LUK 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

>>In such a time as we live when iniquity abounds—our Saviour says this glorious message which was first heard over the plains of Bethlehem, shall be proclaimed over the entire world.

MAT 24:11-14 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

>>Even among the glorious declaration of the angles that goes forth on this day, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," Satan has his counterfeit christ.

>>See how Jesus warns against this in describing to His disciples what we are experiencing today.

MAT 24:3-5 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

>>Satan is so crafty that He will gladly share his glory with a counterfeit Jesus—he draws men's hearts after a jesus of human rational.

>>Jesus Christ cautioned those who followed Him in His day about their motive for following Him—their eye was not on the person of Christ, but on the tangible things.

JOH 6:26-27 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

>>Our text says, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," what did the angles proclaim as the first declaration?

>>This is a most weighty lesson, and of vital importance—

1). Was it the declaration that redemption was come for a lost world?—

2). Was it that millions of souls were rescued from eternal death?—

3). Was it that millions of never-dying souls were redeemed from all iniquity?

4). Was the blessed declaration of "..on earth peace, good will toward men," the first declaration of the angles?

>>Not so! all this is only second—all this is the fruit of the wonderful attribute of the Father's love for which the first declaration is made "Glory to God in the highest,"

GAL 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

>>This teaches so powerfully what is meant by the circumcision covenant.

LUK 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

>>God sent His Son to not only redeem us from all iniquity, but as we read in

GAL 4:5-6 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

>>The angels in heaven declare the glory of God for giving the gift of His Son as their first declaration of the wonder of Salvation. Our text says, LUK 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and [the second effect is] on earth peace, good will toward men.

>>What was the first thing Jesus told the woman of Samaria she needed to know?

JOH 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

>>Why does the glory of God for giving His only begotten Son need to be our first consideration?

REV 4:10-11 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

>>God is so jealous of His honour and His glory—

ISA 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

>>Is God glorified by our proclamation "Keep Christ in Christmas," while Satan's substitute for Christ is erected at the same scene?

ISA 48:10-11 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.

>>The eternal wonder of the birth of Christ was in that it pleased the Creator of the universe—not only to humble Himself to behold the things that are in the earth—but to be so glorified by the love He had for a people who were fallen away from Him, and had become His enemies.

COL 1:19-21 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

>>The Apostle Paul expressed his amazement of this in 2CO 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

>>The Father was glorified, not only by giving His only begotten Son to redeem those whom He had loved from eternity, but His redemption was not at the cost of His attribute of justice.

ROM 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

>>God sent His Son to honour and glorify Him by satisfying His Divine justice by the way of perfect obedience—See what Our Saviour said in His greatest extremity!

JOH 12:27-28 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

>>In the first instance the Father was glorified by the perfect submission and obedience of His Son.

JOH 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

>>But now the Father spoke from heaven by audible voice saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." How did He glorify it again? Jesus prayed Him

JOH 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

>>So how did the Father "glorify it again"? By the reward wherewith He rewarded His Son for such unconditional obedience.

JOH 13:32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.

>>Oh what a wonder of wonders that our Father chose to glorify Himself by glorifying His only begotten Son with such an ultimate authority in reward

PHI 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

>>Our Saviour said "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do," so now how is He glorified in His church.

ROM 8:29 For whom he did foreknow [i.e., those whom He loved from eternity, those for whom He gave His only begotten Son to redeem them from all iniquity, for those whom He loved from eternity], he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

>>Our Father is not only glorified by the perfect submission and obedience of His beloved Son, but see what we read of those who repent.

LUK 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth...,

>>What is the first petition in the perfect prayer?

MAT 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

>>"Hallowed be thy name" is a petition for a right posture of heart before God.

>>God is glorified by the prayers of the saints who come before Him with clean hands.

PSA 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

>>We must ask God to give us a holy reverence for His name in our hearts and thoughts as well as in words.

PSA 141:3-4 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

>>We glorify God by remembering those who are in adversity.

HEB 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

>>We glorify God's name by a holy walk of life.

MAT 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

>>The object of those who have a heart tender for the Lord is to glorify the name of Jehovah; He is so jealous of His honour.

EZE 39:25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;

>>The Lord said by the pen of the psalmist in PSA 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

>>The objective of every prayer and desire of the heart must be that God's name should be glorified. We read in PSA 113:3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.

>>Our text says, LUK 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and [the second effect is] on earth peace, good will toward men.

>>See what that second effect is of God's glory in giving the gift of His beloved Son for those whom He loved from eternity.

COL 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

>>When God reveals the riches of this glory, "...which is Christ in you, the hope of glory," then there is "perfect peace" to those who's mind is stayed upon Him.

>>Then there is peace on earth, i.e., peace in the heart, peace in the home and family, peace in the church, and peace in the community.

>>All peace is the blessed fruit of Christ being born in you, of having been renewed by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit.

EPH 4:21-24 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

>>Even as the Father rewarded our Saviour for His unconditional submission and obedience, so our Saviour rewards those who obey the gospel.

REV 3:20-21 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.