In Romans 1:16-17, God gives us His Manifesto. Two powerful verses that declare God’s eternal plan to liberate sinners. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Romans: The Power of God in the Gospel of Christ
TEXT: Romans 1:16-17
TITLE:  God’s Manifesto
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: We live faithfully before a righteous God, because by faith, Jesus is our righteousness from beginning to end.

POINTS:
I. The Gospel is the Power of God to Save
II. The Gospel Reveals the Righteousness We Need

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”In June of 1776, the Continental Congress penned the Declaration of Independence. It was a revolutionary statement declaring the independence of 13 colonies from Great Britain. By this document, the United States of America became a free and sovereign country. 250 years later, it remains the most famous manifesto in history.”

“In Romans 1:16-17, God gives us His Manifesto. Two powerful verses that declare God’s eternal plan to liberate sinners. Beginning next week in 18, the rest of Romans is Paul unpacking this manifesto in all its glorious facets and practical claims on our lives. Today, here’s what we will find: We live faithfully before a righteous God, because by faith, Jesus is our righteousness from beginning to end.”

“Paul says—I am not ashamed of the gospel. We’ll talk more about being unashamed of the gospel. But first things first—Why is Paul unashamed of the gospel? He immediately tells us—The gospel is the POWER of God for salvation.” 

“Paul doesn’t say the gospel contains the power of God. He doesn’t say the gospel channels the power of God. He doesn’t say the gospel reflects the power of God. Paul says the gospel IS itself the power of God that saves sinners.”

“Paul’s assertion is powerful. Besides Jesus himself, the gospel is the only thing in the entire NT directly referred to as the power of God.”

“The Greek word here for power is the word from which we get the English word dynamite. Paul didn’t know about dynamite, but we do. It’s explosive. The point in 16 is when the gospel is preached, it’s literally like dynamite in the heart of the sinner called by God.”

“The power of God to save is not in the passion or education of the preacher. It’s not in the depth or eloquence of the delivery. The power of God to save is in the message of Jesus Christ in the hands of the Holy Spirit, ensuring His saving word will not return void. The gospel is not weak. It is not irrelevant. It is not primitive foolishness. When God chose to save sinners, He vested His power in the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“Pay attention to the universal nature of the gospel’s power. Not universal in the sense that the gospel saves everyone, but that everyone God saves is saved by the gospel. There is no other message. There is no other way. This is the great equalizer—whether you are a Jew or a Greek (Gentile, meaning everyone who is not a Jew), everyone who is saved is saved the same way. There is no other way to be saved but through the gospel of Jesus Christ because it alone is the power of God for salvation.”

“This is why Paul was unashamed of the gospel. This is why he was eager to preach it in Rome. And it’s why we should be unashamed and eager. But the temptation to be ashamed of Jesus is real. Have you ever been ashamed of something?”

ILLUSTRATION: Being ashamed of my name as a child

“We are not immune. In Mark 8, Jesus warned his disciples about being ashamed of him. Paul charged Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:8 not be ashamed of the gospel. Peter was ashamed, [denying Christ three times.]”

“Scripture describes the righteousness of God in numerous ways:

- His righteous character—what God is like 
- His righteous activity—what God does 
- His righteous gift—what God provides

It’s this third category Paul has in mind here. The righteousness in 17 is not God’s righteousness that we must live up to; it’s the righteousness God provides to those who have no righteousness. That righteousness is the righteousness of Jesus Christ.”  

Martin Luther, inconsolable during his torment, Gustav Ferdinand Leopold Konig

“This is the revelation that turned Martin Luther’s spiritual torment into spiritual freedom. He understood God’s righteousness as the standard by which God judged sinners. His burning question was: If God is holy and man is sinful, what is there for man? As a pious monk, the more he tried, the more he fell short, the greater his condemnation, the deeper his despair, the stronger his hatred for God. In Luther’s own words—Love God? Sometimes I hate Him!  But as he studied and taught Romans, the Spirit awakened him to the truth of Romans 1:17.”

“Understanding that the gospel reveals the righteousness of God as a free gift of grace changed everything for Luther. It does for us, too.”

“The gospel is not just about receiving forgiveness. Forgiveness is necessary, but it’s not sufficient. God doesn’t require us to be neutral, which is what forgiveness achieves. He requires us to be perfectly righteous. So the gospel is also about receiving forgiveness AND obtaining righteousness.”

“Obtaining this righteousness is impossible for us to do according to Romans 3:20. It doesn’t matter how good you are. It doesn’t matter what you do or don’t do. We can never be good enough for God. Our sin has eternally doomed us.”

ILLUSTRATION: Child asking for dessert and mom saying “That’s good enough”

“There is no good enough for God. One day, every human being will be judged by the standard of God’s righteousness, not a good enough righteousness. Like Luther, that should torment us! But here’s the hope of the gospel and power that makes it effectual for salvation: The gospel reveals a righteousness apart from ourselves (Rom 3:21). This is why Martin Luther called the righteousness of God an alien righteousness. It doesn’t come from within us; it comes from outside of us. It’s a GIFT imputed or given to us by grace alone through faith in Christ alone.”

ILLUSTRATION: “ Imagine you’re in class, about to take the biggest final of your life. Your professor has said this exam will make up 100% of your grade. To fail this exam is to fail the class. But you skipped your classes, you didn’t read, and you didn’t study. So there you are, for two hours, staring at your paper, unable to answer a single question. When time is up, you go to turn in your paper, and you know you’re toast. Suddenly, the smartest kid in class grabs your paper, crosses out your name, and writes in theirs. More than that, they write your name on their quiz that has every correct answer. They fail, but you pass, not because of your own knowledge or prep, but theirs. Your A+ is a gift. You didn’t earn it. It wasn’t in you. It came from someone else.”     

“The righteousness of Jesus is our A+ before a holy God. Jesus lived a sinless life, perfectly obeying God in every way for thirty-three years. And by faith, Christ’s righteousness becomes our righteousness. The moment we believe in the gospel, we are declared and counted righteous, even though we are still sinners. This is the great reality at the heart of the gospel—justification by faith alone.”   

“If someone asks you why you believe you’re going to heaven, your answer should be—I’ve been given the gift of righteousness by grace through faith. If you’re wondering how it’s possible to have joy in the midst of trials, your conclusion should be—I’ve been given the gift of righteousness by grace through faith. If condemnation tries to bury you, your defense should be—I’ve been given the gift of righteousness by grace through faith. If boasting in your ways and works is a temptation, your response should be—I’ve been given the gift of righteousness by grace through faith. This is our story from beginning to end. It’s why Paul says in 17—we experience the power of the gospel from faith to faith.”

“The Christian life is a life of faith from beginning to end. We are declared righteous in Christ by faith, and as ones declared righteous, we continue to live by that faith. The gospel doesn’t become irrelevant after conversion. It’s not just a burst of power for our initial salvation—it is the power for salvation from beginning to end. It is the power that saves us, is saving us, and will save us.” 

“When you preach to yourself that your sins are paid in full and you can’t be any more acceptable to God than you are right now in Jesus, you are experiencing the power of the gospel that fuels your faith and faithfulness to live for God. This is what it means to live every day by faith in Jesus.”

“This is the point of Paul’s reference to Habakkuk 2:4 at the end of 17—The righteous shall live by faith. Those words were spoken to Habakkuk in deeply distressing times. Habakkuk had to patiently trust God for His promises despite what he was hearing and seeing around him.”

“Paul applies those words to us. As the righteous in Christ, we keep trusting God. We keep believing in Jesus. We keep applying the gospel to our lives daily, putting our faith, not in our own works and spiritual busyness—whatever that might be for you —but in the power of the gospel and righteousness of Jesus for our justification and sanctification all the way through the Christian life to the end.”   

“This is the claim and privilege of the great manifesto—We live faithfully before God, because by faith, Jesus is our righteousness from beginning to end.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
Philippians 3:8-9

APPLICATION:
Q. Who intimidates you? Who has rebuffed you? Who has accused you of being holier than thou? Don’t shrink back. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel. There’s no shame in the gospel. It alone is the power of God that brings you hope and joy.

If someone asks you why you believe you’re going to heaven, your answer should be—I’ve been given the gift of righteousness by grace through faith. If you’re wondering how it’s possible to have joy in the midst of trials, your conclusion should be—I’ve been given the gift of righteousness by grace through faith. If condemnation tries to bury you, your defense should be—I’ve been given the gift of righteousness by grace through faith. If boasting in your ways and works is a temptation, your response should be—I’ve been given the gift of righteousness by grace through faith. This is our story from beginning to end. It’s why Paul says in 17—we experience the power of the gospel from faith to faith.

