Sons of God

Call to Worship

Psalm 135:19–21 ESV

O house of Israel, bless the Lord! O house of Aaron, bless the Lord! O house of Levi, bless the Lord! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!

Processional Hymn

Salutation

Pastor: In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit!

People: Amen!

Pastor: The Lord be with you!

People: And also with you!

Pastor: Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors,

People: that the King of glory may come in.

Pastor: Who is this King of glory?

People: The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle

Pastor: Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up,

People: O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Pastor: Who is this King of glory?

People: The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory!

Psalm

Confession

Let us humbly confess our sins by kneeling before our God

Let us pray together

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, We have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep, We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, We have offended against your holy laws, We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, And we have done those things which we ought not to have done, And there is no health in us: But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us; Spare those, O God, who confess their faults, Restore those who are penitent, According to your promises declared to mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord: And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of your holy name. Amen.

Let us spend time in silent prayer confessing our sins

Amen and Amen

Absolution

Please stand and lift up your head to hear the good news - which comes to us from Romans 5:1

Romans 5:1 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Church, the glorious news of Christ is that you and I have been made at peace with God. No longer does sin rip apart our relationship with our creation. Instead, through faith, we have been made right by God. The King of Kings has come to bring about the great shalom, the great peace, that we now live in. And the great high priest has come so at this very moment he might intercede on your behalf. It doesn’t matter what you think and it doesn’t matter what you feel, but what matters is what God has declared. And God has told you church, that you are at peace. Therefore as an ordained minister of the gospel, I declare to you that your sins are forgiven. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirt.

So lift up your hearts

We lift them up to the Lord

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

It is good and right to do so

Truly it is fitting, right, and beneficial to give thanks to You at all times and in every place, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God. Therefore, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, and with the church on earth, we praise and magnify your glorious Name, evermore praising You and singing...

Sanctus

Old Testament Reading

Our old testament reading comes from the book of Isaiah 61:10 - 62:3

Isaiah 61:10–62:3 ESV

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations. For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Epistle Reading

Our epistle reading comes from the epistle to the Galatians 3:23-27

Galatians 3:23–27 ESV

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Gospel Reading

Please rise out of respect for the gospel reading. Which comes to us from the gospel according to Saint John 1:1-18

John 1:1–18 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

This is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ

Praise be to you, O Christ

Gloria Patri

Nicene Creed

Let us now confess our unified faith with the words of the Nicene Creed

People of God, what do you believe

WE BELIEVE IN ONE GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

AND IN ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who, for us men, and for our salvation, came down from Heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the virgin, Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into Heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

AND WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST, the Lord, and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the Prophets. And we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

Sermon

Church, you are sons of the living God. Our passage today comes from Paul’s epistle to the Galatians the 3rd chapter.

Holy Father,

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Thank you for Christ, our rock and our redeemer. The lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

In the name of Jesus we pray, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God age after age,

Amen

A few years ago, the church I was a member at decided to host a softball tournament. Now there is not more intense sporting event than church league softball. Its a time where deacons begin sharpening the spikes on their cleats, the team captains are making back alley trades to bolster their teams, and bats are most likely corked so that you can gain a few extra feed on every swing.

Now since I played baseball in college, I was first player chosen to be on a team. And as soon as I heard that, my heart sunk. See from the ages of 14 to 22 I spent my entire life learning how to pitch. At not point in those 8 years did I touch a bat. At no point did I take a ground ball. If a pop fly was hit, my job was to run as far away as possible and let the real baseball players make the play.

I was disciplined, instructed, taught how to do one specific thing. And I was good at it. But anything else on a baseball field and I am a complete and total novice. And this softball team didn’t understand that. They couldn’t comprehend that my focus was on one specific thing, and nothing else. They thought that all my training would make me the best softball player, when in reality I was one of the worst.

