1 BLESSED is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Have you ever considered what a blessing it is to have forgiveness of God? What a blessing to have the LORD not hold our sins and iniquities against us? To have the LORD’s forgiveness removes all fear of wrath and condemnation and gives us peace with God. To have forgiveness for all our sins gives us the assurance of life everlasting. Indeed, the one who admits his sin to the LORD instead of attempting to hide and cover up his sins is blessed because in the LORD, for the sake of Jesus’ holy life and innocent sufferings and death, he has forgiveness of God. Cf. 1 John 1:5 – 2:2.

What about you? Do you have God’s forgiveness, or are you attempting to hide and cover up your sins? Are you justified by God, or trying to justify yourself? Are you self-deceived and attempting to fool others in regard to your sinfulness, or do you admit your utter sinfulness and look to God for mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus?

3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

What happens when we keep silent about our sins? When we are unwilling to admit our sinfulness and look to the LORD for forgiveness? When we are unwilling to give up our sins? God’s hand is heavy upon us. We grow old and weary through our groaning and sighing all day long as we feel the guilt and weight of our sins. Our moisture, our vitality, our joy, is turned into the drought of summer; it is evaporated away.

5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

To confess our sins is to say and agree with what God says of us and our sin (cf. 1 John 1:9). Confession makes no excuses for sin, but acknowledges sin as sin and deserving of God’s eternal wrath and punishment! When we acknowledge our sin unto the LORD and quit attempting to hide it and cover it up, when we confess our transgression of God’s commandments unto the LORD, He graciously forgives our sins for Jesus’ sake. “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

For God’s forgiveness, everyone that is godly will pray now, before it’s too late! “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Don’t put off repentance! Don’t wait another day. Acknowledge and confess your sins now and receive God’s forgiveness. Tomorrow may be too late for you. You may never have the opportunity to receive God’s forgiveness again. If you turn to the LORD now, God will have mercy upon you and save you from the judgment to come!

The Bible says, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Psalm 86:5).

7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

When we turn to the LORD for forgiveness, He also will protect and preserve us from evil and trouble. Cf. Psalm 91. That doesn’t mean that we will have an easy life here in this world. Quite the contrary is often true. But He will preserve us and bring us safely through the difficulties and sufferings of this evil world to himself in heaven.

8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

God desires to instruct and lead His children in His ways. He does this through His Word, which is “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). But, how often are we not like the horse or mule which must have a bit and bridle to get them to go in the right direction! How much easier it would be for us, and better too, to let God instruct and guide us through this life!

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

Just think about this word of God: “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.” The wicked, the impenitent, will have many sorrows. Not only will this life be full of sorrow, not knowing the forgiveness and peace of God; the life to come will be one of eternal suffering and sorrow for the wicked! On the other hand, God’s mercy and forgiveness shall surround and encompass the one who trusts in the LORD!

11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Indeed, those who have God’s pardon and forgiveness, those to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity and sin but counts them righteous and holy in His sight for Jesus’ sake, have cause to be glad in the LORD and rejoice. And, they can shout for joy; for they are blessed of the LORD forevermore!

In 1 John (1:8-9; 2:1-2), we read: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. … If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Don’t deceive yourself into thinking that you have no sin, that you are righteous by your own works and life. Agree with God and say what He says of you and your sins — that you are guilty and deserving of His eternal wrath and punishment.

But then look to Him in faith for mercy. Believe the promises of the Gospel, that “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Look to God in faith for pardon and forgiveness for the sake of Christ’s atoning sacrifice for the sins of all. As God has promised: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Savior! Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (Read John 1:1-14)

Who is this Child born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem and laid in a manger?

We find God’s answer to that in John 1:1-4,14: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. … And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

That Babe born in Bethlehem was none other than God Himself, the eternal Word, made flesh that He might dwell among us and redeem us from sin and eternal death and damnation.

The Apostle John also writes of Him: “We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father …” John and the other disciples witnessed Jesus’ divine glory in His mighty miracles, in His glorious transfiguration, and in His resurrection and ascension. Jesus is the eternal Son of God come into this world a true man.

Indeed, God did a most amazing thing. With us being totally dead in our sins and unable to please God or come to Him, He sent His only begotten Son (the eternal Word, true God with the Father and Holy Spirit, the Creator of all things visible and invisible) into His own creation as a man to redeem fallen mankind and give us life! God’s Son became flesh – true man with flesh and bones and blood, like you and me – when He was conceived and born of the Virgin Mary through the miraculous working of God’s Spirit.

