Christmas Presence

INTRO: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

How many times have you used that phrase over the past few weeks? If you’re like me, it’s been several. The thing is, “Merry Christmas” can mean completely different things to different people.

To some, it’s a secular view of the holiday season: presents, Santa Claus, maybe some time with family, etc. But, as Christians, it is so much more.

In fact, it’s that “so much more” reason that we are here together on this Christmas morning. Christmas is the celebration of Jesus- not His beginning, but his birth; his incarnation.

The word incarnation simply means “personification” or we might say “in the flesh”.

When we Christians say “Merry Christmas” we are telling one another to celebrate the reality that God came to us in flesh and blood.

This morning, I am not going to retell the story of a baby born in a manger- our kids did a fantastic job with that earlier. Instead, we are going to look into the reason why this celebration is so special.

So, if you have your bibles, turn with me to Galatians 4.

Galatians 4:1–7 NASB95

Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

[PRAY]

In this passage, we get a theology lesson from the Apostle Paul. I’ve titled the message, “Christmas Presence” and I hope to show you how the incarnation of Jesus demonstrates God’s sovereignty, love, and grace.

Let’s unwrap this together… (see what I did there? Presence? Unwrap…?)

The first layer I’d like to show you is that

The Incarnation was a Planned Presence (4)

Look at v. 4a with me again (READ)

Did you catch that phrase “fullness of time”? This phrase is used to speak of a woman carrying a baby to the appointed time of birth, the divine judgment or favor of the Lord, and the return of Christ. When we read this, we need to pause and recognize that God isn’t just ‘winging it’ when it comes to His creation. In verse 4, that points to God’s sovereignty in Christ’s birth. You see, God had planned for this event all along.

We can go way back to Gen. 3 when God evicted Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. In that moment, God issued a promise of One who would crush the head of the serpent; One who would defeat sin. Since that moment, all of creation has suffered the effects of sin. Yet, not without hope.

God knew what He was doing. Even before Moses was given the Law that governed God’s people for thousands of years, God planned our redemption!

The Law illumined us to God’s holiness and our weakness. Just as we sing in the Carol, ‘O Holy Night’

Long lay the world in sin and error pining.... Indeed the world had been made ready.

Long before Mary and Joseph came onto the scene, God was preparing the world for His presence in the flesh. He planned for the manger, He planned for the shepherds. He even planned a special star that would lead Gentiles to bring gifts and worship Him.

And at just the right moment in history, God fulfilled His plan to enter his creation. All that was revealed to the prophets beforehand- A virgin conception, a Davidic lineage, the escape to Egypt, etc. - was planned in order that we could know God. “...His name shall be called Immanuel, which means God with us” (Is. 7:14)

On Christmas, we are reminded that God in His sovereignty planned for this very occasion- He planned for you to be here, for this church to be here, and for the message of Hope to be proclaimed from this platform. The incarnation was a planned presence pointing us to the Sovereign God of Creation.

Next, I want to show you that

Discuss: How does the incarnation demonstrate God’s sovereignty?

The Incarnation was a Purposed Presence (4b - 5)

Let me read the second part of v. 4-5 (READ)

God SENT forth Jesus. Jesus was on a mission. He didn’t just step into time and space to go sightseeing.

God sent Jesus for the purpose (5) of redeeming us.

To redeem means to buy back.

When you go to the store, you might have coupons for $.50 off a bag of Cheetos. When the cashier scans that coupon, you get a credit, and the manufacturer is sent the bill for the $.50.

You and I owe a price for our sins. That price is our lives. Partial payment is not acceptable. God’s holiness demands perfection. We cannot pay that price. This was no surprise to God, btw. Thus our previous point!

Jesus’ mission was to buy back you and me. His presence on Christmas was to fulfill His purpose on the cross.

Another carol we sing is ‘O Come O Come Immanuel and ransom (redeem) captive Israel…’

You’ve probably heard how the magi brought gifts- one gift (Myrrh) was a burial spice.

ILL: How would you like that for a birthday gift for your child?

This gift foreshadowed the death that would pay the price for our sins. Christmas would have no meaning if Jesus would not have accomplished this mission. What would we celebrate?

This is where so many in the world have missed the point. This is why people focus so much on gifts and decorations- they need a reason to celebrate. But, Christian, we have the greatest gift of all!

If you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, you have a promise - a coupon that pays your sin debt! And let me just tell you, the manufacturer has already paid the price.

Now let me just stop for a second: You might not fully grasp this, so let me be clear. God really loves us- not because we deserve to be loved or because we are valuable in some way.

1 John 4:10 NASB95

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

His love for us is not based on our merit, but rooted in His character. So when we turn from our sins and receive Christ as Savior and Lord, we receive the gift of the love of God- the gift of adoption.

We celebrate Christmas each year because we are the recipients of God’s love. He sent Jesus so that He could receive you and I.

The incarnation was planned and purposed.

Finally, we see that

Discuss: How does the incarnation fit into God’s plan of redemption?

The Incarnation is a Preeminent Presence (6-7)

Look at v. 6-7 with me (READ)

Preeminent means ‘surpassing all others.’

There has never been nor will ever be anything like the birth of Jesus. All of God’s planning and purpose was intended to transform humanity.

Verses 1-2 set the stage for this closing; Every person is born a slave to sin. We are helpless and hopeless on our own. We have no voice, no leverage, no power.

BUT, Jesus’ entrance into our world brought about something new. Because He has purchased us with His blood on that cross, we are no longer slaves, but heirs.

Now, I know we don’t look different physically. But that’s the point Paul makes here. Slaves and Heirs are similar in our limitations. BUT, we have been given a promise in the Holy Spirit that one day, we will inherit eternal life!

Because we have been received by God through redemption, we are children of God. The Holy Spirit in us affirms our identity and transforms our lives!

Why do we say “Merry Christmas”? Why do we gather each week and worship? Why are we here on this day, even? Because we have been transformed- we were slaves, but now are heirs. We’ve been moved from the prison to the palace, from death to life! We have been brought from the crude, brokenness of our sin to a wholeness in Christ Jesus.

This morning, we look back on God’s sovereign plan and merciful mission to save us. Is there any greater gift than this?

As we close on this Christmas morning, let us prepare to leave by looking forward to the fullness of God’s promise-

As heirs, we look forward to the day when our faith becomes sight- When the promises of God are fulfilled in full.

We sing, ‘Joy to the world, the Lord has come...” One verse says, “No more let sin and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground...”

Folks, we have reason to be filled with that JOY of anticipation. Because when the fullness of time comes, Christ will return to gather His church and judge the earth.

Merry Christmas LRBC. May you be filled with the Joy of our Lord.

Let’s stand together and pray.

[Pray]

Discuss: How does the incarnation inform our worship?