QUOTES:
Christopher Ash - “Every human being God rescues, He will rescue by the gospel of Jesus. No one anywhere or at any time (including before Christ) will have been rescued in any other way.”

RC Sproul - “That is the real crunch for many Christians. They want to be Secret Service Christians. They do not want to be known as ‘holier than thou.’ They know that if they say one word to their friends about Christ, they will be accused of trying to shove the gospel down their throats. If we get rebuffed enough times, pretty soon we find ourselves tempted to be embarrassed about our faith….There's no shame in the gospel. There's no shame in being a Christian. The world may think that the gospel is folly, but here Paul reminds us that it is the power of God. Have this very same conviction when you share it, and especially when others try to shame you for believing that. The gospel of God—the gospel of Jesus Christ—is our only hope and our greatest joy.”

Martin Luther - “I realized for the first time that my own justification depends, not on my own righteousness, which will always fall short, but it rests solely and completely on the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which I must hold on to by trusting faith….Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates.”

SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
Romans 1:16-17

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
The Glory Of The Cross
Death Arrested
All I Have Is Christ
Christ Our Hope In Life And Death
There is One Gospel

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Romans 1:18-32 - The Wrath of God

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE OUR BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Church, 

We have great news about an outstanding new resource for parents and young readers based on the book of Romans, entitled The Sword: Magnus and the Mystery of Romans, by Marty Machowski (links below).

We highly recommend this new book as another means of understanding, applying, and rejoicing in God's word through our sermon series on the book of Romans. 

This is also another reason we rejoice in our partnership in our family of churches! Marty is a fellow pastor in one of our sister churches in Sovereign Grace. We have used Marty's excellent children's ministry curriculum for several years. He has served our family of churches in numerous ways, and we thank God for him.

We highly recommend Marty's new book for young readers to you:

A must-watch Video Introduction: YouTube - The Sword by Marty Machowski

Order the book (New Growth Press): The Sword: Magnus and the Mystery of Romans

-Tom

Paul desires to SEE WHAT GOD IS DOING. Even though this is simply Paul’s introduction to this amazing theological magnum opus, we can learn some things. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Romans: The Power of God in the Gospel of Christ
TEXT: Romans 1:8-15
TITLE:  Celebrating Faith and Pursuing Obligations
PREACHER: Tim Lambros
BIG IDEA: Biblical faith calls us to thanksgiving, mutual edification, and obligation.

POINTS:
I. A Godward Thanksgiving
II. An Eager Partnership
III. A Gospel Obligation

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.
”We love to see God manifest Himself. As we will see, Paul has HEARD about the faith of this Church in Rome but hasn’t SEEN it.  Paul desires so SEE WHAT GOD IS DOING. Even though this is simply Paul’s introduction to this amazing theological magnum opus, we can learn some things.”

“Now remember what we learned last week. Paul is called, gifted, and graced to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and “bring about the obedience of faith.” His life mission is to do this for the glory of Christ. Paul has heard about their faith. He has heard there is a Church - a Gentile Church -  in Rome.  He didn’t plant it, Peter didn’t plant it, but he’s hearing about their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul knows this. The first step in “bringing about the obedience” of faith is to put your trust in Jesus.”  

“Paul might not know any of the people in that Church, but he knows something very important from what he’s heard.  Their faith has been proclaimed in all the world. ‘In all the world’ might not necessarily imply in all the known world, but the world that Paul lives and ministers in, the emerging Christian world has heard of the faith of this Church in Rome.”

“Let’s remember the context of the 1st century.  Rome is a powerful empire, and this Church is in the capital of that empire. Like we learned last week, this Church is probably the fruit of the people filled with the Spirit at the original Pentecost that went back to Rome and planted a Church. There’s no influence from Peter or Paul’s apostolic gifting and leadership.  Paul’s not mentioning the level of maturity of their faith. He’s simply giving thanks to God that there are fellow Christians in a Church in Rome.”

“Paul is simply giving thanks to God for the fact that people are getting saved and building a Church. Paul’s life calling is to bring about the obedience of faith.  Faith is not the end game.  The end game is the glory of God.”    

“Paul’s thanksgiving moves to his prayers.  In Paul’s introduction section in letters to the Churches, it’s not uncommon for him to mention his prayers for that Church. It’s clear Paul wants the Church in Rome to know “THAT WITHOUT CEASING” he’s repeatedly sought the Lord about coming to see the Church.”

“Paul has already stated that he is a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, he is called to be an Apostle, set apart for this work among ALL THE NATIONS – meaning to Gentiles. To people like those in Rome. The grace and calling he received was to bring about THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH for the sake of the name of His Savior.”

“When Paul writes to other Churches, it’s not uncommon in this part of his introduction to mention some things he knows about the Church. So Paul says God is my witness … without ceasing … always in my prayers, petitioning God that I might by His will be able to come see them. Paul wants to be with them.  This is his heartbeat.  He wants them to know this.”  

ILLUSTRATION: Eagerness to hear updates and see photos from fellow churches in Gilbert, Santa Ana, CA, and Santa Cruz, Bolivia

“Even though we aren’t called like Paul, it should stir our faith and wonder what it would be like to see it and be among them!”

“Paul is deeply moved to partner with a primarily Gentile Church in a very strategic location. He doesn’t know this Church, but trusts that God has something he can impart to strengthen them and establish them in the faith. Plus, he knows that he’ll be encouraged and blessed.”

“2,000 years ago, Paul desired something that today can be so easy for us to overlook. What Paul heard about their faith is simply God’s grace active in their lives.  He wants to encourage them in this. He knows he’ll receive encouragement in return.  We are on a mission to grow a Church community that is characterized by encouragement.”  

“We don’t want to build a Church that regularly meets in Comm Group, always silent until there’s something to complain about.  We call it one of our 7 SHAPING VIRTUES.  Seeing and celebrating evidences of grace in each other.  Paul’s heard of their faith, he prays for them, he wants to encourage and be encouraged! This is what a gospel-shaped, gospel-defined, gospel-centered Church looks like.” 

“We can learn something about a Godward-oriented thanksgiving like Paul exemplifies in this letter.  We can appreciate and, to some degree, FEEL and desire to partner with a local Church when we hear about their faith.  But in this final verse, we have a sense of calling and obligation that every believer can relate to.”

“A sense of calling should run deep into our souls.  It orients us and defines us in what we give our time to. It becomes our IDENTITY.  For our Church, it’s ‘Building a local Church that PROCLAIMS and DEMONSTRATES the power of the gospel.’”

“But what does Paul mean when he says ‘under obligation?’  The word actually means debt.  Paul has a debt he is under.  So is Paul’s motivation to come to Rome all about him paying back a debt?  Is he somehow trying to pay God back for saving and forgiving his sins?  Emphatically, NO! Notice what the text says. Paul is under obligation to Greeks/barbarians & wise/foolish.  This is Paul’s way of saying all Gentiles.  Paul was saved by grace.  Paul formerly loved this world, power, and status more than God.  He lived to exchange the glory of God for earthly things that would fade.  Paul’s sense of obligation, this debt is NOW to bring about the obedience of faith in all the Churches.  To strengthen their faith in Christ. We can all identify with that.” 

“When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he put his faith in Christ. Paul’s gift of salvation was all of grace.  His calling and obligation is his response to this amazing grace.  We cannot and must not get the two confused.”

“We don’t have to be called to be an Apostle to relate to this sense of obligation. Paul had a unique calling during a unique time in God’s redemptive plan.  But it’s clear from the NT that all of God’s people are obligated to share the gospel of grace with others.”

“Our life purpose doesn’t become to pay God back because we owe God a debt for our salvation.  This is done because it’s part of the OBEDIENCE OF FAITH for all believers.  This is done because God is glorified when sinners receive the gift of faith and put their trust in Jesus. We do this because we love God and want to live a life doing all we can to bring about His glory!”

APPLICATION:
Q: Have you ever given thanks for and prayed for believers you’ve not met?  Part of the privilege of our partnership with Sovereign Grace is to regularly hear about Churches getting planted, people getting saved, and believers walking in the obedience of faith. 

