Zephaniah
Revelation 16
“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world.” 1 John 4:14
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds who were out watching their flock in the field at night. He said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12).
Why is this good news? This is good news if we need saving. Why do we need saving? As sinners, we need saving from the wrath of God whose justice demands the consequences of sin. Our sin is not a problem for us, but a problem for God, because He is a just God, which means His justice needs to be satisfied. While we may be content with a nod and a wink from God telling us, “I understand, I forgive you”—this is not sufficient. God’s justice needs to be satisfied.
At a Christian conference attended by about a thousand people, the speaker asked the audience when they confessed their sins to God and sought His forgiveness, did they appeal to His justice or did they appeal to His mercy? From the group, about two people raised their hand saying they appealed to His justice, while the remaining 998 or so said they appealed to His mercy. The correct answer is that we appeal to His justice. Why? If God forgave us because He is merciful and that was the only reason, then the cross of Christ would have been unnecessary. Christ went to the cross to satisfy the justice of God. In reality, our forgiveness is not on the basis of mercy, but on the basis of justice. Hence, 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
At the announcement of Jesus’s birth, the angel of the Lord declared, “…a Saviour has been born to you” because we need saving! If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us an engineer. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.
Our greatest need is forgiveness and salvation, so God sent us a Saviour.
Dear God, You know the greatest need of humanity is forgiveness of sin and salvation. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Saviour of the world. Praise You!
Revelation 16
“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world.” 1 John 4:14
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds who were out watching their flock in the field at night. He said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12).
Why is this good news? This is good news if we need saving. Why do we need saving? As sinners, we need saving from the wrath of God whose justice demands the consequences of sin. Our sin is not a problem for us, but a problem for God, because He is a just God, which means His justice needs to be satisfied. While we may be content with a nod and a wink from God telling us, “I understand, I forgive you”—this is not sufficient. God’s justice needs to be satisfied.
At a Christian conference attended by about a thousand people, the speaker asked the audience when they confessed their sins to God and sought His forgiveness, did they appeal to His justice or did they appeal to His mercy? From the group, about two people raised their hand saying they appealed to His justice, while the remaining 998 or so said they appealed to His mercy. The correct answer is that we appeal to His justice. Why? If God forgave us because He is merciful and that was the only reason, then the cross of Christ would have been unnecessary. Christ went to the cross to satisfy the justice of God. In reality, our forgiveness is not on the basis of mercy, but on the basis of justice. Hence, 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
At the announcement of Jesus’s birth, the angel of the Lord declared, “…a Saviour has been born to you” because we need saving! If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us an engineer. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.
Our greatest need is forgiveness and salvation, so God sent us a Saviour.
Dear God, You know the greatest need of humanity is forgiveness of sin and salvation. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Saviour of the world. Praise You!