The Bible tells us in Galatians 4:4-5: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

In fulfillment of God’s promises of old, God the Son took on human flesh and blood and became true man that He might take our place under God’s law and fulfill it for us and then redeem us from the curse and condemnation of God’s law by suffering our just punishment by means of His death on the cross.

The Bible tells us: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Gal. 3:13).

And, why did He do it? “That we might receive the adoption of sons” through faith in His name (Gal. 4:5), that we might look to Him and His atoning sacrifice in faith and be received as God’s children.

Again, St. Paul writes in Galatians 3:26-27: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

As our text says, Jesus is “full of grace and truth.” In Jesus, we see the fullness of God’s grace toward us sinners. In Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross, God’s undeserved love reached down and provided a way of salvation for lost mankind; and, in Jesus, God still reaches down to us lost and condemned sinners, offering forgiveness of sins and life everlasting through faith in Christ and His cross.

In this sin-darkened world, God’s truth is revealed to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the truth – only in Him is there forgiveness and life everlasting! He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Only in Him can we obtain forgiveness of sins and life everlasting (cf. John 14:6; Acts 4:12)!

God grant that we look to Him in faith!

O eternal God, our heavenly Father, we thank you for the gracious gift of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior and the only true way to life everlasting. Graciously grant to us true faith in Your Son and our Savior. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 (Read Luke 2:1-20)

We know the Christmas story. We know that, in fulfillment of ancient prophecies, Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem and laid in a manger. But what does this historical event mean for us today? Is it just a quaint story to be repeated each year at Christmas time? Or, does it have meaning for us each and every day of our lives?

To answer these questions, I draw your attention to the announcement of the angel of the Lord to the shepherds in the field outside Bethlehem on that night of Jesus’ birth. What did the angel say? We consider his words, for he bore the very word of the LORD God to the shepherds.

The angel of the Lord first said: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” After quieting the shepherds’ fear — and who wouldn’t be afraid if suddenly, in the middle of the night, an angel appeared and the glory of the LORD God Himself shone around them? — the angel said to the shepherds that he brought them good news of great joy, which shall be to all people.

The message wasn’t only for the shepherds, it is for all people. It is for you and me today! And, as the angel said, it is good news and brings great joy to those who hear and believe the angel’s announcement.

And what is that good news? “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” On that very day, in Bethlehem, the city of David, a Savior was born!

The long-awaited Messiah and Savior from sin and eternal death and damnation had been born. The Seed of the woman promised in Genesis 3:15; the Seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who would be a blessing to all nations; the Son of David who would rule over an eternal kingdom; the Child promised in Isaiah 7 and 9; the Root of Jesse; the Ruler promised in Micah 5; the Redeemer of Israel promised in Psalm 130 – all this was fulfilled in this Child born in Bethlehem.

And who is this Savior? The angel says He is “Christ the Lord.” He is the LORD’s Anointed, the Messiah; He is the LORD God Himself come into this world a true man to fulfill God’s law in our stead and to bear the punishment for the sins of all and rise again in victory.

He is true man, born of Mary, that He might take our place under the law and fulfill it for us and that He might take our place under the judgment of God and bear our punishment. And, He is true God that His holy life and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross would be sufficient ransom for the sins of all the world. Cf. John 1:1-14, 29; Gal. 4:4-5; Col. 1:14-23; Rom. 5:12-21.

What does this mean to you and to me? Why is it good news to us? Why does Christ’s first coming give us reason to rejoice and be filled with joy? Because atonement has been made for our sins. The just punishment demanded by God’s law for the sins of fallen mankind was satisfied in Christ’s blood, shed on the cross!

Therefore, we who were unacceptable and under the condemnation of God because of our wickedness and sin are brought near through faith in the shed blood of Christ. We are, through faith in Christ and His atoning sacrifice, acceptable to God, pardoned and forgiven. We have peace with God the Father and have been made His own dear children through faith in Christ Jesus. Cf. 1 John 1:7 — 2:1-2; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:11-22; Galatians 3:26-29. Indeed, you and I and all who trust in Christ can be of good cheer, for our sins are forgiven us in Christ Jesus (cf. Matt. 9:2).

Because God provided His own dear Son to be our Savior, we need not fear death. Christ Jesus died for our sins and rose again from death and has won for us eternal life in the mansions of His Father’s house (cf. Heb. 2:14-17; John 14:1-6).

