Sunday, November 30, 2014

GOD AND SINNERS RECONCILED - INTRODUCING CHRISTMAS 2014

 
IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT - REDEEMING LOVE
 
 
 
Our theme for this year’s celebration is taken from that great Christmas hymn of Charles Wesley, "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing!" In light of all the tragic events surrounding the sad death of Michael Brown this phrase arrested our attention--"GOD AND SINNERS RECONCILED."

In the good old days we used to get a bank statement in the mail. To be sure that our checkbook agreed with the bank’s accounting we would "reconcile" our bank book. When our checkbook agreed with the bank’s statement we said we say our account was "reconciled." The two reports now agreed.

As we have been praying for Ferguson, for our St. Louis community, and for those who have experienced such trauma and pain we have been more convinced than ever--we must to be reconciled to God if there is ever to be peace.

Law and the enforcement of law brings order. But only the love of the Lord Jesus Christ can bring peace.

Reconcilation must begin with a plain and truthful recognition of what, or I should say who we are. The tragedy of modern man is that we are so unwilling to admit who we are, and even more reticent to accept who we are. We are not so wonderful. Our problem is NOT that we are greater than we think we are. We are not so great.

Apart from God’s redeeming love we are rebels to God and disodient ingrates. Whatever our self assessment, "I’m better than the next fellow," "I’m a cut above the rest," "I am right," we must come to the profound realization that we are not better, we are not a cut above, and we are not right.

We are sinners, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God," in need of a Savior. Actually we are rebels, "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way." Actually we are deceived--"the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

(Continued on Back Cover)

When we see ourselves as we are in the sight of God, we then look at who He is. God is holy. God is love. God is pure. God is righteous. God is compassionate. Oh my.

Is there any hope? Is there anyway that our soul so at odds with God, our heart so opposed to Him, could be "reconciled" with Him?

If we have any hope, it will not be in man’s philosophy, our ideas, or our deeds. Having examined all the options it is clear that only God Himself can reconcile us to Himself.

So God so loved He gave His only begotten Son. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." 2 Corinthians 5:19. Reconciled to God through the blood of His only begotten, we are made righteous--not self righteous, but Christ righteous.

Hallelujah!

Onward!

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