December 26, 2010
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Weekly Schedule of Services
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Sunday: |
10:00 AM |
Bible Class |
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11:00 AM |
Morning Service |
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Thursday: |
7:00 PM |
Mid-week Service |
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THE SIGN IN HEAVEN, IN EARTH AND IN THE HEART
Isaiah 7: 14: The Lord himself shall give you a sign…Mt 16: 4: A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
Why does the LORD tell Ahaz to ask for a sign but then rebuke the Pharisees for asking a sign? It is because THE Sign--THE COVENANT--is the Way, the Truth and the Life, Christ Jesus himself. The problem in Ahaz and in the Pharisees is the same with all men by nature. Every man seeks after a sign other than Jesus Christ the Son of God. Though all God’s elect are, by nature, dead, self-righteous haters of God like Ahaz, the Lord himself still gave the Sign (I John 4: 9, 10.) Thank God for his irresistible grace to form the Sign in our hearts (Gal 4: 19).
JESUS IS GOD PROVIDING HIMSELF A LAMB
Isaiah 7: 14: Behold, a virgin shall conceive…
Three things are declared by Christ being born of a virgin: first, every child born in natural generation is sin by corrupt seed and therefore comes forth sinning (Ps 51:5, 6; 58:3.) Secondly, Jesus is holy from conception: his thoughts, words and deeds were perfect because Christ is the spotless Lamb of God in nature. Thirdly, God was in Christ in the person of his Son, reconciling his people unto himself. The man, Christ Jesus, is God the Son, all God and all Man (Gen 3: 15; Jer 31: 22.) Through Christ's finished work, God satisfied, and is the satisfaction, of everything God requires and those who believe on Christ are satisfied to rest all in his hands (Rom 3: 26; 2 Cor 5: 19-21; Luke 1: 35; Ps 40: 8; Is 7: 15; Heb 10: 5-7, 9, 10.)
THE FIRSTBORN SON
Isaiah 7: 14: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, AND bear a son…
God declared throughout the generations that the firstborn to open the womb among the children of Israel was his (Ex 13: 1, 2, 14-16.) Yet, no child of woman ever truly opened the womb for this is done at conception not at birth. THE FIRSTBORN SON OF GOD DID FOR MARY WAS A VIRGIN WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN. One more way, the honor and blessing of the Firstborn belongs to Christ Jesus (Genesis 49: 3, 8-12; Compare with Colossians 1: 15, 18, 19; Luke 1: 32, 33; Isaiah 9: 6, 7; Romans 8: 32, 17, Col 1: 12.)
ALL HIS VIRGINS SHALL WORSHIP HIM
Isaiah 7: 14: a virgin shall conceive…and shall call his name Immanuel.
How did the virgin call his name Immanuel? God chose her. Through the Spirit, Christ was formed in her spiritually, giving her spiritual life, making her to behold the one in her womb was God her Savior, the Firstborn, Lamb of God. God made her willing to worship him. (Luke 1: 46-55.) Though harlots by nature that is how every child is made a spotless virgin. Those whom God saves by his grace are his virgins: washed, called, kept, and preserved. Christ shall present her to himself glorious without spot or wrinkle. Each of his virgins shall conceive and each shall worship him, calling his name--Immanuel--God with us!
THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE
By faith in Christ, though the Holy Infant was in her arms, Mary really came to God in the arms of her High Priest. Though she appeared to have only two turtle doves she really came with the Lamb of God. She appeared to present her own son but she really presented the Son who God had given to her. And though by natural appearance she seemed poor, really she was heir of all things. So it is with all who come to God through faith in Christ Jesus the Lord.
CHRISTMAS
None of us know what month of the year the Son of God was born of a virgin. And you and I don’t wait until the 25th of December to celebrate it. We rejoice to hear of the incarnation all the year long. But still, I love the Christmas season. We hear more of Christ coming to earth this time of year than any other time, and for that I am thankful. Any time our memory is turned to the wonderful person of the Son of God I am glad. It is this time of the year we hear those blessed hymns that we seldom hear at other times. "Veiled in flesh the God-head see, Hail th’ incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel." Oh, that song should be sung often but it is only at this time of the year we hear it. It is this time of year that we see more good will and cheer among our fellow man. This can be a sad and sorry world we live in. There are trials and heartaches in the family and some times there are hurt feelings and even offenses. Christmas time seems to have a tendency to soften our affections and we can truly wish one another well. And for this I am thankful. I wish it could be Christmas year around. I wish all of you a merry Christmas. Where ever you find yourself in this season and what ever your circumstances may be, it is my desire and prayer that the message proclaimed by the heavenly host will resound in your heart with heaven’s power; "Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,...For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Bruce Crabtree
SERMONS
After clicking on the following sermon links you will go to sermon notes where you will find an option at the top of the page to access the audio.
The Greatest in the Kingdom
This is the True Grace Wherein You Stand
The Birth of Jesus Christ
ARTICLES
Christ is Near
Abide in Christ and Live
Supplements Not Substitutes
Christ our Prophet
Christ and Moses
Now That Christ is Risen
ARTICLES FROM OTHERS
Are You Preaching to Me?
The Altar Call or the Invitation?
No Tolerance for False Religion
Knowing the Things to Come
Christmas
PRINTABLE TRACTS
A Good Place to Rest and Raise our Young
Saved in Childbearing
A Letter to a Preacher
The Church Were Everybody is a Nobody
O Ye of Little Faith