All right, very good.
If you have your Bibles, let's turn back to Titus chapter 2.
And I'm going to be spending some time this evening in verses 11 to 14.
Titus chapter 2.
Of course, for those of you who don't know me, my name is John Carter.
I am a minister of the gospel in a sister denomination to the Free Church of Scotland.
I'm so grateful for the opportunity to minister the word tonight.
Before we open up the word, let's ask the Lord's blessing on the preaching of his word, shall we?
Holy Spirit, once again, we humble ourselves before you and before your word,
asking you to do your divine work in our hearts, that we would not merely read words on a page,
but that this would be words of light and life, even the everlasting words of the gospel.
Help us to live these words out to the greater glory of Christ our Savior, in whose name we pray.
Amen.
So, when Pastor James asked if I would preach tonight,
he wanted me to tie in the message into the general theme of missions for Missions Month.
And I wanted to do that, but at the same time,
I was giving some thought to what is on people's minds.
How can we speak from the word to what people are actually dealing with?
And as you can see here in Edinburgh, if you look around,
it seems like Christmas is on everybody's mind already.
My goodness, I think no one does Christmas quite like Edinburgh.
I've never been here before, but I've never seen Christmas like this.
I come from the States, as you can tell from the strange foreign accent,
but I've seen Christmas markets in the U.S.
Nothing like this.
Christmas decorations, but nothing like this.
Holy smoke.
What is it about Christmas in Scotland?
Maybe it's after being banned for 400 years,
you guys are having the equal but opposite reaction.
But no one does Christmas quite like Edinburgh,
at least from my experience, in the U.S.
Now, in the U.S., I'm sure you are aware
of some of the culture wars that's going on in our country.
There is what some would call a war on Christmas in America.
And by that, I mean the very word Christmas is supposedly offensive
to many people who don't share our faith.
And so what you have in America, which I find so strange, so odd,
but everyone wants to cut out the word Christmas
and replace it with the very inoffensive word holiday.
So you might be invited to a holiday party.
People wish you the best holiday season.
Instead of saying Merry Christmas, do they do this in the U.K.?
They don't say Merry Christmas.
They say Happy Holidays.
Happy Holidays is much more inoffensive.
You might have your children at home baking holiday cookies,
and you put up a holiday tree in your home.
Of course, you can't call it a Christmas tree
because that might be offensive.
But, of course, all of this begs the question,
what holiday are we talking about?
It's the unnamed holiday that no one wants to actually say
of obviously it's Christmas.
Christmas.
But in America, we observe Christmas, even today,
not only as a religious festival, but as a nation.
We recognize Christmas as a national event.
It's a nationally recognized federal holiday
approved by the United States Congress.
It was signed into law by President Grant.
And that's why I was rather shocked recently
when I heard that a school district in Georgia
was sued to get the words Christmas holiday
taken off of the school's calendar.
The plaintiffs demanded that the words winter holiday
be substituted.
And they won in court.
And that just amazes me because the last time I checked,
President Grant did not sign legislation
making winter holiday a federal day off.
No, he signed into law of a Christmas holiday.
Now, unfortunately, that case in Georgia
is representative of a wider movement across America
to purge any remnant of the Christian religion
from public life in the States.
From lawsuits over the Ten Commandments
to the Pledge of Allegiance,
because, of course, the American Pledge of Allegiance
says that we are one nation under God,
which is offensive to so many.
And it seems to be escalating.
Now, the city of Las Cruces in New Mexico
is facing a lawsuit to change the name of the city.
Because, as you know, Las Cruces in Spanish means the cross.
And I guess if they win, we better watch out,
because now what are you going to do
about all the rest of the cities?
San Francisco, San Antonio, all the rest.
How about Corpus Christi in Texas?
I mean, I wonder, where is all this hostility
towards the Christian faith coming from?
Why the hostility towards Christmas in particular?
Because Christmas, ultimately,
when you boil it down to its essence,
it's the most wonderful message in the world.
