19th December 2025

19th December 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Galatians 4:4-5)


Message (Alan Burke)


Right, you’re getting a wee rant as I start because there are times the law of this land just winds me up the wrong way and none more so that the ‘Sugar Tax’ officially known as the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL), which was introduced in April 2018 to reduce sugar consumption and tackle obesity. Here is the thing, I was sick and wanted some Lucozade and because of the sugar tax the amount of sugar in Lucozade has fallen from the good old days when 500ml had 62g of sugar to now having 22.5g and what they have done is to make up for the sugar to add artificial sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame K. The World Health Organisation is monitoring “new evidence and encourage independent research groups to develop further studies on the potential association between aspartame exposure and consumer health effects” the reason why is that some studies have linked it to be carcinogenic in humans. So let’s keep the natural stuff out and add chemicals, good call! 


Whether I like the law of this land or not it is the law, if I were to break it there would be consequences. For the likes of Lucozade the law regarding sugar in their drinks means if they increase the sugar again it will mean higher costs and a fall in consumer demand hence why they made the decision to cut the sugar. But if I speed then I can expect penalty points, if I damage someone's property I can expect at least some community service, if I kill someone I expect a few years in prison. God though gave us his law. The law is written on our hearts (Rom 2:15), and whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it (Jam 2:10). We are all law breakers, we are sinners and what does every sin, every broken law deserve, death! Yet while the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23). This is because Jesus was born under the law, to redeem those under the law. 


Jesus was born as a Jew and under the obligation and the requirements of the law. The civil law, the ceremonial law and the moral law. He was subject to the law of God in every way. Throughout his life he met the requirements of the law perfectly from his circumcision eight days after his birth to his celebration of the passover, every part of his life was lived under the law and its requirements. In every way he fulfilled the law of God (Mt 5:17). He fulfilled the civil aspects of the law, the ceremonial aspects of the law and the moral. He honoured his father and mother, never committed murder or adultery in his heart, he never stole, lied, coveted, he loved the Lord and his neighbour. He unlike us actively obeyed and fulfilled the law enabling him to become the sinless spotless lamb of God (Jn 1:29). He unlike us was able to keep the whole law, he unlike us did not stumble, he unlike us is not guilty of breaking the law, he unlike us was without sin. 


For on the cross God poured upon him all the sins of those who have received him, who have believed in his name, the sins remembered and forgotten, the sins not yet committed and gathered them from all the children of God throughout the ages, all our sins remembered, forgotten, hidden, not yet committed and he poured it upon Jesus. In that moment the child that we celebrate his coming into the world cried out “Eli, Eli lema sabachthani,” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). 


It was not with the pain of the crown of thorns or the nail pierced hands or feet but our sin which he bore so that he could be Jesus, who saves their people from their sins and Immanuel God with us. 


If you know and love the Lord Jesus Christ this day know you have been bought with a price and live accordingly, he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed (Is 53:5). We deserve what he faced, each one of us, to be condemned for our sin which he did not share, yet it pleased God to make him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Co 5:21).


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q49 Which is the second commandment?
A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
​