CALL TO WORSHIP
(Tune – Take My Life – p. 393)
(Words by Pastor Jim Byrd)

To the Savior, reigning King,
Honors to His Name we bring;
What a kind and gracious Friend,
May His praises never end. (R)

Not to us, to Jesus be,
Glory, strength and majesty;
Come ye people now arise,
Praise the Lord of earth and skies. (R)

With His blood our debt He paid,
Full atonement Jesus made;
For His death upon the cross,
Saved us from eternal loss. (R)

Evermore Christ reigns above,
Author of redeeming love;
There He sits upon His throne,
In a glory all His own. (R)

TODAY’S SERVICES – Messages by Pastor Bill Parker
BIBLE CLASS – 10:00 a.m. –Our Reasonable Service – Romans 12:1-2
MORNING WORSHIP – 11:00 a.m –
OPENING – Psalm 18:30-32
CALL TO WORSHIP (above)
HYMN – Joy to the World – p. 87
READING – Hebrews 9:1-10
MESSAGE – Christ – The Way into the Holiest – Heb. 9:1-10
CLOSING HYMN – O God, Our Help – p. 10

Birthdays: Kristen Fuller – Dec. 17^th

Please join us next Sunday (12-22-19) for a Christmas breakfast in our fellowship hall at 9:00 a.m.

THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL

Simeon was an old man who lived in Palestine at the time of Christ’s birth. God’s word describes him as “just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25). The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Christ. Simeon knew and understood exactly who the Messiah would be and what He would accomplish. Simeon saw the baby with physical eyes, but he saw the Lord’s Christ with the eye of faith. This baby would grow into manhood, and in all that He would say and do up to and including His death, He would establish the only ground of peace between God and sinners. Simeon believed God’s promise to save him and bless him with all of salvation based on the merits of Christ — “For mine eyes have seen THY salvation” (Luke 2:30).

Simeon also knew that Christ would be the Redeemer, not of the Jews only, but also of God’s people among the Gentiles — “Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:31-32). He knew that God justifies the ungodly based solely upon the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ freely imputed and received by faith. He knew that national heritage, circumcision, and religious efforts must be totally excluded from the ground of salvation. He saw that Christ’s righteousness alone entitles sinners to the whole inheritance of grace and glory. This is the consolation, the comfort and peace, of spiritual Israel, all who come to God seeking salvation based on the merits of the obedience and death of Christ. —Pastor Bill Parker

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

The inspired prophet wrote, "unto us a Son is given." The Son of God, the only begotten Son, God's beloved Son, was given to be our Savior. It was for us that the Father delivered Him up into the hands of death and justice in order to save us from our sins. Jesus Christ is God's free, unspeakable and unparalleled Gift.—John Gill

During this time of year, many people are thinking about the birth of Christ. We hear them say, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Also, this is the season in which many think about generosity and giving, even giving to the poor and needy, more it seems than any other time of year. These are all good things in and of themselves, but the main issue, the vital issue concerning the birth of Christ is this — WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CHRIST? What are your thoughts concerning His PERSON and HIS WORK OF REDEMPTION TO SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS? People need to realize that it is the doctrine they understand and believe that identifies the Christ whom they know, trust, follow, and worship. Is He the true Christ or a counterfeit? Right doctrine, God’s doctrine, in the Gospel reveals and identifies the TRUE Christ and distinguishes Him from all counterfeits.

WHO IS JESUS CHRIST? Who is that one who was born in Bethlehem, lived in Judea, and died on the cross? He is the eternal Son of God who became incarnate, who took into union with His divine nature a perfect sinless human nature (body and soul). He is both God and man in one Person – “Emmanuel … God with us” (Matt. 1:23). He is the one Mediator between God and men. It is His Person that qualified Him and enabled Him to do the work He was sent of the Father to do. Any doctrine, any notion or thought, any belief that does not identify Christ as both God and man in one Person is false. People who hold to such false doctrine concerning Christ do not know the true Christ. They trust and serve a counterfeit.