And this is where I wanted to sort of tie it
into our missionary message,
because the missionary message is that
a Savior has appeared, offering salvation to all.
And we'll talk about that in verse 11
when we get into the text here.
But you get the idea here
that ultimately the Christian message,
the message of Christmas,
the message of the incarnation,
is a wonderful message.
I mean, who can argue it?
Peace on earth, goodwill to men.
I mean, in a nutshell, what's Christmas about?
It's about love and joy and peace and hope.
How are these things so offensive?
Ultimately, it's a message about grace.
It's about blessing and favor from God
because of the sacrifice of our Savior.
I pray that you don't lose sight of that
here in Edinburgh
in the middle of all the hustle and bustle
of the Christmas season.
And that brings us to our proposition statement tonight.
All right, so Dr. Carter,
what's the sermon about in a single sentence?
Well, here it is.
The message,
the missionary message of Christmas
is grace.
And that's what we have here in our text.
And I hope you'll see that
as we begin to unpack this text.
Now, we've already read the overall passage,
but I want to zero in on verse 11.
If you'll look at verse 11,
we'll pick up there.
The apostle writes,
for the grace of God
has been revealed,
bringing salvation to all people.
Now, I realize I may be reading
from a different translation
than what you have there in your laps,
but you get the idea.
What are we getting at?
Point number one, Christmas grace.
The grace of our missionary message
is the grace of salvation, verse 11.
Now, when we say grace,
what are we talking about?
So often when you hear the word grace,
you say,
oh, well, that's unmerited favor, right?
What's the grace of God?
It's unmerited favor.
That's as good as far as it goes.
But I would say it's even more than that.
It's not just unmerited favor,
but rather it's favor in spite of demerit.
That's Christian grace.
Grace is the greatest gift of God
bestowed upon those
who are deserving of the greatest punishment.
It's God's power working in your life
even though you don't deserve it.
God's favor, God's blessing in your life
even though you don't deserve it.
Now, our text tells us here in verse 11
that this grace of salvation
has finally appeared.
There's that word that's related to Advent.
Now, you realize that most Reformed churches
don't follow the so-called liturgical calendar
very closely,
but if you do follow the liturgical calendar,
you realize that we're not in the Christmas season right now.
We're in the season of Advent, right?
Advent is all about anticipation.
It's about waiting.
It's about expectation.
Now, here in verse 11,
it's talking about how this grace has appeared.
It's here.
The word comes from the same root
as the word epiphany,
meaning appearance or manifestation.
You see, the light of the world
has come to those who dwell in darkness.
Jesus is the light of the world, right?
John chapter 8, verse 12.
I am the light of the world.
He who follows me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life.
And our verse here tells us
that this appearance is salvation bringing.
Now, who is this salvation offered to?
Of course, we know it's offered
to those who dwell in darkness, right?
It's offered to all men.
Look at verse 11.
Who does it go out to?
It goes out to all.
And that's the glory of our missionary message,
that it doesn't exclude anybody,
the glory of Christmas,
that this message of God's grace and favor
goes out to all.
Not to some.
Not just to the whites or to the blacks
or to the Asians,
but it goes out to everyone.
Now, the text tells us here in verse 11,
for this grace has appeared.
And that word for ties this verse
into what has gone before here in the chapter.
It ties it into the previous list.
Who did he come for?
Well, it comes for the older men in verse 2.
The older women in verse 3.
The younger women.
Husbands and children in verse 4.
The younger men in verse 6.
The servants in verse 9.
You see, that's who Christ came for.
The young, the old, the men and women,
the rich and the poor,
all people alike.
All are guilty before God.
And from them all,
he gathers his people.
He doesn't bypass the aged
because they're aged.
He doesn't bypass the women
because they're women.
No, it doesn't work like that.
All types of people
from every nation and race
and tongue and nationality
and tribe.
God's offer of salvation
extends to everyone
without discrimination.
It's what the theologians call
the free offer of the gospel.
Or the universal offer.
John 3, 16.
For God so loved the world
that he gave his only begotten son
that whosoever will
believe in him
shall not perish
but have everlasting life.
