“Good Tidings of Great Joy” 12/26/2021

Galatians and Justification by Faith Alone

Well today pastor Jason will begin to read we'll read together a new New Testament book and so Galatians. Galatians chapter 1. Sets forth, of course the glorious Biblical teaching of our justification before God through faith alone apart from works.

And so this is a track against legalism. Galatians chapter 1.

Paul.

An apostle not from men nor through man. But through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead and all the brothers who are with me to the churches of Galatia. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age?

According to the will of our God and Father to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

I.

Am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel. Not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preach to you. Let him be accursed as we have said before. So now I say again if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received let him be accursed.

For am I now seeking the approval of man or of God or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I would have you know brothers that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.

For I did not receive it from any man nor was I taught it but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism how I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to destroy it and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people.

So extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my father's? But when he who set me apart before I was born and who called me by his grace Was pleased to reveal his son to me in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles.

I did not immediately consult with anyone nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me. But I went away to Arabia and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him 15 days.

But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother and what I am saying to you before God I do not lie. Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia and I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea.

That are in Christ. They were only hearing it said he who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith. He once tried to destroy and they glorified God because of me. Let's go to the Lord in prayer.

Heavenly Father when we read this account, we're reminded of our own lives. Where we once lived completely contrary to you. Contrary to your ways we lived according to the lusts of the flesh the lusts of the eyes and the boastful pride of life and Yet Lord you have saved us you have done a great work in us and Lord for that we rejoice.

And we pray Lord that as we continue our worship that you would direct us and guide us to the truth of your word. We pray Lord that these words would be made real in our lives by constant application of them.

So Lord strengthen us in your spirit and guide us in your truth. Thank you in Jesus name. Amen.

The Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem

Well, although Christmas was Yesterday and supposedly the season's over. I thought it appropriate this morning nevertheless to address a passage We've read to this infancy narrative already Together in church, but I wanted to address some of the details of it and the lessons of it for us and So let's turn to Luke chapter 2 and we'll consider the announcement of the birth of Jesus to some shepherds and What God had revealed to them and to us through them?

Regarding the birth of the Savior and So here is Luke 2 familiar words beginning with verse 1. And it came to pass in those days that a decree Went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

This census first took place while Corinthians was governing Syria. So all went to be registered everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David which is called Bethlehem Because he was of the house and lineage of David To be registered with Mary his betrothed wife who was with child and so it was that while they were there the days were completed for her to be delivered and She brought forth her firstborn son Wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the end.

Now.

There were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night and behold an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid and The angel said to them do not be afraid for behold.

I bring you good tidings of great joy Which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord and This will be the sign to you. You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger and Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and Saying glory to God in the highest in on earth.

Peace goodwill toward men.

So.

It was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherd said to one another Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing Which has come to pass which the Lord has made known to us.

And They came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen him they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child and All those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. And then the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as It was told them. General peaceful conditions existed in the world during those days that Luke refers to the days when our Savior was born.

And His birth, of course took place in the days of Caesar Augustus who ruled the Roman Empire from 30 BC until ad -14 and The Lord Jesus was probably born 4 BC to 6 BC thereabouts. We read that serenius was the governor of the Roman province of Syria, which included the region of Palestine.

And.

During these times that Pax Romana Which is Latin, of course for the peace of Rome provided security and a measure of prosperity for Roman citizens. But even non Roman citizens benefited in a measure from the peace of Rome.

The Emperor had ordered a census. The census was a registration with view to taxation. Each family was to register itself in its ancestral hometown. And when we consider this edict we might perceive cruelty on the part of Oppressors who require unreasonable demands of their citizens, but it was actually probably an accommodation to the Jews to do this to be registered in their hometowns to be identified with their ancestors and with the inheritance that was theirs and.

So actually this reveals a degree of Roman toleration toward the Jews to have them registered in this fashion. Joseph's ancestral home was Bethlehem meaning of course house of bread. It was the ancient city of King David from whom Joseph's lineage descended.