And we do this all the time in our lives. We think that because someone is a great musician that they must be a wonderful music teacher. Or because someone is good at fixing they’re truck that they can fix anything on our cars. We forget that training and teaching is pointing to something. And if we miss what the training is pointing to then we completely miss the end goal of someone’s ability.

And we also do this with our bibles, we can get so caught up in certain ideas or theologies that we can actually miss what the Bible is speaking about. We can read Judges and get so caught up in the wild story that we forget that Hebrews tells us that the judges are heroes of the faith. We can become so enraptured with the story of Noah’s ark, that we forget that the Bible tells us that the ark is pointing us to baptism. Or my biggest bible pet peeve, youth group you might remember this, we can think that King David was a little guy who couldn’t fit in Saul’s armor because it was too big. When David tells us that he didn’t wear armor because he wasn’t used to it. He was too busy killed bears and lions to need the armor of Saul.

And one place where we fall into this trap so easy is when it comes to the Law. The Law is something that mystifies us, it terrifies us. The long explanation of sacrifices, and architecture make us want to skip to an easier passage in our bible. But the bible won’t let us do that. Because the law is vitally important to the biblical narrative, and it is vitally important to the story of advent. If you have your bibles please open them to Galatians chapter 3. And tonight we will be examing the law and Christ’s relation to the law.

Galatians 3:23 ESV

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.

To begin to understand this passage we need to understand the history of the law. What is the Law? What was its purpose? Why was it given?

And it begins with Abraham. Abraham, the pagan prince, who was taken out of his homeland and joined into covenant with God. And YHWH promised Abraham that he would be given the promised land, and that his descendants would become numerous and rulers of the world. That the seed of Abraham would come and bless the entire world, not just sons of Abraham but gentiles themselves. And just earlier in this same chapter, Paul explains that this seed is Christ.

So Abraham is promised, that his barren wife would have children, and that from this line would come the seed, Jesus himself who would bless the nations. So what does this have to do with the law?

Well we see that the descendants of Abraham fall into sin, they fall into false worship, they become enslaved in Egypt. So YHWH does a mighty miracle, he rescues his people. He brings them out of Egypt, he baptizes them in the red sea, he feeds them the bread of manna, and then he takes them to Mt Sinai where they might be instructed. And it is on Mt Sinai that the Law is given. The Law of God is given to the people. What we need to see is that the Law is not given as some harsh, authoritative rule set, no it is given as a gracious act. This is seen in the first line of the law given, Exodus 20:2 says

Exodus 20:2 ESV

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

The entire Law is based around God rescuing his people. That God in his mercy has saved his people so that he might dwell with them. The Law of the Lord is a loving act that YHWH gives to his people so that they might be able to approach the Lord. That through the blood of sacrifices and ritual washings the people of God could live with God in their midst. The Law of God is the house rules of God. It is his way of saying, I am putting my tent in your midst and this is how everything works well together. For that is what the Law really is, it is instructions so that people know how to live in this world.

Kids, surely your parents have rules in your house? No throwing balls inside, so no roller skates, no duck taping your brother to the wall. Do these rules exist because your parents are mean and don’t like you? No its so that there is peace and harmony within the home. It is so that everyone can live in harmony.

And this is what the Law does. Paul says before faith came, we were help captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. The Law is what points us on how to rightly live. We can read this and think that the Law is some wicked and horrendous thing, but thats not the point Paul is making. The Law is acting as our guardian it is keeping us captive in that it shows us our own wickedness. The Law is a mirror as some theologians have said to show us our own depravity and how we fall short of God’s standard. It is not a slave master whipping us calling us to do better.

No the law is the soldier who protects us, who holds in captivity so that we might be safe. So that we may have a restraint on our own wickedness. We are imprisoned by this because we need a saviour who can take these wicked hearts and transform them into something new. A saviour who can change our wicked hearts, who can inscribe the law on our hearts, who can give us hearts of flesh so that we may walk in newness of life. The Law is the gift of God that the people may have a guardian, a captor who would keep us safe. Who would teach us how to be in union with Christ, who would show us how to approach God.

