The River Bible Church

Event Ten: The Praise of the Angels and the Shepherds

Passage: Luke 2:8-20

This is an incredible event that sadly often gets lost in the familiarity and cartoonish portrayals of classic Christmas TV specials, plays, nativity scenes, etc.

One of the first things that would have stood out to people in the 1st century is this message being heralded to a bunch of uneducated, unclean shepherds. God regularly uses the least likely individuals –in man's perspective that is– to announce His glorious news. It had been more than 500 years since the glorious light that Ezekiel saw departed the temple in Ezekiel 11. Since that time, the nation of Israel was without the visible sign of God’s presence among them. “Now,” as J.D. Pentecost notes, “the glory for which Israel had waited was revealed to the shepherds in the field, not to the priests in the temple.”

Luke describes the shepherds as being terrified, as this was certainly an unusual event. However, this dread was grounded in something more established than just some unknown event, but the reminder that God said in Exodus 33:20, “for man shall not see Me and live.” However, the angelic messengers of God are not divine and are created beings like man and immediately state “Fear not” (Luke 2:10). This was a message of hope and not judgment, a message of life, not death.

What was this “good news of great joy for all the people”? Verse 11 answers that, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David [Bethlehem] a Savior who is Christ [Greek word for Messiah, which means anointed One] the Lord. Then the angel told them what to look for, not a king in a royal palace, not a strong and mighty man riding on a horse, but a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in an animal feeding trough.

Now, before the shepherds departed to find the sign the angel gave them, Luke first records that a “multitude of the heavenly host” appeared in the sky and they all praised God, saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:14).

This, of course, was searched out, confirmed, and sent the shepherds out proclaiming this wonderful news throughout Bethlehem.

This was our Messiah’s first coming to seek and to save. However, there is a second coming when He will return as the earth awaits His coronation. The King of kings is coming again.

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"My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior." John Newton

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There Is Only One Way

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him."
— John 14:1–7


There are many amazing truths in this passage, but the one that is absolutely crucial is this: there is only one way, and one Person, who can save mankind from its greatest problem — sin. Jesus did not mince words. He said He came to "seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10), and He said, "You must be born again" (John 3:3). Plain, clear teaching.


Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Wages are what we earn. We have all sinned, and not one of us is righteous (Rom. 3:10, 23). Death, therefore, is what we all deserve — and Paul is not talking merely about physical death, which we will all experience. He is referring to the second death (Rev. 21:8): eternal separation from God. Sin, eternal death, and separation are bad news. But Jesus came to bring good news — the Gospel.


Again, Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." There are, in fact, two ways — but only one leads to life.
As the apostle Paul writes, passing on what is of first importance: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3–4).


Therefore, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31a).
The Gospel of Jesus Christ, found in the pages of Scripture, is not popular, is not trending, and sadly will not be accepted by the masses (Matt. 7:13–14). "Amazing Grace" is a massively popular song known throughout the world. People sing it everywhere and know that first line well: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me." Friend, that is you, and that is me. We are the "wretch" the song refers to. Consider that first line carefully, and examine yourself.
Without God's gift of amazing grace, we would all be damned to be the "wretch" eternally, but that is why God's grace is so amazing!


"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
You cannot earn it, you do not deserve it, you cannot sustain it, or maintain it. It is a free gift of God's grace, and grace, according to Scripture, means unmerited or unearned favor.


Have you repented (turned from the way you are going in your sin) and placed your faith (trust) in Christ Jesus and in Him alone for salvation?


What say you?

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The River Bible Church

Do you believe Hell is an actual place, or simply a metaphor for the consequences of bad choices?

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Event Nine: The Birth of Jesus Christ

Passage: Luke 2:1-7


Few portions of Scripture are as well known as this one — familiar even to many unbelievers around the world. Yet for the believer, it is far more than a beloved story. It is a vital and magnificent cornerstone of our faith.


A Note on the Dating

Caesar Augustus issued his decree around 8 B.C., but it is important to remember that decrees, news, and instructions took considerable time to travel and be implemented. For several reasons, historians and scholars believe Jesus was born around 5 or 4 B.C. First, the dating of the census itself points in this direction. Second, history records the approximate time of Herod's death — between March 29 and April of 4 B.C. — anchored by a lunar eclipse that occurred shortly beforehand on March 12/13, 4 B.C. Third, John's ministry began in the fifteenth year of Caesar Tiberius's reign (Luke 3:1), and Jesus's ministry began approximately six months after John's. Additional events can be tied to this timeline, further supporting a date of 5 B.C. or early 4 B.C. Regardless of the precise year, the fact of Christ's birth stands firm.


What the Text Actually Says
It is worth noting a few popular associations with the birth of Christ that Scripture simply does not record. Countless Christmas cards, films, and works of art depict Mary riding a donkey to Bethlehem — yet nowhere does the text mention one. Likewise, while we are told there was no room at the inn, we are never told the innkeeper was rude or unkind. These are traditions, not Scripture.


What Luke Records
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Luke provides rich and careful detail about this most important event. He identifies the ruling Caesar (Augustus), the governing decree, and the reach of Roman authority over the known world. He notes that Quirinius was governor of Syria (v. 2) and that everyone was required to register in their ancestral town (v. 3). Joseph, being of the house and lineage of David, traveled to Bethlehem — the city of his legal inheritance. Mary shared that same Davidic lineage, making the journey hers as well. In all of this, the prophecy of Micah 5:2 was fulfilled, and the sovereign, providential hand of God was unmistakably at work.


A Humble Entrance
Jesus was born to a young woman who called herself the Lord's servant, and was given an earthly father who was equally faithful and of humble estate. There was no royal welcome, no golden palace, no fine linen to wrap Him in, no cradle fit for a king. The King of kings and Lord of lords entered the world as the Suffering Servant.


I'll close with a word from J.C. Ryle: "Never let us forget that through this humiliation Jesus has purchased for us a title to glory. Through His life of suffering, as well as His death, He has obtained eternal redemption for us all. All through His life He was poor for our sakes, from the hour of His birth to the hour of His death. And through His poverty we are made rich (2 Cor. 8:9)."

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We’re excited to share that registration is now open for the Fellowship of Biblical Counselors (FBC) 8th Annual Conference!

Whether you are involved in biblical counseling, church ministry, discipleship, or simply desire to grow in applying God’s Word to life’s challenges, this conference is a wonderful opportunity to learn and be encouraged.

If you are in the Beverly, MA, area, we would love for you to join our local conference watch party and experience the event together.

Please take a moment to register here:

Fellowship of Biblical Counselors 8th Annual Conference Registration
fbcounselors.org/

We hope you can join us for this excellent time of biblical teaching, encouragement, and fellowship!

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