The Nativity of our Lord, Christmas Day (2023)

Titus 3:4-7; John 1:16-18

Merry Christmas My brothers and sisters in Christ, what a blessed day that we are able to celebrate with great joy the birth of our Lord and Savior in Bethlehem for the child born this day, was born for our salvation. He is the messiah that was promised to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden at the time of the fall, the offspring of Eve that would crush satan’s head, and would restore a fallen creation to its creator. What a blessed and glorious day that we give thanks to God for the grace and truth that has been revealed by His birth.

In the letter that Paul writes to Titus, he reminds him and us of the great gift that we have received and how we have been saved at the appearing of Jesus Christ our Lord. Not by works done by us, but rather by what God has done for us out of His mercy, and His grace that we might have the hope of eternal life. For without Jesus all we would have to rely upon was the law that was received through Moses which offers to us no hope at all.

This is why John in His gospel refers to Moses as a Lawgiver. For the Law is needed, and it reveals to all mankind that we are not worthy of heaven. There’s not a one of us who can do all that the Law requires and it condemns us all as absolute failures.

I know that sounds harsh on Christmas morning, but consider the Law of God and what it demands of you. We could attempt to deceive ourselves and think that if we at least keep it on the outside, that must mean that we are doing it. The Law wasn’t meant just for your hands. The Law demands and requires of you that you keep it perfectly, not just by what your hands do, it requires that love God only, and everything else will flow from that love. That’s why the first commandment is you will have no other gods.

Every other commandment is built upon that first one, and failure to follow any other means that you that you do not love God with your whole heart. Which is to say that you have sinned. Doesn’t matter what the reason is, you have something that you are valuing more than God himself, and the Law condemns you as a sinner.

The Law is needed to shake us from our slumber and realize just how awful sin is, and how much we have fallen short. The Law promises great rewards to us, but it always includes an “if” The conditions require that you keep it perfectly. This is why there is no salvation for us in the Law, and all who rely on the law are under a curse.

For who amongst has a mouth that is absolutely free from cursing and coarse language and foolish talk. We try to justify it by saying, well everyone does, or it’s how I was raised, or whatever reason our neighbor will accept, but God condemns them all. The Law doesn’t demands that you be absolutely perfect.

So people try to circumvent it, and say well I will make sure I don’t say any bad words when I’m at church, but then I can walk out that door and lead a different life? What type of faith is that? Imagine spouse that promises to be faithful only while they are at home, and then lives as though they aren’t married when they step out the door? But that is what we do, when only abide by God’s will when we are at church and then go out and live contrary to it.

This is why the Law condemns us all and that is what we received through Moses. The judgment of condemnation that showed to us, we cannot live up to God’s standards, we cannot satisfy the Law, we cannot do what it requires of us, which means we cannot save ourselves, and we must throw up our hands before God and confess, we are sinners.

This is why the Scriptures again and again emphasize this point that Jesus is not a new Law giver. Rather what we have received through Jesus is grace and truth for Jesus is the Savior of Sinners. This is the goodness, and the loving kindness that is found in Jesus who came into this world to save us.

The Law offered only condemnation for none of us could satisfy it. But Jesus came to fulfill the Law, but not for himself, but to give us salvation as a gift. Look how clear the Scriptures make that. Not because of works done by us in righteousness. It is not because of anything that you did, or that you offered up. Rather it was because God according to His own mercy. Which means salvation wasn’t earned, but given to us as a gift. Salvation depends entirely upon God who showed mercy to mankind.

To make sure this happened, he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Now if you remember, where this very verse is quoted in the small catechism. You will know where this happened in your life, and how you know that you are saved. When did God regenerate us, when did the Holy Spirit bring you from death to life and washed. This is why all who say baptism is man’s work are ridiculous because the Bible tells us clearly that it is the means by which God saved us. Now if He saved us by this washing of regeneration, then Baptism is not our work. It is the work of God.

There is no better example of God’s grace, love, and mercy shown to mankind and the complete and utter ability we have to save ourselves than is found in the baptism of a child. Who has done nothing, offers nothing, is full of sin and anger and selfishness, and yet God saves him by Grace.

It is by this washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit that you have been justified, that is declared innocent of all your sins, and become an heir of eternal life. For this child that was born has shared His inheritance with you, and promised that whoever is baptized shares his divine and holy name, and thus becomes his brother and sister. This is all done by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that you might be a child of God.

So my Brothers and SIsters in Christ, may we joyfully celebrate this christmas day all that Jesus has done for us, that He has saved by his appearing not because of our works, but according to His own mercy. For we already had the Law through Moses, but with Jesus has come grace and truth, that between God and man there is now peace through His beloved son, Jesus Christ our Lord. In his name. Amen.