Sermon Central
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The Message Of The Angels
Contributed by Jerry Flury on Dec 15, 2013 (message contributor)
Summary: We are familiar with the words of the message of the angels to the shepherds read in church services or recited by children in Christmas programs. But how many of us have ever thought about the depth and riches of truth revealed in the angels’ message?
The Message of the Angels
Every Christmas season we hear the familiar words of the message of the angels to the shepherds read in church services or recited by children in Christmas programs. But how many of us have ever thought about the depth and riches of truth revealed in the angels’ message? Do we really understand all that was said? Take a moment to consider the message of the angels.
I. It was a message of Good News
A. It was a message from a holy and righteous God, sent by a mighty angel; and it was a message of the gospel.
B. Verse 10 – “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings (Gr. evangelisto or good news) of great joy which will be to all people.”
C. The great announcement which the angels of heaven were about to utter was characterized by the angels as a message which will bring ‘great joy’ to ‘all people.”
D. The message is one of good tidings of great joy "which will be to ALL PEOPLE". It’s not good news will bring joy only to the shepherds alone or only to the house of Israel. It's good news to all people of all nations who will hear and by faith receive its message.
E. Concerning the One of Whom the message speaks, God said in Isaiah 49:6 “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
II. It was a message of a Savior
A. Verse 11a – “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior.”
B. Because of Adam man stands in need of a Savior. We were alienated from God and were alone, living under the curse of sin, until the light of Jesus broke into our world and offered redemption for those who dwelt in darkness.
C. Matthew 1:20-21 “...Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him (Joseph) in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
D. If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness and reconciliation, so God sent us a Savior. - copied
E. John MacArthur speaking one Christmas day said that “The church needs to get back to remembering that God sent His Son into the world to save His people from their...what?...their sins. That's the issue and a proper presentation of the gospel is to talk about that. That is precisely what is bound up in the announcement of the angel that the one who is born today and is lying there in a feed trough in Bethlehem one-day old is a Savior. And as the angel told Joseph, "Who will save His people from their sins." That's why you must name Him Jesus. The real destroyer is sin and the guilt for sin is a real guilt, not a psychological, artificial guilt, not a self-imposed guilt but God-imposed guilt that damns to eternal hell. It is from that that people need to be saved, rescued and delivered. And that is precisely what we must understand in understanding the gospel.”
F. Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
III. It was the message of the Christ
A. Verse 11b “Who is Christ”
B. The angel calls Him "Christ"; meaning "the anointed One". He is the Jewish Messiah; the Savior that God promised long ago in the prophecies of the Old Testament. He was the literal fulfillment of God's promise made in Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”.
C. Not only is He the king of the Jews as declared by the wise men in Matthew 2:2 “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him”; He is Messiah anointed by God as King of kings, the eternal Sovereign King, Ruler of all creation.