This couple traveled a long distance Perhaps about 90 miles from their current home in Nazareth up in the region of Galilee. Mary traveled with Joseph. There's some question as to whether she would have been required to travel to register perhaps not.

Joseph could perhaps have registered without her attendance. Perhaps it reflects Joseph's desire to shield her from the shame and ridicule. That some in their hometown had toward her. For Joseph and Mary, of course Had become married After the onset of her pregnancy that would have been well known in the community.

This was doubtless a difficult journey for Mary, but the Lord sustained her. For of course it was necessary that this baby be born in Bethlehem not Nazareth in Accordance with the Old Testament prophecy of Micah chapter 5 verse 2, but thou Bethlehem Ephrathah.

Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me. That is the root to be the ruler in Israel. Whose goings forth have been from of old from everlasting. We see displayed in these few details of Micah 5 2 and Here in Luke chapter 2 that this census was God.

God was in control over his creation and over this census. The timing and circumstances betray the providence of God. Which means of course God was working behind the scenes Shaping and controlling events in order to fulfill his will.

Caesar thought to tax the world. But in reality God had purposed to have his son born in Bethlehem and to have his genealogy to David officially recognized and recorded.

And.

Therefore the decree of Caesar went out Thereby accomplishing the decree of God concerning his son as one once wrote Princes are but puppets in his hands. He removes Kings and sets up Kings. And so we see the hand of God controlling the events to accomplish his purposes and We might just put an addendum here.

The same God who is controlling events in that day are controlling events in this day. There are no accidents in God's providence. He's working out his purposes to bring about the salvation of his people and the overthrow of his enemies.

In verses 6 and 7 we read that the term of Mary's pregnancy was completed and so she gave birth to her firstborn son and Having found no better Place suitable for him his parents laid him in a manger the feed box of an animal.

Mary wrapped him in swaddling cloth. Strips of cloth wrapped about the body of the newborn. To restrict his movements and keep him warm. This was consistent with the manner in which the poor cared for their newborn babies.

Although Joseph must have had relatives in Bethlehem. Apparently none afforded them a place to stay. Perhaps the relatives already were occupied with gas and there was no room but Could not room be found for this woman in this condition.

One would think so. Perhaps they were purposely refused a place because Mary's condition was generally thought due to immorality. Or perhaps Joseph did not feel bold enough to approach his relatives. After all she was about to bear a child.

But she had not had a husband long enough to justify a legitimate birth. Joseph and Mary were married months before but it was a hasty kind of arrangement. It must have been obvious to all that the betrothal period had been shortened due to her pregnancy.

Mary's reputation could not have been a good one in the eyes of Joseph's family. And so this was probably a stigma that Mary retained much of her life. For later even our Lord was subtly accused of being born illegitimately.

The Pharisees are recorded and so it had to been common belief or assumption. Recorded in John 8 41 we be not a fornication implying Jesus you are. The point of verse 6 is this. These few verses strike us with the starkness of the event the poverty of the couple and The loneliness and seeming abandonment of this couple by all others about them.

Jesus is a singular figure singular from his birth. Now in verses 8 and 9 the scene changes rather abruptly. Luke shifts from the manger scene to nearby fields where shepherds were grazing their flocks.

An Angel appears to the shepherds resulted in them being terribly frightened. But the words out of the angels mouth were a cause of great rejoicing not great fear. The shepherds were fearful. For they were but mortals and it was believed that a vision of heaven or of angels would Bring death to mortals because angels were the presence of God and to see God's face would have meant death.

Or so they thought. The angels were from the presence of God. No one could see God and live.

But the.

Appearance of the angel was a harbinger of hope to them not a sign of impending death. The angel was bearing good news on to them. Now let me stress to you the importance of the words of verses 8 and 9.

First by showing you that this is the emphasis of the entire passage the angels message to the shepherds and Then secondly by considering the substance of their meaning the meaning of the words. We read this is an entire episode verses 1 through 20.

And.

