When God Swears an Oath
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Finding assurance of both salvation and sanctification in God's merciful covenants.
Text: Luke 1:69-75
Date: 04/11/2021, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 14
Description:
As Zechariah continues in his prophetic song of exaltation, his focus turns to God's covenantal faithfulness. Starting with the covenant with David, he progresses to the covenant with Abraham and ends with the anticipation of the New Covenant with Christ. We will harmonize his thoughts and perspective, which are decidedly Old Testament, with their New Testament realities. But in the process, Zechariah answers two of the most relevant questions Christians have today: "How can I be sure of my salvation?" and "How can a profane sinner like me live 'Coram Deo', in the presence of God?" We will find the glorious answer to both of these burning issues when God swears an oath!
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I. Introduction, Psa. 16:8, Heb. 6:19-20.
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 1:69-75.
A. Context
B. The covenant with David, vs. 69-71.
1. David's "house", vs. 69, 2Sam. 7:2,11,16.
2. The words of the prophets, vs. 70, Jer. 23:5, Isa. 11:1, Ezek. 29:21, Zech. 3:8.
3. Zechariah's "forward-backward" perspective, vs. 71.
a. Looking backwards, 2Sam. 7:10.
b. Looking forward, 1Cor. 15:26.
C. The Abrahamic covenant, vs. 72-73a.
1. In the grip of mercy, vs. 72.
a. A pattern of discipline and restoration, Joel 1:11,13, 2:12,13, Jer. 14:21, Psa. 105:8.
b. The "Holy" covenant.
2. God's covenantal oath, vs. 73a.
a. A New Testament explanation, Heb. 6:13-20.
b. Defining a biblical covenant.
i. A covenant is binding, Heb. 6:16.
ii. Cutting a covenant.
iii. When God makes a covenant, Heb. 6:17-18.
3. The covenant with Abraham.
a. An odd "life-verse", Gen. 15:17.
b. Reading through the covenant.
i. The promises of the covenant, Gen. 12:2-3, 15:4-6.
ii. The "performance" of the covenant, Gen. 15:9-10.
iii. The ratification of the covenant, Gen. 15:12-13,17.
iv. The significance of the covenant.
c. Understanding the Abrahamic covenant.
D. Robes of righteousness, vs. 73b-75.
1. Zechariah's perspective.
2. The Christian perspective.
a. Deliverance from "the enemy", John 8:34-36.
b. Serving without fear.
c. Coram Deo, Psa. 16:8.
III. Application, Rev. 7:9-12.
IV. Conclusion