But the Law could not, and never can save anyone. For the Law is a place holder, a glorious sign pointing to something greater. It is pointing to as Paul says the faith that would be revealed. And this is interesting language, Paul is personifying faith. He’s not talking about faith as we often think of it, as trust and belief, instead it is something that will be revealed. Something that will come and take us out from the captivity of the Law. What is this faith? Paul tells us in the following verse. Galatians 3:24-25

Galatians 3:24–25 ESV

So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

Paul tells us here, that the Law was our guardian until Christ came. Christ is the faith that was revealed. He is the one who would come who would transform his people. The one who would come to be completely obedient to the Law. The one who could rescue us from our sin. The Christmas story is the story of the saviour, of the faith that was revealed in Bethlehem. Christ, the newborn babe, is the revealing of the faith. The one who who we now put our faith in. The one by whom you and I are justified. We are justified by Christ. The faith that came and was born and through the infant we celebrate during Christmas would bring about justification. It is through faith that the church now is justified.

It is through Christ that the we are no longer held captive by the Law. No longer do we need the blood of bulls to gain entrance to God, for through Christ we enter the holy of Holies. No longer do we need to cleanse ourselves through ritual washings, for through baptism we are cleansed and united to Christ. No longer must we give sin offerings, for we now have a great high priest who intercedes on our behalf. And this glorious, gracious, miraculous, turning point began in Bethlehem as Marry gave birth to Jesus.

For now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. And this word guardian is interesting, the greek its more than just someone watching out for you. The guardian was usually a slave of some form who would take children to school, discipline them, or keep them safe. It’s kind of like a glorified nanny. This person who would make sure the person would do what they were supposed to do.

When I was in high school, I attended a boarding school. So I lived on campus, had roommates, the whole deal. And one of the rules of the boarding school, was that if your gpa wasn’t high enough, you had to spend every evening from 7-9pm in your room doing homework. And there were RA’s who would come around and make sure you were doing homework. And man were they strict, listening to music instead of studying, say goodbye to your headphones for a week. If you were reading a book that wasn’t for class, gone. If you were foolish enough to try and watch a movie, all electronics were taken. These RA’s were making sure we were doing what we were supposed to do. And we couldn’t wait till grades came out to find out if we were off study hours. If we could escape, what we viewed as a tyrannical and oppressive structure. To gain freedom. But what we didn’t understand was that the RA’s were doing this for our good, it was so that we could be faithful students. We didn’t understand the law we were given so we didn’t understand the freedom we would gain.

And it is through Christ that you and I now have freedom not from an oppressive structure, like I used to foolishly believe, but because we gain freedom to something so much greater. No longer are we under a guardian, instead we gain something much greater.

Galatians 3:26–27 ESV

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Instead of being under a guardian, the slave, we are now sons of God. Through faith, through the faith, we have experienced the glorious realities of adoption. That you and I, wicked and perverse sinners may be called children of God. Sons of God. Heirs to eternal life. This is the glorious good news that is spread throughout Christmas, that Christ has come and through him we now are adopted in, called sons of God, and gain an inheritance that is something we do not deserve. Christmas is the glorious news that through this baby, through Jesus, the world will be turned upside down.

And don’t get this confused, yes we celebrate a baby. A meek and mild and tender child who was born. But was born to become a man who would rescue his people. And not only does Christ come to rescue his people, but he comes to welcome them into the Father’s arms. That we, the lost sheep who have gone astray, are welcomed home. Welcomed into the arms of our creator, that through Christ we are once again made right with God. No longer are bulls sacrificed because the blood of Christ can actually take away sins. No longer do we approach the temple with a sacrifice because we now enter boldly into the throne room of God. No longer is our life centered around the temple but instead we are the temples of God. No longer are we condemned by our sin shown to us by the law, but the Law becomes sweeter than a honeycomb and lifegiving to our souls. For the Law is no longer our guardian, for we are sons of God, but instead the Law is not a friend, a companion who teaches us how to live. This is the glorious news that is pronounced every year at Christmas, that you church are in Christ.

