This is the third sermon from our preaching series titled “The Church: God’s Dwelling Place” based on the study of 1 Corinthians.

To recap, our goal in studying 1 Corinthians is to lead our hearts to love God and love people.

Last Sunday, Jinson preached a sermon called “Defining Church,” where he emphasized that “The Church is a People.” In today’s sermon, we will explore who these people called the Church are, as we examine the passage from 1 Corinthians 1:4-9.

To provide some context, Paul is writing this letter to a troubled church dealing with conflicts and problems. Soon, you will see him using strong language to correct their wrong behaviors and attitudes towards God and each other.

However, in his opening statements, he uses remarkably positive words to identify them in a way that I believe provides insights into the individuals he refers to as “church” in this letter.

I imagine that the letter was possibly read in a church where there was a mixed crowd listening to it. Therefore, the way in which Paul addressed the crowd with few specific indicators suggests that he was filtering out the people he actually wanted to talk to.

He could have simply said ‘the believers in Corinth,’ leaving room for speculation that he was addressing everyone attending service that morning or evening. However, he chose to specifically call out those he identified as true believers and followers of Christ.

This letter was not a mass communication intended for a large group of people, but a very specific letter written for a specific group of people. Jesus would do the same whenever he saw large crowds following him for the wrong reasons and motivations. He would say something off-putting, such as “unless you hate your mother, father, brother, wife, children, and even yourself, you cannot be my disciple.”

Friends, just as filtration was necessary in the past, it is equally important in our churches today. Unfortunately, for various reasons, many churches are afraid to speak the truth to people. These important indicators are either completely ignored or misinterpreted, which ultimately leads people astray for personal gain. I believe that such actions would not be approved by God.

These indicators help us identify and verify true believers for several reasons: spiritual accountability, fellowship and community, discipleship, church leadership, church discipline, unity and doctrine, worship and communion, and more. While we can delve into specific details on each of these aspects, today I want to focus on how they can enable believers to examine their hearts, affirm their faith in Jesus, and find encouragement. For those who are not yet believers, these indicators can help open their hearts to God, allowing Him to forgive, save, and welcome them into the wonderful family of God.

The first indicator we notice in Paul opening statement is that the people called church are the ones to whom…

1. Grace is granted in Christ & enriched in all speech and all knowledge

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 1:4-5

1 Corinthians 1:4-5 (ESV)

“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge.”

Of course the people called church are the ones who have received the saving grace of God that enabled them to repent of their sins and put their faith in Christ.

Let’s also read Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV):

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

These verses from Ephesians highlight the foundational truth that salvation is a result of God’s grace, not our own efforts or works. It is through faith in Jesus Christ that we receive this gift of salvation. This aligns with Paul’s message in 1 Corinthians, where he emphasizes that the people called the Church have received the grace of God in Christ Jesus.

But Paul also goes on to say, “that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge.”

If you are wondering what that statement means, let me explain. In those days, the ability to speak clearly and express ideas about faith with clarity and articulation was highly valued in Greek and Roman culture.

Around 600 BC, a new way of thinking emerged in Greece, before Christ was born. Prior to that, people believed in various mythical stories to explain life and the natural events that occurred around them.

In the nomadic culture, they believed in Thor as the God, and it was believed that his hammer protected them from all evil. However, a group of people started questioning such stories and became curious to find the real truth. As a result, reasoning became quite popular.

Around 500 BC, a great philosopher named Socrates appeared on the scene in Athens, Greece. He would meet people and engage in reasoning with them, especially on the topic of faith, which eventually led to his death. His disciples, Plato and Aristotle, continued his legacy.

In this context, Paul is stating that believers not only receive saving grace in Christ Jesus but are also enriched in speech and knowledge, enabling them to articulate their faith to others.

The articulation of faith does not refer to the ability to deliver an eloquent speech, but rather to explain one’s understanding of the Gospel. This involves answering questions about who we are as sinful humans, unworthy of God’s love due to the disobedience of our forefathers in the garden of Eden. It also involves understanding who God is, a loving and gracious Father who loves the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for us. Through repentance of our sins, putting our faith in Christ Jesus, we can be reconciled to God.

Just as it was important for people in the past, it is also important for us today. Imagine asking someone who regularly attends church about their faith and receiving vague responses such as “it feels good at church,” “the people are cool to hang out with,” or “I go because my parents or relatives go.” Would these answers be sufficient to confirm that the person is a true believer in Jesus? The answer is no.

Why? Because unless they can clearly explain their understanding of the Gospel, it is difficult to confirm or affirm them as a true believer in Jesus Christ. A true believer is someone who can express their faith through speech and knowledge. The second indicator which we see in Paul opening statement that helps us identify the people called church are the ones …

2. Confirmed & Approved by others

Look with me 1 Corinthians 1:6

1 Corinthians 1:6 (ESV):

“even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you”

In this verse, Paul mentions that the testimony about Christ was confirmed among the people he is addressing. This indicates that the people called the Church have received and affirmed the testimony of Christ and of the faith community.

Anyone can explain things in theory, but is it possible for a person to say all the right things and hold exactly opposite views? Yes, it is possible, not only in the past but also in the present. Therefore, the testimony of such a person needs to be confirmed and approved by others in order to consider him or her a true believer of Christ.

There are two ways in which we can do that. Firstly, by observing him walking in obedience, and the first step to that is the public profession of their faith through Water Baptism. The second way is through discipleship.

A true follower of Christ, the people called church are the ones who are confirmed and approved by others. The thirds way Paul mentions a true believer is that fact that he or she has been …

3. Gifted by the Spirit to Serve

Look with me at 1 Corinthians 1:7 and see what he writes

1 Corinthians 1:7 (ESV):

“So that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus
Christ.”

In this verse, Paul assures the people called the Church that they are not lacking in any spiritual gift as they eagerly await the return of Jesus Christ. This indicates that believers are endowed with various spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit to serve and build up the Church

Also look at 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (ESV):

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”

The people called the church are those who are gifted by the Spirit to serve God and others.

Our act of service, regardless of the manner or scale, is an indication of the impact of the Gospel in our lives. A true believer can never claim to have no gift to offer and therefore should not remain idle and useless.

