The Town

<p>God paid for the miracle of Christmas. In fact, God paid with His life. The reason God paid for Christmas was so that we could have a relationship with Him by faith in Jesus Christ. Galatians tells us that when the time was right, God sent His Son Jesus to redeem us and to adopt us as sons. God paid the costly price of our sin so that we could in turn be given his righteousness.</p>

<p>Throughout the The Old Testament, God shows his plan for the miracle of Christmas. The miracle that God, who is perfectly righteous, would save those who cannot save themselves.</p>

<p>The church is the only organization that Jesus paid for with his life. There is no other institution like the Christian church. The Scriptures often liken the church to a family and uses familial names to describe one another. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. In this sermon Pastor Dan preaches from I Thessalonians 3 and Acts 16-17 in order to demonstrate how the church is a family that has been adopted by God the Father, paid for by Jesus Christ the Son, and is bound together in love by the power of the Holy Spirit.</p>

<p>God has given sacrificially, joyfully and generously to us. As a disciple of Jesus, we as God's children, give the way our Father gives - sacrificially, joyfully and generously. In 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul lays out a situation where the churches were called to give. From this situation, the modern day church learns what it means to give the way God has given. Many churches try to steer clear from talking about money but giving is one of the biggest blessings a church can take part in.</p>

<p>Jesus tells us to expect persecution as Christians. But he also promises great blessings for suffering in his name. As with all the Beatitudes, our ability to properly understand this is directly tied to our identity with Jesus. As his church, we can take hope in knowing that we are on a journey toward our great reward in heaven. Ultimate peace will one day be ours.</p>

<p>Christians are called to be "chips off the ol' block." We are to emulate and imitate our Father. The fuel and drive to that makes Christians peacemakers is grounded in the Gospel of peace given to us by our peace-loving Father.</p>

<p>In Romans 12, Paul says to the disciple of Jesus, "Therefore, in view of God's mercy, life a life of sacrifice." The word "Therefore" is a big word for the disciple. Paul does not begin this part of his letter without any connection to the previous 11 chapters that display the mercies of God in Christ. The word "therefore" connect living to learning, duty to doctrine, belief to behavior, and orthopraxy to orthodoxy. The disciple's life is built upon the objective truth that Jesus saves sinners by living a perfect life for them, dying the death they deserved, his resurrection from the grave, and his rule as King.</p>

<p>In the Bible, the heart is the seat of the human identity. We are what our heart is. The heart is who we are and makes us do the things that we do. Who can see God? Only those with a pure heart. The problem is that the human heart is duplicitous and hypocritical. The solution is that Jesus did not come to clean up society, he came to change hearts. A changed heart will be undivided in it's loyalty to God.</p>

<p>We are really big charity cases. Yet God, seeing us in our misery has given us what we do not deserve - mercy. God is extravagant in mercy. Jesus says that those who practice mercy will be given mercy.</p>

<p>What is it about our existence that brings us great satisfaction? Purpose. Whatever we believe is our purpose will be our source of righteousness. But self-righteousness will never be satisfied. We are born starving for purpose and righteousness. Jesus says that those who know they are starving for righteousness will be satisfied in him. Pursue Jesus and we will pursue a righteousness that satisfies.</p>

<p>Meek is not weak. The meek inherit the earth. In the third beatitude Jesus describes a Christian as someone who has nothing to lose and nothing to defend and everything to gain in Him. The meek do not fear others because they have nothing to defend. The meek do not fear that they have done enough to bring God's pleasure because they know they have nothing to give. The meek have a deep strength that is only possible under grace. They know who they could have been without grace and paradoxically know who they are because of God's grace. The meek will inherit the earth.</p>

<p>There are two kingdoms that compete for the heart of human beings - the Kingdom of Man and the Kingdom of God. These kingdoms are incompatible and yet religion tells us that to enter the Kingdom of God you must enter by man's way. We pursue happiness, wealth, success, and other things that make us happy. But Jesus tells us in just a few short words that we don't have what it takes in our kingdom. We need a new Kingdom. Those who know that they are spiritually bankrupt and helpless to be in a relationship with God without Jesus are the poor in spirit. Jesus calls the poor in spirit blessed because theirs is the Kingdom of God.</p>

