Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1941-12-18

/ John Ala
Christmas again! How shall we
keep 1t in a world torn by strife
and poisoned by mans bitterness
against man? Let US keep it with
all the Joy and gladness at our COM
mand. Let US make this the best
Christmas we and our families have
ever had. How? BY giving more
and richer gifts? No although they
nave their place when rightly given
and received. BY feasting and mer-
rymaking? No-although they too
have their place when carried on
in the true spirit of love and friend
ship. What then? Let us make this
an outstanding Christmas by cen.
tering our thoughts. our affections,
our ioys-yes. and our gifts Of self
and substance-around Gods Son
whose birthday" we celebrate.
May Christmas, l941, be the best
you have ever spent. This is the
writer's sincere wish for you. One
way to make it just that is to dill
gently study our lesson for this next
Sunday, which tells Of the coming
of Gods Son.
I. His Coming and Character
PrOphesied lisa 9:6, %.
God who was to send His Son into
the world to become the Saviour of
sinful man fittingly made known His
coming through Isaiah land others)
300 years before it took place. This
greatest event in all history was the
subject of exact and detailed proph
ecy. which was completely fulfilled
Although Isaiah calls Him "a child"
las indeed He was), he saw Him as
the divine One whose glory and pow
er is revealed in the magnificent ar
ray of names found in verse 6.
Wonderful" a much abused and
misused word, found its real mean
ing in Him-He really is wonderful
in every way. Counsellor" He
does not need or seek the counsel of
others-He is the Counsellor Have
you sought His counsel? 1.-THE
Mighty God"-not a mere man, but
God unlimited in power The Ever
lasting Father" which is really the
Father of eternity" the One to
whom eternity owes its existence.
1.-The Prince Of Peace" who will
one day bring peace to the earth
when He comes to reign; something
we need not expect before that
blessed day.
Little wonder that 1.-The govern.
ment shall be upon his shoulders"
". g.. and that He shall reign on
the throne of David forever. That
is prophecy yet to be fulfilled, but
it will be, even as the others, for
1.-The zeal of the Lord of hosts will
perform this"
III. His Incarnation and Redemp-
ton Completed John 1:1-4. 10-14
The Eternal One-who was in the
beginning with the Father, He who
was God and who made all things.
this One who was the life and the
light of men-humbled Himself and
took upon Himself the likeness of sim
full man. He was made flesh and
dwelt among us" revealing the
grace and glory of God. The in.
carnation of Christ is a truth the
greatness and glory of which we
cannot fully understand; but we
know that it was for us that He
came-for our redemption.
The world-His own world-re.
ceived Him not. But and thank
God for that blessed butt"
many as received him, to them gave
he the power Cor better. the right,
as in R.V.) to become the children
of God" Redemption is by a new
birth, divine birth, mot of blood.
nor Of the will of the flesh, nor of
the win Of man." 1t is a complete
redemption by faith in Him who re-
vealed the grace of God to man.
This Is the great message of Christ.
mas. Let US not miss it.
But there is another word for this
precious and blessed season-it is
that Of love.
III. His Love and Our Love Mani
tested Il John 4:9-1D.
The love Of God has been ex-
pressed in many precious ways, but
the full and final manifestation was
in the sending Of His only begotten
Son into the world that we might