The Most Important Story: The Seven C’s

Most of us love stories, and this is the most important story you will ever hear, but this story, if you want the happy ending, must be believed. This is the story of God and us. It is a story like many others, in that there are things to marvel at, things to be frightened of, and things to look forward to, but the happy ending is only for those who believe the story. I have told this story many times and in different ways. Since this time I am telling it for Christmas, we may consider it a Christmas Story. At other times, it has been an Easter story, or a story for comfort at a funeral, or to celebrate a wedding. This story is appropriate at all times, but this time, I will tell it as a Christmas story, because it is the Christmas Story.

I hope that you will believe this story, because it is true. I hope that you will believe it because you must. I hope that you will believe it, because if you do, you and I are family. It is the story of God’s eternal plan, and we will look at seven C words to help us remember it. Those words are:

Creation

Corruption

Catastrophe

Confusion

Christ

Cross

Consummation

The story begins, with the beginning. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He created everything. And as creator of everything, he had the authority to dictate the rules that his creation must follow. His original creation, He declared, was “very good”. Our first C, creation, is a word that has a root that is used in several senses. In one sense is the word Creator. If there is a creation, there is a creator. We use the word creator for artists and engineers. Something created has a creator. From this word we also get “Creature”. Creatures are created beings. All created things belong to the creator. So all of us, as creatures, are the sole property of the Creator. And the Creator gets to decide what happens with the creatures, and what rules and ordinances they must follow.

To the first human creatures, God gave only one rule to follow. They were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Outside that one rule, Adam and Eve could do whatever they wanted in the garden. They could enjoy any fruits. But rather than obeying this one command, they ate the forbidden fruit. This is when sin entered the world. Our second C word is Corruption. God’s perfect creation was now marred by sin, and it impacted everything. We see the results of this constantly. But the greatest consequence of this corruption was a broken relationship between God and man.

God, you see, is perfectly holy, and he could not permit sin without a punishment. So Adam and Eve were banished from the garden, and God killed animals so that he could cover Adam and Eve, since in their shame, their nakedness was no longer innocent. This also showed that blood must be shed to cover sin, and it showed that God was being gracious, even in dealing with the sin of the people, because he allowed an animal to be killed as a substitute for the humans, who deserved death for their rebellion against the holy God. So it was that the corruption came upon the earth, after the creation had been perfect and good. Even as he was disciplining Adam and Eve, he gave them hope, that He would one day send a Redeemer who would come to “Buy back” those who believe, who would restore them in their relationship to God, even as that Redeemer took on himself the wrath of God that the humans deserved.

Unfortunately, the Corruption that marred the creation continued, and God brought catastrophe on the earth. That is our third C word. The catastrophe was a world-wide flood, that wiped out all living things, except for those on the ark. This flood was God’s judgement on the immorality of His creation. Remember, the creator is over the creature. God saved Noah, his family, and enough animals to repopulate the earth once the flood subsided. God will not, and cannot tolerate sin, and this catastrophe of the flood is a grave reminder to us of that fact. Yet, once again, God showed his graciousness as he provided salvation to Noah and his family, which came through faith as Noah built the ark based upon his trust of God’s word.

After Adam and Eve being expelled from the garden, after a world-wide flood, one would hope that mankind would now understand and obey God, and not do wicked things. But once again, mankind showed their rebellion against God. When he commanded them to disperse over the earth, they instead stayed in one place, choosing to try and build a tower to heaven. These puny creatures were thinking they somehow could become gods through their combined knowledge and work. Once again, God displayed his power. He confused their languages so that they could not understand each other. Since they could no longer communicate with each other, they now spread out, people of shared languages choosing to live among those they could understand. This is our fourth C word, confusion. God confused the language of the people. Creation, Corruption, Catastophe, and Confusion.

But the 5th C is a great C word: Christ. This is where our Christmas Story begins. Of course, we celebrate at Christmas that Jesus came to us. Jesus, who the bible calls, “The Word” became flesh and dwelled among us! This is a staggering thought. Jesus was God, and so highly exalted, yet he came in the humble form of a servant, being born in lowly conditions. And not only did he come to us, he died on the cross. All of the past events of the bible point to him. When God killed animals to cover Adam and Eve’s sin, and promised them a redeemer, he was speaking of Jesus, who would die and have his blood shed to cover the sins of many.

When he saved Noah and his family from the flood, he shut them in with supernatural power and protected them. And when the ark finally rested on dry ground, they went through the door of the ark into their new life. Jesus said “I am the door”, by which he means, he is the way to access salvation. He also said he was the way. So Christ came. Christ is our 5th C word, but his work was not complete until the 6th C Word, Cross. Jesus suffered and died on the cross for the sins of all who put faith in his sacrifice on their behalf. So God had promised a Messiah, a Savior who would come. To the people of the Old Testament, they had to believe in this promise. Once Christ came, died, and was raised again, those who wish to be made right with God must believe that his sacrifice is sufficient for their salvation. They must have faith.

