Three Eternal Gifts: Faith

W. Kyle Miller

Three Eternal Gifts • Sermon • Submitted 5 months ago • Presented 6 months ago

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Paul mentions that faith, hope, and love are three qualities that will remain and that we are to remain in. In this series, we will connect Paul's words with the advent of Jesus.

Notes

Transcript

Introduction

We are now in the Christmas season. It’s typically a time for family, gift-giving, and reflection.

Deviate this year to talk about a different kind of gift-giving, and how they connect with the advent (arrival) of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 13:13 — “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

“abide”, “remain”

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 13.89 μένω; διαμένω

μένωc; διαμένωc: to continue to exist—‘to remain, to continue, to continue to exist, to still be in existence.

These three qualities—or gifts, if you use Paul’s original context—are present now, have been, and will continue to be…at least until we are in God’s presence.

In contrast to the gifts of the Spirit, which will eventually halt,

Faith

The term faith gets thrown around a lot in religious talk, but what do we mean by faith?

31.85 πιστεύωb; πίστιςb, εως f: to believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance—‘to believe in, to have confidence in, to have faith in, to trust, faith, trust.’ — Luow-Nida

in the N. T. of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith — GELNT

In context, faith is an unshakeable (stubborn) trust and reliance on God.

Mary

Mary demonstrated remarkable faith when approached with God’s plan.

Mary would face scrutiny of all kinds, plus uncertainty.

Luke 1:26–38 NASB 95

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary asked a few questions, but they were not questions of doubt but of manner or method. She didn’t doubt the angels words, but merely questioned how it would happen.

Joseph

Joseph too would face scrutiny

While Joseph was not the one who would carry the baby, he was responsible for protecting, carry for, and leading his new family during incredible uncertainty

Matthew 1:18–25 NASB 95

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

Matthew 2:13–15 NASB 95

13 Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Matthew 2:19–23 NASB 95

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 20 “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” 21 So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Conclusion

Mary & Joseph’s life together began under unique circumstances that required a remarkable amount of trust in God