Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Hebrews 1. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- I suppose that there are many people who spend time contemplating God – His immensity, His power, His knowledge – and how impossible it is for us to fathom Him. At stake also is understanding our relationship with Him, our place in the universe, and our future when it is our time to die.
- Obviously, if God is God then He knows all things, including our inability to grasp Him in His naked power and glory. It is not that He wills to remain aloof and unknown by His dear human creatures. He loves us, and He wants us to know Him, and to be fully blessed by knowing Him.
- What He does to address this gap in communication and knowledge is astronomical! John describes it in the beginning of his Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
- Now, there is paradox in this, and some remaining enigma! We cannot see God’s glory in its nakedness, so God reveals His glory by becoming flesh and dwelling among us. He reveals His glory, that He is “full of grace and truth,” especially in the salvation He accomplished for us – in His suffering, death, and resurrection.
- Our text makes clear that “GOD HAS COME,” and bids us to “SEE HIS GLORY”! And it is wondrously good news for us, for:
I. When God Acts He Brings Blessings And Salvation
A. Jesus, The Glorious Son Of God Became Flesh
Text: “In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He appointed the heir of all things, through Whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature.”
B. He Has Made Full Purification For Our Sins
Text: “After making purification for sins.”
1 John 2:2 “He is the blood atonement for our sins, and not for ours only, but also the for sins of the whole world.”
1 John 1:7 “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
C. Now He Reigns Over All Things, Sustaining This Creation Until The Last Day
Text: “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the Word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
Statement: Again, the incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ are astronomical events – brought about by the love that God has for each and every one of us! He wants us to know Him, and especially to know His redemption and His forgiveness! It is as the apostle Paul wrote: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” The point is this, as Paul goes on to explain: “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God!” [2 Cor. 5:19,20]
Application: It is no “small god” that we are talking about! It is the almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of the universe! He also will be Judge on the Last Day, granting salvation to those who embrace God’s reconciliation by faith, and dispatching to damnation those who reject His love and redemption! This is the One Who became flesh and displayed the radiance of the glory of God – full of grace and truth!
Transition: So we are encouraged, throughout Scripture:
II. Let Us Also See His Glory And Worship Him
Text: “Again, when He brings the firstborn into the world, He says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship Him.”
A. Let Us Be Full Of Truth, Confessing Our Sins And Rejoicing In His Forgiveness
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
B. Let Us Thank And Praise Him For His Love And Blessings
1 Chronicles 16:34 “Oh give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!”
Psalm 103:2-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, Who forgives all your iniquity, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
C. Let Us Submit To Him – Serving And Obeying Him
Psalm 2:11; 100:2 “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!
Rom. 12:11 “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
Statement: The outcome of God’s revelation of Himself in Christ Jesus is that human beings might know and believe the love that God has for us, and this faith moves us to open and honest repentance, with full integrity, and joy in God’s salvation. It moves believers to thank and praise God, to serve and obey Him! Who would not want to serve and love such a wondrous God Who so marvelously loves us and blesses us?
Application: So once again: “GOD HAS COME, SEE HIS GLORY.” For if you see His glory then all goodness and blessings shall flow to you!
Conclusion: Now, rather than trying to contemplate God through the power of nature, and its awesome and inexplicable wonders, we contemplate God Who “in these last days has spoken to us by His Son” – the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Just as deeply as we might have sought to know God through reason and senses, just so deeply we seek to know God in the glory of Jesus Christ, His grace and truth! In so doing we become overwhelmed by His goodness and love, and drawn to adore Him, serving Him in love just as He has loved us!
This is the blessing, the joy, the wonder of Christmas! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.