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December 28, 2021 1:00 am
Morris Angel simply means messenger serve God in heaven and on earth doing his bidding. When they master over Bethlehem.
Jesus was born. They heralded the greatest message ever since. Stay with us in the movie church in Chicago this is Sir obsessing make it finish line. Estimates are as you continue your series on the mystery of Bethlehem you're telling us about the Angels and you know, Dave. The remarkable thing about Angels is that they have various ranks you have the curia been at the Serafin and then of course to angels are actually mentioned by name in the Bible. You have my: you have Gabriel so I'm sure that in heaven someday will understand that a lot better, but aren't we glad that they rejoice because of our salvation. That's why they are so connected with the Christmas story I want to thank the many of you who support the ministry of running to win. And of course were coming near the end of the year as you think about your giving. I trust that you will pray and include us in your commitment to help us get the gospel of Jesus Christ more than 20 different countries in three different languages you can simply connect with us by going to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or calling us at 1-888-218-9337. Now let us listen is once again we open God's word and contemplate angels, so they were there they were there when man fell, they saw what happened there in the garden that man took the serpents route and that we identified ourselves with devils. They saw that that that fallen Angel Satan was allowed to be in the garden so that your grandfather and grandmother mine as well send by taking the devils route. They were there they were pained by the decision because you see they remember some of their colleagues and they remember how those colleagues fell the one third of the angels that fell from heaven Lucifer, son of the mornings that I will be like the most high. Apparently the devil was like a choirmaster he was giving praise to God and making sure that all the praise was going to God, and then suddenly he kept some of it for himself and it was that pride that made him rebel against God and become thoroughly and totally evil so the Angels have seen all that and then they knew that there were promises of redemption and this is what the Bible says in first Peter. This is in your Bible to it says in first Peter chapter 1 verse 12 when speaking of the time when the promises are going to be fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah, and so forth. It says these things. The prophets were trying to understand and these things the Angels desire to look into angels are fascinated by our redemption actually fascinated. Let me tell you why I think there's a fascinated by because the Angels understand things that you and I don't we know the words, but they they experience what were talking about the Angels understood that God is a God of many attribute and one of his attributes is love and love would like to redeem people love would like to take them out of their sin redeem them, reconcile them to God and give them hope and forgiveness and eternal life. Love would like to do that but holiness says you can you count because there is justice and there is holiness and God can't mingle with sinners as if the sin didn't happen. So there you have in God, dissidence, tension, the question was how is that going to be resolved. How was God's love going to make the made free so that he can redeem humanity. How would that freedom come about until his holiness was appeased and until justice was settled and that's with the coming of Jesus was all about the Chris story of Christmas is just a baby in a manger. The story of Christmas as a baby in a manger who ended up being a man on a cross.
That's what it is all about reconciling the world unto himself and so the Angels they looked into this and they said how is God going to do it. That's why the Bible says that when God created it says that the heavens are the work of his fingers, but when it came to salvation, it says God bared his mighty arm having this was this was much more breathtaking than creation could ever so the Angels understood that in the Bible says they desire to look into it now. Just think about this for a moment they are fascinated with our salvation of loveless there fascinated with our salvation, even though they knew that in a previous world. Those who were there colleagues, namely the demons that fell they cannot be redeemed, they cannot. Satan cannot be redeemed. Humans can, but Satan can't even though essentially we are born into the same camp and the reason for this is the Bible makes it very clear in the book of Hebrews that you have to be like the one you're going to redeem and Jesus became one of us. It says he took upon himself the seed of Abraham. He did not take upon himself the nature of angels. You see, when Jesus died on the cross and he came to save his people from his sins.
It was people he came to save and no price for sin was included for the demonic spirits for the evil spirit world, so they are incapable of redemption. Now we know that they never asked to be redeemed. But even if they did. Sorry, no sacrifice for your sin, no redemption.
You now think of this, the Angels who receive no personal benefit from the doctrine of salvation of our salvation. They are fascinated with the whole matter of our salvation. I'm sure they were absolutely fascinated to think that a baby would be born in Bethlehem and this baby would be the Redeemer of mankind. Can't you imagine their enthusiasm, watching everything that is going on on earth, and they do watch us. You know, especially when we worship together is what the Bible teaches you know pulses in Corinthians, he said the reason that women should be properly covered. He says in a church service is. He said they should do it for the Angels.
Remember that birth that's in your Bible.
Two. By the way, not making that up because you see, they've seen insubordination. They've seen rebellion. They've seen disorder and so the Angels have a great deal of interest in what we are doing and what's going on earth. Even though they they have no benefit coming to them.