You see,
the grace of our missionary message,
the wonder of our missionary message
is this message of grace
going out and offered
to all.
You know,
the story's told
of a Scotchman
in the late 19th century
who arrived in
Liverpool, England
where he was to set sail
on a ship
bound for America.
And he reached in his pocket
and he looked carefully
at the pitifully small amount
of money that he had
and he decided
that he would
economize on food
during the trip
in order to have more money
on hand
when he got to New York.
And so he went
to a small store
and he bought a supply
of crackers and cheese
to see him through
the many days at sea.
But as the voyage progressed
he began to get tired
of eating the same thing
over and over again.
And to make matters worse
the dampness in the air
made his crackers soft
and his cheese hard
and just when he couldn't stand
to eat another cracker
he caught the smell
of fine turkey dinner
that a steward
was taking to another passenger.
And so the hungry man
made up his mind
that he would have
at least one good square meal
even though it might cost him
a little bit more
than what he thought
was responsible
for him to spend.
And so he waited
for the steward
to come back
and he asked him
how much it would cost
to go to the dining room
and get a dinner.
And the steward
was rather surprised
by the question
and asked the man
if he had a ticket.
And of course
the poor man
showed him his ticket
and that's when
the steward told him
that all the meals
were included
in the price
of the cruise.
He could have gone
to the dining room
at any time
and eaten as much
as he'd liked.
You know
sometimes I wonder
how often
we're like this
cheese and crackers man
thinking that
all the goodness
and grace of God
must surely go
to other people.
Certainly it wouldn't
be extended to me
but when we think
like this
it shows how
we don't understand
that Jesus Christ
came to offer
salvation to all
indiscriminately.
I mean how many
people today
live with this
soggy crackers
and rancid cheese
sort of mentality
instead of glorifying
God and enjoying
him forever.
Thinking that
Jesus Christ came
for those
with a first class
ticket.
You know
those who've got
it all together
the rich
and the powerful
or the young
and the beautiful
but Paul reminds us
in Romans
that he that spared
not his own son
but delivered him
up for us all
how shall you not
with him freely
give us all things?
Romans 8.32
You see everything
that is necessary
for a full
and complete life
with meaning
and purpose
and fulfillment
is found
in Jesus Christ
who paid
for all the passages
on the boat
of life
for us
with all the
meals included.
So I encourage you
to take a moment
tonight
and consider your own
heart.
Do you realize
that our missionary
message
that Christmas grace
is not merely
for the children
tonight?
It's not just for
the privileged
tonight
but it's for all.
Men
and women
young
and old
the rich
the poor
you see
Jesus Christ
was born
in Bethlehem
to offer
redemption
to all
for all
had fallen
into sin.
My goodness
if you didn't
have any sin
you'd have
no need
for a savior
you'd have
no need
for Christmas
grace
but the scripture
tells us
that all
have sinned
and fallen
short
of the glory
of God.
There's not
a righteous
man who
lives on earth
who continually
does what is
right
and never
sins
and that's
the good news
of Christmas
that this
redeemer
has come
that this
grace
according to
verse 11
has appeared
and it brings
salvation
to all.
So what will
you do
with the
Christ of
Christmas?
