Forgivness, Light & Peace In Christ - Luke 1:67-80

Introduction:

We looked last week at the first portion of Zechariah’s prophecy - Titling it God’s Promise Kept!

Looking at how Zechariah was “filled with the Holy Spirit”

And how in his prophecy He spoke of how the God of Israel has…

“Visited & Redeemed His People...” (which Zech. Was prophesying of Christ to come; and this redemption being already purchased for those whom are His People)

And we looked at how Christ is the “Horn of Salvation” (for us) For he is Mighty in Power and undefeated

And lastly we looked how Christ is delivering us, from the enemy, and those who hate us

Coming to the conclusion that Christ was the plan from the beginning and God was faithful to keep His promise of sending a Son one who keeps His people for Himself.

So overall: Us knowing that the first portion of the Zechariah’s prophecy is about Christ to come

So our text this morning is Luke 1:67-80

This time we will be reading of John the Baptist

As he Zechariah foretells how his son John shall go before the Messiah

Speaking of a salvation to come along with forgiveness, light and peace for his people

Please stand for the reading of God’s Word

Read - Luke 1:76-80 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.”

Pray

So this morning as it has been very much a difficult week for me spiritually:

This morning we are going to read the text

And from the text their are 3 things I want to point out about Christ toward the end and what He has brought to and for His people

Lets look at verse 76...

Luke 1:76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,”

So we can remember Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit speaking that John will be a prophet for the Most High and this phrase...

“You will be called”

“Will be Called” in the greek - meaning to name someone

The other greek definition for “will be called” can also mean being called to a specific task

So John the Baptist has been named (for we know Zech. and Eliz named him John, for this is what God wanted him to named)

And the task came in the form of John being a prophet “to go before the Lord”

What is a prophet?

One who hears from God and then delivers the message of God to the people of God, of what is to come

But John a prophet of who? - “The Most High” - in the greek meaning the God of Israel according to His exaltedness and authority

So would we say this is a big calling and task for John?

John is to go before the Lord to prepare His ways

He John called and given a task to be a prophet of the Most High...

OT: This may be bringing to mind an OT prophecy being fulfilled, with the mentioning of John going before the Lord

For the people who would soon hear that this John will be a prophet before the Lord as the Word would travel across the land

Mind you these people of God (in our context) were awaiting the promise, of the one Messiah to come. In...

Mal 4:4-6 ““Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.””

R.C Sproul - “under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Zechariah now prophecies that His son will fulfill the OT prophecy that John will be the forerunner of the Messiah

And so what is John being called too Church?

Verse 77. “To give knowledge of salvation to His People in the forgiveness of their sins.”

So who is John? One to give such kind of knowledge?

Sounds like something that only Christ would be able to do right?

It is not that John is the author of salvation (as we know Psalm 3:8 “Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah”)

But here He is to “give knowledge of salvation to His People”

Give - in greek meaning to offer

Well how can John give that which of something he has not first experienced or received?

Well if we remember from Luke 1:15 “for he (speaking of John) will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.”

So John has expiernced the power of our God (being filled with the Holy Spirit) so that He can tell others and prepare the way of the Lord

Mind you which was probably the 2nd most important mission and task ever known to man, Christ mission being first in line.

So it is good for us t know John was fully equipped to carry out His calling and task from the Most High God; as He had experienced the power of God through the third person of the Trinity the Holy Spirit.

And what is John to “give…

knowledge - which meaning in greek means understanding &

Knowledge of what? - Salvation - in greek meaning deliverance

So if we put them together, John’s call to God’s people was to give understanding about deliverance!

Well what did God’s people in this time need to know and what did they need saving from?

As we talked last week they were still in the OT way of sacrificing animals to cover their sins (temporally)

So they as God’s people completely aware of God’s promise’s to come, needed to know and experience salvation in Christ.

They needed to have deeper understanding, and deliverance from sin which was on it’s way!

And John was the prophet called by God, given a task by God to bring this “knowledge of salvation to who?

To “His People”

His people is also found in the KJV as well (so yes God has a people for Himself)

Psalm 100:3 “Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

And now as we continue to read we come across Zechariah speaking of “the forgiveness of their sins.”

As if this understanding and deliverance wasn’t enough; so now is the mention to God’s people about forgiveness for their sins (BIG DEAL)

Because as we mentioned they were still offering sacrifices for their sins with animals and animal blood

Being OT ways of offering sacrifices to God (to then have God’s wrath delayed towards them; until it was time to offer another sacrifice)

So what is this meaning? This mentioning of “in the forgiveness of sins?”

