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Simply Christmas ... According To The Epistles Series
Contributed by Alex Perednia on Feb 18, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: How do we steer through the madness of the holiday season? We can do this by recapturing a focus on the message of Christmas… to help us focus on Simply Christmas! Today, we’ll discover from Galatians 4:4-7 God’s two gifts to us at Christmas.
I. IN CHRISTMAS, THE GIFT OF GOD IS … HIS SON. (4:4-5).
We find out so much as we take the time to unwrap this present…
A The Timing of the One Was Given (4:4a)
B The Identity of the One Given (4:4b)
1. The Son is fully GOD (4:4a; cf. Micah 5:2; Colossians 1:15, 2:9)
2. The Son is fully HUMAN (4:4b; see Gen. 3:15; Isaiah 7:14)
C The Mission of the One Was Given (4:4c-5)
1. To fulfill the law for us: “born under the law…”
2. To liberate us from the law: “redeem those under the law…”
a. To liberate us by removing from us the CURSE of God’s justice (4:5a; Gal 3:13)
4. To liberate us by bestowing on us the BLESSINGS of God’s grace (4:5b; Gal 3:14)
II. IN CHRISTMAS, THE GIFT OF GOD IS … HIS SPIRIT. (4:6-7; Acts 2:38-39).
A God has given us the Spirit of His Son so that we can experience INTIMACY in our relationship with our Father God (Gal. 4:6; Romans 8:15-16)
B God has given us the Spirit of His Son so that we can be assured of our INHERITANCE in our relationship with our Father God (Gal. 4:7; cf. Romans 8:17; Eph 1:13b-14).
INVITATION: Have you ever unwrapped God’s gifts to you by repenting of your sins and believing the Good News? Will you thank God for the gifts of Christmas and be sure to tell others about the Good News?