Series: Songs of Christmas Text: Luke 2:13-14 Message 3 of 4 Introduction 1. We are all familiar with the story of the birth of Jesus as recorded in Luke 2. Sometimes familiarity causes us to overlook important details. So let's look again at the text and pay close attention to what is recorded. (Read Luke 2:1-20). 2. When you think about it, the incarnation – Jesus coming to earth in the flesh – is a monumental event, arguably one of the most important and significant events in history (some would say the fourth greatest day in history), and yet this is what the Bible says. "The time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." That's it. The greatest single event since the creation of the universe, and it gets about a sentence. God come to earth and "she gave birth to her first born son." 3. And then the story shifts quickly to the shepherd fields outside Bethlehem. Probably these men were guarding the flocks that were destined to be temple sacrifices in Jerusalem. Shepherds were despised people. Their work with sheep made them ceremonially unclean. They were suspected of not being careful to distinguish between "mine" and "thine", and apparently for that reason, they were barred from giving evidence in court. And yet it is to these despised, unclean, unfit witnesses that angels appear and give the announcement of the birth of Jesus. Go figure! 4. Somewhere in the story, we may have lost the significance of the angels' song. It is just a short chorus: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” So what does it mean? Before we move on, let's review a little. 5. Mary's song was a song of salvation. Salvation comes to those who humble themselves before God. She sang a song of praise to God who knows, who is mighty to save and who extends his mercy to those who are prepared to receive it. Zechariah's song was a song of redemption and a song of deliverance and a song of forgiveness. And now, today, it is the angels' song. Their song is a song of peace. 6. We live in a world that has a confused view of peace and perhaps an even more confused understanding of angels. Here the angels did not come to touch anything, but they did come to make an important announcement through their wonderful song. Their song was a song of salvation. The emphasis in Mary's song was humility. Redemption and forgiveness marked the song of Zechariah. The salvation song of the angels speaks of peace. Listen to the truths of which they sing. I. PEACE BEGINS WITH GOD "Glory to God in the highest.." A. When the angels sing of God's glory ... 1. There are many things that declare the glory of God. The heavens declare God's glory. Look at the stars. If you are at all honest, you must admit they bear testimony to the greatness of God. “God is glorious” is their message! The song in heaven, sung by angels and the redeemed, will be "He is worthy to receive glory." 2. In fact, the whole plan of salvation is "glory to God." See Ephesians 1:6,12,14. God's glory had dwelt in the tabernacle and in the temple, but his glory departed because of the nation's sin. Now God's glory was returning again after many generations to not only be present, but to be glory incarnate. As John said, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." 3. Do you understand why the angels were singing? God in the fullness of His glory had come to earth! The hymn writer got it right when he wrote, "veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate deity." There was a sense in which His intrinsic glory was hidden, though there were glimpses of His glory throughout His earthly life. The miracles pointed to His glory. The transfiguration revealed to a few His essential glory. At the triumphal entry, even the people sang, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest", though I doubt they had any idea what they were saying. 4. The writer of the Hebrews says of Jesus, "He is the radiance of the glory of God..." B. What the angels meant when they sang "glory to God." 1. Glory means something that is worthy of praise or exultation, beauty or brilliance, renown. God has intrinsic glory. That is inherent. His glory cannot be diminished. God does not give His glory away or share His glory with another. His glory is the sum total of who He is. 2. But all of creation is to ascribe glory to God. Though we cannot add to His glory, we can recognize His glory and acknowledge His glory. The heavens do it. Here we see the angels doing it. It is often missing in the lives of people. 3. To bring glory to God is to exalt Him, to affirm His attributes, to reflect His character, to make Him known in all His fullness. The angels were saying to the shepherds, "God is great! He is awesome! He has come in mercy and grace in the person of His Son. Worship him for He alone is worthy!" That, I think is a rough idea of what the angels meant when they chanted, "Glory to God in the highest." C. What God's glory has to do with peace 1. Peace starts with God. He is the author of peace, the Prince of peace. Throughout the N.T. we read the phrase "Grace to you and peace from God..." He is our peace. He has come that we might have peace, the peace of God that passes all understanding. The God of peace has promised to be with us. 2. The point of all of this is that peace is from God. The better we know the God of peace, the more likely our lives will be marked by peace. If our perspective is that of glorifying God, we will be filled with His peace! 