O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

God promised to bring salvation through His Messiah as far back as humanity’s first sin in the garden. From that time forward, God gave hints as to when and how He would turn that promise into reality, but it wasn’t fast. Humanity waited at least 4,000 years from the time of the fall to the time of the Christ. Some waited eagerly, looking forward to the time when salvation would be realized and faith would become sight, but many others lived in indifference, as if God’s promise to save meant nothing or perhaps wasn’t true at all. This kind of indifference leads to doubt, which eventually produces rebellion against God, who calls His people and all people to make Him the focus of their trust and the object of their hope. One specific person who rebelled in this way was King Ahaz of Judah. His refusal to trust tested God’s patience and brought the prophecy of sure judgment on the rebellious house of David. But even in the bad news of judgment, the hope of the Messiah, Emmanuel, shone bright. God provided another piece to the puzzle, another hint at when and where, so that those who obediently believed might continue to hope and trust. May we join those who believed, and may we long for Emmanuel to come again. – Pastor Rory Martin

Sunday at Liberty

• BTH: Pastor Rory–Ecclesiology–Church vs Government
• AM: Pastor Nate–Isaiah 7:1-16–O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (sermon notes)
• PM: Josh De Leon–John 14:1-15–Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life