Fayetteville ARP Church

Simeon sings of the consolation or comfort of Israel finally coming to God's people. Because of his song, we know that Jesus is not simply the comfort for Israel but for all peoples of the earth. Indeed, whoever finds themselves in Christ will have peace with God. Run to Jesus, the Christ of God!

The angels sing of God's great glory over all of Creation. Then, they proclaim the truth that God has declared His peace with mankind through the Lord Jesus Christ, the only savior of sinners. May this same good news of great joy fill your hearts this Christmas season!

In Zechariah's song, God reveals His faithfulness that began all the way back at the beginning of the Old Testament. He entered into covenant with His people, even through Abraham. Now, He brings this covenant of His good works to completion in the Lord Jesus Christ. And John the Baptist and his birth show us the job of every Christian: to bring light and glory to the Lord Jesus.

The Magnificat, as Mary's Song has come to be known, is all about "magnifying" the praise of God Almighty. And in particular, Mary reveals that God deserves to be praised because of who He is and because of what He does. He is holy and mighty and powerful, and He uses all of this strength and righteousness to bless His people. We see this most perfectly in the Lord Jesus, who came not to be served, but to serve and to offer His life as a ransom for many.

One of the most famous and beloved passages of Scripture: the Great Commission. But do you know the real intent behind Jesus' command? He shows that God Himself will bring about His glory in all the earth, as He gives all authority to His Son and then empowers His people to witness for the Gospel of Christ. And He will be glorified! Praise the LORD.

There are many who disbelieve the resurrection, both in Jesus' day and in our own. The fact of the resurrection, however, is the foundation upon which all of Christianity either stands or falls. To be a Christian, simply put, is to be a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. Because Jesus is risen, everything in life can make sense, and we can have hope. As Paul would put it, if Jesus is not raised, then our faith is in vain, and we are still in our sins. Praise God that He is risen!

Matthew (and all the Gospel writers) take great pains to demonstrate that Jesus of Nazareth truly died, and that He was buried in accordance with the Scriptures. We also see in these verses the contrast between faithful disciples, unlikely though they were and the guards who would set up the incontrovertible witness to Jesus' resurrection. May we all faithfully look to Jesus who truly died and was truly raised!

Isaiah 40 outlines the great faithfulness of God that brings His people comfort--even in the face of adversity and judgment. God's Word, specifically, issues forth from the throne with eternal surety. If we cannot find hope in the promises of God, then ultimately we can find it nowhere. May we all be comforted by God's sure and firm hand.

The death of Jesus, the Son of God, brings with it amazing miracles. This is in part because He truly is the Son of God, and as such, He warrants great displays of God's power. But even more than this, Jesus' death brings great wonders because of what it accomplishes: peace on earth and good will towards men. God at the cross, in Christ Jesus, ushers in a new era of reconciliation through the blood of the Lamb. Truly, indeed, He is the Son of God!