Although we might read the Statement about Jesus being born laid in a manger as being the principal point of the passage It really isn't the principal point. It's a detail that's leading up to the major thrust of the entire episode.

In the introduction of the episode in verses 1 through 5 we have basic elements of time are given characters identified for us by Luke. And there are seven episodes in Luke's infancy narratives. And this is one of them again, and so you have an introduction to the scene to the episode verses 1 through 5.

Then verses 6 through 9. We have the immediate setting described for the major emphasis of the entire episode and This of course describes the birth of Jesus.

A.

New time frame is given in verse 6 the time for the child to be born. A new location is identified in the fields. New characters are introduced the shepherds the angel who is then joined by a multitude of angels.

And so in verses 1 through 5 the basic information is provided. Verses 6 through 9 the stage is set for the announcement of the angel. Which is the main emphasis of the passage? All details of the episode point to the announcement of the angel recorded in verses 10 through 12.

And I didn't put it in the notes, but you can almost tell it's set forth in quotes. It is a quotation of the angels and this stands out within the entire episode. Here's the point of emphasis. We might say.

The angelic declaration of verses 10 through 14 are the central emphasis of the passage. And so although the record of Jesus's birth is in verse 7 the primary emphasis of the entire passage is the meaning of the birth principally to these shepherds and the circumstances to the shepherds in the fields as declared by the angels and.

So let's consider the message. First as to its substance and then as to whom it is given the shepherds. The initial message of the angel to the shepherds. The angel announced to the frightened shepherds fear not.

For behold, I bring you good news of a great joy, which shall be for all people. For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you.

This will you will find a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger. And so the angel first told these shepherds there was no reason for them to fear God. Why. Because unto them was born a Savior Christ the Lord.

Now, let's consider this initial announcement of the angel. The shepherds were not to fear for unto them was born first a Savior Who is Christ the Lord? They were fearful for they were sinners and they knew it.

But it was for this very purpose that the child was born into the world he would be the Savior of sinners. This baby was born not so that they would be condemned, but rather that they might escape Condemnation.

Fear not for a Savior has been born to you. This one was born into the world for the purpose to deliver sinners from their sin and from God's just punishment upon Sinners, he was a Savior. Do we fear God due to our sin.

We need not if we humbly come to our Savior to pardon and deliver us from that which defiles and condemns us. This is a cause for great joy. Is it not fear not because born unto you is a Savior. God stooped down that he might pick you up as a sinner.

He became a Savior to do for you what you could not do for yourself. And so as coming into the world was not to condemn man, but to save him from a fate that he had brought upon himself. Secondly, the shepherds were not to fear for unto them was born a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Emphasis now on Christ. Jesus is the Christ meaning of course the anointed one Old Testament. He's a Messiah New Testament Christ. They're one in the same the anointed one. This means that he was called and equipped by God his father to secure the redemption of his people.

He was appointed equipped enabled. And so the name Christ or the word Christ is actually an adjective means anointed. It depicts God's calling and equipping of Jesus of Nazareth to accomplish God's work of salvation in you.

If you come to him. This indeed is a cause of great joy. You of course have no power to make yourself acceptable before God nor does anyone other than this man Jesus Christ have this ability. He's the anointed one.

He is the Christ the one anointed Appointed by the Father and equipped by the Holy Spirit to obtain the sinner's salvation. Now more specifically the term Christ speaks of our Lord being anointed to his threefold office.

And by the way, it was John Calvin who first Identified this down through church history 16th century. First we were in need of Christ as a prophet to reveal God to us and Of our sinful and condemned standing before him.

Christ as a prophet does that. Second we were in need of a priest to intercede with God on our behalf and make a sacrifice for our sin and Third we were in need of a king To subdue sin within us to lead us and preserve us unto his heavenly kingdom and When we speak of Christ being anointed, it's being anointed appointed called equipped for this threefold office.

God the Father anointed our Lord Jesus to perform this threefold function on our behalf in him alone. We're all these duties entrusted and he alone was equipped to execute them our prophet priest and king.

