OUTLINE:
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.”
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Hail! the heaven-born
Prince of peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings
“Prince of Peace”
This is Jesus Christ’s title (one of several). It tells of the nature of His rule, that peace is fruit of it. This makes total sense given peace is specifically identified as fruit of His Spirit (Gal 5:22).
“The God of peace”
To abide in the sphere of God is to abide in peace.
Finding Grace
When you “find grace” you find peace. Your life becomes a testimony to God’s grace, even to unbelievers. “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14).
Humility is aggressive.
Finding Grace
When you “find grace” you find peace. Your life becomes a testimony to God’s grace, even to unbelievers. “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14).
Humility is aggressive.
Jn 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Aggressive Humility
If you’re hungry, you don’t break into the bakery (wrong aggressiveness); rather, you ensure you’re among the first in line to receive your daily bread (right aggressiveness). You are aggressive to receive God’s grace; you don’t seize for self without regard for God’s administrative will.
“Clothe yourselves”
from egkomboomai – means “to put on oneself (as a garment)”; refers to the white scarf or apron of slaves, which was fastened to the girdle of the vest (e.g., gird yourselves with humility as your servile garb i. e. by putting on humility show your subjection one to another).
False Humility
The guest in Mt 22:11 was a phony. He professed a desire to be a member of the kingdom, but refused to accept the grace of the king. This is the root of self-righteousness (clothing oneself instead of humbly receiving God’s grace).
How Sanctification Works
God doesn’t just give us what we need automatically; rather, He asks us to journey through the process of figuring it out for ourselves. In doing so, we arrive at our own convictions, put away our fleshly tendency to reject His thoughts/ways, and are sanctified.
Jn 15:8
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Humility is aggressive.
Summary of Is 55:8-56:1
– God’s thoughts/actions are unnatural to us.
– God’s Word never returns empty – it always accomplishes His will.
– We are encouraged to “do righteousness” for the sake of sanctification.
Fruit
Jn 17:17
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.