As our sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part I: The Arrival of the King arrives at the birth of John the Baptist and Zacharias’ prophecy, we witness the power and providence of God to faithfully fulfill His each and every promise. In response to our redemption in Christ, we are to not only rejoice in our rescue, but to remain in this newness of life as God’s sons and daughters.

Tyler’s Main Points

• God publicly declares His rescue plan through Zacharias’ prophecy.
• God rescues His people from slavery to Satan into sonship.
• God rescues His people from slavery to sin to serving Him in newness of life.
• God rescues His people eternal death to eternal life.

Key Takeaways

• Through Zacharias’ praise-filled prophecy, God calls His shot for salvation.

• Salvation means not only the forgiveness of sins, but a treasure chest of riches for the Christian life in Christ Jesus.

• God provides clarity through Zacharias’ prophecy that He is offering a greater rescue than merely the end to political oppression.

• God’s immutable veracity (His unchanging truthfulness) means that whatever He has promised is as good as done.

• Because God has rescued us, we no longer need to fear going to God for help or coming to Him in confession and repentance.

• The freedom from the penalty of sin does not give us permission to continue to walk in sin. To willfully return to the death that Christ freed us from is both illogical and incompatible with the Scriptures.

• A new Spirit gives us new desires to walk in newness of life.

• If you realize you’ve never turned from your sin to truly trust in Jesus, wake up, repent, acknowledge your true condition, and receive Christ.

• For the believer, we are to daily kill our sin and gratify the life-giving desires of the Spirit.

Discussion Questions/Application

Personal application:

• How will you remind yourself today of the richness of your salvation in Christ — past, present, and future?

• How will you follow Tyler’s call to daily kill your sin and gratify the life-giving desires of the Spirit?
  

Discuss with your community group:

• In what ways are you prone to return to death rather than walk in newness of life? Is there anything you need to confess to your group and repent of in your life?

• Which already fulfilled promises of God astonish you the most? Which yet-to-be fulfilled promises of God comfort you the most?
  

Passages Referenced
Luke 1:57-80; Ephesians 6:12; Luke 4:18-19; Romans 6:19-23; Galatians 5:13-21

Worship Set List

You Are, Worthy of Your Name, Oh But God, Such an Awesome God, The Lord is my Salvation