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“The Character of Mary”
“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *
Text:
Luke 1.26 - 28
Thesis: Mary, though a
sinner, has many Godly character qualities we would do well to emulate AND her character was not sufficient for her own salvation.
Introduction:
1. My Mother once told me to “have character, don’t be one.”
2. The Oxford Dictionary
defines character as those “mental and moral qualities that define an
individual.”
3.
Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines character
as; “a mark by cutting or engraving, as on stone, metal, or other hard
material...” “A mark or figure made by
stamping or impression, as on coins...”
“The peculiar qualities that distinguish (one person) from others.”
4.
Share quotes 1 through 5
5.
Did Mary’s good character make her favorable?
6.
Does my good character make me favorable?
Lawful
Moral
Troubled
Discerning
Fearful
(“endued
with Grace”) Ephesians 2.5, 8, 14 -18 FAVORABLE
Great
Son
of God
Reign
on David’s Throne
Reign
over Jacob forever
Eternal Kingdom
CONCLUSION:
·
We
find the Grace of God the same way Mary did – Concession, surrender,
submission, obedience, contrition, and brokenness.
· All the good character of all the good people of all time is not sufficient
to warrant out salvation.
The
Meaning of the Text in It’s Theological, Historical & Cultural Context:
Favor, Grace, and Obedience CANNOT be separated!
The
Challenge of the Text for Christians Today – “The question is not; “Do I know
Jesus?” The question is; “Does JESUS
know me?”
The question
right now
The question
when you pull out of the parking lot
The question at
5:30 this evening
The question
tonight at bedtime
The question
when you get up in the morning
The question
when you clock in to work in the morning
The question when
you clock out tomorrow evening
The question
every day and in every circumstance
Write it on your
mirror in your bathroom; “Does Jesus know me?”
Finding grace is
not the same as surrendering to grace.
The Rich Young Ruler found grace and he walked away from grace.
“The Gospel
Call”
Find favor,
be endued with Grace,
obey the Gospel!
Whatever you
do today, DON’T walk away from God’s Favor.
“Repent and
be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!”
·
My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was
rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County
Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book
of his time; Gaston’s Collections. It
allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.” Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died
prematurely of the measles. He is buried
just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting
House Cemetery.” Uncle Hugh continues
to inspire my ministry to this very day.
You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston
Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.
Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210
www.archdale.org
Date: 28 January 2018
