Reconciled to be a Reconciler

In our third Sunday of Advent we are looking at the theme "Peace". Without Christ there can be no peace. Peace WITH God is through Jesus Christ. And the peace OF God is through Christ.

Joy, according to John Piper, is a "Good feeling in the soul, produces by the Holy Spirit, as we see the beauty of Christ in the Word and in the world." That is our topic this morning, and a framework for the points in this message.

Hope. It came in Jesus Christ, and can be ours today. This hope is the confident expectation of the fulfillment of all the promises of God towards His child. And though that is future, it has a practical effect now, in strengthening us to persevere, securing us, causing joy within us, and emboldening us as messengers of that hope.

What do we do when we dislike or disagree with our government? According to Romans 13, and 1 Peter 2, we submit ourselves to them, as all authority is appointed by God. The exception is when they command us to do what God has forbidden, or forbid us to do what God has commanded. Then we submit to the higher authority, God Himself.

God's judgement against blatant hypocrisy. And God's call to repentance and restoration.

All those who have trusted in Christ for forgiveness of sins and everlasting life, have now become ambassadors to the world for Christ's sake.

God's judgment upon empty ritualism, but His call to return to Him with all our heart.

Riches can't save someone else from death, can't save yourself from death, and can't buy you security. It should not be trusted in. Trust rather in the One who is able to save all who come to Him, and grant them everlasting life - Jesus Christ.

We are called to praise God, cheerfully, publicly, and intelligently. We have infinite cause to praise, because of our infinite all powerful God, and all He has done

God is our hope when all appears hopeless. The conclusion to Psalm 46