God's Glorious Gospel

Providence Baptist Church

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to some people's frustration really is the darkest month

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I mean it literally is the darkest month of the year you have less daylight in the month of December than you do any any other month of the year

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I think January may be close but December the days are getting darker people studies have shown probably part of it has to do with Christmas and losing loved ones and stuff like that but this is a very high month for suicide depression things like that and and part of it has to do with the very fact that we live in dark days and yet these dark days are not just physical dark days are they turn on the news if you can stand it right get on social media if you can stand it there is a darkness there is depravity there is despair in our midst and what we celebrate this time of year is that what has happened in this very month what we're celebrating is that in the midst of darkness and depravity and despair light has come

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Ephesians chapter 6 it's fitting that in the very darkest moment of our year is the same moment that we celebrate the light of the world this morning from Ephesians chapter 6 verse 15 and then we'll flip over to Luke 2 and just later

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I want to talk about God's glorious gospel walking through the whole armor of God they have a beautiful phrase in our text and I want us to consider that so would you stand with me we honor the reading of God's Word last week we we looked at the whole armor in context we read the whole whole passage here so let me just read verse 15 comes in the middle of a sentence so not optimal but hear what the

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Spirit says and as shoes for your feet having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace father help us to understand the glorious gospel of Christ we pray that we would understand this morning why it's important not just for unbelievers but for believers we'd relish and rest and cherish in this this great and glorious gospel and then in our midst as I look out at these faces and I I see even my children and other families who have children who are unconverted

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I pray even today that they would hear Christ and be saved Lord you only you know the hearts of others who are in this room there are others who are perhaps here have given some sort of false profession of faith and are right now if they were to perish right now would be cast under your eternal judgment in hell but how good you are to them that you providentially brought them in this place this morning to hear your gospel

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I pray that they would take heed and repent and believe it Lord give me the grace

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I need I need so much grace help me to preach and articulate this right give your hearers grace to hear let us hear what the

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Spirit has to say and we pray it all in Jesus name amen you may be seated we're on the third piece of armor so if you are a visitor or you've missed the last 127 sermons or whatever we're in Ephesians and and but right now we've been the last few weeks we've been in the armor of God and we're walking through the pieces of the armor and so now we're here on the third piece that Paul gives to the church at Ephesus now remember verse 13 therefore

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Paul says in verse 13 take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand firm so we want to take up each piece we're gonna think well about each piece and then we want to see the armor as a whole we will put it all on and we want to consider it so we've seen so far the belt of truth putting on the objective truth of God as a foundation for everything else if we don't put on truth we don't have a foundation we've been talking about the breastplate of righteousness that ultimately we see the righteousness of Christ imputed to believers helps us to stand against the evil one and now today the shoes of readiness given by the gospel of peace now shoes are an underrated

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I think aspect if you think about armor your little kids you know dressing up in armor they don't think about shoes but if you look at the history of man and you see men in history like Julius Caesar or Stonewall Jackson or the

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Emperor Napoleon one of the things I'm not trying to bore you but one of the things that these generals were able to do well is they were able to move their forces from point

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A to point B in breakneck speed even surprising other forces how fast they got there and the way that they were able to do that is that their armies were well supplied with proper footwear so what

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I'm saying is the church is equipped with proper footwear shoes as it were that help us to stand firm shoes that are ready to do our

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King's bidding so we must not overlook these shoes now

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I tried to call this sermon this week there was some insubordination in the church I tried to call this sermon

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Christmas shoes and I was gonna have gunner sing the song Christmas shoes but he said no so it's probably for our betterment as a body so thank you brother but here we are now

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I think what we're going to do is we're gonna look at verse 15 over three sermons and we're going to consider this morning what is the gospel of peace next week will look like how is the gospel specifically connected to peace why does

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Paul call it the gospel of peace and then thirdly we're going to once we lay those foundations we'll look specifically at how the gospel of peace gives us shoes that are ready and prepared for spiritual warfare so and as shoes for your feet having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace now what