As a result of our salvation. And yet they are thrilled with it and I believe that when Jesus was there in the garden memory says could I have not called 10 legions of angels to come and deliver me. I think there were Angels all around waiting for the signal to deliver Jesus, but they were not called, because Jesus knew he had to go through Gethsemane at the cross for us and there was no way out for those Angels ready. So you see, I think that they model worship. Imagine being so free from jealousy. Jonathan Edwards said just think of this for a moment that in heaven you and I are going to be like the Angels free of sin free of jealousy and as a result of that, we will see the exaltation of others and we will rejoice in the exaltation of others. As if that exaltation were our own magic that free to worship and to serve God. So first of all I think they model worship. I think they model also their interest in salvation. In fact, the Bible says that throughout all of eternity.
We are going to be on display as God's many faceted wisdom. Wisdom of God and the angels love to see it is another reason and that is I think they are our example in attitude and attitude it on the 15th chapter of Luke and you don't have to turn to it. Jesus was sent saying this, he says them he was being criticized for finding sinners and when you're looking for sinners. You have to go in some unlikely places.
You have to go beyond the church walls and Jesus was with prostitutes and Pharisees, yes, but they were the self-righteous ones he was. He was dealing with people, publicans and all kinds of nasty people say is being criticized for Jesus said that you know he said if there is a woman with 10 coins and she loses one dozen.
She goes round and light a candle and search the whole house, and once she has found it. She causes all of her friends to come over and to have a party and says rejoice with me, because this claim that I lost has been found.
I had an experience like that two weeks ago today. Two weeks ago.
This morning I woke up and could not find my wallet anywhere in it.
I had to come to church, don't tell anybody until anybody desperate now I have to come to church, drive a car off. Where was it. Now when you lose something like a wallet. I can tell you this from personal experience, you look in 100 laces word could never possibly be. Don't you I mean you just start looking in the most bizarre places and I decided to keep looking in places where I absolutely knew could not be but I've exhausted all the other and in opening a bag which I knew for sure the wallet could not be in it. I found and I just I looked up to heaven and I said thank you Lord. I've never seen my wallet with so much joy on my face as I did. Even if it was empty. I was still glad I found that's what Jesus said and then he said this.
Even so, he says there is joy in heaven and the angels rejoice over one sinner that repents.
Wow, I believe that throughout the world today.
They'll be tens of thousands of people. I hope so, who will believe on Christ and repent and every single one of them is going to cause a cosmic celebration and I'm hoping and praying that some of those people who caused the cosmic experience in heaven are here today because you're not here today by accident. You may been brought by friend, you may attend regularly whatever it is, God is brought you to this moment.
To this hour to this part in the sermon to speak to you and to tell you that you need to repent and turn from your sins, turn to Christ, and if you do. Jesus said the angels rejoice over one sinner that depend you can cause rejoicing in heaven today. If you repent now to those of you who don't know Christ as Savior. Couple of things. First let me say candidly that some of you are satisfied with yourself. You talked yourself into the idea that you're good enough for God. I hope that God divest you of that delusion because it is an illusion.
But there are others of you who have, and you know that you need a Savior, and the way you know it is through the sense of conviction of sin, the knowledge that you can't get to God on your own and you aren't good enough unless God does it. I'm speaking to you because tell you why, because I know that God is speaking to you what you need to do is to admit your sinfulness and then look to Jesus Christ the baby becoming a Savior now raised in heaven, but who died to reconcile an end to enter bring about a resolution of the two attributes of God that were in tension on the one hand, God wants to redeem you, but he couldn't until justice was satisfied.
Justice is now satisfied. So now he is free to redeem you. That is the good news of the gospel you say Lord Jesus be my Savior.
Martin Luther said that all of salvation is dependent upon the pronouns to be able to say Jesus is as Savior.
Luther said even the devil can say that what the devil cannot say Jesus is my Savior make him your Savior today you maybe watching on the Internet, you may be listening by radio or other means receive the Christ and the angels in heaven rejoice now catch this the angels in heaven rejoice over a sinner that repents even though they know that all repent are going to be exalted above them forever course were going to be about the angels and the reason is because Jesus is our brother and when the title deed to the universe is red. Why indeed your name is going to be there in mind if you're a repentant person that you receive Christ as Savior because we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ is the angels were created individually.
They have no aunts and uncles and cousins.