3 ways we live out this OBLIGATION:
1. Biblically understand the why behind personal evangelism. Personal evangelism is an obligation.  Not like paying a car loan back.  Not like paying taxes.  It’s God’s claim on our lives to joyfully participate in bringing about the first step in the obedience of faith in others. Paul is called to be a servant, an Apostle to the Gentiles. Wherever he goes, he preaches Jesus.

2. Grow a deeper commitment to the local Church. Paul’s life is about willingly obligating himself to the local churches.  Because his sins are forgiven, he no longer needs to pay his debt back to God. He can now be a slave for God’s purposes. He, of all people, understands God’s purposes revolve around building local churches.  This truth is the same for you and me and for all believers.

3. Prepare for unique times of mission. At times, God will call you, or in this case, a local Church to a unique place. For us, it’s a deep sense of calling to duplicate what God has done in this Church to the east side.

QUOTES:
Douglas Moo - “That people in the Roman capital had bowed the knee to the Lord Jesus is something that would be widely known, and perhaps highlighted, by the early missionaries.” 

Jared Mellinger - “Distinctly Christian encouragement is different than a compliment, because it aims at directing hearts to Christ and deepening confidence in Him.”

SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
ROMANS 1:16-17

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
How Great (Psalm 145)
Oh What High And Holy Privilege
There is a Fountain
Jesus Thank You

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Romans 1:16-17, The Manifesto of Romans

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE OUR BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Are you excited for Sunday? I know I am. 

Every week we have the privilege to gather at 1241 W Ina Rd to make much of Christ by singing together, praying together, fellowshipping together, and sitting under the preaching of God’s word. Consider that for a moment… a group of sinners like us, often beaten up from the cares and sins of the week, have been welcomed into the family of God and given the privilege to gather in His name, for HIS glory and to our spiritual encouragement. 

If we’re honest, we don’t belong. But the work of Christ has covered us in His righteousness so that we would be welcomed in by God. What a privilege to be counted among the saints and to gather together to celebrate His Gospel. Where else do we get to take part in something like this? 

I hope you are excited for Sunday - the gathering of God’s people to make much of Him! My prayer is that we are all reminded of the high and holy privilege it is to gather in God’s name each week. May we never lose the sense of wonder and gratitude at God’s incredible plan to care for His people through the local church.

To help us see and savor this privilege, we will be introducing a new song this Sunday called “Oh What High and Holy Privilege”.

We hope you’ll take some time this week to listen to and learn it. As you do, may it remind you of the privilege it is to gather together on Sunday and worship our incredible Savior together!

I can’t wait to see you at The Gathering!

Lyrics

VERSE 1

Oh, what high and holy priv’lege
Once again to gather here
In the name of our Lord Jesus
As we see His Day draw near
May we join in joyful rev’rence 
With thanksgiving, faith and love
As He welcomes in His people
To the throne of grace above

VERSE 2

Oh, what high and holy priv’lege
Voices raised in prayer and praise
Boldly bringing great petitions 
Gladly singing hymns of faith
May His grace at work among us
Cleanse and heal us from our sin
That our prayers may not be hindered
And our praises honor Him

VERSE 3

Oh, what high and holy priv’lege
Hearing from the word of God
Heaven speaks in perfect wisdom
Earth responds and stands in awe
Do our hearts not burn within us
As we see God’s promises
Find their final yes in Jesus
Leading us to righteousness!

VERSE 4

Oh, what high and holy priv’lege
This communion that we share
With the Father, Son, and Spirit
And His people everywhere
As we go with God’s great blessing
In the keeping of His grace
Go in peace to love and service
Till we join again in praise

Why Romans? Romans is the clearest, most comprehensive presentation of the gospel in all of Scripture. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Romans: The Power of God in the Gospel of Christ
TEXT: Romans 1:1-7
TITLE:  God, The Gospel, And Us
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Because the gospel is God’s eternal good news, we can confidently surrender our lives to Jesus in every way.

POINTS:
I. The Author of the Gospel
II. The Person of the Gospel
III. The Goal of the Gospel

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.
”As a unit, it is the longest introduction of all Paul’s letters. Romans 1:1-7 is a summary of Romans packed into one long sentence.”

“Why Romans? Romans is the clearest, most comprehensive presentation of the gospel in all of Scripture. As we explore the theological depths of the gospel and humbly embrace its practical outworkings in our lives, the ultimate effect of Romans should be a more profound gratitude for saving grace, a stronger unity within our church, and a greater zeal for our mission together.”

“Martin Luther called Romans the purest gospel and the chief part of the NT. He also said this: [Romans] is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with, the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes.”

“We agree. So we sent an email on Friday with a list of suggested ways, each one different, that you can benefit from this series beyond the preaching. One correction. In the email, it was suggested you start memorizing Romans 8. Don’t do that. We thought it would be beneficial to memorize portions of Romans together. So, if the week's preached text includes a scripture memorization, we will let you know.” 

“The author of Romans is clear in 1—the Apostle Paul. He wrote this letter while in Corinth around 57 AD. In Ch. 15, Paul says he was going to Jerusalem to deliver an offering and intended to stop off in Rome on his way to Spain. Paul wanted to encourage them in Christ, be encouraged by them in Christ, and appeal to them to partner with him in taking the gospel to Spain (Romans 15).”

“Here's what Paul knows: The best way to fuel zeal for mission isn’t clear strategy—it’s more gospel. Strategy is good and important, but being enthralled with the gospel is paramount!”

“Don’t miss God’s providence: We are feasting on the gospel of Romans as we continue to grow in evangelism and plant a church on the east side. God’s got us right where He wants us!”

“The church in Rome knew who Paul was, and he knew who they were, as we will see next week. But Paul had never visited the church in Rome. In fact, he didn’t plant this church. This church probably began with a group of Roman Jews who, according to Acts 2:10, were at Pentecost. Saved in Jerusalem, perhaps responding to Peter’s powerful sermon, they brought the gospel back to their synagogues, and Christianity was born in Rome. As it says in Acts 1:8—You will be my Spirit-filled witnesses, not just in Jerusalem, but to the ends of the earth.”

“So Paul begins this letter introducing himself—read 1. The interesting thing about 1 is that Paul makes himself small. He is a servant (slave) of Jesus Christ. His life is not his own. He committed and surrendered to Jesus. He also introduces himself as an apostle, the NT version of the OT prophet—an authoritative mouthpiece of God. Paul was who he was because God called and set him apart.”

 “Someone said—We Christians are a bunch of nobodies pointing to a great somebody. That’s precisely what Paul is doing here. But I want you to notice the end of 1. Paul refers to the gospel as the gospel of God. Now keep reading in 2 where he refers to the gospel as the promise of God handed down through the prophets in OT Scripture. God is sovereign over it all because he is the Author of it all.”

“God is the author of the gospel.”

“Right up front, Paul establishes that all that follows in his letter is from God. The gospel is God’s idea to save the world, not Paul’s. The gospel is not a new idea; it’s God’s eternal plan. The gospel is God’s wisdom, not the church's. God, not the culture, defines the gospel. The gospel is God’s promised thread of continuity from eternity to eternity, not a fleeting novelty.”

“Thank you, Paul, for beginning this way! Because how critical is this conviction? Paul has just shared how his entire life is owed and surrendered to God and the gospel. As we will see in 5, that is our calling as well. So, don’t we need to be confident that we aren’t building our lives on shifting sand but solid rock?”

“When the seas and mountains of life roar and shake. When the grass of this world looks so much greener. When we are unsuccessfully trying to be faithful evangelists, to be confident that the gospel is not human speculation, not one religion among many, not a desperate shot in the dark, not a philosophy that evolves one culture at a time. It is God’s eternal and just plan to save the world.”  

“One of the fruits we pray will be borne by preaching through Romans in our church is a greater confidence in the power of the gospel for every area of our lives and every aspect of our mission together.”

“Now and then, you hear a politician say that America is an idea, an experiment in human potential that is continually being perfected. And the substance of this grand idea is not a person or group of people, but certain inalienable rights and liberties. The gospel is not an idea. It’s not an experiment. And it's built on a person. At the heart of the gospel is God’s Son, Jesus.” 

“Paul presents the gospel from beginning to end here. He starts by linking Jesus to David, identifying him as the person of the messianic promises of the OT, beginning in Gen 3 and spanning 1500 years and 30 different authors, all of whom consistently tell the same story about Jesus, the one who comes to save God’s people.”