Well
you can receive
him
or you can
reject him
right
receive him
as scripture
tells us
to as many
as received
him
he gave
power
to become
the children
of God
first John
1 9
or you may
reject him
John 1 11
he came unto
his own
and his own
received him
not
it's up
to you
God calls
all men
everywhere
to repent
and receive
the Savior
point number
one
the grace
of Christmas
is the grace
of salvation
offered to
all
point number
two
let's move
on
take a look
at verse 12
and here you
see how the
grace of Christmas
is the grace
for Christian
living
pick up in
verse 12
the apostle
says
and we are
instructed to
turn from
godless living
and sinful
pleasures
and we should
live in this
evil world
with wisdom
righteousness
and devotion
to god
now
different
translations
will translate
the word
a little differently
here
the one that I
have here
says it
instructs us
your translation
may say it
trains us
but the idea
here is that
this grace
that is revealed
trains us
to
follow Christ
you see this is not
something that
comes automatically
now what does
come automatically
well
ungodliness
and worldly
passions
that comes
automatically
there is no
need in training
for that
you know
I have my
teenage son
here with us
tonight
and I remember
when he was
little
I never
funny thing
I never had
to train him
how to lie
somehow that
always
that just
came natural
I never had
to tell him
now listen son
when you want
to deceive
somebody
here is how
you do it
somehow he
figured that
out
no I had
to train him
how to tell
the truth
I never had
to train him
how to be
selfish
that come
natural
I think he
got it from
his mother's
side of the
family
I think
but I had
to train him
to learn to
share
you know
to tell the
truth
you see
self-control
doesn't come
natural
being out of
control
that's what
comes natural
living an
upright godly
life that
doesn't come
natural
the opposite
of that
is what
comes natural
that's why
we need
to be born
again
that's why
we need
to have
new hearts
where these
things do
become natural
you see
this grace
trains us
in godliness
as Paul
says elsewhere
how the law
serves as a
pedagogue
it's our
tutor or our
schoolmaster
to bring us
to Christ
you see
this grace
guides us
and it trains
us by the
means of grace
perhaps you've
heard that phrase
before the
means of grace
we're talking
about the word
and sacraments
and prayer
these are how
God works
in our lives
and these
things
these means
of grace
teach us
they chasten
us
they counsel
us
they comfort
us
they encourage
us in our
walk with
Christ
they admonish
us when we
need to be
admonished
and convicted
when we need
to be
convicted
but as we
apply the
means of
grace
we are
trained to
deny vice
and to
affirm
virtue
now notice
Paul's pattern
here in
verse 12
he gives you
the negative
and then the
positive
so first
negatively
we are to
renounce or
reject all
ungodliness
as he puts it
here
instructed to
turn from
godless living
and sinful
pleasures
right
the negative
side
we are to
repudiate
all sin
I mean
taking actual
action
no one
sleeps
their way
to heaven
we need to
strive against
sin
and this is
what the
holy spirit
works in
our hearts
we're talking
about that
inordinate
longing for
pleasure or
power or
possessions
you know what I'm
talking about
first john
2 16
when the
apostle says
the lust of
the flesh
lust of
the eye
the pride
of life
these are
the things
that grace
trains us
to say
no to
but notice
the second
part of
verse 12
there
you see
the positive
where we
should live
in this evil
world with
wisdom
righteousness
and devotion
to god
so it's
not just
to renounce
these vices
but it's
to replace
them with
virtues
to the glory
of god
that we
would be
trained
to live
right
in the
here and
now
as it
says
and in
this
present
age
lives
that display
a changed
demeanor
with respect
to ourselves
self-control
with respect
to our
neighbor
the second
tablet
of the
ten
commandments
right
with respect
to god
of course
the first
tablet
devotion
godliness
piety
reverence
these are
the things
that grace
trains us
in
and you
realize
that the
word of
god
makes
ethical
demands
of us
and grace
trains us
to obey
outwardly
to say no
to these
ungodly
activities
and inwardly
to say no
to those
ungodly
desires
that we
would
rejoice
with a
heart
of devotion
and love
toward our
savior
to just say
no
to those
things
just say
no
as god
enables
please
understand
my message
to you
tonight
is not
try harder
to be
good
if that
were my
message
you would
most likely
fail
matter of fact
I can guarantee
you will fail
but it's to
say no
to these
things
as god
enables
as grace
trains you
rely on grace
to enable you
to do these
things
because if
you're born
again
you are
changed
on the
inside
believe that
the holy
spirit is
there to
empower you
to overcome
sin
are you
failing
in the
christian
life
well
perhaps
you're
trying
in your
own
strength
remember
it's the
grace of
god
that trains
you
and empowers
you
for
christian
living
you know
in a
seminary
missions
class
dr.