We should all use our God-given gifts to serve, edify, encourage, and motivate one another, bringing glory and honor to God.

The fourth and the final indications of true believers are that they are …

4. Sustained by God

Look with me at verse 1 Corinthians 1:8-9

1 Corinthians 1:8-9 (ESV):

“who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In these verses, Paul assures the believers that God will sustain them until the end, keeping them guiltless on the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the faithfulness of God, who called them into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

As true believers, we can find comfort and assurance in the fact that God is faithful and will provide the strength and support needed to remain faithful until the end. It is through His grace and faithfulness that we are called into a deep and intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 40:29 (ESV):
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”

A genuine follower of Christ will always cling to this truth and rely on God’s sustaining power as they continue their journey of faith.

When life becomes difficult and we encounter trials, temptations, wounds, and various forms of suffering that ultimately bring us closer to God, a false believer of Christ will quickly flee. However, a true believer will remain steadfast and hold onto Jesus, knowing and believing that it is God who sustains them.

Conclusion:

In light of what we learned today, I want to encourage you to be willing to do these two things, not just today, but for the rest of your lives:

• Acknowledge and appreciate God’s work in our lives through Christ.
• Fully surrender and commit to His will and purpose for our lives.

At the same time, be attentive to those around us who may be struggling in their faith. They might find it challenging to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their lives, or they might be on the verge of taking the step of obedience through water baptism and confirmation by others. They could also be struggling to identify their spiritual gifts and utilize them for the glory of God, or they might be finding it difficult to completely trust God during challenging times. Offer them encouragement and support, helping them to grow closer to God on their journey of faith.

May God bless you.

Good morning church. Hope 2024 has been treating you alright so far. Just wanted to welcome everyone who has joined us today both in the hall and online.

We kickstarted a new sermon series from 1^st Corinthians last week titled The Church: God’s Dwelling Place and I’m really looking forward to seeing how God’s going to use His Word to shape us in this coming year.

I came across this article online which was referring to the state of churches in Europe. It said “across Europe, churches and other Christian religious buildings stand increasingly empty.

These empty churches are being repurposed. That means they are being changed into other things like hotels, sport climbing businesses, and even dance places.

Supporters say the changes remove the need for costly repairs and care of the buildings. But critics say such changes raise ethical concerns.”

Now the reason I brought this up is to make us pause & ponder on this question on “What is the church after all? How do we define “church”?” How we answer this question has deep practical implications for our lives.

So what we’ll try to do is answer this not from our felt experiences but from Scripture. In fact, this is one of the reasons why Paul begins the letter in v1 saying “Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus”.  

As an “apostle” or an “ambassador” of Christ Jesus, he has a weighty responsibility that is on him to communicate what Jesus wants to say and not air his personal opinions on “church”. He is responsible to transmit and relay God’s Word through this letter.

How do we define “church” from this passage?

1. The church is a People (v2)

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth,

When we read V2, one thing that stands out to us immediately is that the word “church” doesn’t seem to be referring to a building but rather to a People.

Look at the way Paul addresses the church in v2 – he addresses them as “the church of God that is in Corinth”. In other words, “the church which meets in Corinth”. If Paul wrote a letter to us, he would refer to us as “the church which meets at DN Nagar”. The language is clear – the church is referring to a People and not a building!

And for many of us, that is a radical shift in mindset, right? Because we’re so used to saying things like “Let’s go to church” or “Come to church”. Sometimes we’ll say, “church is between 10am to 1pm Sunday”. So it’s usually defined in terms of a church building or a meeting time. And now to see this verse tell us that “The church is a People” is a radical shift in mindset and perspective.

Now take a minute to ponder on what this implies: it’s implying that God’s presence is no longer confined to a building or a meeting time but a People!!

That’s countercultural for us not just today but also for those who are aware of the Old Testament. In the past, God’s presence was in fact tied to a building. His presence was confined to the Temple – specifically to the “Most Holy Place” section within the Temple.

And that section wasn’t frequented or accessed by anyone and everyone. The High Priest would be allowed to enter the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people so that God could continue to inhabit among His people. So God was around His people but with restricted access.

But with the coming of Jesus, it was a paradigm shift in understanding God’s presence. In fact, one of the names given to Jesus at His birth was “Emmanuel” which means “God is with us”.

And this idea of God’s presence being with us reached its culmination when Jesus died on the cross, because it says that “and behold, the curtain of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom” (Matt 27:51) symbolizing how the way was made for us to access God’s presence without any barrier or restriction.

Now no longer was God’s presence going to be confined to a building or a Place, but God’s presence was going to dwell among His people – His church!!

And the reason why that matters is not just to change our language or the way in which we refer to the church, but it has deep practical daily application.

If the church is no longer confined to a building or a meeting time, then we could be sitting together at a coffee shop or a restaurant or someone’s home or a movie theater and the church would be gathered there.

Now off course, we wouldn’t have a full-blown worship service in these spaces but make no mistake about it, the church is there and if the church is there then God’s presence is there as well.

And this radically changes the way we think and live our lives not just within the four corners of this hall but outside it as well.

This understanding means that I’m not only called to live a holy life not just on a Sunday Gathering or when I’m with my GC or DNA group but also from Monday to Saturday when I’m at the office or college or my neighborhood where I spend most of my awake hours.

This means that I’m called to live a holy life while I’m chilling socially with my friends who aren’t part of my church. This means that I’m called to live a holy life even when I’m alone no one else is with me.

This should remove that pressure to live two different kinds of lives. Moreover, in all these spaces which we generally refer as “secular”, the church has a calling to be “an open door” to invite others to be part of the church.

There are so many people in our lives and the city who aren’t part of the church – no problem. We’ll go to them – we’ll bring the church and God’s presence to them – because the church is not a building or a meeting time – the church is a People.   

2.The church is Global and Local

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

When we look at the last part of V2 where it says “those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” – it’s referring to the Global church or the universal church which consists of followers of Jesus from every corner of the earth.

But the first part of the verse refers to a local congregation – a specific group of people at Corinth which should tell us something – that although we all are part of the Global church of God the moment we become believers in Jesus, but yet it needs to have a local expression – we need to be connected to a local community of believers whom we know personally and also who knows us personally.