“Jesus entered our fallen world, where sin and death reign. In doing so, he exposed himself during his own ministry to a life of weakness and humiliation. In that weakness and humiliation, or as 3 puts it—according to the flesh, Jesus lived a perfect life for 33 years and gave up his life on the cross as a substitutionary death for sinners. But Jesus overcame death.”

“Paul goes from Jesus’ life of humiliation and weakness in a fallen world—which was climaxed at the cross—to his powerful resurrection. At that moment, he was declared and crowned, just as God had ordained, the Son of God in power. To be clear, Jesus has always been the Son of God. When he lived on the earth as David’s descendant, he was the Son of God. Paul begins 3—concerning His Son. We believe in the eternal sonship of Jesus.” 

“It’s not the resurrection that MADE him the Son of God, that would be the heresy of adoptionism. As the second person of the godhead, Jesus is eternally divine. But his resurrection did usher in a NEW ROLE as the Messiah. Just as Jesus has not always been the Lamb that was slain, Jesus is now the risen Lord and Savior.”

“Jesus resurrection marked a new stage in redemptive history, the age of the Spirit, where the living and life-giving resurrected Messiah brings salvation to all who believe, even the Gentile— (5) among all the nations, rescuing them from this world of weakness, sin, and death. And at the heart of it all is God’s son, Jesus. Jesus is the substance of the gospel. A crucified, risen, and reigning Jesus is what makes the gospel good news.”   

“We love good news. We anticipate the call giving us the good news that we got the job. Young people nervously await the good news of acceptance into a college. A husband eagerly awaits the good news from his wife—We’re pregnant! Like many of you, this week Donna and I eagerly awaited the good news that Jim Francis was free from cancer in his brain. Who doesn’t love good news? Yet, we can forget the most fantastic news we have ever heard and ever will hear—the best news of all in the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“If you’ve ever heard someone around here say—I’m doing better than I deserve—here’s why. They are convinced the good news of the gospel is the best news they could ever and will ever hear and believe.”

“That’s what Romans is about—the good news of the gospel. The bad news is we must pay for our sins, which we can never do (Romans 3). The good news is—Jesus paid it all! The good news of the gospel puts all the bad news in our lives into perspective. That’s what Romans does—it puts our lives in perspective!”  

“In a letter where Paul pounds the nail of justification by faith alone, what he says here seems out of place—the goal of the gospel is to bring glory to Jesus through the obedience of faith.”

“What is Paul talking about? Is he talking about obedience that flows from faith in Jesus? If so, he has just leapfrogged conversion to get to sanctification. Or does he mean to say obedience, which is faith? In one sense, the evangelistic call to believe in Jesus is an act of obedience. Jesus himself said in Mark 1:15—The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. So, which is it—sanctification or conversion? Is this about evangelism or Christian living? It’s about both. The purpose of Paul’s ministry and the goal of the gospel is transformed lives that bring glory to Jesus through the power and grace of God.”    

“Contrary to what some people believe, you can’t accept Jesus as your Savior, but not live for him as your Lord. By raising him from the dead, God has declared Jesus to be Savior and Lord, and commands all people everywhere to believe and submit to him. So, to have faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior is the first act of obedience.”

“For Christians, saving faith always leads to faith-filled obedience. Faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone. This is the point of James 2—Faith without works is dead, and it’s Paul’s point here. We will unpack this more as we go because throughout Romans, Paul repeatedly reminds us that true faith always results in obedience.”

“It’s by the grace and power of the gospel that I believe in Jesus for my salvation. By that same grace and power, I am enabled to obey him. God calls me to be patient with Donna. As a sinner now justified before God, that is a gospel claim on my life. But I can’t do that in my own strength. So, when I rely on God’s grace to be patient with Donna, what is my reliance—FAITH. That makes my obedience the fruit of my faith. In this way, faith and obedience go together. They are distinct yet inseparable.”

“We live for the glory of Jesus through the obedience of faith, by grace and with a peace in our hearts that comes from knowing that we stand justified and loved by God in Christ. Now we are free to live the freedom of the gospel, assured that all our sins and failures are covered in the grace of the gospel, and nothing can separate us from Christ. That brings true peace and great glory to our Lord and Savior. And it’s all because of the power of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s the book of Romans.”

APPLICATION:
Question for 2026: In what areas of your life do you lack confidence in the power of the gospel? 

QUOTES:
Thomas Schreiner - “While Jesus was on earth, he was the Messiah and the Son of God, but his death and resurrection inaugurated a stage in his messianic existence that was not formally his. Now he reigns in heaven as Lord and Christ.”

Douglas Moo - “Jesus as the locus of good news is intended to counter the idea that true good news can be found anywhere else—whether it be another religion or philosophy, a particular lifestyle, or the pleasures of ordinary life.”

Karl Barth - “Faith is not obedience, but as obedience is not obedience without faith, faith is not faith without obedience. They belong together, as do thunder and lightning in a thunderstorm.”

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
The Gospel Was Promised
In Christ Alone
Grace and Peace
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:16-20
How Vast The Love

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Romans 1:8-15, The Church of Romans

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE OUR BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Happy New Year, Church!

Your pastors count it a privilege and joy to encourage and serve you in the many ways that the Lord has called us to. The word of God preached is central to our ministry in the life of our church, and so, we are excited to begin preaching through Paul's letter to the Roman church: Romans: The Power of God in the Gospel of Christ.

With the preached word as primary, BELOW is a list of resources that we highly recommend to help you engage with, enjoy, and apply the book of Romans. How kind of God to have provided a myriad of ways for us to hear the word. Throughout the Scriptures, we find God's people reading the word, remembering the word, singing the word, praying the word, retelling the word, devoting themselves to the word, counseled from the word, writing the word, meditating on the word, teaching the word, and obeying and applying God's word. All of these are means of God's grace for us as we respond to Him in worship and glorify Him!

Our Senior Pastor, Derek, recently said of this sermon series in Romans, "As we explore the theological depths of the gospel and humbly embrace its practical outworkings in our lives, the ultimate effect of Romans should be a more profound gratitude for saving grace, a stronger unity within our church, and a greater zeal in our mission together."

This is what awaits us: a "more profound gratitude for saving grace, a stronger unity..., and a greater zeal in our mission together."

We can joyfully anticipate knowing God more, understanding ourselves biblically, and, together, growing all the more in our faith and love for the Savior, Jesus!

We are praying for you all, and by the grace of God, may we all marvel together in "The Power of God in the Gospel of Christ" throughout our exploration of the book of Romans!

Here are the recommended resources:

Romans Scripture Journal (Crossway) - A GIFT for you: Stop by and pick up your copy of one of these journals for each of our men and women at our Welcome Desk in the lobby.
Personal Bible Study—Romans: A 12-Week Study (ESV-Knowing the Bible)
Grace Has Come: Songs from the Book of Romans—Sovereign Grace Music
Devotional—The Power of the Gospel: A Year In Romans by RC Sproul
Commentary—The Message of Romans by John Stott (BST)
The Cutting Board Blog—Each week, we email you our latest Sermon Spotlight Post that provides a very useful and detailed summary of every Sunday Sermon. As we preach through Romans, these Sermon Blog Posts will be an excellent tool provided for your further study. Additionally, throughout the sermon series, look for Special Topics on Romans right here on the Cutting Board Blog.

-Tom

As we leave 2025 in the rear-view mirror for 2026, let’s grab a little taste of heaven right here in Tucson. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: The Book of Advent
TEXT: Revelation 5
TITLE:  From the Manger to the Throne
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Because Jesus has made much of us with His life, we must make much of him with ours.

POINTS:
I. Allow the Gospel to Define Our Lives
II. Allow Our Lives to Praise the One Who Defines Us

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

“Thursday night, after the last grandkid loaded up in their car and headed home, I closed the door, looked at Donna, and said—That was a great Christmas, what now? The shopping is done. The presents are opened. The food is gone. The Christmas movies have all been watched…twice. The Church Christmas parties are over. The Candlelight service is behind us. What now?”

“Christmas can feel like that, can’t it? All the planning, prep, and anticipation, then it’s over in a moment. Spiritually speaking, we know what proceeds Christmas—the cross on Good Friday, the empty tomb on Easter, and the ascension forty days later. But what now? We know Jesus will come again. But what about right now?”

“For that, we look into the heavenly throne room where Advent meets eternity. Here’s what we will find: Because Jesus has made much of us with His life, we must make much of him with ours.”