In the Old Testament, there were examples of men and dude with two of these three offices. We read of kings who were also prophets such as King David. The Old Testament records of a king who was also a priest Melchizedek back in Genesis 14.

There is also a priestly prophet Samuel. But only our Lord Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows to possess a threefold office. To execute on our behalf and thus he is our priest.

Having sacrificed himself on our behalf and he lives to apply the benefits of his sacrifice to us. He is to us our prophet who declares and reveals the will of God to us. He's our teacher and he is our king who delivers us leads us and protects us and provides for us.

And so he is always all we need and I love the little children's catechism. I've quoted this I don't know how many times over the years, but it's simple and it's true to the point. The child has asked why do you need Christ as a prophet.

Answer because I'm ignorant. Question why do you need Christ as a priest. Answer because I'm guilty. And Third why do you need Christ as a king. Because I'm weak and helpless. That capsulizes the whole Meaning of Jesus as prophet priest in King.

And so here is a true king who could bring true peace between God and his people. He's equipped to do just that. To bring peace to one's soul upon the knowledge that he's at peace with God. And you can't truly have peace unless you know you have peace with God.

There's a lot of false peace. No earthly king can bring this kind of peace to this degree. An ancient writer described he was a Roman. He described Caesar. While the Emperor may give peace from war on land and seas unable to a piece of compassion from grief and envy.

He cannot give peace of heart for which man yearns more than even more than outward peace. And he was right, but Christ Jesus Christ can provide that. And so our Savior can and does bring peace for all that come unto him in their needy condition and look to him in faith.

And then thirdly we see the shepherds were not to fear for unto them was born a Savior who is Christ the Lord with emphasis on that word Lord. This is extremely significant in verse 9. We read of an angel of the Lord.

In verse 15 the shepherds desire to relate the news that the Lord had given them through the angel and. Then in the angels message we have do not fear. I have news of great joy for born unto you as a Savior Christ the Lord.

The Lord is a reference to deity to God himself. God himself has been born unto us. We have described to us by the angel the incarnation the union of God and man. Which can only bring great benefit for you if you are a believer if you're a sinner.

Who is a believer for unto you this child has been born? Jesus is one with us his people. And so if you're a child of God you need not fear for God is one with you. That gulf that had been so vastly set between the creator and the fallen human race through sin was bridged.

In the person of Jesus Christ the Lord. God intends good for you believer, but only believers. He's become one with you he's become so much in union with his own that God the Father Regards believers just as he regards his son.

If you're a Christian a true Christian God loves you as much as he loves his son Jesus Christ. Because he sees you in Jesus Christ. We're accepted in the beloved one Jesus Christ. He's one with us and then therefore we need not fear.

As one wrote whether Christ living or Christ dead Christ buried or Christ risen Christ ascended in Christ enthroned. God sees you there with him. If you're a true believer in Jesus Christ God doesn't see you in your sin.

God sees you in the Savior. You're in union with him. When Christ was nailed to his cross all the elect of God were nailed with him. Paul could write I have been crucified with Christ. And When Christ lay in the grave his people were with him.

When Jesus came forth from the grave his people came forth with him. When Jesus Christ ascended and was seated on his father's throne his people were enthroned with him. That's what Paul wrote in Ephesians.

We're seated together in Christ in heavenly places. We're in Christ. And so why should I fear if I'm clinging to him? Why should you fear if you're in him? For though we are sinners still We may be bold enough to say that we're now seated on the throne of God in union with our Lord Jesus.

We are co-heirs with him heirs of God children of God. We do now sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus our Lord. This should certainly be a cause of great joy for you and for me. Shouldn't it? If we're in Christ.

Well, that's the message now. Let's consider the recipients of the message. These were special men. Now, let's see that though the announcement in one sense appears to be quite general and universal. In another sense, it's quite specific and restricted.