This faith is linked with a sense of their own failure to live up to God’s standards, to have a true sorrow for sin before a holy God, to recognize that in our fallen state of sin, all we deserve from God are his wrath and eternal punishment, but understanding that instead of giving us what we deserve, God has offered on our behalf a substitute, in the form of his own Son. He graciously gives even the faith to believe to those he saves. Thankfully, Jesus did not stay on that cross. He was raised from the dead, lived among men for a little while longer, and then ascended back into heaven in the sight of witnesses, whose accounts we can read for ourselves in the most verifiable historical document, the Holy Bible.

Now he reigns in heaven, and we look forward to the final day, when Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead. To those who refused to believe in him, he will judge them and sentence them to eternal, conscious torment. That is the lot of the unbeliever, and please do not remain in your unbelief, because I tell you this with love for you and your eternal soul, you do not want to be condemned by Jesus at the final judgment. For those who believe in Him, His eternal kingdom will begin at that time. This is our final C word, consummation, when Christ’s work of salvation is complete, and the earth and heavens are remade, the curse of sin forever removed. In the new heavens and new earth, there will be no more death, crying, or pain. For all eternity, those who have believed this story will rejoice and worship God together, experiencing never-ending bliss and wonder at the incredible God of all.

When Jesus was born, many of the faithful to God had been anticipating the promises of God being fulfilled, the promise of a Savior to come. And to some of the most humble workers in that society, the shepherds, this announcement was made:

Luke 2:8–14 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

This news of Great Joy is Christ. He is the centerpiece of God’s plan to restore the relationship between Himself and his rebellious creatures.

This is what the story of Christmas is all about. At Christmastime, we focus on the birth of Christ, but as you can see, it is not just about the birth of Jesus. The story starts centuries before, and continues even today. You need to believe the whole story, not just part of it, because believing in this story is the most important thing you will ever do. It has implications into eternity.

I have briefly summarized the story here, but you need to look into it for yourself. If you are not yet sure, then there are two things you should do. First, cry out to God and ask him to reveal the truth to you. Ask him to remove any doubts you have and to draw your heart to Him. Second, search the scriptures to see if these things are true. God himself superintended and inspired the scriptures, and He promises to reveal by His Spirit the truth of them to all who sincerely seek him. “Those who seek me will find me, when they seek me with all of their heart”

If you have not had faith in Jesus in the past, are you curious at all? Have you known believers, and wondered how they can have peace and joy, even when things are going hard for them? Do you wonder why at this season, Christmas, there is a special feeling in the air? Could it be that the most important story is real, and this is a special time of year because we focus on the birth of Jesus, who is the centerpiece of this grand story? Are you curious at all?

If you have any curiosity at all, any desire to know more, you need to pray to God for your salvation. Do not delay. 2Cor6.2

2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Salvation is only through Jesus Christ. Remember the 7 C Words: God is the Creator, and you are his creation. He has authority over you. Corruption came into the world through sin, and we were all born into it. We need a way to have our sin removed so that we can have a right relationship with God. Continued sin brought corruption, showing us that God will not always withhold his wrath from the due punishment sin deserves. God brought confusion to earth because man again was rebelling against him. But he continued to promise a way for people to be made righteous, and in Christ, our 5th C word, he showed what true righteousness is. The Cross displayed God’s wrath towards sin, when all his wrath was poured out on Christ on behalf of those he would save. And he is coming again, for the consummation of all things. Will you be ready to face him as judge?

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Scripture teaches us there is salvation in no one else, only through Jesus.

You could sell all you have and give it to the church, that will not save you. You can do all kinds of good deeds, that won’t save you. No amount of duty keeping, or penance, or anything else will ever save you. God cannot be bribed. He is not a judge will can be paid off. Your sins have earned you death and the wrath of God; do you really think you can do enough good deeds to make him forget your rebellion against him? Either you pay the penalty for your sin for all eternity in hell, or you trust in Christ, who paid the penalty for sin for all who trust in Him.

My friends, that is the wonder of Christmas, that is the beautiful story. I love Christmas stories, and love sharing them. I hope they bring some joy and pleasure to many. But this story is the most important one. You must believe it, because it is true. You must believe it, because it is the only way for you to be made right with God.

Remember the two things to do if you aren’t yet sure if you believe: First, cry out to God and ask Him to reveal himself to you, and to show you the truth. Second, search the scriptures. They only infallible source of information about God’s plan for you is in the scriptures. I tell my congregation all the time, don’t take my word for it. God and read the bible. Who do you rely on to tell you the truth about what scripture says? Why not read it for yourself, asking God to help you understand? Become a student of the scriptures, and you will find life there.

Merry Christmas!