“That’s the answer to the question—What Now? We spend the remainder of our time on earth making much of Jesus with our lives. And the inhabitants of Revelation 5 show us how.”

“Our text takes us into the holy throne room of heaven. In chapter four, John pulls back the curtains on the ceaseless praise and adoration of God Almighty. His splendor and majesty were described in the only way John knew how, in brilliant colors and precious jewels. Then in 5:1, John says—Then I saw. With these words, John shifts his focus. What has caught his eye?”

“John’s attention is captured by a scroll in the right hand of God that had writing front and back and was sealed with seven seals. This scroll contains God’s plan for judgment and salvation, inaugurated in the birth, life, and death of Jesus and literally unfolding, then, now, and in the future. In short, the scroll reveals who wins, and how. Spoiler alert—Jesus wins and that means we win!”

“There is one problem. There is no one who is able to open the scroll. Not the four heavenly beings. Not the twenty-four elders. Not even the mighty angel. There is no one in heaven or on earth, in all of creation, anywhere, at any time, worthy to open the scroll. No wonder John weeps aloud. But suddenly, a voice thunders through the heavenly throne room. In 5, the elder describes a ferocious Lion and invokes David, the militaristic and nationalistic warrior king. These are the titles of a mighty conqueror. But what John sees in 6 is seemingly far from a conqueror. He sees a Lamb that had been slaughtered.”

“We know who this is. It’s the seed promised in Genesis 3. It’s the child foretold about in Isaiah 9. It’s the baby born in a manger and welcomed by a heavenly choir in Luke 2. It’s the one by whom we have received adoption into God’s heavenly family, according to Galatians 4. It’s the crucified and risen Jesus! He takes center stage in the heavenly throne room as the only one worthy to open the scroll. What makes him worthy is not his perfect power and wisdom symbolized by the seven eyes and horns in 6. What makes him worthy to open the scroll is his saving work on the cross.”

“I don’t want us to miss John’s focus here: What has captured the full attention of the throne room is not a ferocious roaring Lion or a mighty warrior king. That’s how we would write the script. But we didn’t write the script, God did. And the centerpiece of His script is a slaughtered Lamb - revealing that at the heart of His eternal rule is the gospel. The one born in a manger conquered sin, death, and Satan, not by killing them enemy with a sword but by dying on a cross. That same death that conquers also redeems a royal and holy people for God. The metaphors are paradoxical. The conquering power of the roaring Lion is expressed in the death of the slain Lamb.”

“At the heart God’s sovereign and eternal rule that was inaugurated in a manger is the sacrificial and saving death of Jesus. This is what eternally defines Jesus and is the basis for is worthiness to open the scroll.”

“Now, if Jesus is eternally defined by his gospel work, then the gospel is what must define us in our daily lives. In answering the question—What now?, our answer should be—Allow the Gospel to Define Our Lives. This is how we make much of Jesus until his return—allowing his life, death, and resurrection to define every aspect of our lives.”   

“In the final chapter of this book Jesus promises three times—I am coming soon. The second Advent. But until then, our lives are meant to defined by the person and power of the cross to save sinners and change lives.”

“Unfortunately, there are so many things OTHER than the gospel that COULD, and all too often DO, define our lives: vocation, tradition, success, season of life, physical appearance, felt needs, roles in the church, life experiences, past failures, besetting sin.”

“But a biblical worldview (and by worldview I mean what shapes your thoughts about life and what guides your behavior in life) a biblical worldview will always have Christ at the center. Revelation is a book that doesn’t merely tell us God’s plan, it SHOWS us God’s plan. That’s why there’s so much symbolism. If we could create a picture that SHOWS what defines our lives, it should be Revelation 5. To the degree that the gospel shapes your worldview is the degree to which your life will be defined by the gospel.”

“John is witnessing a TSUNAMI of praise. They sang a new song, and they fell down and worshipped Jesus. Their worship was verbal and physical. It included their hearts and their bodies. They praise him for giving his life on the cross and saving sinners from every corner of the earth, including ours! They praise him for building God’s kingdom and defeating Satan so that God’s people—here’s the now/not yet tension in redemptive history—reign in God’s kingdom as priests, now in part, and fully when Christ returns and establishes his eternal kingdom. They praise Jesus for the eternal excellencies of his power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”

“Notice the crescendo effect. In 8-9, it was the four living creatures and the twenty-four singing praises to the Lamb of God. Then in verse 11, they are joined by myriads and myriads and thousands and thousands of angels (translation: a lot of angels) singing the praises of the Lamb that was slain. And if that were not sufficient, 13 says every creature in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and in the sea, and all that is in them are praising the victorious Lamb of God.”

“They are giving Jesus all they have. Fear of man is nowhere to be found. They are worshiping Jesus in truth—according to who he is and what he has done. They are delighting in him. They are expressing their deepest joy and satisfaction in him. They are holding nothing back. They are making much of Jesus.”

“If you want to know what heaven will be like. If you want to know why the universe exists. If you want to know the point of all that’s written in the scroll. If you want to know why Jesus came. If you wonder why you exist. The inhabitants of the heavenly throne are showing you—To make much of Jesus with every ounce of our being.”

“Christmas is three days past. But the truth is Christmas is never really over. The manger leads to the cross, which leads to the empty tomb, which leads to the eternal throne room. What we see there is not a distant and irrelevant moment. It’s the eternal vocation of all God’s people who will one day join in to worship in the presence of the Triune God for all his excellencies as our Lord and Savior, the Lamb that was slain for the ransom of sinners like us.”

“As we leave 2025 in the rear-view mirror for 2026, let’s grab a little taste of heaven right here in Tucson by joining in with heaven in the only appropriate way—Let’s make much of Jesus by singing the praise of who he is and what he has done and all he has for us one day in heaven.”     

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Philippians 2:8-11  

QUOTES:
Sam Storms- “And so all creation in heaven and earth stands motionless and speechless as a search is undertaken for someone worthy to open this book. Is no one capable of bringing history to its ordained end? Call your Congressman! Call your Senator! Write letters of inquiry to the most brilliant of scientist and astrophysicist! If necessary, get in touch with the White House! Surely someone here on earth is worthy enough and strong enough to open the book of human history and tell us its content and its consummation.”

G.K. Beale - “While he was suffering the defeat of death, he was also overcoming by creating a kingdom of redeemed subjects over whom he would reign and over whom the devil would no longer have power….Therefore, while Jesus was being defeated at the cross he was nevertheless beginning to establish his Kingdom.”

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Sing
Is He Worthy
Crown Him With Many Crowns
Jesus Paid It All
This Is Amazing Grace

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Romans 1:1-7, The Christology of Romans

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE OUR BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Christmas is not merely about a season, a feeling, or a tradition. Galatians 4:4-7 reveals an unbreakable connection between Advent and your eternal identity. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: The Book of Advent
TEXT: Galatians 4:4-7
TITLE: The Great Christmas Effect
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet

POINTS:
I. The Unfathomable Reality of Advent
II. The Unspeakable Reason for Advent

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

ILLUSTRATION: “The Christmas Effect”, Christmas being the cause of feeling miserable this time of year

“I do not doubt that for many, maybe even some here, this Christmas Effect is very real. Afterall, we live in a fallen world. If this Christmas Effect is your current experience, take heart, there is hope. And it’s not found in a disciplined diet, more sleep, or the emotional support of others during the holiday. I’m glad you’re here because you are about to hear the good news of another Christmas Effect. I call it The Great Christmas Effect because it will transform not only your Christmas but your life.”

“Last week we heard the good news that Christmas is coming. Today, we hear the good news of how Christmas changes everything.”

“Christmas is not merely about a season, a feeling, or a tradition. Galatians 4:4-7 reveals an unbreakable connection between Advent and your eternal identity.”

“I love the line we sang earlier: Who would have dreamed or ever foreseen that we could hold God in our hands. Few lyrics capture the unfathomable reality of Christmas like those. They create wonder and awe in your heart while simultaneously breaking your brain. Paul stacks up Advent phrases in our text that produce that same response.”

“When of Advent—’(4) When the fullness of time had come'.’ In God’s wisdom, He sent His Son into the world at just the right time. That’s the meaning of the fullness of time. The fullness of time wasn’t determined by a divine hunch or an alignment of the stars that God took advantage of. The fullness of time was thoroughly planned out before time even began.”