<p>The Beatitudes are the greatest introduction to the greatest sermon ever preached by the greatest person to ever walk the earth. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus introduces us to his teaching by beginning with the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are declarations of what the Christian is and what has been given to them. In just a few words, Jesus crucifies our effort to achieve real happiness on our own and shows us that it is only when we pursue him that we can have real happiness.</p>

<p>Jude reminds the church that heresy and those who have fallen away should not come as a shock. The times we live in should not come as a shock. Where there is faithlessness there will be persecution and there will be those who do evil. This should not thwart us in our mission to preach the Gospel, in our love for others, our love for Christ or in our own salvation. Jesus has sealed our redemption. So we can go to war, dive into the lives of others without ever fearing that we will lose what Jesus has secured.</p>

<p>Jude tells the church that people in and out of the church are condemned. Even some who claim faith in Jesus are not really saved – their lives have no connection with what they say that they believe. This is motivation enough for the church to know what they believe, to be able to identify.</p>

<p>We need a prophet. We need a priest. We need a king. We need a prophet so that we can know what God wills and wants for us. We need a priest because we cannot approach God on our own due to our sinful nature. We need a king who has the authority and power to crush our enemies and protect us from evil. Jesus is the only prophet, priest and king that we will ever need. He has fulfilled and is fulfilling all of these roles perfectly in our place.</p>

<p>The Psalm's are so beautiful because they contain the breath of God in the words of man. They are simple and Psalm 24 continues the simplicity so that our hearts can sing with the Psalmist these songs that are over a three millennia in age.</p>

<p>Where do you turn in times of trouble? We have been trained to call our counselors, our spouses, our kids, our parents or our teachers when we are up the creek. We have been taught to read the latest self‐help book rather than the Word of God. Others of us turn to drugs, alcohol, food, spending money, buying junk, or self-medicating with some other addiction. Our nature is to turn from trouble and steer into more trouble. But Jesus shows us what it means to turn to the Father when we are in trouble and to trust in Him through dangerous or grievous situations.</p>

<p>The statement from which all of the other words flow in Psalm 23 can be found in the opening verse. These are earth‐shattering, life changing words. These words establish a relationship so grand, so holy, so incredible that the claims of the Psalmist must be true. He writes, "The Lord is my shepherd."</p>

<p>The big question you must ask when reading Psalm 22 is simple – Did Jesus die for me? We can talk about his suffering and be moved by it. We can talk about his love and be encouraged by it. We can talk about his teaching, his healings, his sense of humor, and his wisdom and be wowed by it. But did Jesus die for you? That is a big question.</p>

<p>Humanity continues to rage against God. The Church often looks past themselves and to the rebellion of the culture around them and gleefully looks for the day when the laughing God of heaven will destroy all the great sinners. We can't wait for God to rage against the machine of debauchery, rock n' roll, druggies, whores, opposing political parties, our next door neighbor's barking dog, and liberal theologians. We miss the point, the conviction of Scripture, and the words of the Holy Spirit.</p>

<p>Paul uses an illustration from nature to show us how the Christian life works. Whatever we sow, we will reap. This is as true in the Christian life as it is in nature. A farmer must sow in season in order to have a harvest season. If he plants corn, he will reap corn. If he plants wheat, he will reap wheat. If the farmer does not plant anything, he will not reap anything.</p>

<p>Paul is dealing with two types of behavior: those who provoke and those who are envious. Those who provoke are those who look down on others. Those who are envious are those who feel inferior and look up toward others. Both provocative and envious people have one thing in common - they both want the glory for themselves.</p>

<p>If you have been justified by faith and are free under the Gospel, then you will desire to keep in step with where the Holy Spirit leads you and desires to change you. We are to always be asking God what He wants from us and how we can become more like Christ.</p>