You have put on Christ through your baptism. That through the waters of baptism Christ has staked his claim on you, that through baptism you can celebrate Christmas knowing that Christ came for you. That through baptism you are a child of God. Church, do you get it? Do you understand? Christmas is a joyous celebration because through Christmas you are redeemed, and renewed, and restored to the king of kings and the lord of lords. Please, don’t miss this. Christmas it doesn’t come from a store, it doesn’t come from having the perfect family, it doesn’t come through traditions, and we all know it doesn’t come through having snow. It comes through Christ, born to save you. To save you from sins and to sonship. This is Christmas. That Christ came, that we are no longer under the captivity of the Law but instead gain something so much more.

This Christmas, is strange for my family. It is the first Christmas away from our families. We normally would drive up to my inlaws where we would spend time with the large family, opening gifts, playing with all the children, eating glorious feasts, and resting in the fact that we were all together. But now its different, we are 750 miles away from family. We had to make our own christmas traditions. And I say not because its sad, but because this Christmas was glorious. Because we spent it with you church. We spent it with sons of God, with heirs to the kingdom, though we were far from our earthly families, we joyously celebrated the birth of Christ with those that we unified with through Christ. Nothing was lost, nothing was sad, instead the Lord has given us his church, those who we are now forever united with through the waters of baptism. For church, we are Christ’s and he is ours.

As we spend the next 12 days celebrating Christmastide, I want you to remember the reason for this celebration. That Christ came, and through Christ you have been adopted. That through Christ no longer are you condemned. The glorious news of Christmas is that the king has come. A precious infant who grow to rescue his people. The king who came and went to the cross to rescue you. Jesus came as the greater king, the greater priest, the greater prophet, and yet you can somehow call him your brother.

Church, you have put on Christ, you are in Christ. Clothed in his righteousness and purity. There is nothing that condemn you now. There is no mark of sin or stain of depravity that has claim on you. Christ has cleansed you and even more so you are in Christ. You have union with the Son and join into the eternal sonship of the begotten second person of the trinity. Church this Christmas celebrate the glorious work that Christ has done. That you are now clothed in Christ himself and sin has no claim on you.

This Christmastide, rejoice in this glorious news. Let it infect every aspect of your life. Don’t let sin have any influence on you during this season. Sing loudly, let your tables overflow with wine and fine treats, give generously and receive just as generously, let your Christmas lights stay up through this season, and let your trees be a reminder during this time. And do all this for Christ has come. Do all this because you are sons of God.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, graciously grant that Your Word, which we have heard, may be inscribed inwardly on our hearts. As we receive Your Word meekly with pure affection, may our hearts be filled with love and reverence for You. Cause us to bear the fruit of the Spirit and to live in holiness, diligently following Your commandments. And may it please You to use us to lead those who are lost, wandering, and confused into the way of truth. All this we pray for the honor and praise of Your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns now and forever, age after age. Amen

Offering

Now that we have heard from the Lord let us respond with our tithes and offerings, our gifts to the King.

Please rise with hands upraised to sing the doxology

Doxology

Passing of the Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you

Let us offer one another a sign of peace

30 Seconds

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof

The world, and all that dwells in it

Pastoral Prayer

Church pray with me:

Oh Holy Father, you are the one true God and our only hope,

Bless and grow your church in the Bahrain. This nation was once a Christian nation and we pray that it would return to a society that worships you. We lift up the small minority of Christians in this land and pray for unity and boldness to see the gospel proclaimed in this land. Be with our anglican brothers and sisters who minister in this land. May the majority Muslim population hear the good news and repent of their idolatry.

Father, grant our own land blessings. Let the churches our country be united around the fundamentals of the faith. Help our churches to drive away wolves and protect your sheep. Raise up godly and righteous men to lead your church and guide your people. Bless our president, governor, legislators, judges, mayors, and the leaders of Williamson County. Let these people in authority come to know you and loudly proclaim that Christ is King. Bless your people with peace and send us godly rulers to lead us in this country.

