In the birth of Christ, God brings the long-promised salvation that reconciles sinners to Himself. In part 4 of Christmas 2025: Promises Kept, Pastor Dan Cox reads from Luke 2:8-20.
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Study Notes
What is Salvation?
Salvation is God’s gracious work by which He rescues sinners from sin, judgment, and death, reconciles them to Himself through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and restores them to eternal life in His kingdom—received by grace through faith, resulting in forgiveness, new life, and final renewal of all things
Understanding the Text
- Ordinary Shepherds (2:8-9)
- Good News for All (2:10-12)
- Glory and Peace (2:13-14)
- Faith, Witness, Wonder (2:15-20)
Genesis: Salvation Promised and Foreshadowed
Exodus: Salvation as Redemption
The Kingdom: Salvation through a King
The Prophets: Salvation Clarified and Deepened
The Gospels: Salvation Accomplished in Christ
Acts and Epistles: Salvation Proclaimed and Explained
Revelation: Salvation Consummated
The Bible tells one story: God saving a sinful people by grace through a promised Savior, for His glory and their eternal joy.
A Creed of God’s Saving Promise
We believe in one God,
the holy and faithful Creator,
who made all things good
and created humanity for life with Him.
We confess that through sin
the world fell under judgment and death,
yet God, in mercy, promised a Redeemer
who would crush the serpent
and restore what was lost.
We believe that God called Abraham
to bless all nations,
redeemed His people from slavery by blood and power,
and promised a righteous King
from the house of David
whose kingdom would never end.
We believe that through the prophets
God promised a new covenant—
forgiving sin, giving new hearts,
and saving His people through a suffering Servant.
We believe in Jesus Christ,
the eternal Son of God,
born of the virgin Mary,
the promised Savior, Messiah, and Lord,
who lived without sin,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried
for our salvation.
We believe He rose bodily from the dead,
ascended into heaven,
and reigns at the right hand of the Father,
pouring out the Holy Spirit
to apply redemption to all who believe.
We believe that salvation is by grace alone,
through faith alone,
in Christ alone,
to the glory of God alone.
We believe in the resurrection of the dead,
the forgiveness of sins,
and the life of the world to come,
when the Lamb who was slain
will make all things new
and God will dwell with His redeemed forever.
Amen.
Applying the Text
- Believe!
- Rejoice!
- Proclaim!