Meaning Zechariah’s prophecy is mentioning future salvation through Christ which is ours in Christ, that He has given to His people whom He has forgiven their sins.

If we can remember last week we mentioned Christ speaking of redeeming and visiting his people (even though it had not yet occured yet in our context.)

But this did not mean that it was not going to happen. No God keeps His Promises and now the promise we hear is for salvation for His people and forgiveness for His people.

So salvation and Forgiveness of sins is mentioned and what else in our text?

Luke 1:78-79 “because of the tender mercy of our God, (which we also see the Mercy of God mentioned in V. 72) whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”” (this being a metaphor of what is to come)

So while we are reading this second portion of Zechariah’s prophecy this next portion is about John to Come to prepare the way for the Lord

But it’s more about John telling of Christ to come and what Christ offers to His people.

Yes we know John is the prophet, but He has some very needed life giving Truth’s He is to share with God’s people.

3 Points: I want to make from this text about Christ and what Christ offers “His People”

Context:

God has been silent for 400 years

And so in these years of waiting, so in the waiting we can quickly become impatient and that can Lead right into what? Sin.

Into many types of sin, anger, sexual sins, impatience, bitterness, and deep hate and resentment

So with the ending of Zechariah’s prophecy comes the mentioning of salvation and the forgiveness of sins.

Which is huge for the people of God awaiting the Messiah to come; knowing they are in deep need of deliverance from sin.

To address the phrase “the knowledge of salvation” real quick and put it into perspective this “promise” they, the people of God were awaiting

That would come in the form or knowledge by John through Christ - “the knowledge of salvation.”

So the people of God would not of forgotten all of God’s promises to them, as a matter of fact it’s all they had to hold onto (which indeed God’s promises to them was God’s knowledge; God was now just revealing more of Himself through the prophet John to the people of God; to confirm what they already believed as true that the Messiah Christ the Lord would make his appearance)

For us (now) our context is different and we are not OT believers

But we have Christ who has lived and finished His work on this earth along with his teachings to hold onto int the Gospels

In a sense we have been extremely blessed and highly favored as to live now after Christ has already come!

But to help Summarize what I am trying to say lets take it from J.C. Ryle a Theologian

It is clear that the souls of the OT believers fed much on God’s promises. They knew nothing of the great facts which we know about Christ’s life, death and resurrection. They looked forward to redemption as a thing hoped for but not yet seen, (what faith Right?) and their only warrant for their hope was God’s covenanted Word. (God’s promised Word) ”J.C. Ryle

So as as John would embrace the call and “give the knowledge” which the people of God would of been waiting for

As they held tight to those Word’s given to them by God

And for them to soon hear about this salvation and forgiveness that John carries, so this would be Good News to them.

So with Zechariah’s prophecy we see who Christ is, and what He is coming to do in and for His people who have long been awaiting the promise of salvation.

So now from our text their are 3 three words I want us to look at that which characterize Christ for us, and to us:

Forgiveness

Light

Peace

Forgiveness:

And I want to lead off talking about forgiveness by telling a story about forgiveness not received but delayed in my life as I offered it.

I do this to help us understand the weight and delight of forgiveness in our Christian lives That we have received through Christ.

Home:

So when I went home this past month; mind you home is a very difficult place for me (as there is my past and my past experiences and sins)

So what had transpired between me and one of my family members, was something I had to ask for forgiveness from.

Because I was in the wrong for something I said in a way I should not of said it.

So I proceeded to ask my family member for forgiveness, and I did not verbally receive a confirmation that they received the forgiveness that I was offering for my wrong toward them (for my sin toward them)

And let’s just say this is painful.

See you either being on the receiving side, or the giving side of forgiveness.

So forgiveness Delayed is a painful and constant pricking of ones heart, such that of a sharp rose thorn, that everytime you think of this person.

And either the forgivness not received for your wrong; or the forgiveness that you are waiting to be asked for so ) it all hurts a little as you remember the situation.

So why was it painful for me? And why is it still painful for me to think of this family member as they did not accept my forgiveness?

In my story I know I wronged them, and I offered them my forgiveness but they did not receive it…

This in retrospect makes me feel bad inside, and quite shameful and guilty for my sin toward them

I wanted to make things right; because of my wrong!

For Gracie and I in Marriage:

Say for instance in a moment where my bride and I don’t agree on something, so sometimes we say things we don’t mean..

So the only way we are able to move on mentally and spiritually from anger and the only way for our hearts to be mended in the moment and able to me move on is to here these words “I am sorry please forgive me.”

And hearing it verbally means something!

See from our text so we can see that Zechariah speaks of John one who will tell God’s people about what? “ the forgiveness of their sins.”

