John 1:12-14
Advent means the coming or the arrival of Christ. The songwriter Isaac Watts said it well, Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King.
Grace Is God’s Gift to Humankind: v. 12
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
1. Atonement . Ephesians 3:12-13
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
2. Assistance . 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2For he says, In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of Gods favor, now is the day of salvation.
3. Acceptance . John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (kjv)
Grace is at the heart of all of God’s redeeming activities. It is the downward stoop and reach of God bending from the height of His majesty and glory.
J. B. Phillips
Grace Is Freely Given to All Who Will Accept God’s Favor: v. 13
children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husbandÕs will, but born of God.
1. Salvation . John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
2. Sanctification . 2 Corinthians 7:1
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
In the Gospels, we discover we are far worse off than we thought, and far more loved than we ever dreamed.
W. M. Greathouse
Grace Is God’s Glory Revealed to His Children in Daily Life: v. 14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
1. Supply . Romans 5:1-6
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
2. Sufficiency . 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
3. Security . 1 John 5:11-12
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