Christmas cards have been circulated by many of those who are not the Lord's people with this very passage embossed in gold and glitter. Do not be afraid for behold. I bring you good tidings of great joy, which be would be to all people.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who's Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to You you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger. But to whom is this promise given?

To whom do these words apply? And we would assert that within the account this episode the message was intended for these shepherds and For all people like them. These men were lowly men. They were shepherds.

Shepherding was not regarded as a noble profession in biblical times. In fact shepherds were under a rabbinic ban the ban of the rabbis not being allowed to participate in the religious observances of the temple.

For shepherds were viewed as a lowly people occupying a lowly occupation in isolation. They were regarded as lowly by others and they would have no doubt regarded themselves as lowly. This was the lowest strata in the community in society these shepherds.

Shepherds were regarded as socially lowly. Shepherding was not viewed as a desirable occupation. The poorest of people would be shepherds. They lived unsettled lives traveling about with their sheep. They lived apart from most other segments of society.

They are regarded as filling an essential role. Somebody had to do it, but it was not an important role. Anybody could do it. Because they lived about the local communities. They were not involved in the social life of those communities.

They were viewed with suspicion. Shepherds were generally regarded as unreliable and thieves socially. Nobody respected them. Secondly shepherds were regarded as religiously lowly as well. And what we mean by this is that they were excluded from the religious life of the community.

The nature of the work prevented shepherds from being regarded as ceremonially clean and as a result They were excluded from religious gatherings and temple ceremony. They weren't permitted. The occupation itself was despised by the populace.

These shepherds must have regarded themselves as others regarded them lowly both socially and religiously. They were on the outside. To them, how could it be any different? Nevertheless, these shepherds did have a unique religious occupation.

These shepherds there at Bethlehem. Although lowly had a unique responsibility for it was in these fields. The sheep were raised and kept. They were destined to be sacrificial sheep in the temple. Jerusalem was just seven miles away.

It was a duty of these shepherds to watch over these flocks destined for sacrifice. They were to inspect them continually for their fitness for such a purpose to be offered as sacrifices before God. And so here we see these shepherds these inspectors of spotlessness.

Called upon by God to go and inspect this child. Lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling cloths. The point is this these shepherds probably viewed themselves as excluded from the promises of God. As Jews they would have known of the promises obviously they knew their history as a nation.

They knew Israel sin as a nation had incurred God's wrath. The nation had repeatedly violated God's laws. The people had disregarded God's rule over them. They had forged an existence which was in accordance with their own desires rather than doing the will of God and God had judged the nation severely for doing it and Yet even in the nation's rejection of God God held forth a promise to the nation that he would send a Savior who would save them from their sins who would bring full pardon for their sins so that the full blessing of God would be upon them.

And Based on the promise of God the nation, of course waited in hope. But these shepherds must have felt excluded from these promises. Perhaps they did not feel they had a share in this whole this participation in God's coming salvation.

Because they were a lowly and sinful band of men God had promised to send a Savior to their nation Israel. The message of the prophets was known the Messiah the Savior would be born in Bethlehem the city of David for the Messiah would be a king as was David and.

These shepherds would have been uniquely aware and continually reminded of the promises again they dealt with the sheep that were going to the temple and So as they exercise special oversight and care Sending the sacrificial lambs and sheep to their slaughter the awareness of their own sin would have been great I suspect and the promise of God must have been vivid to them.

These shepherds were lowly men in the eyes of others and lowly in their own eyes. Others regarded them as sinners. But shepherds regarded themselves as sinners also. They were vividly aware of their sin and the penalty of sin which the temple sacrifice of animals taught the people and so it was to these lowly shepherds specifically and directly and To all kinds of people like them and that's what the the the expression all people means all kinds of people like you shepherds that the message of God's Salvation came.

God sent his angel to speak to these men and ones like them this message and I'm paraphrasing Do not be afraid for behold. I bring you good news of a great joy Which will be for all the people even the disenfranchised those who had formerly no part the lowly the humble the sinners.

Can rejoice for today in the city of David that had been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you. He's talking to these shepherds. You'll find a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger.