“In God’s providence, it was the time when the God-ordained cultural, political, and religious conditions were right for advancing the gospel. The Greek language and culture, which had become so common, made it ideal for sharing the gospel. The might and ingenuity of the Romans made it safer and easier to take the gospel to the world. It was a time when pagans, dissatisfied with the mythological Roman and Greek gods, were religiously hungry. And for the Jewish people, it was a time when they had grown weary of living as prisoners under the law, as Paul rehearsed in 1-3. It was just the right time. Not a second too soon, not a second too late, but at the perfect time, when the fullness of time had come.”

“Who of Advent—In the fullness of time—notice what Paul says next—God sent forth His Son. Paul reminds us of Jesus' deity. God sent Jesus from heaven into this world. The promised child of Isaiah 9, who was sent in the fullness of time, existed long before he showed up in Bethlehem. As we saw last week from another great Christmas passage—John 1 says Jesus existed in eternity past, with God, like God, indeed as God. The second person of the Godhead, Jesus, is eternal.”

“How of Advent—(4) But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law. Just as the word sent declares Jesus’ deity, the word born asserts his humanity. The One who has always been and is fully God entered the world fully human. Jesus had an ordinary birth. Mary changed his diapers. He learned to walk and talk. He grew in wisdom and stature. He had to learn about life and face its temptations. He was born of woman, taking on our flesh and nature in a fallen and sinful world.”

“This is the mysterious reality of the Incarnation—Fully God and fully man—one person, two natures, divine and human. Jesus was also born under the law. As a Jew, he was required to keep the Torah. He was expected to keep the Ten Commandments. He was expected to follow worship requirements. He had to keep the Feasts and celebrate Passover. And Jesus had to do all this perfectly. And he did!”

“This is the unfathomable reality and miracle of Christmas—God came to us as a man. And this reality is unfathomable as we read about the effect ‘God with us’ has.”

“It was the famous Clark Griswold who said—See kids, Christmas means something different to everybody, and now I know it means for me. Paul corrects Clark’s theology of Christmas in verse 5: The reason for the season is heavenly adoption.”

“God became flesh, Christ came into the world, to redeem those under the law by atoning for their sin. The manger led to the cross, where the penalty of our sins was paid with the precious blood of Jesus.”

“As good as the complete forgiveness of our sin is, and it would be enough, it is not the end of the matter. God didn’t stop there. Christ came to atone for our sins—notice (5) so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

“We don’t talk about our adoption in Christ nearly enough. It tends to get lost in the other aspects of salvation. But spiritual adoption stands on its own. Guarding against blending it with different aspects of our salvation is critical, lest we lose the unspeakable awe and wonder it’s meant to fan into flame within us.”

“Adoption is not Regeneration. Regeneration is about our inward nature being born again so that we may become God’s adopted children.”

“Adoption is not Sanctification. Sanctification is about our practice—how we live, as adopted children of God.”

“Adoption is not Justification. Justification is about our legal status. It’s a courtroom declaration of pardon by God, who is our Judge. Adoption is about a relationship that sees God, no longer as Judge, but loving Father. The moment we are justified, we become adopted into the family of God. We move from the heavenly court room to the heavenly family room.”  

“Adoption is about our identity. When an orphan is adopted, they don’t just get a new street address or better prospects for making it in life. Their identity changes. They bear a new name that reflects the family they now belong to. Their original birth certificate disappears, and a new one is drafted as if that child were born to their adoptive parents. That intimate belonging is what spiritual adoption is about. And it couldn’t be more relevant. We live in a society where personal identity AND the longing for belonging is paramount.” 

ILLUSTRATION: ‘Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ is really a story of belonging, NOT Christmas.

“Spiritual adoption is the ultimate belonging. Sin has left us as spiritual orphans: no father, family, no future. But God’s love has brought us into His family.”

“Abba is the Aramaic word for Father that communicates a childlike intimacy. Abba Father is profoundly personal and affectionate. These are the exact words Jesus cried out in the dark moments on the eve of his crucifixion in the garden: Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will—Mark 14:36”

“The way Jesus addressed his Father is the same way our identity as adopted sons and daughters in Christ allows us to address Him. Think about that: His Father is your Father. Your Father is His Father. That means you are loved by the Father just as the Father loves Jesus.”

ILLUSTRATION: Final Adoption Hearing

“In Christ, you are a child and an heir to heaven and all of its eternal riches and blessings, just as Christ is, including, above all things, God’s divine affections.”

“Wherever you are this Christmas, let this truth have its full effect. The promised seed of Genesis 3 and the promised child of Isaiah 9 came to us—so that we could be the adopted sons and daughters of God who have the privilege of calling the God of the universe, Jesus own eternal Father, our Abba Father.”

“This is the unspeakable joy of Advent. Just as an orphaned child doesn’t have the right to be adopted by a particular family, we don’t have the right to be adopted by God. Oftentimes, a couple that adopts knows what they are looking for—a boy or girl, an infant or toddler, a particular nationality. We have nothing that appeals to God. In our sin, we are hopelessly unlovely and unappealing. That’s the wonder of divine adoption—God loves us as His own because He chose to love us as His own—it comes to us by faith, and it’s all of grace! So wherever you are this Christmas, I pray the Spirit gives you eyes of faith to see the wonder of The Great Christmas Effect in your life, so that you may have a truly Merry Christmas to the praise of your Abba Father’s glory.”

QUOTES:
John Stott- “What is emphasized in these verses is that the one whom God sent to accomplish our redemption was perfectly qualified to do so. He was God's son. He was also born of a human mother, so that he was human as well as divine, the one and only God-man. And he was born under the law, that is, of a Jewish mother, and to the Jewish nation, subject to the Jewish law. Throughout his life he submitted to all the requirements of the law. He succeeded where all others before and since have failed: He perfectly fulfilled the righteousness of the law. So the divinity of Christ, the humanity of Christ, and the righteousness of Christ uniquely qualified him to be man's Redeemer. If he had not been man, he could not have redeemed men. If he had not been a righteous man, he could not have redeemed unrighteous men. And if he had not been God's son, he could not have redeemed men for God or made them the sons of God.”

Sam Storms - “I rejoice in the fact that I've been justified and forgiven and granted eternal life. But to know and experience God as my Father, ABBA, is greater still. When you are justified by faith in Christ, you stand before God as judge and hear him declare: ‘Not guilty! Righteous through faith in Jesus!’ Praise God! But in adoption God the judge steps down from behind his legal bench, removes his stately robes, stoops down, and sweeps you up into his arms of love and says softly: ‘My son, my daughter, my child!’”

Phillip Graham Ryken -“It would be enough for God to release us from slavery, to rescue us from our captivity to the law, and so to redeem us from its curse. But God did not stop there. Once Christ had gained our freedom, he gathered us unto his family.”

J.I. Packer - “God receives us as sons, and loves us with the same steadfast affection with which he eternally loves his beloved only-begotten. There are no distinctions of affection in the divine family. We are all loved just as fully as Jesus is loved....This, and nothing else than this, is what adoption means.”

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Who Would Have Dreamed
O Come All Ye Faithful
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:15-20
We Are Yours Forever

CHRISTMAS EVE’S PASSAGE AND NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Luke 2:1-20, Advent and the Incarnation
Revelation 5, Advent and Eternity

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE OUR BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

~ The child in the hay is the Ancient of Days drawing near, do not fear ~

Each Christmas, we rejoice that the Ancient of Days has drawn near to us in the incarnation. In God’s wonderful plan of redemption, Jesus drew near to us by being born to us. There is so much more to the Gospel story, but it all begins in that little town of Bethlehem when the Ancient of Days drew near to a lost and fallen world.

This Sunday, join us as we sing a Christmas song written by Sovereign Grace Music called “Do Not Fear”. As we sing together, we will celebrate this incredible reality: We can draw near to Him, because He has drawn near to us. 