The importance of the local church has also been diminished especially in this age of internet where we can basically access the livestream of any church service across the globe.

There’s nothing wrong with watching or listening to sermons from other churches, but it’s important to make a distinction for ourselves that it’s not supposed to replace our membership or connect with a local church but just supplement it.

I might be listening to the best pastors in the world, but that can’t replace the need to be part of a church which has a loving family and pastors who know me and care for my spiritual life and also likewise where I’m able to also know and care for them.

Another argument is to realize that there are about 59 commands in the NT which we’re called to do in the context of a local church. Love one another, be devoted to one another, honor one another above yourselves, build up one another, admonish one another, care for one another, forgive one another, bear each other’s burdens, be patient with one another, teach one another, comfort one another, pray for one another….and many more.

It’s hard to ignore the point of these verses – which is that we need to be closely and intimately connected with a local church as a prerequisite to be able to obey these commands.

And I think this should also check our tendencies sometimes to keep moving from church to church (church hopping) because church hopping isn’t part of God’s design. How can we bear with each and build each other up without being committed to a local church. God intends for us to be committed long term to a local church unless it stops preaching the Gospel or unless God’s provides clear missional reason to move to another church.  

But not only is the church a People & not only is the Global and Local,

3.The church is a Redeemed People

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

Look at the way V2 identifies those who belong to the church – those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints & call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s break this down one by one.

i)Sanctified in Christ Jesus: Sanctify means “to purify” and “to be set apart for the Lord’s purposes”.

By using the word “sanctify / purify”, he is assuming that there’s something in us which needs purification. There is something impure which needs cleansing.

The Bible calls that as “sin” which is anything that we think, do or say against God’s character and will including our thoughts. Jesus said “everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery in his heart”.

And this is just one among the infinite number of sins we’ve committed in our lives. That’s why Romans 3:23 declares “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.

That’s our sinful condition and this has devastating consequences. Romans 6:23 “for the wages of sin is death”. So the problem with us is that we are extremely sinful and worse pronounced spiritually dead.

Which is why Jesus’ sacrifice is so precious. Because by His life, death on the cross and resurrection, He purified us from all that sin, restored our condition to being alive and now gave us a new purpose to be set apart for Him alone. Imagine a broken-down vessel at home which has been perfectly restored and beautified so that it can be used now.

ii)Called to be saints: This word “saint” stood for me as I read it.

Because when we read through the letter of 1st Corinthians, the problems and issues that they struggled with don’t necessarily align with being saints. This was a church that struggled with division, sexual immorality, idol worship and theological confusion.
It was an imperfect church like every other church but still they are called “saints”…how come? Is God just hiding their sins under carpet? How are they saints?
And then we realize the beauty of what Jesus did for us on the cross. He didn’t just cleanse us, He handed over His own righteousness to us so every time God looks at us – He doesn’t see sinners but “saints who resemble His Son Jesus”.

iii)Call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: The third aspect of the church is that they are people who have made Jesus their Lord. He is not just their personal companion or friend, He is their Lord, Master and Owner.

Because if Jesus Christ is our Lord, Master and Owner, then I can’t hide any area of my life from him.
If Jesus Christ is our Lord, Master and Owner, then I can’t be still sitting on the throne of my life.

If Jesus Christ is our Lord, Master and Owner, then He determines how I need to live my life, what my goals and ambitions in life are, where I need to live, where do I work, where do I play and enjoy, whom I need to marry, how I respond to people…everything falls under the remit and authority of Jesus Christ.

And when we invite people to follow Jesus, we are inviting them not just to befriend Jesus but to come under the Lordship and authority of Jesus.

And as a church that’s what we need to constantly remind each other of – that He is your Lord – He is your Master – He is your Owner – you can’t be living lives on your own terms because you’ve given it to Him.

And here’s the thing – He knows how to run your life better than you because He is the One who created you. And also He is One who saved you. Don’t fight His authority…submit to Him!

In Mumbai you’ll find different kinds of fellowships – people who have a common interest and enjoy some hobby together – there’s football fellowship (for those who love football), there’s chess fellowship, there’s music fellowship, there’s hiking and trekking fellowship and so many others…so is the church any different than that?

What brings us together isn’t our common interests or our common background or common personalities…is that we are sanctified in Christ, we are called to be saints and we all call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is our collective identity.

That’s why it doesn’t matter if we have a building to meet in or not. Tomorrow if rules change and we’re not able to meet in this hall, we would still alright because God’s church is a People, it is both Global with a local church expression and consists of Redeemed People who come together not on the pretext of a common hobby or not because we like listening to the same worship music – we are all sanctified and saints in Jesus and have Jesus as the Lord of our life.

This Sunday, we are starting a new series called “The Church: God’s Dwelling Place”, and we will be studying from 1 Corinthians.
Let me briefly share some of the academic reasons why 1 Corinthians is important for you and me:

1. Theological Insight:
   This epistle provides theological insight into various topics such as the nature of the church, the role of spiritual gifts, and the significance of resurrection.
2. Practical Guidance:
   It offers practical guidance on real-life issues, moral dilemmas, interpersonal conflicts, and questions about Christian living.
3. Cultural & Historical Context:
   It teaches us about the early development of Christianity in a different cultural and historical context.
4. Spiritual Growth:
   It teaches us what spiritual growth looks like and provides teachings on various human values.
5. Church Dynamics:
   It instructs us on how to handle disagreements within the church and emphasizes importance of diversity within the community.

There is a significant amount of academic knowledge, but there is a problem. Unfortunately, this academic knowledge has resulted in divisions within the church. Since 1 Corinthians covers a wide range of topics, people have developed different opinions and perspectives. However, instead of complementing and respecting each other’s views, some churches have drawn strong conclusions and created divisions among God’s children. This is not right and it should concern us. Therefore, as we begin studying 1 Corinthians at Gathering, we want to focus on different goals that I believe were also Paul’s original intentions when he wrote this letter to the Church in Corinth.

