|
DATE |
CHURCH |
SUBJECT |
PREACHER |
BIBLE
REF. |
|
09.11.08 |
All Saints Church |
Jesus the Only Way |
Tony Higton |
Luke 1:26-38 |
|
I never cease to marvel at how favoured
Mary was. She was a young, unknown peasant girl living in a
small village in remote corner of the Roman Empire. Yet, to use
a Greek theological term, she was theotokos – the God bearer. I
wonder how much she took in of what the angel said to her. The
angel referred to:
Jesus the Saviour
His actual words were: “You will conceive
and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” (verse
31). “Jesus” in Hebrew or Aramaic means “Yahweh is salvation.”
This makes a hugely important point:
Salvation fundamentally is relationship. It leads to religious
and moral behaviour but it is primarily relationship –
relationship between an individual and God, relationship between
the Christian community and God.
That’s why the first and greatest
commandment is to love God wholeheartedly. Many people
(including some church attenders) have religion but don’t enjoy
a relationship with God. God holds out his hand constantly to
us, inviting us to take hold of it and to walk with him.
Salvation is relationship with God.
Then the angel referred to:
Jesus the Son
He said: “He will be great and will be
called the Son of the Most High.” (verse 32)
There is only one God but he is three
persons - Trinity. For all eternity, before the creation of
humanity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit
loved each other. They were united in that infinite and eternal
love. God is love
Salvation is being caught up in the love of
the Trinity. It is being caught up into the divine family and
experiencing that infinite, eternal love which has always
characterised God.
However, indescribable and ultimate pain
struck at the heart of the Trinity when Jesus, the incarnate Son
died in agony on the cross, bearing our sins. Such is God’s
redeeming love for us.
Finally the angel referred to
Jesus the
Sovereign
“The Lord God will give him the throne of
his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob
forever; his kingdom will never end." (verses 32-33)
Jesus is Lord, he has divine sovereignty.
Salvation is:
·
accepting the rule of God
·
experiencing the victory of God
·
enjoying the protection of God
always and in all circumstances.
Are you enjoying it? Are you enjoying him?
If not, take the hand he offers you and walk with him in faith,
trusting him always.
|