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I found interesting as I was just thinking through this text this week see if you see this it seems to me like each piece of the armor is either synonymous with the gospel or points to the gospel in some way it's almost as though Paul is just saying put on the gospel right like he could he could almost say it that way but think about it if you will we have the truth of the gospel the belt of truth we're to stand on the foundation of the gospel we have the righteousness of the gospel and now even this morning specifically the gospel of peace

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I think it's important to understand the armor this way because understanding the armor in this way puts the emphasis if you see the analogy in this way it makes it all the more beautiful in my opinion because it puts the emphasis upon Christ victory the armor that the church is donning is not so much about our doing so much as it is about what

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Christ has done for us what he has provided for the church and so then what the church is doing is just by faith believing what

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God has done for us and taking on these pieces of armor the church friends

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I'm saying needs the gospel too it's not just for unbelievers let me put it to you this way it is the gospel friends that helps equip the church we need so the church because of what

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Christ has done specifically verse 15 has good shoes we have ready feet we'll talk more about this but feet that are prepared and able

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I don't think it's just talking about evangelism like there's more here feet that are prepared and ain't able and we'll talk about that later but this week how is it that our feet are ready now look at the text how is it that our feet are ready and able and standing firm what is it that provides the readiness given to our feet how is it that our feet are ready to do the bidding of God and ready to stand firm against the evil one what is it verse 15 and a shoes for your feet having put on the readiness here's the text given by what the gospel the gospel of peace the gospel of peace this is kind of a different to think about it's the gospel of peace that prepares you for war right it prepares you to fight life is a battle you are either striving against God in this fallen world or if you are on God's side then you're striving against the world in the flesh and the devil haven't embraced the gospel of peace

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John Chrysostom put it this way if we are at war with the devil we are at peace with God you're gonna be at war with one or the other so the gospel of peace alone prepares the church to fight properly now some people are out there today they they avoid spiritual conflict they avoid theology debates they avoid confrontation over sin not because they are mature but because they don't understand the gospel they are not prepared they are not ready the more we understand the gospel listen church the more we understand the gospel the more prepared we are to fight the world the flesh and the devil so what we want to do in this sermon is understand

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God's glorious gospel and I just thought uniquely like it's just time as Providence it's the first Sunday of December our church is memorizing these verses and I actually think that these verses connect well with the gospel of peace

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I want us to look for the sermon really we're just going to look at Luke 2 so turn there now

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I think this connects well and I think it's fitting for this season Luke chapter 2 10 through 14

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Luke writes and the angel said to them fear not for behold

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I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people for unto you is born this day in the city of David a

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Savior who is Christ the Lord and this will be a sign for you you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger and suddenly there was with the angel multitude of the heavenly host praising

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God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased this morning

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I want to give you two overarching headings number one the gospel defined and number two the gospel delivered number one the gospel defined number two the gospel delivered and what we're trying to understand this morning is how the gospel is what provides the readiness of the shoes and we'll explain that more in the coming weeks but today we lay the foundation of the gospel so number one the gospel defined verse 10 of Luke chapter 2 says and the angel said to them fear not for behold

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I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people in Ephesians Paul calls the gospel the gospel of peace the word gospel literally means what you know this growing up what does the word gospel mean it means good news and so in Luke chapter 2 verse 10 look there

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I want you to see it in the text when when the angel says I bring you good news you see it so I'm you know different translations out there but that should be pretty close to whatever

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Bible you're reading says I bring you good news that is one word in the

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Greek and it's the word that we get the English word for evangelize so in one sense

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I love this in the first Christmas the angels are evangelizing the shepherds they are bringing the shepherds good news evangelism is intrinsically connected with Christmas isn't it now there are all sorts of things this morning that are good news

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I want to tell you some good news that happened to me last week I was looking I don't know why

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I came across this but maybe social media or something I came across a site an unclaimed property site the other day and it turns out you won't believe this about me

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I have an unclaimed $13 cashier's check from an old savings account that's pretty sweet that's

