Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

Pastor/Teacher - Jim RickardPastor/Teacher - Jim RickardSunday, December 26, 2010Sunday, December 26, 2010

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

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

Angelic Praise Announcing Angelic Praise Announcing

the Birth of our Lord!the Birth of our Lord!Part 2Part 2

Peace with God!Peace with God!

Luke 2:14Luke 2:14, , ““GloryGlory to God to God in the highestin the highest, ,

and peaceand peace among men among men of (of (God’sGod’s) good ) good

Will/Pleasure/Approval Will/Pleasure/Approval upon earthupon earth.” .”

Savior, Christ, LordSavior, Christ, Lord

Redeemer, Messiah, GodRedeemer, Messiah, God

In that day, shepherds were In that day, shepherds were considered to be at the lowest considered to be at the lowest

rung of the social ladder.rung of the social ladder.

In that day, shepherds were In that day, shepherds were considered to be at the lowest considered to be at the lowest

rung of the social ladder.rung of the social ladder.PrinciplePrinciple: God uses the : God uses the

humble to further His plan, humble to further His plan, not the proud and arrogant.not the proud and arrogant.

In Luke 2:12 He gave the In Luke 2:12 He gave the shepherds a sign, “A baby shepherds a sign, “A baby

wrapped in cloths, and wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.” lying in a manger.”

The lowliest of society The lowliest of society would find God in the would find God in the

lowliest of states. lowliest of states. Emphasizing the humble Emphasizing the humble

nature of Jesus Christ in His nature of Jesus Christ in His humanity.humanity.

John 1:14; Phil 2:7John 1:14; Phil 2:7

John 1:14, John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, only begotten from the Father,

full of grace and truth.”full of grace and truth.”

Luke 2:13-14, the “singing Luke 2:13-14, the “singing army” of angels proclaim army” of angels proclaim the glory of our Lord in the glory of our Lord in

response to the marvelous response to the marvelous act of God as expressed in act of God as expressed in the birth of the Messiah. the birth of the Messiah.

““In the highestIn the highest” ” The angelic herald in the The angelic herald in the heavens praise God as He heavens praise God as He

is the “Most High.” is the “Most High.” cf. Luke 1:32-33cf. Luke 1:32-33

““PeacePeace” = “SHALOM”.” = “SHALOM”.

The Savior was predicted The Savior was predicted as the Prince of Peace in as the Prince of Peace in

Isa 9:6.Isa 9:6.

Isa 9:6-7a, Isa 9:6-7a, “For a child will be born to us, a son “For a child will be born to us, a son

will be given to us; and the will be given to us; and the government will rest on His government will rest on His

shoulders; and His name will be shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7a7aThere will be no end to the increase There will be no end to the increase

of of HisHis government or of peace.” government or of peace.”

Real peace on earth exists Real peace on earth exists only among those who are only among those who are

the subjects of God’s the subjects of God’s goodwill, (i.e. those elected goodwill, (i.e. those elected

by God = all believers).by God = all believers).

God’s goodwill in sending God’s goodwill in sending the Messiah brought peace the Messiah brought peace

into this lower world.into this lower world.

Now that Christ has paid Now that Christ has paid the penalty for our sins, the penalty for our sins,

man can have peace with man can have peace with God. God.

Sin caused enmity between Sin caused enmity between God and man. But Christ has God and man. But Christ has

broken down that dividing broken down that dividing barrier so that man can be barrier so that man can be

reconciled to God and be at reconciled to God and be at peace with Him.peace with Him.

Eph 2:13-18Eph 2:13-18

God’s favor does not rest God’s favor does not rest on “men of good will,” on “men of good will,”

“for all have sinned and all “for all have sinned and all fall short of the glory of fall short of the glory of

God”, Rom 3:23.God”, Rom 3:23.

But in providing a Savior, But in providing a Savior, God has made it clear that God has made it clear that His favor can rest on all of His favor can rest on all of mankind if they would just mankind if they would just

believe. Rom 5:1-2believe. Rom 5:1-2

Rom 5:1-2, Rom 5:1-2, “Therefore, having been “Therefore, having been justified justified by faithby faith, we have , we have peace with Godpeace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ, through our Lord Jesus Christ, 22through whom also we have through whom also we have

obtained our introduction obtained our introduction by faithby faith into this graceinto this grace in which we stand; in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory and we exult in hope of the glory

of God.”of God.”

Jesus came to make peace; Jesus came to make peace; and this He did:and this He did:

1. By reconciling the world 1. By reconciling the world to God by His atonement.to God by His atonement.

2. By bringing the sinner to 2. By bringing the sinner to a state of peace with his a state of peace with his

Maker.Maker.

3. By diffusing through His 3. By diffusing through His word in the heart of the word in the heart of the believer universal good-believer universal good-

will to people. will to people.

John 15:13, John 15:13, “Greater love has no one “Greater love has no one

than this, that one lay down than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”his life for his friends.”

4. By diffusing the 4. By diffusing the principles of universal principles of universal peace among nations; peace among nations; which will be realized which will be realized during His millennial during His millennial

reign.reign.

How can we not respond to How can we not respond to such grace with worship such grace with worship

and praise!and praise!

“To us is born a Savior, “To us is born a Savior, Christ the Lord!!!!” Christ the Lord!!!!”

This is glad tidings to all.This is glad tidings to all.

Grace OfferingGrace Offering

Grace Fellowship ChurchSunday, December 26, 2010

Tape # 10-143

Worshipped by Angels upon His BirthThe Announcement of Peace with God

Luke 2:1-20; Rom 5:1-2; Eph 2:13-18; Phil 2:5-8; Isa 9:6-7    

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010