Sermon
Reflections
December 8, 2025
Advent and the Attributes of God
This Christmas season we are looking particularly at what the Christmas story reveals about the nature and attributes of God. Last Sunday we studied the holiness and graciousness of God. Take a few moments to consider how those truths should impact your life.
God is wholly other than us, especially as regards His moral perfection. There is “no darkness in Him at all.” Not only is God unstained by sin, He is also incensed by it every moment. Psalm 7:11 says, “God is a righteous Judge, and a God who has indignation every day.” Do you share God’s passion for holiness? Are you pursuing holiness in your own personal life? What areas of your life are currently characterized by a lack of holiness, and what steps should you take to change that?
Understanding the holiness of God gives us a healthy appreciation for our desperate need of peace with God. Were it not for grace, we would have no hope of such peace. And yet “gracious” is one of the key terms God uses to describe His own character. “Grace” has to do with unmerited favor—His positive treatment of us despite our rebellion against Him (and lack of holiness). He is able to pour out His grace upon us because He poured out His holy wrath against sin on our Savior on the cross, who willingly bore our sins and took our punishment. “Amazing Grace” indeed.
Far from being a license to continue in sin, God’s grace actually enables us to pursue the holiness that He calls us to. Paul told Titus this very thing: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14) Is God’s grace working such things in your life?
Heavenly Father, hallowed (recognized as holy) be Your name! May I be like Isaiah, astonished at Your glory and in awe of Your holiness. Please forgive me for the trite way that I so often view sin and holiness, and please help me to take seriously what Your word says about those things. May I grow in holy living, and may I receive the grace you give and extend grace to others in return. Thank you for Your great grace, and for Jesus, who gave His life for me so that I can have peace with You.
In Jesus’s name. Amen.
This Christmas season we are looking particularly at what the Christmas story reveals about the nature and attributes of God. Last Sunday we studied the holiness and graciousness of God. Take a few moments to consider how those truths should impact your life.
God is wholly other than us, especially as regards His moral perfection. There is “no darkness in Him at all.” Not only is God unstained by sin, He is also incensed by it every moment. Psalm 7:11 says, “God is a righteous Judge, and a God who has indignation every day.” Do you share God’s passion for holiness? Are you pursuing holiness in your own personal life? What areas of your life are currently characterized by a lack of holiness, and what steps should you take to change that?
Understanding the holiness of God gives us a healthy appreciation for our desperate need of peace with God. Were it not for grace, we would have no hope of such peace. And yet “gracious” is one of the key terms God uses to describe His own character. “Grace” has to do with unmerited favor—His positive treatment of us despite our rebellion against Him (and lack of holiness). He is able to pour out His grace upon us because He poured out His holy wrath against sin on our Savior on the cross, who willingly bore our sins and took our punishment. “Amazing Grace” indeed.
Far from being a license to continue in sin, God’s grace actually enables us to pursue the holiness that He calls us to. Paul told Titus this very thing: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14) Is God’s grace working such things in your life?
Heavenly Father, hallowed (recognized as holy) be Your name! May I be like Isaiah, astonished at Your glory and in awe of Your holiness. Please forgive me for the trite way that I so often view sin and holiness, and please help me to take seriously what Your word says about those things. May I grow in holy living, and may I receive the grace you give and extend grace to others in return. Thank you for Your great grace, and for Jesus, who gave His life for me so that I can have peace with You.
In Jesus’s name. Amen.