The Light has Come (Titus 3:3-8)
Gary McManus, 01/06/2019Part of the Christmas series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
January 6, 2019 Epiphany Titus 3:3-8
Epiphany=the first /original "Christmas",
celebration of Jesus' birth
The light has come.
See Matthew 5:15-16, especially vs 16,
John 1:1-14, and the prophet Isaiah 42:6
which is reflected in Luke 2:32.
The light that has come ionto the world.
We sang it through Christmas:
"O come all ye faithful"
"O little town of Bethlehem"
"Silent night, holy night"
"Hark the Herald angels sings"
Jesus specifically speaks of YOUR good deeds.
(Matthew 5:16)
Good deeds DO NOT lead to Heaven.
Heaven LEADS to good deeds!
You already belong to another Kingdom!
(Thank you, Jesus)
(Ephesians 2:19, Philippians 3:20)
See also John 12:25, John 18:36, Romans 12:2,
and Ephesians 2:1-2 with one of our affirmations
of faith, Ephesians 2:4-10.
Know the good deeds of DCC:
--food baskets
--Snacks for Kids
--Sally Barrett support
--CWF luggage/packs for foster children
--disaster relief through Week of Compassion
--VBS project support: water projects, therapy
dogs for veterans
--Krafts for Crisis: hats and blankets
In previous years:
--DCC helped a Salem township family
following their house fire.
--DCC helped a family with needed dental work bills.
--DCC helped a new mother with no place to live.
Remember to thank Jesus!
Jesus words—let others see what you do for God’s glory
. . .this would exclude any so called “closet Christianity”.
God's "work" is not to be hidden, but demonstrated
for God to get praise.
Jesus said (John 15:8):
"This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit,
showing yourselves to be my disciples."
The good works are for God's praise. (1 Peter 2:12)
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
--it isn’t to receive praise. . .it is for OUR LORD to receive praise
1 Peter 2:12:
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God
Don’t thank me—thank Jesus.
Praise the Lord for what the Lord is doing THROUGH us.
Today we remember and celebrate that the wise men
were shown a light. They received that light from our God.
You and I have seen the light which is Jesus!
Now, let YOUR light shine.
Amen.
They left their homeland and went to make offerings to this newborn king—they had seen his light in the sky. Then as John said. . .
John 1:9: The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
The wise men could confess with John the disciple of Jesus:
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
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