herbert
jackson
he told
how as
a new
missionary
he was
assigned
a car
that would
not start
without a
push
and after
giving some
thought to
his problem
he devised
a plan
he went
to a
school
nearby
his house
and he got
permission
to take
a few
of the
teenage
boys
out of
class
and he
had
them
push
his
car
off
and as
he made
his rounds
he would
either park
on a
hill
or he would
leave
running
and he
used
this
ingenious
technique
for over
two
years
until
finally
after a
few
years
ill
health
forced
the
jackson
family
to leave
the
mission
field
and a
new
missionary
was
being
sent
to
come
to
that
station
and as
jackson
proudly
began
to
explain
the
arrangement
for
getting
the
car
started
the
new
man
began
looking
under
the
hood
and
before
he
was
done
explaining
the
situation
the
new
missionary
interrupted
dr.
Jackson
I believe
the only
trouble
here
is this
loose
cable
and he
gave
the
cable
a
twist
stepped
in
the
car
and pushed
the
switch
and the
engine
came
to
life
for two
years
needless
trouble
had become
routine
and my
goodness
the power
was there
all the
time
only a
loose
connection
kept
jackson
from putting
that
power
to work
you know
the famous
paraphrase
J.B.
Phillips
puts
Ephesians
chapter 1
in verse
19
this way
says how
tremendous
is the
power
available
to us
who
believe
in
God
I like
that
see when
we make
firm
our
connection
with
God
his
life
and
his
power
flow
through
us
you know
it makes
me wonder
are you
tapped
into
the power
of God
perhaps
you've
struggled
to renounce
sin
and to
affirm
virtue
it's
not easy
right
sometimes
it's
difficult
again
is our
message
to try
harder
to be
good
no
that's
not the
message
perhaps
I can
give you
some ingenious
system
for walking
Christian
victory
I'll give
you five
steps
and here
are three
hacks
and here
are three
tips
and that's
not the
message
you see
you need to be
tapped into the
right power
supply
God's grace
that enables
us
God will
enable you
to renounce
sin
and to live
righteously
left to
yourself
you will
fail
you need
to come
to that
realization
that you're
a sinner
and that
you need
God's
help
and when
you do
that
he will
enable
you
he will
be there
for you
his grace
will
train
you
as Paul
says
I can
do all
things
through
Christ
who
strengthens
me
right
we should
have that
kind of
attitude
when it
comes to
our
fight
with
sin
1st
Corinthians
chapter 15
and verse
!
even the
apostle
realized
that it
wasn't
him
it wasn't
his
running
and
willing
and
striving
and
trying
harder
to be
good
but
it
was
the
grace
of
God
at
work
in
his
heart
truly
God
will
empower
you
as
you
rely
upon
his
strength
but
what
about
when
you
fail
if
you
fail
what
about
when
you
sin
well
remember
your
acceptance
by
God
is
on
the
basis
of
Christ's
!
righteousness
not
your
own
confess
your
sins
he's
faithful
and
just
to
forgive
and
in
gratitude
strive
all
the
more
against
vice
and
to
affirm
virtue
as
his
grace
enables
you
point
number
two
Christmas
grace
is
the
grace
for
Christian
living
we'll
be
gone
our
missionary
message
Christmas
grace
is
the
grace
to
wait
on
God
look
at
verse
13
the
apostle
says
while we
look
forward
with
hope
to
that
wonderful
day
when the
glory
of our
great
God
and
Savior
Jesus
Christ
will
be
revealed
so
note
how
this
grace
trains
us
while we
are
waiting
for
this
blessed
hope
that
blessed
hope
refers
to
the
second
coming
of
our
Lord
and
Savior
Jesus
Christ
note
the
two
appearings
in
our
text
right
in
verse
11
you
have
this
grace
that
has
appeared
and
then
here
in
verse
13
you
are
waiting
for
the
appearing
so
which
is
it
has
this
grace
appeared
or
are
we
still
waiting
for
the
appearance
of
course
the
answer
is
both
Christ
has
come
Christ
is
coming
again
throughout
the
New
Testament
scripture
speaks
in terms
of
this
already
not
yet
parallel
right
Christ
has
already
come
that's
the
Christmas
message
right
that's
the
first
advent
Christ
is
coming
again
that's
the
second
advent
our
blessed
hope
you
see
grace
trains
us
to
patiently
wait
in
confident
expectation
for
his
return
and
this
hope
is
called
blessed
this
is
where
we
find
our
happiness
and
our
delight
and
our
glory
because
we
know
that
we
have
been
bought
with
a
price
and
Christ
is
coming
back
for
us
indeed
our
hope
is
blessed
because
it
is
the
rock
solid
foundation
of
our
Christian
walk
our
hope
our
faith
!