<p>Since we have been set free in Jesus Christ, we can now live a life that reflects and enjoys that freedom. We are free from the rules as a way of salvation, but are also now free to obey out of our gratitude. And this is not a yoke of slavery. Obedience is the mark of a free man.</p>

<p>We often hear about the great religions of the world. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism are often included together. In our pluralistic and idealistic culture we attempt to reconcile all the great religions together. They, according to the masses, are of equal significance and equal truth. Jesus didn't think so and neither did the Apostles. Remember, Paul began Galatians by cursing any and all other religions - even those that claim the name of Jesus, but do not preach the true Gospel of Jesus (e.g., Mormon, Jehovah Witness, Christian Scientist, etc).</p>

<p>We often hear about the great religions of the world. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism are often included together. In our pluralistic and idealistic culture we attempt to reconcile all the great religions together. They, according to the masses, are of equal significance and equal truth. Jesus didn't think so and neither did the Apostles. Remember, Paul began Galatians by cursing any and all other religions - even those that claim the name of Jesus, but do not preach the true Gospel of Jesus (e.g., Mormon, Jehovah Witness, Christian Scientist, etc).</p>

<p>It doesn't matter if you are male or female, Jew or Gentile, slave or free--you are a son of the Living God by faith in Jesus Christ alone. We have different names. We have 46 different backgrounds. We look different. We have different cultures and traditions. We have different theology. But under the one Gospel, we are one people, under one Father God, because of one Messiah. In the Christian faith we call this "sonship."</p>

<p>Paul makes it clear that salvation does not depend on our performance. But the Law must play some role in the Christian's life. Some Christians view Law and Grace as two equal tracks that must be tread upon carefully. We must have one foot on the Law and one foot on grace. But Paul does not teach this. He says that we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone.</p>

<p>Paul is working against the tide of a works-faith based hybrid of Christianity. The Galatians had begun with faith in Jesus and were now depending on adherence and obedience to the Law for their salvation. This teaching had come from Judaizing Christians who did not believe that Jesus on the Cross was enough.</p>

<p>There is a huge contrast between the Law and the Gospel. The Galatians had forgotten Jesus crucified and were now returning to that which damned them as a means of salvation. Christians must know the difference between the Law and the Gospel. They are not enemies, but they have different functions.</p>

<p>In Galatians 2:15-21 Paul is speaking to those who had also been raised in the faith. He says, "we ourselves are Jews by birth." Paul is beginning to make the case that birth into a religious family does not save you, for he goes on to say that we have been justified by faith and not by works of the law.</p>

<p>The Apostles probably did not fully understand the real world implications when they decided that circumcision and food laws were not to be added to the Gospel. It didn't take long to arrive at the truth, but it would take time to iron out the details in the real world. It didn't take long for Peter to flip flop. It's what Peter did well. He also repented well. Although Peter knew that nothing was to be added to the Gospel, he still did not live out his theological convictions. Peter agreed with the decision to not force Jewish tradition on Gentiles and yet he continually followed the rules which became a problem for the church in Galatia. Consequently, Paul and Peter were in a battle.</p>

<p>Imagine the setting. All of the greatest players are in the room. They have all the authority to make things happens. It is do or die time. A conflict has arisen and this group of people has been asked to bring a resolution. Whatever they decide will set the tone for billions of people until the end of time. What could cause such a commotion? What could bring so much intensity to one room? Circumcision.</p>

<p>We don't often see what God is doing through someone until the whole plan unfolds. Paul was one of those guys. Before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul, then called Saul, was on his way to destroying the church and crushing the Gospel--or so he thought. The church must have wondered what God was up to every time Saul showed up in their town to wreak havoc. This man was relentless. And yet, in the end, God used Paul to change the world.</p>

<p>When we add even a small addition to the Gospel we have no Gospel at all. This is what Paul is saying in the first verses of Galatians. We are free to follow Jesus and Jesus alone. We can't add good works, self-righteousness, traditions, churchianity, Christianese, or even our brand of doctrine to the Gospel. The Gospel is the Gospel all by itself. It doesn't need our help to improve upon it.</p>