So for those moments in the waiting (the 400 years of silence from God) that led to sinning Against God

So now in Christ was coming a forgiveness for all they had done wrong that was sinful, that which brought guilt and shame upon their life.

This was not forgiveness delayed, this was forgiveness freely given through what Christ was coming to do for His people.

Speaking of forgiveness:

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This morning as we can see forgiveness delayed leads to guilt and shame. (as for me and my story with my family member)

But in Christ “if we confess our sins” - meaning we do not hide that we absolutely are a sinners and we do not have it all together!

That “he is faithful and just to FORGIVE us our SINS and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This morning is their someone who God is putting on your heart that you need to ask for forgiveness from?

Or you like me waiting for one to receive this forgiveness you have extended because Christ has extended it to you?

Biblically and theologically this morning we need to remember; from God’s Word. All that really matters is (no matter if one has received your forgiveness or not)

We have to remember God has forgiven you of your sins through Christ His Son (and not that the rose thorn wont prick your heart in areas of life where there hasn’t been restoration through forgiveness; as this is why there are so many broken relationships on broken earth)

Because we know this life is broken because of sin, and for me I still carry this in my mind “gosh I wish He would of accepted my forgiveness”

As this is my Christian duty, not my Christian option as Matthew says in...

Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

And so Zechariah prophesies of John to come who is to prepare the way of the Lord and the speak of forgiveness of sins He was bringing to His People

2. So with forgiveness comes a light that shines into our darkness (and who doesn’t like that?)

Luke 1:79 “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

What happens when we light a candle in a dark room (it lights it up so you can see that which is hidden)

We have all done things that are dark, and sinful, these things that which bring on us deep guilt and shame

We all struggle with sin; and we as sheep always try and hide from it and or let it lead us into the mirey muck and thicket over and over again. (Even ask yourself what are you hiding right now?)

But with Christ’s forgiveness of our sins come a light that exposes our moments of sin, darkness, shame and guilt

Isa 9:2 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”

Because when someone knows they are not forgiven so they feel paralyzed?

They feel like some portion of their life is still in the dark (that’s how I feel right now with my family member; even though knowing in Christ I have been forgiven of my sins (all of them past, present and future)

And theologically when someone is not forgiven in Christ, they are sitting in darkness. (Dead in sin)

Why do I say paralyzed? I say this word paralyzed because it says in our text “those who sin in darkness”

As the text says “those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death…”

How many of us go home and just sit in darkness?

No! Christ’s forgiveness and light has shined in us lifting us; and revealing to us our sin and depravity

Ephesians 5:14 “for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.””

We are supposed to “arise” - in the greek meaning to originate or come into being

And the way we arise, is we put our Hope, Trust and Faith in Christ Jesus our Lord!

In our Context:

Those awaiting God’s promise’s are now soon to hear you are forgiven in Christ and His light has shined upon their darkness and sin

And they will rise from it because the power of Christ in them, not because of their own strength.

So if you are in Christ you don’t have sit in darkness of your sin and shame, for a light has dawned upon your soul; salvation has come; forgiveness has come and a light has shined into the darkness of our sin.

But why the light?

What does light do? What happens when you light a candle in a dark room?

You know where you are standing!

And where in our text does this light lead? (this light being Christ the Lord)

3. “To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

The third thing Christ brings to His people and in His people is peace!

If my family member would of accepted my forgiveness for my wrong (me as a Christian it would of given me peace about our relationship)

However that is not the case, they still today have been silent towards me; therefore not giving me peace in our relationship

But my ultimate peace, the peace not as the world gives comes from the Lord.

So why do we have peace as Christians as “His People”?

We have peace in our hearts and souls because we are assured of this, that Christ who is the author of salvation has

Through the cross, grave and rising from the grave that He has

Redeemed us

Delivered us - and is constantly delivering us from our enemies

He has Forgiven us of our sins

And has made His Light shine in our hearts therefore exposing sin

And now we have peace knowing we are His no matter what we have done (because we are saved from sin and forgiven of all of our sins *past, present and future in Christ)

For my story of forgiveness delayed with my family member is indeed painful, (and I ask that you pray for this situation)

But Christ has not delayed HIs forgiveness to His People, salvation has come, light has dawned upon our hearts; and peace is ours in Christ.

Trust in Christ today and be saved from your sins.

Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Forgiveness delayed is a time of pain; forgiveness received is a life guaranteed

Luke 1:80 “And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.”

And so we see John “grew” to grow in the Lord and In the knowledge of His Word

And became strong to prepare the way of the Lord who would bring salvation, forgiveness, light and peace to HIs People

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”