During that time, the church in Corinth was experiencing turmoil and chaos, with divisions among people regarding leadership, moral and ethical issues, and more. Paul’s purpose in writing this letter was to redirect their hearts towards God. He wanted to help them realize that above all else, they should prioritize loving God and loving people. Paul clearly articulates this in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (ESV):
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

These words carry great significance as Paul reminds us that loving God and loving people are of utmost importance.

Therefore, as we begin our study on 1 Corinthians, I urge you, brothers and sisters, to make the goal of our study to love God and love people. Continuously ask yourself how each truth is helping you love God and love people. If that is the goal, then I believe we will successfully meet the objective of this series.

Perhaps some of you may be thinking of approaching me and Jinson to hear our opinions on certain topics discussed in this book. I would like to encourage you to feel free to approach us and ask challenging questions, but please do so with love and for the sake of love. That is my only request.

Additionally, let us be open to respectfully disagreeing on certain matters, as it is possible that we may hold different views. At Gathering, we refer to these as openhanded issues and closed-handed issues. On open-handed issues, we can have differing opinions and still remain united. However, if certain issues are considered closed-handed, we should feel the freedom to take different paths while maintaining
mutual love and respect for one another.

By the way, the Love that we are talking about is the ‘Agape’ Love, the unconditional, selfless & divine love.

Since we will be focusing on loving God and loving people, in today’s sermon I want to talk bout the importance of love. I want to share 6 reasons why Love is important so we can keep in mind as we begin our studies on 1 Corinthians.

1. Reflects God’s Nature:

The Bible teaches that God is love (1 John 4:8).
“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Therefore, embodying love, which is an essential aspect of human nature, is widely regarded as a profound reflection of the divine nature and character of God. It signifies the deep connection between individuals and the divine, emphasizing the importance of love in our lives and its transformative power to bring us closer to the divine presence. The Gospel reflects God’s love in several ways:

1. Sacrificial Love: The Gospel demonstrates God’s sacrificial love for humanity, as seen in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, God showed His immense love for us, willing to give up His Son to save us from sin and offer us eternal life.
2. Redemption and Forgiveness: The Gospel reveals God’s love through the redemption and forgiveness it offers. Romans 5:8 states, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Despite our sinful nature, God’s love extends to us, providing a way for our sins to be forgiven and for us to be reconciled with Him.
3. Unconditional Love: The Gospel demonstrates God’s unconditional love for us. In Romans 8:38-39, it says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God’s love is not based on our performance or worthiness, but it remains constant and unchanging.
4. Restoration and New Life: The Gospel shows God’s love by offering restoration and new life to those who believe. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” God’s love brings transformation and the opportunity to experience a renewed relationship with Him, giving us hope and purpose. In summary, the Gospel reveals God’s love through sacrificial love, redemption, forgiveness, unconditional love, and the restoration of a new life in Christ. It is a
   powerful demonstration of God’s love for humanity, offering salvation and eternal hope.

2. Greatest Commandment:

Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend
all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus summarized all the commandments in the law as love for God and love for neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). This means that love is not only a virtue, but also the guiding principle for all our actions and decisions. Love encompasses compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and selflessness. It is the driving force behind acts of charity, justice, and mercy.

3. Unites Believers:

Colossians 3:14 (ESV):
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

Love is not only important but absolutely crucial for fostering and nurturing unity, peace, and a sense of togetherness within the Christian community. As stated in Colossians 3:14, love serves as the foundation upon which the entire community thrives, grows, and flourishes. It is the driving force that binds all believers together, creating a strong and unbreakable bond that withstands any challenges that may arise. Without love, the Christian community would be lacking the very essence that makes it a true representation of God’s love and grace. Therefore, it is imperative that every member of the community embraces and practices love in all aspects of their lives, ensuring a
vibrant and harmonious fellowship that brings glory to God and spreads His message of love to the world.

4. Evidence of Faith:

John 13:35 (ESV):
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Love is widely regarded as a tangible and visible manifestation of one’s unwavering faith and devotion, serving as a clear indication of being a genuine and committed follower of Christ, as emphasized in the biblical verse from John 13:35. This profound concept highlights the significance and importance of love as a fundamental aspect of living a life that reflects the teachings and principles of Christianity, providing believers with a compelling and irrefutable testimony of their faith and dedication to their spiritual journey.

5. Transformative Power:

Love, with its profound and transformative nature, possesses the remarkable ability to bring about profound changes in both individuals and societies.

It serves as a catalyst for forgiveness, fostering a sense of understanding, empathy, and compassion. Love has the power to heal wounds, repair broken relationships, and promote reconciliation, enabling individuals and communities to move forward and embrace a harmonious coexistence. Moreover, love inspires selfless action, motivating individuals to contribute to the welfare of others, to engage in acts of kindness and generosity, and to create a positive impact on the world around them.

Through its boundless capacity to touch hearts and minds, love emerges as an extraordinary force capable of shaping the course of human existence, transcending barriers, and fostering a sense of unity and interconnectedness among all beings.

6. Eternal Value:

1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV):
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

While other gifts and achievements may cease or lose their significance, love is enduring and is portrayed as the greatest of the spiritual virtues (1 Corinthians 13:13). Love transcends time and space, connecting souls in a profound and everlasting bond. It is a force that knows no boundaries and has the power to heal, inspire, and transform.

Love is the essence of our existence, the fuel that drives us to be compassionate, kind, and selfless. It is through love that we find meaning and purpose in life, and it is through love that we can truly understand and appreciate the beauty of the world around us. Love is not just an emotion, but a state of being that encompasses empathy, forgiveness, and acceptance.

It is a beacon of hope in times of darkness, a guiding light that leads us towards unity and harmony. Love is the thread that weaves through the fabric of humanity, connecting us all in a tapestry of compassion and understanding. It is a gift that we can give and receive, a source of joy and fulfillment that enriches our lives in countless ways. So let us cherish and cultivate love in our hearts, for it is love that brings us closer to our true selves and to one another.

Conclusion:

As we conclude, let me encourage and urge you to keep in mind the significance of loving God and loving people as we study 1 Corinthians.