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I don't know what I'm gonna do with that $13 maybe buy a gallon of milk that's good news right but it's not the gospel right all sorts of good news that isn't the gospel what is the good news that the angels bring the shepherds the good news that the angels bring the shepherds is the birth of the

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Messiah we can summarize this good news from places like Romans 425 which says that the

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Messiah this Jesus our King was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification this is good news now suppose

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I say to you hey there's a guy at harps after church listen to me there's a guy at harps and he's giving away free kittens after church today for some of you that would be good news for for for rational people it would not be good news because cats are weird but for most of us we'd probably be like yeah whatever

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I don't really that doesn't apply to me now listen to me this is sadly how many people treat the gospel they treat the gospel is like yeah that's a cool thing that the guys down there giving away free kittens but I don't really care because it doesn't really apply to me they fail to understand the depth of its glory and many even who say that they embrace the gospel merely give a nod of their head to it and then they go on living their lives no differently than how their life is affected by the guy on the corner giving away free kittens right well what a great sin it is to disdain such a glorious gospel listen what we are saying here is this in the words of Charles Haddon Spurgeon the very object for which

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Christ was born and came into this world was that he might deliver us from sin the greatest problem that you have in your life is not your bank account it's not your medical report it's not some wayward family member the greatest problem that any person has in his life is that you have sinned egregiously willingly and persistently sin just means you've broken the law of God and you've done this over and over and over against a good and holy

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God and this God we've said it before God don't owe me nothing wrong he does owe you something what what okay what's he owe me justice the only thing owed to mankind is justice his eternal justice yet here's what we're saying in the gospel this

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God out of the overflow of his love and his mercy and his grace has given his son born of the

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Virgin Mary given his son to obey in all areas that we have disobeyed given his son to suffer under God's righteous wrath in our place to make by the blood of his cross and then given his son to rise again on the third day so that those who trust this wonderful King will have all their debts against him canceled and then be clothed in his righteous robes for all eternity in perfect fellowship with God and perfect fellowship with the church this is why the angels say

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I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people this is the gospel

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I understand that at this moment in history in Luke chapter 2 that all of that is not played out yet but this is why the angels are singing glory to God in the highest of verse 14

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RC Sproul makes this comment thought I would share it with you then suddenly there appeared a great company of the heavenly hosts the angelic army of heaven but this army that is often associated biblically with those who fight for God are not declaring war instead they are singing a song of peace glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests this peace is the transcendent peace which brings an end to the conflict between men and God to those who hear the message of the coming of the

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Messiah the war is over peace has become incarnated in the

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Prince of Peace who came to reconcile us with God if you get nothing else out of the message

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I hope that you hear this the true meaning of Christmas is not warmness in your heart when family is gathered hey

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I love family and family traditions we do a lot of fun things as a family it's not the true meaning of Christmas that's really more of a outflow

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I love cookies you can look at me and tell right I love

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Christmas lights but the true meaning of Christmas is that God was born in a lowly manger to live for to instruct to teach and then to die for to rise again for unworthy sinners this is the heart of Christmas good news of great joy for all the people now that's a foundational understanding much more we could say but we're going to move now to the second point because I think

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I can kind of flesh out some of that in the next point so that's the gospel to find secondly the gospel delivered the gospel defined the gospel delivered

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Paul calls the gospel the gospel of peace what I'm going to do is give you eight truths about the gospel of peace from our text let's read verse 10 and 11 again this will be our focus and the angel said to them fear not for behold

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I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people for unto you is born this day in the city of David a

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Savior who is Christ the Lord buckle up eight points sub points right that's that's a preacher trick so it's a two -point sermon right two points how do you fit ten points into two points well you put eight points under the second heading so now listen the first truth about the gospel

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I want you to hear is that it is positive number one it is positive here the angel says in verse 10 fear not now here's what

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I mean the gospel comes to sinners in a positive light in the sense that it does not come frowning upon us like the law but instead in mercy it proclaims to us terms of reconciliation right so listen

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God's law righteously condemns but the gospel forgives the law says you are unworthy you cannot measure up you have failed you have sinned you have no hope the gospel says

