Faith Bible Fellowship Church of York

Jesus became flesh and dwelled among us (John 1:14). John has an allusion to the tabernacle here. The tabernacle was God's glory in our midst. God's plan has always been to dwell with his people in the covenant "I will be their God and they will be my people." Christmas is a reminder that Jesus fulfills this promise.

Genesis 3:15 is sometimes called 'the first preaching of the gospel'. What promise is given? How is it fulfilled? Why is it important for Christmas? In this sermon we look at God's plan for Christmas that was given in the book of Genesis and how Jesus fulfills this.

Because people come to faith through hearing the gospel, we need to be a people who take the gospel to others. The gospel must be communicated through words since it is "good news" and people will not believe in Jesus unless they have heard of him.

The Bible teaches that in order to be saved it is with our mouth we confess and our heart that we believe. Saving faith confesses "Jesus is Lord" and believes that God raised Jesus from the dead.

Righteousness is received by faith and not by works. Paul describes the Gentiles as having received a righteousness by faith while the Jews were pursuing a Law of righteousness and failed to attain to the Law. We cannot seek our own righteousness by works.

The Bible tells us that God is the potter and we are the clay. God has the right to make us as he wishes. It is His right to shape some as vessels of wrath for destruction and other as vessels of mercy for glory. God's Word does not fail but His purpose in calling people to salvation remains. If He had not called some of salvation, no one would be saved.

Paul describes God's purposes in election. Our salvation and reception of the promise of God does not depend on our will or our works but on God who calls.

Paul describes his burden for the lost, particularly for those who are his Jewish kin. We, too, need to have a love for the lost and a heart that desires to reach them.

What can separate the believer from God's love given in Jesus Christ? Paul argues that nothing can separate us. God justifies us and Christ is our intercessor. No trial in life can take us apart from God's love.

(PLEASE NOTE, DUE TO A MIC PROBLEM AUDIO QUALITY IS SUBSTANDARD. LISTENERS MAY NEED TO TURN VOLUME UP)

Believers can trust that God works all things for good because of His call upon our life. He has foreknown us, predestined us, called us, justified us, and will glorify us. It is this sovereignty of God that assures us we can have confidence in God and trust what He is doing in our life.