This is the final sermon from our Advent series titled “God’s Glory Revealed.” To recap, we began with ‘Glory Promised,’ where we were reminded that it all started with a promise in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned against
God and were separated from Him, He promised to restore the broken relationship. In our sermon ‘Glory Anticipated,’ we discussed the waiting period and the reminders from God through prophecies. And in our last sermon, ‘Glory Witnessed,’
we witnessed the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, who came to give us joy and peace. In today’s sermon, ‘Glory Fulfilled,’ we will explore the following:

1.What did God accomplish through the sacrifice of His Son?
2.How does this change and impact the lives of believers?
3.What should be our response to Him?
The passage we are looking at is 1 John 3:1-3
The answer to the first question “What did God accomplish through the sacrifice of
His Son?” is

1. He Established his unfathomable love for us by inviting us into his family (1 John 3:1)

1 John 3:1 (ESV)
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
This grace and favor showcases God’s glory in His benevolence, mercy, and love. The transformation of believers into children of God is a powerful testament to His redemptive work and His desire for a relationship with humanity.
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Glory Fulfilled – 1 John 3:1-3 2
This verse from Romans 5:8 highlights God’s love for us. Even while we were still sinners, separated from God, He demonstrated His love by sending His Son, Jesus, to die for us. This act of sacrificial love is a powerful testament to God’s grace and mercy.
Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV)
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”
This passage from Ephesians 2:4-5 emphasizes God’s mercy and love towards us. Despite our sinful state, God, in His great love, made us alive together with Christ
and saved us by His grace.
“God’s glory is seen in His willingness to bridge the gap between the divine and the human.”
Imagine reconciling with your worst enemy, someone who may hate you deeply. Imagine approaching that person willingly, even though you are blameless and have never done anything wrong. Picture yourself offering them your best gift, embracing them, and pleading for reconciliation. Furthermore, envision yourself welcoming them back into your life with open arms. Isn’t it difficult to imagine doing such a thing for our earthly enemies? However, this is precisely what God did for us. We were His enemies, yet He offered His best gift, His son, as a sacrifice to reconcile with us.
Galatians 4:4-7 (ESV)
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

This passage from Galatians 4:4-7 highlights the purpose and significance of Jesus’ birth. It emphasizes that God sent His Son into the world at the appointed time to redeem those under the law and to grant them adoption as sons. Through this adoption, believers become heirs of God and have a close relationship with Him, calling Him “Abba! Father!” This is another powerful testament to God’s love, grace, and the transformation that takes place in the lives of believers. The fulfillment of God’s glory through Jesus’ sacrifice and the establishment of believers as children of God is a remarkable demonstration of His love, grace, and desire for a restored relationship with humanity.
And this is how it’s now impacting our lives

2. He is now transforming us into the image of his son Jesus (1 John 3:2)
   1 John 3:2 (ESV)
   “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be
   like him, because we shall see him as he is.” The promise that believers will be like Christ when He appears again points to the
   ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan for humanity. This transformation and the realization of this hope reflect God’s glory, demonstrating His power to change lives and fulfill His promises. The eventual revelation of believers in their glorified state is a testament to God’s victorious and transformative power.

“God is glorified not only when we are justified by faith in Christ, but also in the transformative journeys of his children.”

Similar to a parent who not only celebrates the birth of their child but also continues to rejoice as they witness their child’s growth and maturity, God also takes pride and glory in observing the transformative journeys of His children. Here are how God transforms us into the image of his son Jesus Regeneration & renewal through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:5 (ESV)

“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration
and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”

This verse from Titus 3:5 emphasizes that our salvation is not based on our righteous works but is a result of God’s mercy. It highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in the process of regeneration and renewal, which is essential for our transformation into the image of Jesus.

Renewal of the mind
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the
will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

This verse from Romans 12:2 emphasizes the importance of renewing our minds and not conforming to the patterns of this world. Through the transformation of our minds, we can discern and understand God’s will. This renewal is an ongoing process in our faith journey, allowing us to align our thoughts and actions with what is good, acceptable, and perfect in God’s eyes.

By Engaging us in Spiritual disciplines
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that
the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
This passage from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 emphasizes the importance and usefulness of Scripture in the life of a believer. It states that all Scripture is God-breathed and serves various purposes such as teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. By engaging with the Scriptures, believers can be equipped and prepared for every good work, enabling them to grow in their faith and reflect the
image of Jesus.

Through trials and testing

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces
steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
This passage from James 1:2-4 encourages believers to consider it a joy when they face trials of various kinds. The testing of their faith produces steadfastness, leading to maturity and completeness. It highlights the transformative nature of trials and the growth that can occur through them, ultimately shaping believers into the image of
Jesus.

Community & Accountability

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

This passage from Hebrews 10:24-25 emphasizes the importance of community and accountability among believers. It encourages them to consider how they can spur others toward love and good works. Meeting together and encouraging one another is vital, primarily as the return of Christ draws near. Through community and accountability, believers can support and challenge each other in their faith journeys,
contributing to their transformation into the image of Jesus.

nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

This passage from John 13:14-17 highlights the importance of humility, servanthood, and obedience in the lives of believers. Jesus, as their Lord and Teacher, demonstrated humility by washing the feet of His disciples and set an example for them to follow. He emphasized that they should also serve one another in the same manner. Jesus taught that a servant is not greater than his master and that obedience to His teachings brings blessings. By practicing humility, servanthood, and obedience, believers reflect the character of Jesus and bring glory to God.
To conclude, God is glorified when his children embark on transformative journeys and align themselves with his Spirit, allowing him to work deeply in their hearts. Our response should be to …

3. Pursue purity on account of our new identity in
   Christ

The encouragement for believers to purify themselves, just as Christ is pure, reflects God’s glory in moral and spiritual terms. Believers strive to live in purity and righteousness, reflecting God’s character and bringing glory to Him. The process of sanctification, where believers grow to be more like Christ, is a personal journey and a demonstration of God’s work in the world. To do so, we have to grow in dependence on God.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV):
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
This verse from 2 Corinthians 3:18 highlights the ongoing transformation that believers experience as they behold the glory of the Lord. As they fix their eyes on Him, they are being transformed into His image, growing from one degree of glory to another. This transformation results from the work of the Lord, who is the Spirit. It further emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s role in sanctification and the continuous growth of believers.

Conclusion

In light of what we heard today, here are a couple of New Year’s resolutions I recommend as we approach the new year. By keeping these resolutions in mind, we allow God to transform us into his son Jesus’s image and bring him glory.