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Christ has done what the law could not do so the angel says fear not now

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I understand in context here it's the shepherds were frightened by the awful majesty of these angelic beings which by the way

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I think we probably get Christmas angels wrong right so the angels that you see and the angels that that you have in your home no one would be afraid of those angels right but the shepherds were like what is going on here right the angel says fear not and the reason he says fear not is because they come to comfort these men in the name of the one bearing good tidings now

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I do not mean to suggest to us this morning that there are not terrible warnings for those who reject the gospel and and I do not mean to suggest to us this morning that we should not have a right fear of God I simply am just pointing out here that the gospel comes to us in a positive manner it comes to the unworthy sinner who is undone to who has nowhere to go nowhere to turn the gospel comes and says look here here is hope here is light here is love look here and live it does not bring the terrible worldly news that says something like this you just man you just got to forgive yourself that's hot garbage self -forgiveness does nothing for your soul that is therapeutic mumbo -jumbo rather the gospel brings you this news not that you forgive yourself but that God will forgive you

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God not based on you but based on what Christ has done for you all your wrongs all your sins all your transgressions what you did at that party what you did that no one else knows about your misplaced affections your wrong motivations all your breaking of God's holy law the gospel comes in and says find hope healing reconciliation forgiveness redemption right here that's the gospel the gospel says come and receive mercy let me press that further in our next point the gospel is positive secondly the gospel is personal listen to this and the angel said to them fear not for behold

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I bring a general greeting of good news and that's not what it said what's it say

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I bring you good news verse 11 for unto just a general unspecified group no no for unto you is born this day in the city of David the

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Gospels personal listen not personalized there's only one gospel it will not be tailored to you friend and it will not be added to or taken away from but this gospel comes to each of us personally

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I bring you good news for unto you is born this day that is the gospel

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I'm telling us this morning is not just out there somewhere it is delivered unto us it comes to each one of us even this morning pressing for a decision confronting us with the decision let me illustrate this way

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Jesus says it this way in Mark 115 the kingdom of the time is fulfilled in the kingdom of heaven is at hand repent and believe in the gospel so here is light here is truth here is hope here is love here is peace don't overstretch this but it's delivered on your doorstep like a package if you will sender

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God recipient us that is if you reject this gospel is not because of something lacking in God it's because of your own sin and hardness of heart but the gospel is personal in the sense that it is delivered unto each of us and requires a decision from each of us what am

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I going to do with my sins what are you going to do with your sins what are you going to do are you going to ignore them are you going to excuse them well

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I just say I don't God understands or it's that person fault is my upbringing or it's because I live in Perry County or it's because I have access to alcohol or drugs or it's because my my parents did this to me when

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I was little so I'm not at fault are you gonna ignore your sins excuse your sins or are you going to take your sins to Christ verse 11 for unto you is born this day in the city of David a

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Savior who is Christ the Lord here it is delivered to the shepherds shepherds by the way right shepherds man

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I love the local church and I love little rural churches not that I have any sort of aspiration of wanting us to just stay little

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I praise God would would grow us in his providential will but I'm reminded as I pastor and there's nowhere else

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I want to pastor so pastor the people of Perry County in central Arkansas like this is who the gospel comes to he slowly shepherds these people that may be the rest of society and the rest of the world's like I don't even don't even care about them and here the gospel comes the gospel comes to them because the gospel goes out to all to the rich to the poor to the known to the unknown to the outcast unto all is this universal call come to Christ come ye sinners come and partake of God's grace come as the song says come and behold him born the king of angels come see his nail -pierced hands and feet behold now the risen lamb come and find hope and peace for your soul forgiveness of sins and the righteousness required to enter heaven come we will you listen to the

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Lord will you repent and believe in the gospel your hope this morning is not in ignoring your sin it's not in your making up for your sin you can't atone for your sin your only hope is what the gospel provides

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Christ who kept the law for us and died for lawbreakers and sinners and thieves and rose again look and live turn and be saved from sins oh what a terrible fate awaits those who refuse such grace so many in our county so many in our country maybe even there are some in this room stubbornly reject