in
God
trustworthy
faithful
life
before
God
the
writer
of
Hebrews
puts it
this
way
in
Hebrews
chapter
6
verse
19
this
hope
is
the
anchor
of
our
soul
sure
and
steadfast
Paul
puts it
this
way
in
Romans
15
verse
13
the
God
of
hope
that
fills
us
with
all
joy
and
peace
talking
about
the
object
of
our
hope
salvation
and
eternal
life
presence
of
Christ
himself
victory
!
over
evil
!
surely
the
fulfillment
will be
blessed
indeed
and
this
fulfillment
comes
at the
second
advent
when
Christ
returns
and
our
salvation
finds
its
consummation
at the
great
appearing
of
our
God
and
Savior
as it
says
here
in
verse
13
our
God
and
Savior
what is
that
referring
to?
one
person
or
two?
our
God
and
our
Savior
two
persons
or
God
and
Savior
one
person
if we
have
anyone
studying
here
ETS
tonight
you can
get into
your
Greek
you see
that
it's
not
ambiguous
in the
original
language
it's
referring
to
one
person
our
God
and
Savior
Jesus
Christ
this
text
here
verse
13
is yet
another
proof
of the
divinity
of our
Savior
he is
truly
Emmanuel
God
with
us
and
this
hope
this
confident
expectation
this
eager
anticipation
that we
have
prepares
us
for
eternity
with
him
and
it's
a
strong
hope
it's
an
immense
blessing
my
goodness
you
don't
want
to
miss
it
and
this
is
our
motivation
that we
would
be
called
to
wait
with
patience
and
perseverance
on
God's
promise
that we
would be
manifested
with him
in glory
Colossians
3
4
see
that's
our
blessed
hope
that we
would
be
like
him
for
we
will
see
him
as
he
is
you
know
speaking
of
hope
a
number
of
years
ago
some
researchers
performed
an
experiment
to see
the
effect
that
hope
has
on
those
that
are
undergoing
hardship
and
the
first
time
I
read
of
this
experiment
I
kind
of
cringed
a
little
bit
but
you
see
what
I
mean
there
were
two
sets
of
laboratory
rats
that
were
placed
in
separate
tubs
of
water
and
the
researchers
left
one
set
in
the
water
and
found
that
within
an
hour
they
had
all
drowned
but
the
rats
in
the
other
tub
of
water
were
periodically
lifted
out
of
the
water
and
then
returned
and
when
that
happened
the
second
set
of
rats
swam
for
over
24
hours
why
not
because
they
were
given
rest
but
because
they
suddenly
had
hope
they
knew
that
if
they
could
stay
afloat
goodness
if
hope
holds
such
power
for
unthinking
rodents
how
much
greater
should
its
effect
be
on
our
lives
the
text
tells
us
here
that
this
hope
is
a
blessed
hope
indeed
our
hope
is
in
a
God
who
will
soon
return
and
right
all
the
wrongs
and
deliver
us
from
evil
forever
and
Christmas
is
just
the
beginning
of
that
redemption
and
so
tonight
we're
eagerly
anticipating
the
consummation
of
that
redemption
and
in
the
meantime
God's
grace
is
patiently
training
us
to
wait
with
hope
for
our
final
redemption
so
that
means
that
this
Christmas
God
is
calling
on
you
to
not
just
remember
our
Lord's
first
coming
born
of
Mary
in a
lowly
stable
but
eagerly
anticipate
his
second
coming
as
well
Christ
is
coming
again
but
next
time
he
will
not
appear
as
the
infant
child
in
Bethlehem
no
the
next
time
he
will
appear
as
our
great
God
and
Savior
and
coming
King
and
so
let's
live
our
lives
in
an
ever
present
awareness
of
the
imminent
return
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and
as
we
do
that
we
know
that
this
grace
will
train
us
to
patiently
await
the
fulfillment
of
all
of
God's
promises
to
hope
not
in
the
things
of
this
passing
world
but
to
put
our
trust
in
the
blessed
hope
of
our
coming
Savior
but
so
often
we
don't
focus
on
Christ's
return
like
we
should
so
often
our
focus
is
here
on
the
world
right
was it
C.S.