Lyrics

VERSE 1

Humble virgin, arise and take heart
You’ve been chosen to carry a son
Give no heed to the trembling inside
For the wonder has only begun

CHORUS

Do not fear, do not fear
The child you will hold is the Savior foretold drawing near
Do not fear

VERSE 2

Lowly shepherds, look up and take heart
See the glory of heaven burn bright
Hear the anthem of joy and good news
Hope has dawned in a stable tonight

CHORUS 2

Do not fear, do not fear
The child in the hay is the Ancient of Days drawing near
Do not fear

VERSE 3

Weary children, be still and take heart
Every longing you feel is a cry
For the rest He has offered to all
Come to Him, for His burden is light

CHORUS 3

Do not fear, do not fear
The God who redeems you and ever will keep you is near
Do not fear

As we consider the Advent and the Prophets, look at this promise found in Isaiah 9: CHRISTMAS IS COMING. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: The Book of Advent
TEXT: Isaiah 9:6-7
TITLE: Christmas is Coming!
PREACHER: Brett Overstreet
BIG IDEA: In the promise of Christmas, we find an extraordinary child who will do extraordinary things for sinners like us.

POINTS:
I. An Extraordinary Promise
II. An Extraordinary Child

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

ILLUSTRATION: Facing a long, miserable summer, “We love Christmas and all that comes with it, so we've learned to love that reminder that promise to the other in the midst of our despairing, that Christmas is coming.”
“This morning we find that very promise, ‘Christmas is coming!’, here in Isaiah 9 spoken some 2700 years ago. As we will see, God's people are in a place of great darkness and despair. And yet, in the midst of this place, God speaks a promise to them through his prophet Isaiah. The very first Christmas is coming, and all that it will bring is coming. Our task this morning, as we consider the Advent and the Prophets, is to look at this promise found in Isaiah 9 and consider what it means for us.”

“As we begin, I want to acknowledge something upfront. Isaiah 9 is a very familiar Christmas passage. It is being preached all over the world this month, and for many of us, it probably appears on the list of our favorite Christmas texts. It’s because we know that this text speaks of the coming of Jesus. It speaks of a baby who would be born into this world, born to us – and on this side of redemptive history, we don’t have to wonder who this is – it is Jesus, God made flesh. But as we approach this text, we need to remember that these words are being spoken some 700 years before Jesus would be born, and they are spoken to a people who could not look back and see the cradle, cross, and grave. And so, it's not only important, it's critical for us to understand the context of what's going on around Isaiah Chapter 9 if we are to understand this extraordinary promise.”

“As we approach chapter 9, there is a rising darkness, a growing sense of gloom and despair among God’s people. Long gone are the golden years of King David and King Solomon. The kingdom of Israel has split into two different kingdoms – north and south. If we go back to chapter 7, we see that things are starting to heat up. At the beginning of chapter 7 we are introduced to a character named Ahaz. Ahaz was in the line of Davidic kings and was ruling in Judah at the time of Isaiah 9. You can learn more about him in 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28, but let me give you his quick resume: He did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He installed pagan worship in the temple. He murdered his own son in a pagan sacrifice. He despised the prophets and listened to the wisdom of necromancers instead of God. He did not care for and protect his people like a king should. In short, he was a terrible king.”

“At this same time, a great enemy is rising in the region, threatening to destroy Judah. This would be Assyria, a pagan powerhouse to the North. The northern kingdom of Israel has allied with Syria against Assyria and has asked King Ahaz to bring Judah into the alliance against the threat of Assyria. Ahaz says no, and Israel threatens to attack Judah. As all of this is playing out, and the threat is growing, the Lord speaks to Ahaz through Isaiah and tells him, ‘Trust in the promises of God, and I will be your salvation.’”

“He does the unthinkable: rather than trusting in the protection and promises of God and leading the people to do the same, He goes not to God, but to the pagan powerhouse Assyria for help. We read in 2 Kings 16:7-8, ‘So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, ‘I am your servant and your son. Come up and rescue me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.’ Ahaz also took the silver and gold that were found in the house of the Lord and in the treasures of the king’s house and sent a present to the king of Assyria.”

“Ahaz is sending gifts and groveling and begging the Assyrians to come and deliver them from these threats. Ahaz fails his greatest test as king over the people of God. Rather than leading them to trust in the promises of God, he leads them willingly into the arms of their enemies.”

“Eventually, Judah becomes a puppet state for the pagan nation of Assyria. And in Isaiah chapter 8, the prophet announces that God will pour out his judgment on Judah because they have rejected God and turned away from Him. Ironically enough, this judgement will come at the hands of the Assyrians. The very nation they chose to put their hope in will turn around and crush them.”

“Chapter 8, verse 22, paints a grim picture for God’s people. Notice the language Isaiah uses: distress, darkness, gloom, anguish, thick darkness. In fact, in 9:2, Isaiah is describing the same conditions as 8:22 and calls it a deep darkness. That word translated ‘deep darkness’ here is the same word used in Psalm 23, which translates to ‘shadow of death’. the picture here is not that the people are just living in tough times waiting for their big break, they are living in the shadow of death.”

“I don’t think we have to labor too hard to get the picture here; gone are the peaceful, prosperous days of King Solomon. There is nothing but darkness and gloom on the horizon for the people of God. This (the shadow of death) is the setting for what we are about to read in chapter 9. I want to understand the context here because we were reminded last week that in order to understand and appreciate the good news, we must understand just how bad the bad news really is.”

“On the heels of this dark forecast of this nation being plunged into political, social, and economic ruin, we find a promise of God to act.”

“I can only imagine the fear and terror in the hearts of the king and the people when judgment is pronounced in Chapter 8, to be quickly followed by weeping and rejoicing that it will not last forever. Because that’s what’s happening here: the deep darkness of 8:22 is not final. Make no mistake, the judgment announced in chapter 8 will come; you can read about the Assyrian invasion into Judah in 2 Kings 18. But what we see next is that it is not the final word in redemptive history – God is not done with his people.”

“Do you see the seeds of the promise of God’s grace to His people? Do you see the seeds of the promise of God’s grace to us?! God’s people are dwelling in the shadow of death, and yet there is this promise that a great light is coming that will shine into and shatter their deep darkness.”

“This all sounds great, but how will it happen? How will God do this? What is this light that will shine into our darkness? How will all of this come to fruition? Because, as great as it all sounds, all of these wonderful events laid out in VS 1 – 4 must have a cause! In verse 6, God gives His answer. And what does He say? Christmas is coming!”

“He doesn’t say, I will raise up an army from the east or from the west. He doesn’t say a great military power will come and usher in this new age of light. No, he says, I will send a child.”

“These words are spoken hundreds of years before this child is born, and yet Isaiah speaks as if it were presently happening. The wisdom of God’s redemptive plan is found, not in worldly powers, but in the coming of a helpless, weak child. God doesn’t say, the calvary is coming. He says, Christmas is coming! The great light that is promised in 9:2 that is to shine into the darkness, that is to shine into the deep shadow of death, is a child!”

“The promise is not a great military power; the promise is God incarnate. The word made flesh. Jesus, the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary in a little unremarkable town called Bethlehem. Do you believe that? That God’s answer to everything that has terrorized us is a child?”

“Listen, if it’s difficult for you to relate to everything we’ve seen in Isaiah so far, let's remind ourselves, this history is our history. We may not be facing God’s judgment through a coming Assyrian invasion, but our forecast was even worse than Judah’s. See, Romans 1 reminds us that the wrath of God is coming against all sin and unrighteousness and that our hearts have been darkened by sin. And while we may not look around and see gloom and darkness all around us, spiritually, our sin has put us in a place of absolute darkness. And you and I are in desperate need of a great light to shine into the darkness of our sin!”

“Do you remember the funeral in the garden last Sunday? We looked at Genesis 3 and saw that The Fall was the funeral for mankind. But at that funeral, there was a promise spoken. Just as 8:22 was not the final word for the kingdom of Judah, the fall and curse in Genesis 3, which was the result of our sin, this was not the final word for us in God’s plan of redemptive history. Because He gave us a son – His own son. Who would not only come in the flesh as a baby, but this child would grow up and experience this world in every way that we do, except he would never sin.”

“At a young, prime age of 33 years old, Jesus would willingly and lovingly die a miserable death in our place, and though sinless, he would be covered in the blackening darkness of our sin so that we receive the light of eternal life.”

“God’s promise to shine a great light into our great darkness is found in the birth of a child.”

ILLUSTRATION: Birth is common to us in nature, “But here’s the difference: this to be no ordinary child. No, as we are about to see this is will be an extraordinary child.”

“Verses 6 – 7 give us so many clues as to who this child is and what he will be like. There’s a lot to unpack here, but notice the very first clue that Isaiah gives us about this coming child. [6b]…and the government shall be upon his shoulder. Apparently, this child is to govern, he is to be a ruler, a king. The term “king” is never mentioned in this passage, but it is clear from the references to government, throne and kingdom that this text is speaking of a kingly figure. In other words, this child that is promised to be the great light that shines into the darkness is a royal person – a king. …[and] what remains clear from our text is that this coming ruler is going to be different than the rulers before Him.”

