Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

Pastor/Teacher - Jim RickardPastor/Teacher - Jim RickardChristmas Eve Special - 2010Christmas Eve Special - 2010

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

Luke 2:1-20Luke 2:1-20

Angelic Praise Angelic Praise Announcing Announcing

the Birth of our Lord!the Birth of our Lord!

Luke’s gospel gives the reality Luke’s gospel gives the reality that Jesus Christ is God who that Jesus Christ is God who became man so that He could became man so that He could take on the sins of the entire take on the sins of the entire

world, thereby providing world, thereby providing salvation for all, especially those salvation for all, especially those

who would believe in Him.who would believe in Him.

1 Tim 4:10, 1 Tim 4:10, “For it is for this we labor “For it is for this we labor

and strive, because we have and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.”men, especially of believers.”

Luke 2:14Luke 2:14, , “… with whom He is pleased.”“… with whom He is pleased.”

EUDOKIA - “of good will or EUDOKIA - “of good will or pleasure, favor, satisfaction, pleasure, favor, satisfaction,

approval, etc.”, on God’s part. approval, etc.”, on God’s part.

Phil 2:13, Phil 2:13, “For it is God who is at “For it is God who is at

work in you, both to will work in you, both to will and to work for and to work for HisHis good good

pleasurepleasure.”.”

Eph 1:5, Eph 1:5, “He predestined us to “He predestined us to

adoption as sons through adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, Jesus Christ to Himself,

according to the according to the kind kind intentionintention of His will.” of His will.”

In Luke 2:14 we could say, In Luke 2:14 we could say, “Glory to God in the “Glory to God in the

highest, and upon earth highest, and upon earth peace among men peace among men ofof (God’s) (God’s) approvalapproval.” .”

There are two aspects to There are two aspects to this praise.this praise.

1. Heavenly - Angels: 1. Heavenly - Angels: 2. Earthly - Man: 2. Earthly - Man:

What | Who | WhereWhat | Who | Where

Glory | to God | in heavenGlory | to God | in heaven

Peace | among men of (God’s) Peace | among men of (God’s) approval | upon earth approval | upon earth

Luke 2:10, Luke 2:10, “I bring you good news of “I bring you good news of great joy great joy which will be for which will be for

all the peopleall the people.”.”

““All people”, everyone, All people”, everyone, every member of the every member of the

human race has been given human race has been given God’s Son as their Savior. God’s Son as their Savior. He came and died for all of He came and died for all of

mankind.mankind.

In Luke 2:14, the multitude In Luke 2:14, the multitude limit their praise of God’s limit their praise of God’s work to, “among men of work to, “among men of

(God’s) approval.” (God’s) approval.” This is in line with This is in line with

1 Tim 4:10.1 Tim 4:10.

1 Tim 4:10,1 Tim 4:10,“For it is for this we labor and “For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all menwho is the Savior of all men, ,

especially of believersespecially of believers.”.”

Jesus Christ died and rose Jesus Christ died and rose for all men but “especially” for all men but “especially” for believers because His for believers because His death is only effectual for death is only effectual for salvation for those who salvation for those who

believe.believe.

In Luke 2:9, as it was for In Luke 2:9, as it was for the angel, it is a privilege the angel, it is a privilege for you to share the good for you to share the good news of Christ with the news of Christ with the

world today. world today.

The “glory of the Lord”, is The “glory of the Lord”, is God’s power, position, and God’s power, position, and

honor that belongs honor that belongs immediately to Him as part immediately to Him as part of His supernatural being, of His supernatural being, expressed in many ways. expressed in many ways.

Luke 2:10, Luke 2:10, “Behold, I bring you “Behold, I bring you

good news of great joy.”good news of great joy.”He came to declare God’s He came to declare God’s

merciful loving kindness; a merciful loving kindness; a matter of great joy. matter of great joy.

Luke 2:11, “the city of David.” Luke 2:11, “the city of David.”

Emphasizing His humanity and Emphasizing His humanity and the fulfillment of prophecy, the fulfillment of prophecy, that the savior would come that the savior would come through the line of David. through the line of David.

Cf. Jer 23:5-6.Cf. Jer 23:5-6.

““Savior, Christ, Lord.”Savior, Christ, Lord.”

““SaviorSavior” – God acting on ” – God acting on behalf of His people. behalf of His people.

Psa 25:5; 27:1; Isa 45:15Psa 25:5; 27:1; Isa 45:15

Psa 25:5,Psa 25:5,“Lead me in Your truth “Lead me in Your truth

and teach me, for You are and teach me, for You are the the God of my salvationGod of my salvation; ;

for You I wait all the day.”for You I wait all the day.”

Isa 45:15,Isa 45:15,“Truly, You are a God who “Truly, You are a God who

hides Himself, O God of hides Himself, O God of Israel, Israel, SaviorSavior!”!”

This is an important early This is an important early confirmation of Jesus’ role confirmation of Jesus’ role as Messiah and Savior, and as Messiah and Savior, and to affirm the deity of Jesus to affirm the deity of Jesus

in His role as Messiah-in His role as Messiah-Lord, John 4:42.Lord, John 4:42.

John 4:42, John 4:42, “And they were saying to the “And they were saying to the

woman, “It is no longer because woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed and know that this One is indeed

the Savior of the world.””the Savior of the world.””

““Who is ChristWho is Christ”, ”, CHRISTOS - “the Anointed CHRISTOS - “the Anointed

One, Messiah, Christ.” One, Messiah, Christ.” The promised Messiah from The promised Messiah from prophecy. Dan 9:25-26 cf. prophecy. Dan 9:25-26 cf.

Mat 1:1; John 4:25.Mat 1:1; John 4:25.

Mat 1:1,Mat 1:1,“The record of the “The record of the

genealogy of Jesus the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah…”Messiah…”

John 4:25, John 4:25, “The woman said to Him, “I “The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming know that Messiah is coming

(He who is called Christ); (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will when that One comes, He will

declare all things to us”.”declare all things to us”.”

““LordLord”, (KURIOS) tells ”, (KURIOS) tells them that He is YAHWEH them that He is YAHWEH

(YHVH), God.(YHVH), God.

Jer 23:6, Jer 23:6, “...and this is His name by “...and this is His name by which He will be called, which He will be called, ‘The LORD (YHVH) our ‘The LORD (YHVH) our

righteousness.”righteousness.”

This told them that He was, This told them that He was, “the promised Savior, “the promised Savior,

anointed One (by God for anointed One (by God for the work of salvation), who the work of salvation), who

was God Himself was God Himself (incarnate).”(incarnate).”

Communion

Grace OfferingGrace Offering

Grace Fellowship ChurchFriday, December 24, 2010

Tape # 10-142

Christmas Eve SpecialWorshipped by Angels upon His Birth

Luke 2:1-20; 1 Tim 4:10; Jer 23:5-6    

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010