God’s Accomplishment in the Incarnation

“By the incarnation of Christ, God intended first of all to redeem the church by the sacrifice of his Son.  But there is a greater reason for the incarnation of Christ, one which centres on the glory of God.  This was that he might ‘gather all things into one’ in Christ.  The whole creation, especially that which was to be eternally blessed, was to have a new head given to it.  From him all graces were to flow into this new family, and from this new family worship, praise, and gratitude would flow back to him.  All communications from God to this new family would be channeled through Christ, and all worship and gratitude to God from this new family would also be channeled through Christ.  Who can describe the divine beauty, order and harmony of all things in this new family under its new head Jesus Christ?  The union and communion between angels and men, the order of the whole family in heaven and earth, the communication of life, grace, power, mercy and comfort to the church and all things being ruled for the glory of God all depend on Jesus Christ.  This glory God purposed for his incarnate Son, and it was the greatest, the highest glory that could be given to him.”

- John Owen, The Glory of Christ

Filed under: Christmas, John Owen

Sinclair Ferguson Preaches The Magnificat

Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC, delivers a stirring message on Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:30-56.

Listen to this sermon by clicking here: Magnificat

Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

(Luke 1:46-55)

Filed under: Christmas, Incarnation, Jesus, Sinclair Ferguson

The Wise Men Seek Christ

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”

Matthew 2:10

When those that have been earnestly seeking Christ come to find him, they have reason to rejoice with exceeding great joy. The person that they find is exceeding excellent and lovely. Before Christ is found, there is nothing that is truly lovely that is ever found or seen. Those things that they had been conversant with before and had set their hearts upon, had no true excellency. They only deceived ‘em with a false, empty show. But now they have found Christ, they have found one that is excellent indeed. They see in him a real and substantial excellency. Before that, while they were under trouble, they had before them only those things that were objects of fear and terror, such as their own guilt, the wickedness of their hearts, and the wrath of God, and death and hell, but nothing pleasant or lovely. But when they came to find Christ, what was terrible in those objects disappears, and they found a glorious object and far surpassing all things that ever they saw, one of excellent majesty and of perfect purity and brightness, purer than the light of the sun, infinitely farther from all deformity or defilement than the highest heavens themselves; and this conjoined with the sweetest grace, one that clothes himself with mildness and meekness and love. How refreshing and rejoicing must this be after they have nothing before their eyes but their sins staring them in the face, appearing with a frightful

Filed under: Christmas, Jesus, Jonathan Edwards

How Do You Preach Christmas?

It the time of year when pastors and preachers around the world go back to those Scripture texts they haven’t preached since last Christmas.  The birth and incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ is the major theme of pulpits during this special season.  Without a pulpit of my own I cannot preach those things that I have been meditating upon but with Mary will “ponder them in my heart.”

I would be very interested to know how other pastors approach this Christmas season in their preaching.  Do you begin a series of sermons at the beginning of Advent that will lead you through the new year?  Do you preach expository sermons as you journey through the birth narrative?  Do you incorporate the prophecies of the Old Testament in your sermons?  Do you even mention Christmas in your preaching schedule?

Please leave me a comment by answering the question: How Do You Peach Christmas?

Filed under: Christmas, Preaching

To You Christ is Born

Excerpted and adapted from a 1530 Christmas sermon by Martin Luther (1483-1546)

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:11

We have all heard the story of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ from the Gospel of Luke.  This account tells us how and where Christ was born and how the angel announced the birth of the Lord and Savior to the shepherds who were minding their flocks nearby.  It tells us what in human logic is hard to believe: that this infant Jesus, who was God in the flesh, was born of a virgin.  Difficult to believe…except for those who, through faith, know him as their Lord and Savior.

This is what separates us from unbelievers: Not just knowing that we know that Christ, born of a virgin, is the Lord and Savior, but that Christ, born of a virgin, is your Lord and Savior.  When you have that personal knowledge, you are able to say in your heart, “I hear the Word that sounds from heaven and says: This child who is born of the virgin is not only his mother’s son.  I have more than the mother’s estate.  He is more mine than Mary’s, for the was born for me, for the angel said, “To you is born the Savior.”  Then you can and should say, “Amen, I thank you, dear Lord.”

It is easier to believe that Christ, born of a virgin, is the Lord and Savior for great people like Peter and Paul, but he wasn’t born for a sinner like me.  But if that is what you believe, it is not enough – unless you were to add that you have faith that he was born for you.

Filed under: Christmas, Jesus, Martin Luther, Salvation