Lewis
who said
aim at
heaven
and you'll
get
earth
thrown
in
aim at
earth
and you'll
get
neither
I think
there's
something
to that
point
number
three
Christmas
grace
the grace
of our
missionary
message
is the
grace
to
patiently
wait
with
hope
for
our
Lord's
appearing
and
finally
point
number
four
the
grace
of
Christmas
is the
grace
to
belong
look at
verse
14
and he
gave
his
life
to
free
us
from
every
kind
of
sin
to
cleanse
us
and
to
make
us
his
very
own
people
totally
committed
to
doing
good
deeds
this
verse
is
talking
about
Christian
community
that
we
would
be
members
of
one
another
bearing
one
another's
burdens
we're
talking
about
Christian
fellowship
here
notice
the
purpose
of
Christ's
first
coming
to
purify
himself
a
people
for
his
own
possession
again
following
the
Old
Testament
pattern
I
will
be
their
God
and
they
will
be
my
people
a
distinct
people
that
are
separate
from
the
world
in
the
Old
Testament
you
have
Israel
as
God's
peculiar
people
right
they were
special
to him
they were
the apple
church
in the
Old
Testament
Israel
is
zealous
for the
law
in the
New
Testament
you see
that
Christ
has
redeemed
us
from
lawlessness
and
made
us
zealous
for
good
works
we
are
the
objects
of
God's
favor
and
blessing
and
protection
because
of
Christ
we
are
the
covenant
people
of
God
the
covenant
community
of
God
and
this
is
the
purpose
of
Christmas
to
gather
this
godly
community
!
us
that
we
would
be
God's
people
we
would
be
gathered
for
our
edification
that
we
would
be
gathered
for
the
glory
of
God
and
what
did
he
do
for
these
people
he
gave
himself
nothing
less
than
his
all
by
his
perfect
life
his
sacrificial
death
by
his
glorious
resurrection
he
merited
the work
of the
Holy
Spirit
in
our
hearts
once
again
you
see
Paul's
pattern
you
notice
the
negative
!