1. Daily Devotion – Prayer / Bible reading
2. Stay connected with other believers – Community, Church, DNA meets
3. Find opportunities to serve
4. Share your faith with others

Good evening everyone. Merry Christmas and a warm welcome to all who have joined us in the hall and tuned in online as well. We’re glad you’re with us and we pray that everything that is being done here today would serve you well and draw you nearer to Jesus. 

During the month of December, we’ve been going through a short sermon series titled God’s Glory Revealed – and what we’ve been seeing is that among all the festivities, food and family gatherings, let’s not miss the point of Christmas. 

The point of Christmas is about God revealing His glory to us through His Son Jesus – God revealing His character qualities, His beauty, His worth through His Son Jesus. Before I begin, I’d love to pray for us.

On the 19^th of November this year, the world had witnessed a major spectacle. Yes, it was the Cricket World Cup final between India and Australia. We won’t talk much about the outcome of the match, but nevertheless it was a major spectacle.  

Over 1 Lakh people watched the match live in the Narendra Modi stadium. Everyone who was a somebody was there present at the stadium from SRK to Asha Bhosale. Our PM and HM were also present for the match. And this was just within the stadium – on TV there were about 300 million people who watched the match live. And despite this just being a sporting game, it garnered such huge attention and media coverage. 

And yet, if we go back a little over 2000 years ago there was a history altering moment which took place – when God sent His Son Jesus to the earth. This was the most glorious event in all of human history. All of the Jews in the OT eagerly waited for this to happen and yet it happened in obscurity. 

It wasn’t published anywhere. It had no coverage. It wasn’t attended by heads of state or religious leaders of that time. In fact, the invitees for this event were ordinary shepherds. But they witnessed glory!! And so today we’ll be following the journey of these ordinary shepherds to understand what was this glory that they witnessed with their own eyes. Maybe there are some take aways for each of us as we follow their journey. 

1. Joy (v8-12)

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

The passage starts out by describing these shepherds who were on a night shift. Until this moment, they didn’t even know that they were invited. 

And then an angel of the Lord appears to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and the verse tells us that they were “filled with great fear”. 

And maybe that’s an automatic reflex action – the moment we realize that we’re in the presence of God (Holy God), our reflex action is fear thinking “I’m in big trouble, I’m in danger because I’m sinful, I’m unworthy”.

But the response of the angel (representing God) is so interesting. The angel responds by saying “Fear not” – don’t fear. 

(Parents / kids) And the reason for not fearing is because the angel came as an agent to bring good news of great joy! And this good news of great joy was not just meant for these shepherds or a specific group of people alone. 

This good news of great joy was meant for “all the people”. Which includes everyone in our family. Everyone in our neighborhoods. Everyone in our workplaces. Everyone in our city. Everyone in our country. Everyone in the whole world.  

And then in v11 – the angel goes on to describe this good news of great joy. He said that in the city of David (Bethlehem) a child was going to be born who is a Savior, Christ and Lord.

• Savior: Someone who was going to save, rescue & deliver
• Christ: Anointed One, Messiah who was promised in the OT
• Lord: Supreme authority, Controller, Master, Ruler

And so in that way of describing Jesus, the angel was basically dropping a hint on what Jesus was coming to do. He was coming to save and rescue us from something. 

Some kind of serious trouble that we’re in, and Jesus was coming to save us from that. He was the one was expected and promised right from Genesis. He was the one who will be the supreme authority overall. 

And just as the shepherds heard that, I’m sure they were expecting this to happen in a palace. They would have expected to be invited to the “Buckingham palace” of the day. 

But to their surprise and astonishment, they are told that this Jesus who is Savior, Christ and Lord would be found in a stable. 

And instead of a nice, comfortable cushion, Jesus was going to be placed in a manger – which is basically a feeding trough for animals. 

And I can imagine them being taken aback by that. I wonder if they asked the angel to repeat the sign again because it doesn’t make sense. 

As confusing as this seems to be, God was telling the shepherds and all of us, that His Son Jesus was not coming to this world to Lord it over us. He was coming to humbly serve us – even if it meant being embarrassed and humiliated by sleeping on a feeding trough for the first night on the earth. 

He has not come to make you afraid, He has come to give you Joy. He is Your Savior and Lord. He’s not come to enforce His authority over you. 

He has come to serve you by humbling Himself no matter what the cost. In all of this – I can see that here is our God who is not finding reason to go away from us, but is  drawing near to us and that’s why it brings us Joy…Great Joy.

But not only does it bring us Joy, it also brings us

2. Peace (v13-14)

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”[d]

Just right after this encouraging message by the angel, a multitude of heavenly host break out into the most amazing Christmas carol song. 

Last night we had such an amazing time singing Christmas carols (with the mic, sound and music) and now think about what it might have been to have witnessed a choir filled with all the heavenly hosts singing songs of praise. I can imagine the shepherds being speechless witnessing all of this. 

And now take a look at what they were praising and singing.   V14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”[d]

They start by praising the greatness and uniqueness of God. (Glory to God in the highest) He is all-powerful. He is all-wise. He is all-knowing. There is nothing in all of creation which can be compared to Him. 

He is of a different league altogether. And even as the song talks about the greatness and uniqueness of God, it tells us that God has come to make peace among those with whom He is pleased.

And let’s ask ourselves – who is God pleased with? The one who reads His Bible everyday? The one who attends church every week? The one who doesn’t use foul language? The one who doesn’t drink? The one who doesn’t smoke? Who is God pleased with? 

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:7,8)

We simply cannot please God in our sinful nature – no matter who we may be – we might be super-spiritual like the Pharisee or unspiritual like tax collector – either way we are on the same boat – we cannot please God. 

And so that poses a big problem. So if we cannot please God, then how is God going to maintain peace with us? That’s the problem right? 

Which is why Jesus had to come. Jesus came to the earth so that He could live the life which we needed to live but couldn’t live. He lived a perfectly pleasing life unto God. 

Then when He was 33 years old, He died the death that all of us deserved to die as enemies of God. Imagine if you or I were a hostile enemy of the king of the land (monarchy), what do you think would have been our judgment? 