<p>Have you ever heard of a person who made a complete turnaround in their life? Maybe you were shocked by the turnaround because this person seemed like a lost cause? Paul was that man. He was once called Saul and he made it his mission in life to kill Christians and crush the advancing Gospel of Jesus. That is, until Jesus met him on a road and told him otherwise.</p>

<p>What are your worries about tomorrow? What is on the agenda? What is bothering you? W hat gives you great concern? Is it your job? Your kids? Your lack of a spouse? The spouse that you have? Money? Success? What gives you great consternation? What seeds of doubt have been planted concerning the future. God makes promises about the future in the Bible. He tells us that there will be good times, bad times, and that ultimately, He will win, Jesus will rule, and we will be made like Jesus. It is a pretty great future when you think about it for a minute.</p>

<p>The doctrine of assurance is so important to the lives of Christians because it gets at the heart of the nature of salvation and of God's character. Our war with sin has been won already, but in the battles left to fight until we're glorified, Christians often get discouraged. One of the most unfortunate and darkest ends of this discouragement is when one believes that they are no longer under the grace that saved them in the first place. This is a horrible predicament, because they are left in a position where they still believe in the existence of God and his justice, but now feel they are under his judgment. This obviously can be completely debilitating in every area of life.</p>

<p>There is perhaps no more fertile soil for seeds of doubt than suffering. Suffering can produce feelings of animosity toward God, feelings of isolation, or perhaps a full-out denial of God. Psalm 46:1 says that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." This is true, and should bring us assurance. But the working out of this truth is hard, because we are temporal people who live our lives one day at a time. God's purposes in suffering usually take time (sometimes a very long time) to be revealed, and sometimes it never is fully.</p>

<p>Is doubt the enemy of faith? Is it a sin to doubt? Can doubt be a good thing? Is it okay for a Christian to doubt? Doubt can destroy us or it can lead us to deeper knowledge of God. Doubt can be the cause of anxiety or reliance on Jesus. To be sure, every human being that has ever walked the face of the earth has struggled through doubt, but Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith gives us good reason to lean into Him when we doubt.</p>

<p>If we want to do something well in life we have to discipline ourselves in order to become accomplished. Many in the church today have steered clear of devotions, prayer, and the spiritual disciplines. The reasons are many and varied. Yet the Scriptures make it very clear that in order to know God more we have to draw near to Him in prayer, worship, the Scriptures—we need to be disciplined.</p>

<p>Many of us have questions about the character and nature of God. Questions like "why does God allow evil to happen?", "does God know everything?", and "does God hear me?" all point to a deeper question of "what is God, what is he like, and how can I really know him?" The Bible addresses these questions and confronts us with Jesus' claims about how we can know God and be in relationship with him.</p>

<p>Many of us have questions about the character and nature of God. Questions like "why does God allow evil to happen?", "does God know everything?", and "does God hear me?" all point to a deeper question of "what is God, what is he like, and how can I really know him?" The Bible addresses these questions and confronts us with Jesus' claims about how we can know God and be in relationship with him.</p>

<p>We live in a terrific and fascinating age of science. We make new discoveries every day that effect our lives and how we look at the world. It is no secret that the Church has often clashed with science, especially when a scientific discovery seemed to conflict with the church's agenda, power over government, or influence over people. Even the brightest theologians have often made fools of themselves when confronted with scientific discovery. We will take a look at how God is the God of science and how all truth allows us to understand God more deeply and intimately.</p>

<p>This sermon was preached by Tom Harr from Faith Presbyterian Church <a href="http://(http://www.faithwilmington.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">(http://www.faithwilmington.com</a>) about how our sufferings as Christians lead to joy because of the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.</p>

<p>We spend so much time, money and resources on getting ready for Christmas. Most of us, by December 25th are ready for the big show. You are ready for Christmas but are you prepared for Christ? Christmas is a time of year when we can remember the birth of Christ but also look forward to his return. It's great to spend time with family and preparing for a special day of presents, family time and memories. But is your life spent preparing for the return of the Savior?</p>