December 9, 2007
“His Blessings Flow, Far as the Curse is Found!”
Genesis 3:14-19 & 12:1-3
One of my favorite Christmas Carols is “Joy to the World” … It is one of my favorites not just because of its joyous sound but just as much because of its solid Biblical theology! The song’s third stanza speaks of sins, sorrows, thorns and curses, yet also of the blessings that flow and drowns out those curses.
Most of this week I have struggled with cold and flu symptoms, off and on I have felt better and worse. We all of us struggle with differing degrees of pain and sorrow and often we are dealing with several difficulties at once. Yet, Christmas offers us much more than temporary relief or a distraction from those things, in Christ we have THE END of those things, the Solution --- We have the Answer that gets to the root of the thorns, thistles and curses that are consequences of sin!
I. If we really want to ENJOY Christmas we need to find Christ’s Birth as the Answer, not just a happy distraction –
1. To most of our modern world Christmas is at best a happy distraction, a vacation, a chance to be with family, to give and receive gifts, maybe even to do some good deeds, yet not much more!
2. Yet, Biblically Christ is the Answer, because Biblically thorns, pain in child bearing even death (and many more problems) are caused by sin – Genesis 3:14-19
3. The CURSE is much more real and extensive than even we as Bible Believing Christians like to think, specifically:
A. It means we are in a battle with Satan, who had a part in our fall and who is at war with the woman and her Seed Christ – Genesis 3:1-6; Genesis 3:14-15
B. It means sorrow and pain in child bearing, struggles in marriage, thorns and thistles in the ground, difficulty in labor and even death are not NATURAL or NORMAL for us as creatures but rather they are part of the CURSE, they are consequences of our sin – Genesis 3:16-19
C. Fact is, if we understand things Biblically the entire creation was “subjected to futility” due to sin – Romans 8:18-20
Even outer space would be safe if it were not for sin!
4. This belief puts us at odds with an atheist / evolution believing world
II. Yet, thanks to Jesus Christ this futility will one day end – Genesis 12:1-3; Romans 8:18-21
1. This is why we sing and celebrate –
A. Pain in child bearing, marital spats, thorns and thistles, body odor, death (even in outer space) are not normal and natural but are part of the curse due sin – Romans 6:23
B. Yet, the Gift of God is eternal life – Romans 6:23
C. There is no curse in the New Jerusalem – Revelation 22:1-5
2. This is why we should know Him and serve Him wholeheartedly – John 17:3: Romans 12:1-2
3. This is the message we should communicate to a lost and confused world – Matthew 28:19-20
NKJ Psalm 98:1-9 A Psalm. Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. 2 The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. 5 Sing to the LORD with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a psalm, 6 With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD, 9 For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity.