Jesus took that punishment upon Himself and died as our representative – our substitute on the cross. 

But he was pierced for our transgressions;

    he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

    and with his wounds we are healed. (Isa 53:5)

He was buried and on the third Day He rose again so that whoever may repent of their sins and trust in Jesus’ work for them would now be “made” pleasing to God thereby maintaining a permanent relationship of peace between us and God. 

So not only does it bring Joy and Peace but is also evokes 

3. Praise (v15-20)

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Let’s remember that the shepherds were still on their night shift. They are supposed to guard the flock but upon seeing this great sight and proclamation from the heavenly hosts, they immediately leave for Bethlehem and found that things to be exactly how it was described to them. 

And V20 mentions that they returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told to them. 

That was their response to the birth of Jesus something so marvelous that they witnessed. 

Let’s take a moment to pause and ask ourselves – as people who are on this side of the cross – where we’ve not only seen Jesus’ birth but His death and resurrection, what should our response be to the good news of Jesus? 

Shouldn’t we be praising and glorifying God in response to who Jesus is and what He came to do for us? And if we are not experiencing that sense of joyful praise in our hearts, could it be that we’ve allowed other things of the world or anxieties to steal that from us? What is God calling us to repent of today? 

Or maybe we haven’t yet believed in Jesus and today as we’ve heard that good news of Jesus, our hearts have been moved to realize that our need to repent of our sins and trust in Jesus’ work for us and make Him our Lord. Then here’s the opportunity to do that today in response to the good news. 

Good morning church and those watching on Zoom. We’re back on Sunday and we’re back to our Advent series. And we’re one week away from Christmas. When someone would ask what I remember about Christmas growing up I always said biryani. Because my mom would make biryani around Christmas time. But nowadays I’m realising that it’s not just good food I associate with Christmas but good weather too. At least for us Mumbaikers. All throughout the year we have extreme heat, then humid rains then more humidity post-monsoon and finally November comes along and we have good weather. It’s not too hot neither is it too cold, it’s like a perfect balance. And also, our electricity bill comes down during Christmas. That is a Christmas blessing. You’re not using the AC and we’re using the fans less, so there’s a beautiful low amount on the electricity bill.

And another thing about the days leading up to Christmas is just simple excitement we have. Maybe you’re looking forward to time off work, you’ve got a holiday planned, or a family visit or a nice get together with others in the city, or a simple time with family and friends. And maybe in some of your offices there’s a slowdown, colleagues are soon to leave or left for holidays, clients are on leave, the agencies you work with are also slowing down. I’m sure many can relate to the feeling of excitement and building anticipation when the day your leave starts looms closer.

And this feeling of anticipation has been going on for several hundreds of years, even back in ancient Israel. Of course, they weren’t anticipating the December Christmas. But they were anticipating a promised Saviour. A Messiah that would deliver them from all their enemies.

You know a long time passed since Israel last heard any kind of prophecy. History tells us that around 400 years passed between the last prophecy and Jesus’s birth. During these 400 years the world change in significant ways. Israel was ruled by Persia. Then Alexander the Great came along, defeated Persia and promoted the Greek culture. Then Alexander the Great died and then Israel was ruled by Antiochus Epiphanes, who brutally persecuted the Jews and did not allow any religious freedom. After that the Romans came into the picture. They taxed the Jews heavily and controlled all they did. The Jews by this time have all the hope in them squeezed out. The only thing they’re clinging on to is that one day, a Messiah is going to come and deliver them from their enemies. It’s prophesied in the Scripture that they have, which is the Old Testament for us. There are passages like Jeremiah 33:16 which says that Jerusalem will live securely and Judah will be saved.

Jer 33:14-16 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”

It goes on to say “17 “For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, 18 and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever.””

It goes way back in Genesis 49:10

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him;[a] and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”

This is a brief backdrop into the setting we find ourselves in. This is where Mary is. Where Elizabeth is. We can safely assume that Mary knew the prophecies of the coming Messiah.

And when she goes to Elizabeth and calls her blessed then she breaks out in a song of praise, probably understanding the Lord’s promise is being fulfilled.

In her response we see why we should also break out in a song of praise, why this passage is good news. In fact, this passage shows us our utterly helpless condition and what God did about it that will leave us thanking Him.

So what are the things we see that make us want to break out in a song of praise?

1) First is that God sees our helpless condition and helps us

In the beginning of her song, Mary says

“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant

I’m looking at specifically verse 48 which says, “for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant”. The phrase humble estate in the Greek is a word Tapeinósis (tape e no sis) which translates to lowness and humiliation. Here Mary is saying that her life was that of a lowly person, and she was really a nobody. But not only that, this Greek word it pointing towards a lowness where she understands her spiritual capacity or rather lack of it. One of the resources call it abasement, it means your lowering yourself to a point where you see your lack of uprightness and that leads you to a place of helplessness and need.

In fact that’s the real spiritual condition of us all is that of littleness and nothingness. This passage mentions the kind of people God opposes, the proud of thought, the haughty sitting on their thrones, the rich who do not see their need for God. This is who we are. We are that tapenosis. We are of low estate.

We don’t deserve to be looked at.

It’s like a criminal, who was found guilty of raping a little girl, and the people of the village catch him, beat him up with sticks, punching and kicking till he’s barely alive. And they leave him there to die. This beaten up criminal is covered with wounds, his ribs are broken, his eyes and lips are swollen, clothes are torn, he’s trying to survive by crawling towards a safe place. At night the rats eat his open flesh. Who will want to look at this criminal? Who will even care? More than that, he doesn’t deserved to be looked at because he’s guilty of a great crime.

This is actually our spiritual condition. We deserve to be punished for our sin and left like that criminal. Because our crime is going against God. We think we don’t need God, we’re finding comfort in our possessions and we’re seeking more. We think we’re the God of our life and we’re good people. But we’re nothing like that, we’re just like that criminal.

But the good thing is that God looks at your humble estate. He’s the only one who will because He made a way to make you lookable again. The Bible says that God is too pure to look at evil but He can look at you because you’re not evil but pure in God’s sight because of the one Jesus Christ.

