2022.12.24 Taking Away Instead of Giving
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Taking Away Instead of Giving
Taking Away Instead of Giving
Luke 2:1-20
The Word of God is sometimes succinct, and it doesn’t always need a 20 minute dissertation. Tonight is one of those times.
Jesus’ greatest gift to us wasn’t actually giving us anything!
In the first chapter of John’s gospel, John is baptizing people and the religious leaders are questioning his authority to baptize. John answers and tells them plainly that he is NOT the Christ, the Messiah, God’s promised deliverer. And he tells them there is one coming after him, and he says he is not even worthy to tie his sandal straps!
Right after this discussion, John writes…
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Sure, Jesus gives us eternal life; he gives us relationship with God the Father; he gives us hope; he gives us abundant life — but the way he gives us those things is by TAKING AWAY our sin!
“BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD!”
So, friends, do you keep a list of your sins? [pause] Neither does He!
[sin - ἁμαρτίαν - hamartian - singular] Jesus isn’t concerned with all of your individual sins - he takes away the sin of the world — all of it! He removes sin from the world. Isn’t that better than making a list of sins and asking forgiveness for them?
I don’t know your history. I don’t have any idea what a list of your sins may look like, but I know this: John said that Jesus “takes away the sin of the world!” And I know "the world” includes you, and I know “the sin of” includes yours.
“BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY YOUR SIN!”
The Apostle Paul taught:
22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
You can have hope!
You can have abundant life!
You can have relationship with your heavenly Father!
You can have eternal life!
And you can have these … because Jesus Christ is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Praise God? PRAISE GOD!!!
[prayer of commitment - include Communion elements]
If you trust him to take away even YOUR sin … let’s celebrate that together as we sing.
[Communion after song - explain communion and candles]