“Notice that he is not just to be a king but that his kingdom will be eternal. His Kingdom will not lie stagnant or end in ruin like the kings before him, even many of the good kings before him - no, his government, which is to be a government of peace, and righteousness, and justice, will not only last, but will increase forever.” 

ILLUSTRATION: If you want to learn more about Jesus, you should study his old testament names

”’His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor…’ This king will be a wise king. His counsel will be full of wonder. This would have been music to the ears of the people in the kingdom. They know all too well the difference between a wise king and a foolish king – King Ahaz was a smart but foolish king who sought counsel from necromancers, not God. Isaiah wants them to know that this king and His eternal kingdom will be different – He will be a wonderful counselor. That Hebrew term for counselor is the same term used elsewhere in the OT to speak of a king’s trusted advisor. This king will need no worldly advisor because he himself is the wonderful counselor. His counsel goes beyond mere human thought and human wisdom.”

“What does our sin do to us? It reduces us to fools, doesn’t it? Titus 3 reminds us that before Christ, we ourselves were once foolish. In our sin we were fools, denying God and His glory. Denying our desperate need for Him. And so, what does God do? He sends, in this child, a wonderful counselor to come and rescue us from the foolishness of our sin.”

“‘His name shall be called Mighty God…’ If there was any doubt that this child was to be a divine child, this king a divine king, Isaiah puts it to rest. He says this child will be called Mighty God. The term used here is used throughout the Old Testament to refer to God. The root word here gives the sense of a strong, mighty warrior. This child is to have the very strength and might of God because He is God. He Himself is the God who is ready to unleash His power to rescue and defend His people. This may have very well brought back images of the exodus when the Israelites’ mighty God delivered, rescued, and defended his people from the hands of their enemies.”

“This is the one who has come to us. Not a Savior, but the Savior. One who is mighty enough to defeat our great enemy, conquer our sin and deliver and defend us from the shadow of death. We try to look elsewhere, don’t we? Our own efforts, our own strength, our performance – but the reality is, there is only one strong enough to deliver us.”

“‘His name shall be called Everlasting Father…’ This is not a reference to the first person of the Godhead, but a reference to the fatherly care, compassion and protection that a father offers to his children. I think about my son Jack and the levels of affection, care and duty to protect that I have for him as my son…. How much greater are the affections and love and providential care of Jesus – who is to be our everlasting father!”

“‘His name shall be called Prince of Peace…’ To a group of people facing war and oppression all around them, the Prince of peace would have been exactly what the doctor ordered. This extraordinary king is to be a king who comes in peace and brings peace, establishing it and keeping it. His reign would be a peaceful reign - Much unlike the many kings that came before him. This king will usher in Shalom, peace.”

“We all long for peace in our lives, don’t we? Maybe you’re here this morning, and that’s the one present you want for Christmas – peace. Peace at home. Peace in your relationships. Peace in the workplace. Peace in the world. We desperately want peace in our lives. But our greatest need isn’t for peace in the world, or peace with the people around us. We don’t like to admit it, but our greatest problem as a human race is that we are not at peace with God. We had peace with God – but like we saw last week, that peace was broken in the garden. Our sin wages war against God, and our greatest need is for peace with him. This child – the Prince of Peace - comes to restore what was lost in the garden. He comes to make peace between us and God.”

“Four wonderful titles for our Savior. What do we find when we look at these 4 names? Wisdom, Strength, Care, Peace. Aren’t those all things that everyone is searching for? But what do we do – we look for them in the wrong places. We look to social media for these things, we turn to sex, money, and drugs for these things, we grind and grind in our self-sufficiency, hoping for these things. We search the ends of the earth to find these things, but always end up running to empty vessels. Why? Isaiah tells us why: All of these things are found fully and completely in a person – Jesus.”

“I would ask each of us to consider those 4 things that we see in the names of Jesus: wisdom, strength, care, and peace, and to ask ourselves, where do we look for these things? As you walk through suffering and trials, life decisions, and relationship difficulties, where do you look for these things? Because let's be honest, the world is full of competing spectacles. The world offers a lot of places for us to look. There is no shortage of trends, ideas, vices, and five-step programs for us to turn to. But all of those things will one day fail us. Maybe not today, maybe tomorrow, but one day – certainly on the last day – all of the offerings of the world will fail us. But do you know what won’t fail us? The wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting father, the prince of peace. So why would we look anywhere else besides the one who is all of these things for us?”

“After all of this is promised, look what the Lord says through His prophet Isaiah: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. That word “zeal” speaks of the passion of God. And in this context, it speaks of God’s passion for our salvation. So great is the passion of God to bring people out of a great darkness, so great is His passion to deliver His people from the shadow of death that Isaiah considers everything he has just said and speaks these words in full and utter confidence - the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

“This is what we celebrate at Christmas! This is why I love the words that my wife reminds me of every year: Christmas is coming! That is the promise that is whispered in the garden in Genesis 3. This is the promise given in Isaiah 9. This is the promise, as we will see on Christmas Eve, fulfilled in Luke chapter 2. The coming of an extraordinary child who does extraordinary things for sinners like us.”  

APPLICATION:
- If you are aware that, because of your sin, you are not at peace with God, there is only one thing you need to hear today: There is no hope for you outside of this extraordinary child. There is nothing that this world can offer. No amount of success, no amount of money, no amount of good deeds or church attendance or Bible reading that can make a sinner at peace with a holy God. But there is One who can: Christ Jesus. It's this Great Light that shines into the darkness. It’s this child that was promised 2700 years ago, that was born over 2000 years ago, and died in your place on the cross bearing the full penalty of your sin against God so that you might be forgiven of every sin you have ever committed and every sin you will ever commit.

He simply asks you to confess your sins and trust in Him for salvation.

- For the believer…we aren't off the hook. Even if we have believed and put our trust in this extraordinary child, we are still prone to look elsewhere as we walk through life, our hearts are often divided. As we have considered these four names given to Jesus, I pray we are increasingly convinced that there is nowhere we can look to find better hope, better news, better wisdom than by looking to HIM. Consider those 4 things that we see in the names of Jesus: wisdom, strength, care, and peace, and ask, “Where do I look for these things?”

- Every time I look at a Christmas light on a tree or in the yard or on the roof, I want to be reminded of Isaiah 9. To be reminded that this child is the great light that shines into and shatters my darkness. As we enjoy Christmas this year, may we find every little way to be reminded of the great light that shines into our darkness. And then let's turn and worship Jesus!

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
John 1:6-8, 14 
 1 Corinthians 1:30
John 1:12
Ephesians 2:13-14

QUOTES:
 John Oswalt - “The gloom is not final. God will not be satisfied that His people have experienced the just results of their rebellion. That experience is not an end in itself but a means, a means whereby God’s goodness can be manifested in the salvation of a land now aware of its true source of life. When every human attempt to bring light has failed, then God will bring light, not because He must, not because human craft has discovered the key to force Him, but merely out of His own grace.”

Ray Ortlund - “God’s answer to everything that has terrorized us is a child. The power of God is so far superior to the Assyrians and all the big shots of the world that He can defeat them by coming as a mere child. His answer to bullies swaggering through history is not to become an even bigger bully. His answer is Jesus.”

John Calvin - “It is good for us that he is called strong or mighty because our contest is with the devil, death, and sin, enemies too powerful and strong, by whom we would be vanquished immediately if Christ’s strength had not made us invincible. Thus we learn from this title that there is in Christ abundance of protection for defending our salvation, so that we desire nothing beyond him; He is God, who is pleased to show himself strong on our behalf.” 

Paul Tripp - “With words carefully chosen, because they were carefully directed by the Holy Spirit, Isaiah is telling us that the Messiah son is exactly what every Sinner desperately needs. He is the ultimate answer to every destructive thing that sin does to us. Isaiah, with beautifully poetic words, declares to us that Jesus is all we need. He is the solution to the sin that we cannot avoid or escape. Long before we were born, God had appointed for us the one who would be the remedy for every symptom of the sin that would infect us all.” 

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Prepare Him Room
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8-14
Heaven Has Come To Us
Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery
He Who Is Mighty

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Galatians 4:4-7 Advent and Our Identity

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