Take a Look From God's Perspective
A Christmas Journey • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Growing up, Christmas was my favorite time of year, and truth be told, it still is. Everyone in this room, if asked what Christmas is all about would all say - “Its about Jesus, not gifts, etc.” We would also say that Christmas is about “giving”, not “getting”, but you cannot give, without someone else getting. Christmas is about GIVING with no expectation of GETTING anything in return. In fact, the first Christmas gift was so precious, so priceless, so selflessly GIVEN, there is no way anyone could ever hope to give a gift in exchange.
We’ve walked these last few weeks in the shoes of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, but there is one more perspective we need to truly understand what Christmas is all about! I want to look at Christmas from the perspective of God the Father. John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This is the most well known verse in the Bible, it is quoted, and shared more frequently than any other verse, to the point that it has lost some of its meaning. This verse is precious because in it, Jesus reveals that He was God’s gift to us.
God the Father demonstrated the true, unselfish giving when He gave us His Son Jesus. God sent Jesus because He loves us. The gift of Jesus demonstrates God’s love for us, because...
We Didn’t Desire Him 1 John 4:10
We Didn’t Desire Him 1 John 4:10
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
It amazes me how far apart our greatest need and our greatest desires are! Our greatest need is to be saved from our sins, something we cannot do ourselves, yet our greatest desire is not attending to this need, but to our wants!
A theme repeated in the book of Judges is Judges 17:6
Judges 17:6 (KJV 1900)
6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Doesn’t our view of Christmas reflect this? We know Christ is what Christmas is all about, but don’t we throw that on the back burner this time of year? When is the last time you honestly meditated on how God must view Christmas?
John 3:16 says that God gave us His only begotten son. “Gave” - means to give, without any expectation in return. It also has the meaning of “offering” - referring to sacrificial giving. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for sins. That is the meaning behind 1 John 4:10 when the Bible says that God “sent his Son” He sent Him forth for this purpose, to be the payment for our sins! Not because we were begging for forgiveness, or looking for salvation.
Why? Why would God send Jesus to die in the place of people like us who didn’t care, didn’t want, and didn’t desire Him? Love. Because He loves us.
Church God sent Jesus even though we didn't desire Him and even though...
We Didn’t Deserve Him Romans 5:8
We Didn’t Deserve Him Romans 5:8
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
If we had what we deserved we’d all be in hell right now.
In Romans 5:8 Paul says that God demonstrates His love toward us in that while we were YET SINNERS Christ died for us. Isaiah says that the LORD, His Father, our God, laid on His Son Jesus the “iniquity” of us all. The word “iniquity” has the idea of perversity, of evil. Every wicked thought, every unholy word, every evil action you have ever done or ever will do was placed on Jesus! He took it to His cross, He died in your place.
Why? Love. Becasue He loved you enough to take your punishment, to experience your hell, to stand in your place.
Gives new meaning to John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Conclusion:
You didn’t desire Him, you didn’t deserve Him, so why would He send Jesus to die for you? Becasue he loves you. Don’t you get it? God loves YOU!
If you had been the only person who was ever born with a sin nature, Jesus still would have died for you. Listen to the words of John 3:16 again, but this time put your name in it: “For God so loved “me” that He gave His only Begotten Son, (so) that “I” by believing in Him should never perish, but (so that) “I” can have everlasting life.”
That is what Christmas is all about. You, and how much God loved you. You and how much God desires for you to be with Him in heaven. You and how God made a way for your sins to be forgiven. You and how you can be saved just by trusting in what God has promised.
Why won’t you do that today?