1 the impossible dream: the angels song luke 2:1-15 message 3 in our 4-part series called the songs...

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The Impossible Dream: the Angels’ Song

Luke 2:1-15

Message 3 in our 4-part series called The Songs of Christmas.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Speaker: Doug Virgint

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The angels’ song

1) The providence2) The proclamation3) The pervasiveness4) The Person5) The purpose

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The angels’ song


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1) The Angels' song - providence

Who decided that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem?

• Mary and Joseph?• Caesar Augustus?• Herod?

• It was God!

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1) The Angels' song - providence

Definition of God’s providence

Providence means that God has not abandoned the world that he created, but rather works within that creation to manage all things according to the “immutable counsel of His own will” (Westminster Confession of Faith, V, i).

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The Angels' song


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2) The Angels' song - proclamation

To whom did God choose to announce this event?

• Caesar Augustus?

• Herod?

• Chief Priests?

• Scribes?

• Sadducees and Pharisees?

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God chose some simple shepherds!“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted…

“to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion.”

(Isaiah 61:1-3)

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God chose some simple shepherds!“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.” (1 Corinthians 1:26)

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.”

(Luke 1:52)

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God chose a few simple shepherds!

• Lowly – often children, unskilled, low pay

• Lived in violation of the Sabbath and other laws – always ceremonially unclean

• Seen as untrustworthy, thieves

• Not allowed to testify in court – not trusted, not intelligent enough !

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God chose some simple shepherds!

• Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses were shepherds.

• The great king David was a shepherd, in this same village, perhaps in this same field.

• Our Lord called himself a shepherd – the Chief Shepherd!

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The Angels' song - proclamation

God chose some simple shepherds!

• A metaphor for God’s saving of lowly sinners.

• Paul said “Christ-Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.”

• God so often goes for the outcasts!

• Christ ate with sinners – even publicans and harlots.

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The key message :

“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you.”

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God is a Saviour

• He is a Saviour by nature

• Great contrast between God and other “gods”.

• The only living true God is by nature a “deliverer”.

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God is a Saviour

• These shepherds realized that all the sacrifices in history had not solved the problem of sin and guilt.

• On the one “Day of Atonement” perhaps 250,000 lambs were sacrificed.

• The very sheep they were raising were perhaps destined for this sacrifice.

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The God of the O.T. was a Saviour

“Guide me in your truth…for you are God my Saviour and I hope in you all day long” (Psalm 25:5)

“… and so he became their Saviour” (Is. 63:8)

“Who is a pardoning God like you?” (Micah 7:18)

“Mary said … my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:46)

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An angel of the Lord suddenly appeared before them!

• It had been 500 years since angels had been seen. (Zachariah and Mary)

• Angels are the highest of all created beings – and this may have been Gabriel, the highest of all angels.

• The highest created being appears before the lowest!

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The glory of the Lord shone…!

• The manifestation of the presence of the Lord as light

• Glowing brilliant incomprehensible light.

• Moses could not see this glory and live

• God exists in inaccessible light

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• Adam and Eve walked with this glorious God until sin separated them from Him.

• The glory reappeared in Exodus and entered the tabernacle and the temple.

• The glory departed with the Babylonian captivity.

• It was a sign of God’s presence.

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• Here this glory returns – and is manifested to simple shepherds.

• The glory marks the importance of this event – this is not just the birth of a good man, a special man.

• God himself has come to earth – the glory is the sign and the proof of His presence.

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Do not be afraid!

• This phrase throughout the Scriptures always indicates that God is about to reveal His grace.

• A clear indication that these shepherds were forgiven people - waiting for their Saviour.

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… great joy for all the people!

• Can we contemplate the gospel without joy – great joy!

• The highest and greatest joy is that which is received at salvation.

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The Angels' song


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3) The Angels' song - pervasiveness

… for all the peoples

• The word “people” is “laos” (laity) (plural)

• This word usually refers to Israel

• But in verse 31, 32 Simeon tell us:

“… which you have prepared for all nations. A light of revelation for the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

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3) The Angels' song - pervasiveness

… for all the peoples

• The gods worshipped by the nations were territorial, national, limited in their power and domain.

• “The gods of the mountains, the gods of the plains”

• But this is the only one God of all peoples

• His salvation is for all nations and peoples

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The Angels' song


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4) The Angels' song - person

… he is the Christ, the Lord

• What a title for someone born in a food trough!

• In Daniel 9 the coming king is called the “anointed”

“From the time the word goes…until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes…”

“… the Anointed One will be put to death…”

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• Kings are anointed – He is the ultimate King – the King of kings.

• Prophets are anointed – He is the ultimate spokesman for God.

• Priests are anointed – especially the high priest. He is the Great High Priest who offers the ultimate final sacrifice to God for sin.

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• Also called Lord.

• A term of respect and dignity.

• But here it is more than that.

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• Lord is “kurios”

• “Yahweh ” is translated as “kurios ” 6000 + times in the Septuagint

• Christians died as martyrs rather than call Caesar “Lord”.

• This is the very name of God, the sovereign Lord God, creator of the universe.

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The Angels' song


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5) The Angels' song - purpose

… Glory to God in the highest

• Good news – God saves men so they can join with the angels to give glory to God

• These angels knew who this baby really was – his majesty and glory and riches and power

• He was their beloved Sovereign and Creator

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… Glory to God in the highest

• These angels were fascinated that God was acting in redemption – in salvation

• God has made no provision to redeem fallen angels

• Angels are seen in the epistles as curious about God’s redemption of mankind

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… peace to those on whom his favour rests

• Men do not earn this salvation

• God gives salvation freely, out of his good pleasure

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… peace to those on whom his favour rests

• Are you resisting – refusing – this salvation?

• Your presence here today is an evident sign of God’s goodness to you, calling you to repent and to accept salvation in Christ.

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The purpose of salvation

is to bring glory to God

from angels in heaven

and from men on earth.

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The Angels' Song

God our Saviour

Luke 2: 1-15

1 the impossible dream: the angels song luke 2:1-15 message 3 in our 4-part series called the songs...

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