That leads me to the next point. How does God do this? Or what is the basis? It’s because of His mercy.

2) He remembers His mercy

In v54 and 55 it says

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

God remembers His mercy. And it says “as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever”. In other words, He remembers His promise, His covenant that he made to the people of Israel.

The promise, the covenant is His basis of looking down on the humble estate of anyone. I mentioned Jeremiah 33:14-16 earlier where God says He will fulfil His promise made to Israel and Judah where a righteous Branch will spring up for David and will execute justice and righteousness. It’s not only in Jeremiah but it goes back to Genesis in a verse that Saju mentioned last week. Genesis 3:15 says

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[e] and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

This is God talking to Satan, proclaiming that the woman’s offspring, that is Eve’s, will bruise the head of the serpent. Theologians call this proto-evangelium, or the first gospel, the first good news.

It’s not like He forgot His promise or the covenant He made. It’s saying that He showing mercy because He made the promise.

This promise was to take away the sin of the world, to take away your sin by suffering in a brutal way. In Isaiah 53:5 is say

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

And then in Romans 3:21-25 is says

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Conclusion

What do you have to do here? There are a couple of things to note from this passage. It says those who have humbled themselves, God has exalted. Elisabeth calls Mary blessed for believing that were would be fulfilment of what was spoken by the Lord. And then there’s verse 50 which says the His mercy is for those who fear Him.

She’s called blessed because she believed. She’s called happy because she believed. She adopted a posture of humbling herself to a point of acknowledging her deep need for God that God exalted her.

It goes to show that we need to have a that posture of daily accepting our need for God and believing in the One who forgives us. And to those who fear Him, that is obey, respect and honour Him, they will receive mercy.

What did Mary do to deserve this favour from the Lord? Nothing. But she did come with a humble heart, because she understood her weakness and depended on the mighty God, who exalted her.

So, is it with you. You come to God not with a Performance Improvement Plan but with a heart of repentance and belief. Because blessed are you who believe. You come with your sin in humility and God will not condemn you but forgive you in Jesus name and exalt you to a place where you remember your place as a son and daughter of the Most High God.

We are beginning a 4-week Advent series on the occasion of Christmas. Speaking about Christmas a few things to clarify, 25th Dec is certainly not the day when Jesus was born, the exact date we don’t know. We celebrate Christmas because it gives us an opportunity to remind and share the Gospel to our hearts first and then to others.

Importance of the Gospel

The Gospel is the most essential truth that our hearts need to hear again and again. Of all the things we expect from the church, expect for them to regularly point our hearts to the Gospel, to Christ. We live in a world where people are running after new age philosophies, teachings and experience to entertain themselves and also to find joy and hope for themselves, but as a believer we ought to understand that its only the Gospel that gives us the right perspective and points out hearts to long lasting joy, happiness and fulfillment.

The Advent Series

We have named our Advent series “God’s Glory Revealed”, where ‘Glory’ in this context means ‘the exalted status of God in Christ’ or ‘the divine radiance and presence of God revealed in and through Christ Jesus’. In this series we will explore the purpose and significance of God’s glory revealed in and through his son Jesus’
The title of todays sermon is “Glory Promised”, and we are looking at the passage Luke 1:26-38.

Why promise? – Because if all began with a promise. The passage from Luke 1:26-38 is the initiation of that promise, also known as the Annunciation story.

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, he created man in his own image and likeness. He created man to have fellowship with him, but under his rule and dominion, walking in obedience to his statues. But man disobeyed God and rebelled against him, he ate the forbidden fruit and was alienated from God.

It was the serpent who tempted Eve to ate the forbidden fruit. In Genesis 3:15 God says to the serpant “I will put enmity between your offspring and hers, and between your offspring and hers; he (referring to Jesu) will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” This is where the first promise appears in the Bible mentioning about Jesus.

Around 700 BC, in Isaiah 7:14, God speaks through prophet Isiah to king Ahaz who was facing a political tension, reassuring to Ahaz that God is with them, says “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign, Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel (which means God with you)” In Micah 5:2, the promise is comes with some more clarity –

Micah 5:2 (ESV):
“But you, O 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,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.”

Luke 1:26-38 describes to us the moment when God, in his great wisdom executes his promise, that will change the course of mankind forever.

A divine intervention

Luke 1:26-38 describes God divine intervention when he send the angel Gabriel to a virgin women called Mary, an ordinary women who finds favor in the sight of God.

The word ‘favor’ means ‘approval’ or ‘an act of kindness’. It was an act of kindness
shown by God that reached out to Mary, not because she was great or holy. She was just an ordinary person like us.

Mary’s response

In response to God’s intervention, we see Mary obedient response, she says “Behold I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”
Today we will stop right here, and will continue with the rest of Jesus’s birth story in the
coming weeks.

What I want us to focus from his passage are two things –

1. God’s divine intervention in our lives
2. Our response to God’s interventions

God’s divine intervention in our lives

What if I told you that this very moment we are in is orchestrated by God. Though it might look a bit chaotic for some – The fact is He planned this day and moment well in advance. This sermon is the exact message he wants you to hear (or read) just as
much as he orchestrates every other moments in our lives – the good, the bad, the ugly, the happy ones etc

Psalms 115:3, Divid writes, “Our God is in the heavens, he does all that he pleases”

Our moments may not always look divine as it was for Mary but it still an divine intervention, an act of kindness he is showing towards us. Why? – To give us another opportunity to hear, to know and understand the truth, where he is revealing his great love for us – convicting us of our sins and reassuring his love and presence, giving us another opportunity to search our hears, repent of our present sins and put our faith
back in Jesus and to to trust Him for all things. It’s just like the moment described in Revelation 3:20 where Jesus says “Behind, I stand
at the door and know. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me”
What does it mean to open our hearts to Jesus?

Our response

Our Response – Just like Mary he is expecting is to respond saying “Behold I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”

It may seem impossible for your to chance or experience any kind of transformation in your lives but the word says “there is nothing impossible for the Lord”

Ponder on these two verses as we conclude –

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16 (ESV)

Romans 10:9 (ESV):

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Conclusion:
If you believe today, this very moment is a divine intervention of God in your lives, I want to encourage to respond like how Mary did.

May God bless you