Recieve Your Gift (Romans 6:22-23)
Gary McManus, 12/23/2018Part of the Christmas series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
4th Sunday in Advent December 23, 2018
Romans 6:22-23
The Wise Men brought gifts and offered them
to Jesus.
In America, we celebrate gift-giving at Christmas.
Not everyone was pleased with this gift from God
called Jesus. King Herod and Herod’s cronies were
deeply troubled.
Many also did not see Jesus as a gift:
--many Pharisees
--Sadducees,
--the Essenes
--the Zealots
.
Jesus said something rather curious:
(Matthew 11:6, Luke 7:23; RSV)
“Blessed is he who takes no offense at me.”
Some WERE offended by Jesus and/or his words.
(Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:3, John 6:61)
Jesus was not what they were expecting and
Jesus was not what they wanted.
They might have wanted a Messiah but not like Jesus.
(Note Malachi 3:1 with Luke 2:22-38)
Is this Jesus the gift from God that you want?
In order to receive the gift of Jesus,
we need to accept the gift.
The Bible talks about this gift many ways.
There are only five references to adoption in the
New Testament. (Romans 8:15, Romans 8:23,
Romans 9:4, Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 1:5)
Remember about adoption:
--the parents wants children
--the parent wants THAT child
See Ephesians 1:5
There are several references in the Bible and
from Jesus himself that we will inherit
the Heavenly Father’s Kingdom (as sons)
We, as adoptees have to receive the adoption
and follow the Lord so we can get to our new
home.
See Ephesians 2:22, Colossians 2:6.
Receive your gift and live in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
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