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God's gospel breaks my heart yet God will still get his glory and his justice but for those who hear and believe those who will confess even today yes

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I want Christ those who repent and trust the gospel will have peace with God the gospel is positive it's personal you must make a decision thirdly it's praiseworthy

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I could spend many sermons on this but it's interesting for unto you is born is born

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God was born in a manger humble unnoticeable to the world and yet here's the

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Son of God truly God and truly man John Owen says this but this assumption of our nature into hypothetical union with the

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Son of God this Constitution of one and the same individual person in two natures so infinitely distinct as those of God and man whereby the eternal was made in time the infinite became finite the immortal mortal yet continuing eternal infinite immortal it's that singular expression of divine wisdom goodness and power wherein

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God will be admired and glorified unto all eternity friends this is the this is the glory of Christmas right

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God became man this is praiseworthy and all the more exhortation to receive this glorious gospel of peace how could you reject such a gospel what the law could not do what you would never do in and of yourself

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God has done every other religion right how do you get to God how do you get to God I got to say this

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I got to do this I got to do all these things that Christianity is God came to us

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Christian are you resting again in this glorious gospel of peace believer

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God has accepted you in Christ sometimes you have to feel like you have to put up this front can't be real with people can't be real about your sins and your struggles and your sorrows and your pain

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God knew all that and he saved you anyway rest in this gospel and to all of us let me say again the only way to receive this gospel is faith the gospel is not what you do it's what

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God has done for us in Christ by his incarnation his birth his life his death his resurrection the only way to receive this gospel is faith listen friends it's not meeting

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God halfway it's not you take a step God will do the rest it's all

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God faith alone it's not try your best and God will make up for what's lacking no your best is filthy rags our dear

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Lord humbly laid in a manger after his birth why would we think that we could receive him any other way but humble faith further

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I'll mention this if our Savior's birth displays humility how could the new birth of his people display something other than humble followers of Christ the

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Gospels positive personal praiseworthy fourthly oh yeah you'll like this one punctual when was

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Christ born for unto you is born when this day when the fullness of time had come

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God sent forth his Son the gospel is on time and it is always timely for poor needy sinners the

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Bible says things like this today is the day of salvation Christmas reminds us that God's timing is always sovereign he's never late this thought should also let us resolve not to let this moment this morning even passes by here is

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Christ before us come let us adore him today if you if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts this is the gospel of peace but it's only for those who receive

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Christ and the time to do that is now and can this also be an exhortation to share this gospel do you know what the best day is to share the gospel come on you know you're smart enough you got me

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I'm gonna let you answer what is the best day to share the gospel today is the best day to share the gospel today and let me speak a word to some of you with children or grandchildren or family members trust

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God's sovereign timing God brought forth his

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Son at exactly the right time as long as our children and grandchildren and family members who don't know

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Christ are breathing we can pray for them we can share the gospel with them we must share the gospel with them and then we can trust

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God's sovereign timing that takes much burden off of us the best day to evangelize is today the

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Gospels punctual fifthly this won't be a long point positive personal praiseworthy punctual fifthly prophetic the text says in verse 11 for under you is born this day in the city of David that's important probably worthy of more time than we can mention but Micah 5 2 says this but you

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Oh Bethlehem Ephrathah who are too little to be among the clans of Judah from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel who's coming forth is from old from ancient days so the arrival of Jesus in Bethlehem the city of David here should not have been a surprise it was prophesied the

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Gospels positive personal praise worthy punctual prophetic sixthly providing for under you is born this day in the city of David a

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Savior what terrible news the gospel would be is if instead of calling

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Jesus a Savior he was called a financial advisor or he was called a medical professional not that we don't need those things in our life sometimes but the thing that God provided is the thing that we need the providing because it gives us the thing we need which is a

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Savior I wanted to actually call this point propitiatory the gospel is propitiatory but yeah that's hard to spell right but the point is this the gospel provides what does the gospel provide the gospel provides a

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Savior did you know that in all of the four Gospels the title Savior is only used twice the title