You'll find him to be as one of you lowly humble in poverty. He is to be a Savior for you and such as you. Glory to God on the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased. And so he is the kind of Savior to the humble and needy.

He signals good things to them. So, how do you stand. Are you one on whom the favor or grace of God rest. You see your need for a Savior and. Is your faith and hope centered in this one in whom God has entrusted the responsibility to save you.

You don't save yourself. You believe on him to save you because you can't do it yourself. And so we may trust that we are Sinners and we have seen that we've confessed our lowliest state having placed our faith in this Savior of the lowly.

That's to whom this message was sent. Well, then we can consider the praise and the pronouncement of the multitude of the angels. After the angel communicated his message to the shepherds he was joined by a multitude of angelic beings.

Who in a united voice gave great praise to God and a great declaration to this fallen world. And so here are verses 13 and 14. Suddenly there was with with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host. Praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on peace on earth peace and goodwill toward men.

Again these words of the angels are some of the most often repeated during the holiday season. These words are heard frequently. They're seen frequently. The expression is on many of our Christmas cards.

One can read the same on billboards. It's frequently stated in the media. Usually at the beginning of a commercial break you see these words come on the screen. They're taken from Luke 2, but they have they're they're conveyed with a different kind of message.

One which infers That global peace is desire. Rather than the peace that God made possible and realized with sinners through the life Death and work of Jesus and so the original intent of the message designed to announce peace.

Now available between God and guilty sinners who Jesus Christ has been perverted and transformed. Into a politically correct statement about the desire to stop war. Well, let's consider the words in their original context.

Which was the declaration to some shepherds? From a host of angels. Glory to God in the highest and on earth. Peace goodwill toward men. First what the message does not suggest and is not meant to convey.

First it does not mean that God intended to cause war to cease between nations. Before Jesus Christ comes. It's not a statement about world. Peace. There is no promise in the Bible that there will be peace in this world between nations this side of the second coming of Christ.

In Fact the opposite of peace is the rule. There will be wars and rumors of wars that characterize this age. Jesus himself declared that in Matthew 24 Luke 21, I think mark 13. And it's important. We understand this if the message of the angels was to mean that God intended to bring a general state of world peace between nations in this age through the birth of Jesus Christ and God has shown to have been well intentioned but quite incapable.

Capable to bring to pass his intention and that's not the God of the Bible. Is it? It must be concluded that God desired the best. This is the kind of theology you'd have to conclude. God hoped for the best gave forth his best effort.

But his design had been frustrated. Peace didn't break out in the world. The creature checked the Creator and so one would conclude rightly from that Doctrine that God is impotent. But it's never been God's purpose in the course of history of this fallen world to end all warfare.

God has never intended that the nation cease to fight between themselves or else they would have done so. Secondly the message does not mean that God intended that Christians would be at peace with everybody.

This certainly cannot be so and we know this from at least two solid reasons. First the Lord Jesus his own words. The Lord himself declared that the Christian would never have peace in this world. He declared in the world.

You will have tribulation. This entire church age is a period of tribulation. Oh Yes, it gets worse at different times than at other times. Maybe it'll get worse for the second coming. I don't know. Also in John 15 We read if the world hate you, you know.

It hated me before it hated you. If you were the world the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I've chosen you out of the world. Therefore the world hates you. Doesn't sound like peace there.

Here the Lord clearly declared his people will be hated by those who are the world because they belong to him. A state of hostility exists between the people of God who are truly living for Christ and those who are opposed to him.

The state of hostility breaks out frequently in war and. Of course spiritual warfare even enters the family. Luke 12 51. Jesus said do you suppose I came to give peace on earth? That's a rhetorical question implying.

No, of course. I didn't I tell you not at all. But rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided. Three against two. Two against three. Father will be divided against son. Son against father.

Mother against daughter. Daughter against mother. Mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law. Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Here we see it was not even the intention. We're calling of Jesus Christ to bring peace in families.

In.