December 25 2011
“The Clause of Salvation”
Luke 2:30
Christmas time is hard time to think about what you NEED. Usually it is the WANTS that we hope to get. What we need may be more practical and even paramount in our lives than first imagined.
Can you imagine getting a pair of socks for Christmas? Maybe you have … but were you disappointed to some degree?
A friend of mine every Christmas asks for donations to buy socks to hand out to homeless people on the streets of Pittsburgh. He said, “It’s humbling to see men and women cry over a pair of socks and with great joy put them on.”
Do we realize what our greatest need is?
“If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior.” – Max Lucado
Have you realized your greatest need is … salvation?
We’ve been looking at the CHRISTMAS CLAUSES (A “clause” is a provision in a legal document such as a will) and thus far we have seen the clause of provision of Immanuel, Mercy & Good News … which leads us to the culmination of the CLAUSE OF SALVATION.
Tucked away in the narratives of Christmas … not front line news of angels, shepherds, mangers, wise guys etc. we find a man who has faithfully and persistently waited for what the world needs.
Luke 2:25-35 … Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon
Simeon was and is a rarity as he looked without fail for the Messiah, the Christ Child. Why? Because he had been divinely foretold he would not die until he saw the salvation of God to comfort His people.
Simeon teaches us the value of persistent faith that is underscored throughout the scriptures.
When others were giving up and perhaps thinking … “Messiah? Come on! I’ve heard that for the past umpteen years!” Simeon was proving to be strong in waiting for the greatest need the world needed … the consolation (comfort) of salvation.
Simeon lived “EXPECTANTLY” … it was in stark contrast to the religious leaders gathered around Herod (Mt 2) who knew where the Messiah would be born … but they were NOT LIVING EXPECTANTLY.
So as the Christmas story unfolds Mary & Joseph come to have the child presented as the first born child … and it is here that Simeon “sees the Christ Child”.
I love the IRONY of God and how He works! Here is Mary & Joseph operating under the law to deliver Jesus to be presented … “as it is written in the law of the Lord” and they hold the Messiah who had come to deliver those under the law. It all speaks to man’s need of salvation.
Galatians 4:4-5 ESV But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, (5) to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Simeon was the first man to publically identify the Christ Child … and there should have been fanfare galore … but as today, so few seemed to be paying attention.
Simeon seeing the consolation of salvation declares …
- promise of God’s salvation … according to your word (v.29)
- way of salvation … your salvation (Christ) (vs.30)
- extent of salvation … all peoples … to the Gentiles (vs.31-32)
- reality of salvation … falling and rising … hearts revealed (vs.34)
Simeon saw the child as the Christ … man’s salvation.
LET YOUR GREATEST NEED BECOME YOUR GREATEST WANT
Simeon wanted the salvation of God revealed because he knew it was man’s greatest need.
In the CLAUSE OF SALVATION … Christ is still the salvation God prepared for all peoples.
- Christ is still the only way, truth and life to salvation.
- Christ is still the only name by which man can be saved.
- Christ is still received through confession & belief
The God of all comfort still offers the consolation of salvation.
God’s voice is still heard … “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1)
Let the rarity of Simeon be in us …
- His always looking for the salvation of the Lord
- His readiness of publically declaring Christ
- His understanding of the way of God to save
LET YOUR GREATEST NEED BECOME YOUR GREATEST WANT
May the God of the CHRIST-mas season dwell in your hearts, settle in your minds, and be spoken of through you words.
Merry Christmas!