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Savior so one is in John 442 when Jesus is called Savior of the world and the second time the title

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Savior is used it's right here in verse 11 for under you is born this day in the city of David a

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Savior but here is what the gospel makes clear the Bible makes clear is that the gospel provides for us a

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Savior who saves us from some thing we have this vernacular today are you saved right are you saved what do we mean by that well what we mean is the gospel saves us from the wrath of God that is righteously owed us because of our sins the gospel saves us from our sins

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Matthew 121 says she will bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus for he will not might by the way not maybe he will save his people from their sins well what

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Jesus saves us from is the wrath of God against our sins the law shows us that we are weak and guilty and unable to meet its holy demands the gospel shows us that Christ is strong and righteous and able and willing to fulfill all the law requires and then to offer satisfactory payment as the penalty for lawbreakers

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Christ alone is our only suitable and all -sufficient Savior the gospel is the gospel of peace because it's because it reconciles

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God it's not here to save us from bad Mondays or or I didn't make the football team or I'm not getting a raise this year or I'm having financial problems or I'm having health troubles the gospel doesn't come in and promise those things sometimes

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God blesses us with those things but the gospel shame on the foolish people are on the television saying send me money and God will send you blessings that's wickedness that's not what the gospel does it saves us from our sins friends the greatest problem you have is the very problem the gospel addresses that you stand before God in wretched and filthy garments he is too holy to look upon your sin he is too holy to sweep your sin under the rug he is too holy to laugh at or make an excuse for your sin and yet the gospel comes in and makes a way for God in his holy grace and beautiful justice and merciful kindness to atone for your sins in Christ this is the gospel friends it provides us a savior we owe

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God an eternal debt a debt that we could never pay a debt that many will suffer under for all eternity and hell but it doesn't have to be that way for you why because the gospel is providing it provides a savior a substitute who has fulfilled all righteousness who has become a wrath satisfying sacrifice and one who has resurrected in victory

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I'm just going to tell you I was reading a track this week from JC Ryle made a good point for some of you in here it quite possibly could be your last

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Christmas I hope it's not it could be that way for me

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I we're not even promise that we're gonna make it to Christmas this week when when

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Stephanie and I moved to Kentucky we were greeted by a very loving family and they took us in their home and this lady's name was

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Miss Hilda Franklin and we found out I believe it was yesterday maybe Friday yesterday it was this week sometimes she passed away very sad but that's the reality of life in this world it comes to an end and if you are not prepared to meet

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God based upon the merit of Christ you will be sorry that you heard this

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I'm not trying to say that to be rude or mean for you to hear and I'm not saying this is a great sermon

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I am saying that you're just you're hearing the gospel how could you reject such a

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Savior provided the gospel is positive personal praiseworthy punctual prophetic providing seventhly promise field the

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Savior is Christ you see that I'm just pulling this from the text for under you is born this day in the city of David a

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Savior who is Christ who is Christ he is Christ Jesus is the

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Christ Jesus is the anointed one he is the

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Messiah he is the promised one the whole Bible is about this man right the whole

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Bible is about this figure the Old Testament points to this person he is the serpent crushing seed of the woman that the

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Saints in the Old Testament were eager for waiting for longing for looking for and here he is here he is the angels say this is him you know all the people in the

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Old Testament of course they wouldn't call the Old Testament all the people in ages past waiting for the Messiah Moses and Abraham and David and Jacob and Rahab and Ruth and Naomi all these people looking forward to this promised one the one that would be born of the

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Virgin the one that would come and crush the serpent's head the one who would come and make his blessings flow far as the curse is found he's here he's here he's

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Christ and all the promises of God find their yes in this man in this

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God man the debt I owe this man paid the righteousness

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I need this man provides Christian look at all

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God has done for you in Christ look at his sure promises proven

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I want to tell you something if you're like me you know this is true there's so much anxiety that surrounds this time of year it's because we've let the world pagan eyes

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Christmas let me just mention it

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I think the war on Christmas is maybe some people make too much out of it but but really

