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"Pleased, as man, with men to dwell"

Discovering the Gospel In the Songs of Christmas
December 2, 2018


“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is a Christmas hymn written by Charles Wesley. It was published in 1739. Now getting close to being 300 years old, it is still sung today.
It is full of theological truth and insight. 


Pleased, as man, with men to dwell.
This alludes to John 1:14.


Wesley also writes of Christ’s work to reinstate us into God’s love, speaking of His work of reconciliation.


God’s role in our life was to be the eternal source of health to our emotions and values.


That was lost at the fall of man but Jesus comes, “pleased, as man, with men to dwell.”


Being born again is a spiritual act that happens to us as we put our faith in Jesus.
Why is this so important?  

  1. For spiritual health here.

  2. For eternal life in God.


Revelation 21:22-27 
John says there is “no need for sun or moon… for the Glory of God gives us light.” 


This sounds good but it is a major problem; nothing unclean or detestable can go there. 


We know that God is holy. He has absolute moral perfection


We become a bigger problem because we have the breath of God in us. 


We are living, eternal beings that are corrupt and separated from God


We also know that God is just.


We can’t be simply swept away because we are eternal.


This would lead us to hopelessness if not for a third aspect of God’s character: God is love


Jesus pays the price of justice. God’s justness is answered in the loving perfect sacrifice of the Son.


God’s holiness is protected by the perfect blood of the Son being upon us. 


Pleased, as man, with men to dwell
We don’t have to wait for heaven for God to do a healing work in us. 






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