Savior of My Sins
He will save his people from their sins.... Mat.1:21
Yesterday my pastor asked the question of "What's the purpose of Christ coming?" And he quoted Mat.1:21 as the answer: "Save his people from their sins."
In thinking about the ramification of Christmas, I realized that we often focus on Christ coming in the past, and may be Christ coming in the future, but we often don't see it as Christ coming in the presence much.
We pointed to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross as the ultimate redemption of sin, and His coming to reign over creation as the ultimate eradication of evil; but we often didn't look at the presence liberation of "his people from their sins" (the plural sin often denoted the practical wrong doing we encountered on the daily basis).
How will we be liberated over our own daily sins? The text here spoke of "his people", not just any people. Therefore reconciliation with God (in repentance as we read from John the Baptist earlier) must be a prerequisite.
The second key is the realization that "God is with us". It is one thing to believe that Jesus paid for the price of my sins, and that one day I will be with Him in sinlessness. But it's quite another thing to live my daily life and dealing with my sins in the mindset of "God is with us".
It is also interesting to note the plurality of "us" there. Sanctification (the technical term for overcome sins in daily present life) happened in community. It take a bunch of us to see God, and to see God is with us. That's why we encourage people to stay with the community of God on their road to sanctification.
So today, when I think of Christmas; I want to think about not only when Christ came in the manger, and not only when He come in the cloud. But I want to also think about the immaculate conception of Christ in my heart. Somehow, by the ex-nihilo/out-of-nothing creation of the Holy Spirit of God, Christ was formed in my heart, branded me and be with me. And so, he will save me from my daily struggle with sins.
Lord Jesus, sanctify my life as what you came to my heart to do...
posted by mar13 at 12/13/2004 09:16:00 AM
1 Comments:
I'm beginning by asking people to make a list. (Space for this will be provided on the bulletin.) The list is of three people. 1) Someone who has helped make you the PERSON you are today, 2) Someone who has helped make you the CHRISTIAN you are today, and 3) Someone who has helped make you the WOMAN/MAN you are today. (Parents should not be mentioned.) Then comes the question - how many of you listed entertainers, politicians, sports figures, or televangelists? These are, for the most part, common people who were influences in your life.
Joseph was a common man.
1) Exceptional Miracle - Joseph was brought into an unusual circumstance and a powerful moral dilemma. In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night a character reads a note, part of which says, “…be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘em.” Francis Bacon said, “Calamity is an opportunity to ‘work the works of God.’” Many of us encounter the unusual. A true test of greatness is what we do with that encounter.
2) Exemplary Man - Joseph is called "righteous." The Greek term here has its roots in the word "common" and implies "that which is expected," Joseph wasn't remarkable, but was a good example to all. This is the guy who goes to work every day, pays his taxes, is faithful to his family, etc. Joseph's righteousness was nothing to shoot off fireworks about, but worthy of repsect. Faced with his moral dilemma he determined to do the best thing a man could do in his circumstance. At the end of the day, everyone would nod and say he had done that which was both lawful and compassionate. He had gone the one mile - God now calls him to go the extra mile.
3) The Extra Mile - Joseph was called by God to go from being "exemplary" to being "extraordinary." The angel assured Joseph of Mary's faithfulness but that something unique had occured. Joseph must be that extraordinary man, protecting Mary at the cost of his own reputation, and treat the child as his own, giving the child a name. The song "One Quiet Moment" says it so well -
Nine months of yearning filled with joy and with pain - He almost had left her but then chose to remain - Close by the woman he had not even kissed - Who would bear him a son that would never be his - And in one quiet moment, a woman and man - Accepted the part they would have in God's plan - To give up His glory and be born as a man - In one quiet moment.
Refering back to the list that was filled out at the beginning of the message - three people who have influenced your life greatly as a person, a Christian, and as a woman/man... these are people who, for you, went from exemplary to extraordinary.
God's call to you - get on someone else's list. Be extraordinary for someone.
JG in WI from (DPS)
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