3. We assume peace begins with us. I am not at peace. I want peace of mind, etc. No, peace begins with God. If I live my life with the consuming passion of responding in praise to all that God is, and to all that He has done, my life will be full of peace! Listen to the Apostle Paul (1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Thess. 3:16). II. PEACE WILL COME TO EARTH "and on earth peace..." A. Man's attempts at peace 1. The Romans had been at peace since 27 B.C. At least, they had been without war. But the absence of war does not guarantee the presence of peace. 2. Even a stoic philosopher of the first century said, "While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief and envy. He cannot give peace of heart for which man yearns more than even for outward peace." 3. There are peace treaties and peace pacts and peace through strength, etc., but there is not now, nor has there ever been peace on earth since the fall of man. But the angels' song said "glory to God in the highest and on earth peace!" Will peace ever come to earth as the angels had announced? B. God's approach to peace 1. God's promise - back to Isaiah 9 for a minute. "He shall be called ... prince of peace. Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end." 2. Jesus promised His disciples on the night before His crucifixion, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." Paul told the Christians in Rome, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." 3. The point is that peace is available as a gift of God - as a by-product of His gift of salvation. There is peace in Christ. But there will also be a time when peace will not only be internal, but external as well. The day is coming when peace will fill the earth. That will be a by-product of His righteous government. 4. Do you see why the angels sang on the night of Jesus' birth? They sang of the glory of God coming to earth. They sang of the God of peace who would bring peace to a world that knew nothing of real peace. And that one who could bring peace was right at that moment cradled in a cattle trough in a cave or stable in Bethlehem. But please understand that His peace is not automatic. III. PEACE IS POSSIBLE THROUGH GOD "peace to men among those with whom he is pleased.” A. The favor of God 1. If you learned the Christmas story from the KJV, you remember it this way: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, good will toward men." 2. That makes it sound like the way to peace is related to how we treat one another. Now we ought to treat one another right, but that in and of itself will not produce peace. The good pleasure or good will is from God, not man. The correct translation is “peace to men among those with whom He is pleased.” 3. Peace on earth will be the reality among those who have been blessed by the good will and gracious favor of God. In other words, those who have been redeemed are those who have been granted His favor. If you have been a recipient of His grace, you are a possessor of His peace. That's why Paul always began his letters with this familiar greeting, "Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ." There is no peace without the favor (grace) of God! And we must also understand that there is no grace without a price being paid. B. The price of peace 1. How much the angels knew, I have no idea. I do not believe that the Scripture tells us. 2. Peter gives us a little bit of a glimpse into the unknown, when he writes in one of his letters, 1 Peter 1:10-12. Angels are intrigued and they long to look into these things. But in order for peace to be possible, a price had to be paid. 3. Here is the way Paul described it. (Ephesians 2:11-22). 4. In an economy of words, here is the price of peace. Galatians 1:3-5, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. 5. The Lamb of God paid the price to satisfy God's justice, so that He could extend to us His favor, so that we could be recipients of His peace! Conclusion 1. The angels sang a song of peace. Peace begins with God. It will come to earth, but only on those with whom He is pleased. In His sovereign purpose, He grants His grace that we might have peace. The peace of God can be ours only because the Lamb of God became our substitute. 2. You can have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He came as a baby and He lived and died and rose again that you might know His peace and that you might bring Him glory. We look everywhere for peace for ourselves and we cannot find it, because it is not in us, nor is it available to us apart from a relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. Do you know His peace? The angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” John the Baptizer cried out, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." If you behold the Lamb, the Scripture says you will be justified ... "and having been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." Now get this ... "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." 4. If we know Jesus, our song should be at least as enthusiastic as the angels, because, unlike them, we have His peace through the Lord Jesus Christ - the Lamb of God who took away our sins and gave us access into the grace in which we now stand! Hallelujah! Glory to God in the Highest! | 