They are created individually. We have connection and we have a brother who is our Savior and because of that were going to be exalted above them no angel will ever be an heir of God in a joint or with Christ, no angel will ever sit on the throne of the universe to rule and get Jesus that he overcomes, to him I shall grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I overcame and sat with my father. He is thrown mind-boggling the angels know will never be like those human beings that have been redeem, but we rejoice in their salvation totally free of all jealousy totally free of all one ship totally free and I say that they are our model stars. Their attitude is concerned.
When Paul Gibson was leaving Cambridge as principal.
There of the Cambridge there was a painting commission for him and when the painting was unveiled. Paul Gibson paying a wonderful tribute to the artists, said in time to come. People who look at this painting are not going to say who is the person painted but they are going to be asking who was that painter front all of eternity.
The question will not be who are the redeem.
The question is going to be who is very deep matter to take them from the pit and to lift them to the palace from them to the marble water redeem her water redeem and the angels rejoice every time someone repents and takes advantage of the redemption would you receive Christ today, and of course we know that the angels they had a message go to Bethlehem adore him and that's what we do here at the Moody church every service. We adore him would you join me as we pray our father today. We thank you so much for angels.
The good angels.
Thank you father for their model of obedience and worship.
Their model of being interested in salvation and then father their attitude of total selflessness, rejoicing, rejoicing in the fact that we have been converted. We look forward to being with them someday to join our voices to give you praise and adoration.
Help us to be like them, and ultimately, like Christ, for those who've never trusted Christ as Savior where you are seated wherever you're listening to this say Jesus I repent. I'm a sinner.
I know I can save myself I receive your salvation right now receive it in the angels in heaven. Rejoice over one sinner that repents. Thank you Jesus, my friend, this is Pastor Luther.
If you've never believed on Jesus Christ. I hope that you do that right now. After all, he is our Redeemer and we rejoice in the fact that he came as our Savior and is actually able to save I have in my hands a letter from someone who listens to this ministry, they said. I listen to you almost every day. My 21-year-old son also listens. We both enjoy your teaching and heartfelt love of the Bible and our Lord Jesus Christ after one sermon series. I realize that I almost knew nothing about the true nature of God and as you said, God is not God. If we can figure him out.
Aren't you glad my friend today that we don't have to figure out God. But still, we can know him through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I want to thank the many of you who support this ministry because in supporting us. You had a part in this person's blessing and as we near the end of the year. I'm sure that many of us are thinking about where we might like to give how we might be able to distribute our resources.
Could you consider giving to the ministry of running to win. I hope that you have a pencil in your hand because to connect with us, you can go to RTW offer.com. By the way, you could become an endurance partner that someone who stands with us regularly with their prayers and their gifts, so let me give you that info again.
RTW offer.com. Click on the endurance partner button or right now.
Call 1-888-218-9337 it's time now for another chance for you to ask Pastor Luther a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Today's question is very short, but the answer may be a bit longer. Mavis has written from Richmond Illinois to ask, is Satan. The author of death and sin Mavis thank you so much for your question and I do commend you because in the many answers I have given in the many questions that have been read. I think probably yours is the shortest but yes it does take a somewhat long answer, though, I'm going to try to make it very brief and to the point. It really depends on how you define the word author if by the author of sin, you mean that Satan does the sin and brings the death yes this I think is very clear in Scripture, God does not sin. But Satan does. Satan was the first one to sin.
I believe that he was created beautiful and I believe that he had responsibility of giving praise to God and then began to take it for himself. So he is the first one to sin, and in that sense he is the author of sin and of course along with that sin came death, so I want to affirm.
Satan is the author of sin. However, if you look at it from the bigger point of view. Satan did the sin under God's supervision of the universe. God did permit the sin and he could've chosen to not permit it in many different ways that I will not go into on this broadcast.
God could have chosen to not permit it.
Therefore, ultimately, the Bible can say that all things are of God.
God does not do evil, but God uses evil God through his providential government ultimately controls evil. He certainly does set the boundaries because he's in charge. So in that sense, ultimately everything can be traced back to God, but not in the sense that he does it but in the sense that it is part of his eternal purpose. Part of his providence and part of his ordaining work.
Now I know that the implications are far-reaching, but our time is short on this broadcast but I hope that this has caused you to think through the implications of your short question. Thank you Mavis for taking us into the deeper waters of theology with Dr. Luther today if you'd like to hear your question answered.
Go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask Pastor Luther or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614. The good news was not proclaimed first of the high and mighty, rather poor shepherds got the word straight from God's angel next time we explore the mystery of the shepherds plan to join us for Dr. Erwin Luther this is Dave McAllister going to win is sponsored by the Moody Church