and see our Savior. We look at the cross and see our Savior. We look at God’s word and see our peace through Christ our Savior. Now we are always filled with joy, hope and peace. Really? Well, maybe not always. We still live in a sinful, wicked world. Our lives do not always seem happy or joyful. Joy, hope and peace take work. We are not born into this world with such Christian characteristics. We are born as enemies of God filled with wick-edness, rebellion and sin. By God’s grace we are pulled from that darkness and brought into the very light of Christ. How can we live lives that proclaim God’s peace? "Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it" (PSALM 34:12-14). You and I still need to chase peace. We will want to grab God’s peace and hold it tight. Then we will begin to appreciate God’s grace. Then we will want to proclaim God’s great peace to others. We also pursue peace whenever we turn away from evil.
F. We cannot talk about God’s peace without remembering Jesus’ promised peace. God’s word even today still provides us with Jesus’ strength. Jesus spoke the following words to his disciples to prepare them for difficult times. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (JOHN 14:27). Thus Jesus still speaks to our hearts. The peace of Jesus is ours. Our lives will proclaim God’s peace to a world of unrest.
CONC.: At Christmas God’s peace does indeed come through his gift of grace to all of mankind. This is an important truth this time of year. Christmas is not all about our joy. Christmas is all about joy to all the world. The joy of salvation is ours. We know God’s grace. We proclaim God’s peace. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful" (COLOSSIANS 3:15). Thankful believers reveal God’s grace. Thankful believers display God’s peace. GOD’S PEACE COMES THROUGH GRACE. God sends our Savior Jesus as a Gift of grace. We live in the joy of God’s Grace to daily proclaim God’s peace. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
ADVENT 4 rdgs:
MICAH 5:2-5a;
HEBREWS. 10:5-10;
LUKE 1:39-55;
(PSALM 85)
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