And, as the shepherds were filled with joy to know that God so loved them that He gave His only-begotten Son to be their Savior (cf. John 3:16) and hurried to Bethlehem to see the things which had come to pass, and also returned telling others and “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them” (Luke 2:20), so we worship and praise our God — joining with the angel choirs of heaven — for sending us a Savior, for providing atonement for our sins and winning for us forgiveness of sins and life everlasting in heaven!

O LORD God, we thank and praise You for the gift of Your Son to be our Savior and to win for us forgiveness for all our sins and life everlasting in Your kingdom, and we thank you for revealing to us through Your Word the message of the angel to the shepherds, the “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people,” the good news that unto us a Savior is born, and that this Savior is Christ the Lord — God in the flesh — and that in Him, and for the sake of His blood shed for us upon the cross, we have forgiveness of sins and life everlasting through faith in His name. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21

As the angel Gabriel announced had to Mary (Luke 1:26ff.), she had conceived by the miraculous working of the Holy Ghost and carried in her womb God’s Son and her Savior. Following the announcement to her, Mary, as the Gospel of Luke explains, spent time with her cousin Elizabeth in Judah. When she returned to Nazareth, Joseph, her betrothed husband learned she was with child and knew he wasn’t the father because they had not yet come together. He considered privately divorcing her rather than making her a public example under the law (cf. Deut. 22:20ff.; 24:1ff.).

And, it is while Joseph thought on these things that the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream and told him not to be afraid to take unto him Mary his wife, for the child conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She would bring forth a son and Joseph was to name him Jesus (Yehoshua – cf. Num. 13:16), meaning Jehovah saves, because He would save His people from their sins.

This, of course, was all done in fulfillment of the ancient prophecy revealed through Isaiah the prophet: “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:22-23; cf. Isaiah 7:14).

The child in Mary’s womb was and is God with us – the LORD God Himself in human flesh – and He came into the world to fulfill all righteousness and to suffer and die in the stead of all mankind for the sins of the world. He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14), true God and true man in one person.

And, as the angel revealed to Joseph, He has saved His people from their sins. He suffered and died for the sins of the world and rose again on the third day. All who place their faith and hope in Him and His shed blood have God’s pardon and forgiveness. They have life everlasting through faith in His name.

O Jehoshua, Son of God, and David’s son through the Virgin Mary, Thank You for taking on human flesh and becoming true man to take our place under the law and to redeem us from sin and death. Grant that we place all our hope and faith in You and Your innocent sufferings and death in our stead that we might receive forgiveness for all our sins and the everlasting joys of heaven. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible]

“And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:67-79

In these prophetic words, Zacharias the priest, being filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke of the salvation God was providing in His Son, and of the ministry of his son, John the Baptist.

Jesus, Son of God and descendant of David through the Virgin Mary, came into the world as promised since the very beginning. In Jesus, God Himself visited and redeemed His people. Jesus bore upon the cross the punishment for the sins of the whole world and made atonement for God’s people and for all of mankind. He suffered, died and rose again that He might set us free from the curse and condemnation of our sins to live for Him and serve Him evermore!

John the Baptist, the son born to Zecharias in his old age, would be the prophet of the Highest, going before the Lord Jesus Christ – Jehovah Himself in human flesh – to prepare His ways. And how was John to prepare the people for the coming of their Lord? He was to give them knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. He was to teach them of God’s mercy and forgiveness for the sake of the innocent sufferings and death of God’s Son, the Dayspring from on high who would visit them. In this way, he would give light to those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death and guide their feet into the way of peace with the Lord their God.

People today are still sitting in spiritual darkness and the shadow of death. They do not know the LORD God and His mercy in Christ Jesus and are headed for an eternity of suffering and punishment apart from Him and His lovingkindness. Thus, the ministry of God’s people today, as they prepare for the second coming of the Lord Jesus from heaven, is to give to people around them in the world knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins. The church is to call people to repentance and faith in the Messiah and Savior; for Jesus, God’s own dear Son, came into this world, redeemed all of mankind by suffering and dying upon the cross for all sin and rose again on the third day.

Followers of Christ proclaim the law of God that people might see their sinfulness and the error of their ways. They make known the good news of God’s mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus that people might trust in Him alone for eternal salvation. In this way, followers of Jesus continue to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death and guide their feet into the way of peace.

O gracious and merciful God, bring us all to repent of our sinful and erring ways and grant us mercy and forgiveness for the sake of the Son, Jesus Christ, that Dayspring from on High who has come to visit and redeem us. And, dear Lord Jesus, move us to give to others, sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins through faith in You and Your innocent sufferings and death in their stead. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]