and
the
positive
negatively
he
did
this
in
order
to
redeem
us
from
all
lawlessness
positively
to
purify
a
people
zealous
for
good
works
negatively
to
save
us
from
our
sin
to
remove
that
bondage
to
sin
within
us
to
take
upon
himself
the
penalty
that
was
due
for
our
sin
we
talk
about
redemption
I
think
you
know
what
that
word
means
right
to
purchase
our
release
from
captivity
by
paying
ransom
this
is
what
Christ
does
right
so
negatively
that's
what
happens
in order
to
redeem
us
from
all
lawlessness
positively
to
purify
people
zealous
for
good
works
what's
he
talking
about
there
he's
talking
about
sanctification
he's
talking
about
progressive
growing
in
godliness
and
growing
in
our
relationship
with
God
and
with
one
another
that
Christ
came
not
just
to
save
individuals
but
to
save
a
people
a
community
a
church
you
know
so
often
our
contemporary
faith
is
about
the
individual
right
when we're
talking
about
an
individualized
narcissistic
independent
eclectic
type
of
spirituality
and
I think
if you
want to
be
gracious
you
could
say
that
might
be
a
reaction
to
some
kind
of
cold
dead
orthodoxy
perhaps
maybe
there was
an
overemphasis
in the
past
on the
corporate
at the
expense
of
an
individualized
living
faith
but
I
think
maybe
the
reaction
is a
little bit
it seems
today
the
emphasis
is too
much
on
me
myself
and
I
Jesus
is my
personal
Lord
and
Savior
it's
like
when I
hear
that
kind
of
language
I
know
what
people
mean
by
that
but
you
realize
that's
not
biblical
language
nowhere
in the
New
Testament
does
talk
to
us
describe
our
relationship
with
Christ
like
that
but
I
get
what
you're
saying
when
we
say
he's
our
personal
Lord
and
Savior
that's
all
good
that
you
have
a
personal
relationship
with
God
but
don't
de-emphasize
the
church
because
there is
no
relationship
with
God
apart
from
a
relationship
with
God's
people
because
God
calls
us
into
community
into
relationship
with
him
and
with
his
people
and
that's
just
the
tough
part
isn't
it
because
church
would
be
great
if
it
wasn't
for
the
people
go to
church
and they
find a
sinner
and oh
church
is filled
with
sinners
of
course
this
church
is filled
with
sinners
I'm
seeing a
whole
bunch
of
them
right
here
but
there's
a
difference
we are
not
lost
sinners
we are
redeemed
sinners
nonetheless
imperfect
nonetheless
right
but remember
who Christ
came to
save
he did
not
come
to
call
the
righteous
but
sinners
to
repentance
you see
the church
is a
hospital
for
sinners
not
for
perfect
people
so
there's
no
escaping
the
church
Romans
chapter
12
verse
4
for
as
we
have
many
members
in
one
body
but
all
the
members
do
not
have
the
same
function
so
we
being
many
are
one
body
in
Christ
and
individually
members
of one
another
God calls
us to
community
he calls
us
to
belong
so my
question
for you
is
are you
plugged
into
God's
community
well perhaps
I'm preaching
to the wrong
crowd here
because if
you're here
on Sunday
night
you're
probably
plugged
into
the church
but
maybe
not
but
please
understand
this
Christmas
season
is a
good
opportunity
for you
to
recommit
yourself
not
just
to
God
but
to
God's
most
precious
possession
his
people
bought
with
his
own
blood
because
God
does
not
want
his
people
to
be
alienated
from
each
other
isolated
and
alone
and
separated
he
wants
to
see
warm
caring
relationships
in the
context
of
Christian
love
that
we
would
truly
be
a
community
like
Acts
chapter
2
where
and
fellowship
in
the
breaking
of
bread
and
prayers
does
this
sound
like
a
clue
now
all
who
believed
were
together
and
had
all
things
in
common
and
so
continuing
daily
with
one
accord
in
the
temple
breaking
bread
from
house
to
house
they
ate
their
food
with
gladness
and
simplicity
of
heart
praising
God
and
having
favor
with
all
the
people
and
the
Lord
added
to
the
church
daily
those
who
are
being
saved
indeed
point
number
four
the
grace
of
our
missionary
message
is
the
grace
to
belong
all
right
so
how
can
we
summarize
Titus
chapter
two
these
verses
give us
the reason
why
every one
of us
should
keep
Christ
at the
center
of our
Christmas
because
God's
grace
has
pierced
through
our
moral
and
spiritual
darkness
and has
brought
salvation
to
all
right
this
grace
of
God
is
our
tutor
he
is
guiding
us
leading
us
away
from
all
ungodliness
and
worldliness
leading
us
in
paths
of
righteousness
and
causing
us
to
look
forward
to
our
final
redemption
and
Christmas
is
just
the
beginning
of
all
this
because
the
day
will
come
when
our
Savior
will
appear
again
in
great
power
and
glory
by
Christmas
grace
we
become
God's
distinct
people
called
out
of
the
world
his
special
treasure
on
whom
he
pours
his
greatest
blessings
indeed
his
name
will
be
called
Jesus
for
he
will
save
his
people
from
their
sins
amen