Bless, grow and flourish the churches of the CREC

Give peace to the CREC church and pastors in Ukraine

Strengthen the Uzbek mission churches

Establish and grow Seldon College in Oxford, England

Bless and grow Christ Church in Boerne

Bless and grow Christ Fellowship in Taylor

Strengthen King’s Cross in Budha and help them finish their renovations in their new building

Bless and grow Exodus Church in Wichita, Kansas

Bless and flourish Reformation Presbyterian in Apache Junction, Arizona

Bless and grow Georgetown Church of the Nazarene and reward them for their hospitality to us

Bless us here in Georgetown at King’s Covenant

Bring unity around orthodoxy to the churches in our city

Drive abortion, transgenderism, sodomy, pornography, and divorce completely out of our state

Cast down our idols of humanism, feminism, post modernism, identity politics, and false religions in our land

Strengthen our will and give us resources so every Christian child can receive a Christian education in our city

Continue to form us as warriors of the cross, with the weapons of worship and song

Bless Hannah Hargrave and her baby

Bless Ashley Maeier and her baby.

Please heal Rev. Burk Shade

Please heal Beverly Atwood

Cause us to honor our marriage vows

Bless the parents of our congregation with wisdom and grace

Send a great awakening upon Georgetown and revive our youth

Bless our singles with spouses

Heal the sick among us and lift up the broken hearted

Make us fruitful with children at King’s Covenant and may our children never remember a day they did not know you.

We thank you in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and we pray with hands upraised as he taught us to pray saying:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Eucharist

The table this evening is table of obedience to our King. It is where we come to do as Christ commanded his people. Not as prisoners but as sons and daughters who feast with their heavenly father. We come to the table of Christ to feast on Christ’s body and blood. And we do this because Christ came and we are now in Christ. If you have been baptized in the triune name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and not under church discipline by any Christian church. Then come and eat.

The Lord Jesus on the night that he was betrayed, took the bread and gave thanks, let us give thanks:

Holy Father, we pray that as we receive this bread that you would grant us union with your Son. May our own flesh be cast away as we are made new through the glorious gift of his body that you have given us. Feed us Oh Father with the body of Christ that we may be one with him as he is one with you. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

And when he had given thanks, he broke the bread saying this is my body which is for you. Do this as my memorial

As the bread is being passed we will sing - From the Depths of Woe

Church this is the body of Christ broken for you, take and eat celebrating all that he has done

In the same way he took the cup and gave thanks, let us give thanks

Holy Father, as we take this cup of blessing we remember the holy and precious blood of Jesus, that was shed on our behalf. May the blood Christ cleanse and renew us all and strengthen us as your people. Unite us to Christ through the blood of the new covenant that we may walk in holiness and righteousness all our days and participate in the glory prepared for us. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

When he had given thanks, he said this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it, as my memorial

As the cups are being passed we will sing - How Vast the Benefits Divine

Church this is the blood of Christ, poured out for you. Take, drink and celebrate what Christ has done.

Song of Simeon

Please rise for the singing of the Song of Simeon

Commissioning

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.

And His mercy endures forever!

Remember your church, O Christ; send your Spirit of unity, courage, and holiness.

Come Lord Jesus, Come.

By shedding your blood, you have purified us; keep us ready to welcome the Day of your coming.

Come Lord Jesus, Come.

Bring to an end the divisions between Christians; gather us in one visible communion.

Come Lord Jesus, Come.

Have mercy on all who suffer persecution for your name’s sake; may they remain true to you in all their trials.

Come Lord Jesus, Come.

Give eternal rest to all who are dying; may the light that never sets shine upon them.

Come Lord Jesus, Come. Amen

Departing Hymn

Charge

Jude 20–23 ESV

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Benediction

2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Three Fold Amen