Joy to the World is one of the more popular Christmas songs of the English language tradition. This hymn brings remembrance of the rich theology … biblical theology … of the incarnation to the hearer. All the earth responds in a new song of JOY at the arrival of God in the flesh. In contrast, secular Christmas music that fills our airways and streaming services does not have In contrast, secular Christmas music that fills our airways and streaming services does not have the JOY that the rich hymns of the Christian faith convey. One favorite secular song from the 20th century Christmas tradition is the Jazz filled theme to the Charlie Brown Christmas. This song contains no lyrics but the jovial rhythm and head-bobbing beat convey a celebration … a time long gone with innocence and childhood fun. Other songs like “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” just do not seem to reflect the biblical witness of salvation … the good news of salvation and peace. But the ideas conveyed in the hymn, Joy to the World, express in simple ways the fulfillment of the covenant promises of God to his fallen creation. At the pinnacle of this fulfillment is God entering into humanity … taking upon himself what is not of himself … the sin and human dilemma of struggles and battles with thorns and thistles that came as the result of the first man and first woman’s sin. We will sing this wonderful hymn as our closing hymn of worship tonight. So in preparation for the corporate singing of this wonderful classic from Isaac Watts, let’s take a look at the biblical source for the proclamation of singing “JOY to the World”

This podcast feed hosts the public teaching ministry of Dr. Bryant K. Owens. I am an independent scholar exploring Christian Studies in today’s secular world. I believe that thoughtful Christianity can bring meaningful change in our churches, classrooms, homes, and communities. With years of experience as both a pastor and educator, I am passionate about the historical Christian worldview and the classical, Socratic approach to learning. My work draws from theology, philosophy, ethics, and the humanities, always with a heart for making faith thoughtful and life-giving.

https://bryantowens.substack.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbryantowens/

Today is the second Sunday of Advent, the theme of PEACE.

The biblical theme of Christ as peace is much different than the secular adaptations of Christmas peace between men. The biblical theme of peace is instead peace brought about by the atoning sacrifice of Christ, not between men but between fallen man [the created] and God [the Creator].

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Thus the Peace that is ushered in at Christ's birth has two applications:

First, peace between God and hostile enmity from fallen humanity.

Second, peace between Gentiles and Christians ... hostile enmity between fallen men.

The unifying peace that the Son of God preached and exhorted was the peace that required mercy and grace. The unifying peace that the Son of God preached and exhorted was the peace that resulted in reconciliation with the Heavenly Father.

A passage from the Advent reading today clarifies what is Heavenly Peace.

"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven." [Ps 85:10—11] KJV

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

2523 Hwy 111 North

Cookeville, TN 38506

sovereigngracebaptist.org

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

2523 Hwy 111 North

Cookeville, TN 38506

sovereigngracebaptist.org

This podcast feed hosts the public teaching ministry of Dr. Bryant K. Owens. I am an independent scholar exploring Christian Studies in today’s secular world. I believe that thoughtful Christianity can bring meaningful change in our churches, classrooms, homes, and communities. With years of experience as both a pastor and educator, I am passionate about the historical Christian worldview and the classical, Socratic approach to learning. My work draws from theology, philosophy, ethics, and the humanities, always with a heart for making faith thoughtful and life-giving.

https://bryantowens.substack.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbryantowens/

This podcast feed hosts the public teaching ministry of Dr. Bryant K. Owens. I am an independent scholar exploring Christian Studies in today’s secular world. I believe that thoughtful Christianity can bring meaningful change in our churches, classrooms, homes, and communities. With years of experience as both a pastor and educator, I am passionate about the historical Christian worldview and the classical, Socratic approach to learning. My work draws from theology, philosophy, ethics, and the humanities, always with a heart for making faith thoughtful and life-giving.

https://bryantowens.substack.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbryantowens/

"I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." [1 Corinthians 1:4-9]

"I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." [1 Corinthians 1:4-9]

The Suffering Passion story of Jesus involves great betrayal but also great adoration and blessing. The first verses of Matthew 26 set the stage for the final days of Jesus’ ministry and life. Jesus himself declared what would happen. Evil men would plot and deliver him over to death. Their actions were seemingly the way to control Jesus and HIS Message because the doctrines that Jesus taught were thought to be dangerous and subversive. ● The Jewish leaders were enraged by what they saw as disrespect toward the Mosaic Law. ● The Roman authorities were threatened by Jesus’ claim to be the King of the Jews. Jesus appeared to be a revolutionary, a dangerous teacher who spread ideas that threatened their power. They were determined to get rid of Jesus just as they did with many other

self-proclaimed ‘messiahs.’ The Apostle Paul’s mentor and teacher of the Law, Gamaliel, stood up in the council at a trial against Peter and the other Apostles and declared that several ‘messiahs’ had gathered followers before but were often shown to be charlatans [Acts 5:33-42]. His conclusion was to permit the preaching of Jesus and the gospel because if it was truly from God, it would prosper. If it was not of God, the truth would reveal the Apostles as charlatans. The Evangelical Theologian John Scott wrote this about why Christ suffered and died: “Ostensibly he died as a law-breaker, but in reality as the victim of small minds and as a martyr to his own greatness.” [The Cross of Christ, 1986, 2006; p. 51] His own twelve Apostles, the Pharisees, the Roman governor, and Judas Iscariot all played a role in denying and betraying Jesus. Their small mindedness missed the larger truth of Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion.