“Seeing Salvationi"
Luke 2:25-35

December 23, 2007
by C.W. Powell

2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
2:28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
2:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
2:33 And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.
2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
2:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

What a wonderful story. I learned a long time ago that sometimes the best Christians are not those who are in the limelight. Every bible church has dear saints that don’t get much publicity. All they do is pray and work and live godly lives of mercy and good fruits. Their hearts are filled with love for people and love for God. They are not the cause of strife in the church, and their lives are not a scandal to the church. They always show up for meetings; they pray for the members and for the ministry of the church. They also know Christ and recognize Him when He appears, and they rejoice in seeing Christ in others.

I. Highlights. I want to note a few highlights of this story, and then I want to make some applications.

A. Simeon was appointed by God to give a wonderful witness to Christ. The Holy Ghost made Simeon a special witness to Jesus Christ.

B. Mary and Joseph did according to the law. Christ was not some revolutionary who just did as he pleased. He andHis parents had respect unto the divine ordinances, and were not contemptuous of them.

C. Simeon knew the true nature of salvation: it was wrapped up in Jesus Christ. How remarkable Simeon’s testimony. Salvation did not lie in the ceremonies being performed, but in the Person to which they pointed.

D. Lighten the Gentiles: salvation was not just for Israel, but it would be a light to the Gentiles.

E. Jesus is the glory of Israel: The promise of Christ is the glory of Israel; Many legends about Moses and Abraham.

F. Jesus is set for the fall and rising of many. Jesus said the same thing in Luke 20:18ff.

1. Fall: It is dangerous to encounter the gospel if you try to twist it for your own purpose; to use the temple of God for wicked purposes: He that defiles the temple, God will destroy. What somber words are these: Christ is set for the ruin of many: Paul said: “We are life unto life, and death unto death.” The gospel is life to some, but it is damnation for others: why? Those who fall on this rock will be broken, but those on whom this rock falls will be ground to powder. Beware the rock. Humble yourself; He will not dance to your tune; He will not adapt Himself to your ideas of religion, your ideas of virtue, your ideas of sanctity.

2. Rising: But if you fall on Him you will be broken: But in your brokenness, will rise newness of life; from your death will come for the sweetness and vigor of newness of life and newness of thought. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, for he will have mercy and will abundantly pardon.

G. A sign spoken against. He is the way the truth and the life: how the world rages against the true Christ. What an affront the cross is to their lusts; their pride; their ambition; their worldly hopes. What hope have I in the world if God views me as utterly without merit, so lost in sins that the only thing that could save me is the horrible death of the Son of God. What can I then gain in my unbelief? But let us go on to application.

II. Application.

A. If you are ever to be saved, you must be found by Jesus Christ. You must see your salvation in Christ. How are you to do that. Simeon could take the babe in his arms, and knew that this was the One, and bore witness. You cannot do that. But you can be taken up in the arms of Christ, just as He took the infants that were brought to him.
B. I John 1:

1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

We have the witnesses. They saw Him, they looked on Him; they touched Him and heard Him. They are witnesses, and they show it unto us. God would humble your pride by making you listen to the message from men. He has told you and told you plainly. You would see it if you were not a rebel and at enmity with God. God has given you the Scriptures; but have you read them; have you searched the Scriptures?

Is God good? Would he have left the world without witness? For us just to stumble around in the dark, making up stuff for ourselves; congratulating ourselves, patting ourselves on the back, thinking we can be saved without paying any attention to what He has provided for us?

1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Fellowship with us. How arrogant of John to the modern ear. He did not say, “so you can decide for yourselves what to believe and what to do. No, salvation lies in the doctrine and the fellowship of the apostles. If you do not believe what the apostles believed, then you are lost forever. Christ is now revealed in the doctrine of the apostles, and I can defend that proposition from the whole Scripture. For instance: look at Acts:

10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:
10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Joy and light is in God, and only in God, and the apostles had the message. If you are with the apostles, then you have the message. Paul said, Let him be damned that brings another message. Gal. 1.

1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Darkness: lies; moral crimes; unbelief; in ignorance and separation from the church.
Light: truth; righteousness; faith; knowledge and union and submission to the church.

1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

The ground for true Christian fellowship is the the light; in the doctrine and teaching of the apostles. Not in some vain dream that you dream. Not because you claim it for yourself, but because Christ has given it to you. It is in fellowship with Christ and in fellowship with one another that we have forgiveness of sins.

What a wonderful word is “fellowship” Having in common and communication. It is our response to what God has done for us. What He has given us in Jesus Christ. We enter into a conversation with Him, and He enters into conversation with us.

1. In His works. He has done all things well. Works of creation; Works of Salvation. We respond with our works. It isn’t what you pretend: “Bring forth works fit for repentance,” John the baptist told the Jews. Quit showing off; quit pretending; quit putting on a show. Get down to business, and do the works. God did the works; and Jesus Christ did the works; and the Holy Spirit did the works.

2. In His words. He has spoken in the Scriptures. We respond, “Amen.” How dare you seek to impose your will and your desires upon the church. To cast the church into your own image.

3. In our hearts. He has spoken by His word and spirit to our hearts: we respond amen, and lift our hearts in praise and glory to Him.

1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Minimizing of our sins is a certain sign that we are deceived and are not in the light. How wicked and depraved are we in ourselves. We have to face up to that and take the consequences. See Christ dying on the cross. Wicked hyposcisy is contrary to the truth concerning God and His Son Jesus Christ. Will you make God a liar, and the death of the Lord Jesus Christ a vanity?

Seeing salvation. You will find it only in Jesus Christ. You will find it only in the faithful witness of Jesus Christ, the apostles and prophets of our Lord, who wrote the Bible. The church has been entrusted with this message, this message of communion and grace, of fellowship in the truth. There is salvation no other way.

Amen and Amen

May God bless you.