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Sunday Worship 21 November 2021 : “That you may know the certainty of those things”

Text: Luke 1:1-4
21 November 2021

INTRODUCTION

1. Seeking to Understand Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

a) Facts
b) Features
c) Faith

2. Knowledge and Certainty

a) Knowledge
i) That would be significant
b) Information must be sufficient
b) Certainty
a) It comes from a word that is used to ensure that a prisoner is securely locked up
b) The prisoners may be chained to ensure security
c) Certainty of Faith is the Goal

3. Theophilus as a person of high rank

a) He wants facts and not opinions
b) He wants to have a faith that is clear and certain

WRITING AS A MEDICAL DOCTOR

1. Not Myths

a) Religious Myths abound
b) All deities have myths that surround their persona

2. Facts

a) Things that are clearly evidenced
b) Information can be checked and proven to be true or otherwise

SEEKING FAITH IN GOD

1. The Origin of Religions

a) It usually has an ethnic origin
b) It develops its distinctive features along the way
c) Its Appeal must be given due consideration

2. The Jewish Faith

a) It began in Israel
b) Ethnically a Jewish origin
c) The Natural Appeal is to the Jews
d) It is bound to the history of the nation

3. The Roman gods

a) They were like the Greek gods
With their names changed into Latin
b) Essentially, it was polytheism
c) Temples were built and dedicated to these gods and goddesses
d) Influences
i) January
(Roman god Janus)
ii) February
(Roman goddess Februalis; alternative name of Juno)
iii) March
(Roman god of war Mars)

4. The Christian Faith

a) There were shared roots with Judaism
b) Features that were common to both Judaism and Christianity
i) Monotheism
ii) But there are remarkable differences
iii) It has a Universal appeal
iv) Gentiles are not just an “add on” feature

FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

1. The starting point

“A narrative of those things which have been fulfilled”   Luke 1:1

2. The Birth Narrative of the Lord Jesus Christ

a) A Divine Plan revealed
i) The birth of a Child called Jesus   (Luke 1:31)
ii) He will be great   (Luke 1:32a)
iii) He will be called “The Son of the Highest”   (Luke 1:32b)
iv) He will be given the throne of His father David   (Luke 1:32c)
v) He will reign over the house of Jacob forever (Luke 1:33)
b) Human Involvement included
i) A humble girl called Mary
ii) She was a virgin and not yet married   (Luke 1:34)
c) The Power of the Spirit of God
i) The Holy Spirit will come upon Mary   (Luke 1:35a)
ii) The power of the Most High will overshadow her   (Luke 1:35b)
iii) The Holy One to be born will be called “The Son of God”   (Luke 1:35c)

3. The significance of this Birth narrative

a) This word given seemed impossible to Mary
i) She was not married
ii) She was a virgin
iii) This was humanly impossible
b) The reply of the angel Gabriel
i) “For with God nothing will be impossible”   (Luke 1:37)
(Idiomatic Translation)
ii) “Because nothing is impossible with every word of God”
(Literal translation)

4. From Start to Finish

a) God is involved (Divine plan)
b) The Power of the Spirit of God will be there
c) The Lord Jesus Christ will indeed be great and He will live up to His name… as One who will save… (Saviour)

CONCLUSION

1. Certainty of faith because God and His power will be involved

2. There is a Divine Plan in place

3. The Fulfilment of God’s Plan will confirm the Faith we have in the Lord Jesus