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I think there is a war on Christmas it's not just about conservative values though it's ultimately about replacing

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God with the things that we've built we laugh at ancient civilizations oh those those pathetic imbeciles worshiping idols truck and then we kill someone over an iPhone right wait we sin in order to get the latest gadget friends what

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I'm saying is let this season point you to the promise field gospel like Mary let the church treasure these things in our heart

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God is for us in Christ Church God is for us in Christ and in the gospel

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God has given us himself and what you heard me say earlier God has provided our greatest need and if he has provided our greatest need can we trust him this morning to graciously give us all that we need but this hurts this it's painful not to be with this person in my family it hurts that this person has gone on and passed away

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I don't even know their eternal state it hurts and I wish I had more money I could I would want to be more generous

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I wish I could do it hurts we have a listen trust God he's provided your greatest need forgiveness of sins in Christ he will take care of his church even in ways that sometimes we don't fully understand it's okay we have a promise field gospel let the gospel of peace wash over your soul once again now the word you've all been waiting for a fleet the gospel is positive personal praiseworthy punctual prophetic providing promise field and finally these all start with a

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P powerful for under you is born this day in the city of David a

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Savior who is Christ the Lord the gospel is powerful because Christ is

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Lord he is not merely the church's Savior and friend he is

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King King of Kings the text literally reads this way in the original just the word order for born to you this day is a

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Savior who is Christ Lord in the city of David Christ Lord this is who our

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Savior is he is truly God none but God could save us he is truly man none but a righteous man could be our substitute he is

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King he is the promised one he is Lord of all he is Lord over all there's not a higher court of appeals outside of him all will answer to him and all will bow down before him his sovereign reign will one day eliminate all opposition casting demons and sinners into the eternal lake of fire and yet this morning this omnipotent

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King is the same one who invites us this morning to his table of grace is he where you have set your hope now

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I need to say this the fact that Jesus is Lord has some pretty important application

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I think up through how to say this right you do not have the right to reject him yes in there's a very real sense we can complain about words and argue yes the gospel comes as an invitation yes come come yes the gospel comes as an offer if you will but also in a very real sense that must not be overlooked the gospel comes to us as a command repent and believe in the gospel now we live in America and so are living in America for for 99 % of the people in this room who were born and raised in America I can't say all of us anymore but you know who you are but you have this mentality that you have the right to choose whatever religion you want to choose you have the right to follow

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God and whatever way that you want to follow him you have that right now constitutionally perhaps you have that right biblically and before God you do not have that right the king of kings and Lord of Lords bid you from heaven this morning to repent of your sins and to trust

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Christ to trust him to believe on him who are you to stand before God and say now

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I'm good right I'm just gonna go my own way what

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I'm trying to communicate to you is this there is great sin in rejecting the unbelief is not a condition it is a sin

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Christ is King he bids you this day believe on him for the eternal salvation of your immortal soul who are you to reject this is the gospel defined in the gospel delivered now our text from Ephesians 6 15 says and his shoes for your feet having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace this gospel it is only the gospel of peace that provides the prepared shoes the church needs to contend victoriously in spiritual warfare so I close with two exhortations one two believers believers look to the

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Lord look to Christ those who wait for Jesus will not be put to shame we may be ridiculed we may be scoffed at we may be reviled but as we await his return for his people we are reminded that he is coming soon and let us live for him while there is still day let us put all our hope in this wonderful gospel that we heard this morning and let us know the

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King is coming and he will take his bride to be with him to the unbeliever to the child to the adult to the hypocrite listen this is the gospel of peace that you have heard today and I hope that you realize this may be the last time you ever hear it but I tell you as an ambassador for this

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King that terms of peace are given to you peace with God peace for your soul it's not a negotiating table but the terms are laid out

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Christ has done this you now are bid to repent of your sins and to believe the gospel and if you will do that God is faithful to forgive you and to put you in the righteous robes of his

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Son and those who do close with Christ we know only do so by the sovereign grace of God so believers in this room would you pray even now for God to show his grace to any who are hearing this message that need