The Power of Christmas: Made New

Build Connection

Almost every evening for the week or two before Christmas we watch a Christmas movie. Not those cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies but one’s like “The Grinch” or “The Santa Clause” or “White Christmas” or even “It’s a wonderful life”

A few days ago we watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas” it came out in 1965 and even then they were dealing with the consumerism of Christmas but there is a focal point of the movie that pinpoints “The Power of Christmas.”

Watch the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree video.

In this video we see an unimpressive tree, a simple tree, an unwanted tree by most. But something happens, the tree is transformed.

The tree went

from pathetic to powerful

from ugly to glamorous

from simple to simply wonderful

You could say it was transformed

and that’s the power of Christmas

Create Tension

Tree weeks ago we talked about the “The Promise of Christmas”

Two weeks ago we talked about “The Presence of Christmas”

Last week we talked about “The Purpose of Christmas”

Today I want to talk about “The Power of Christmas: A Life Transformed”

With the few minutes we have today I want to share with you the amazing transformation that happens when we make Jesus king of our lives.

Provide Solution

What exactly is a transformed?

When you give your life to Jesus, your identity is New!

Identity is important…context is everything.

When I identify myself I don’t always identify myself as pastor Steve, sometimes I’m Jeanette’s husband, sometimes I’m Eli’s dad, sometimes I’m resident of Shenandoah, and sometimes I’m simply a number, ie SS#

The is one specific identity that everyone born has.

Not everyone is American, not everyone is rich or poor, not everyone is tall or short, not everyone is blond or redhead, not everyone is skinny or muscular.

Not everyone is a doctor, not everyone is a business owner, not everyone works construction or with electronics.

Not everyone is a father nor mother, not everyone is an aunt or uncle, not everyone is a grandparent, not everyone is a cousin, niece or nephew.

But everyone is this one thing…someone’s child

Everyone was born to a mother and a father, even Jesus

But unlike Jesus our sin separated us from our spiritual father and made us a slave to this world…but there is good news.

Galatians 4:4–7

“4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”

You are no longer a slave to the system of the world you are Child of God.

How God sees you has changed!

When he saw your sin, you were viewed as but a slave. But because of what Jesus had accomplished on the cross, You are now a child, not only that but also a heir!

He not only sees you as his child but gives you all the rights, privileges and promises of a child.

Not only is how You are identified different, but

When you give your life to Jesus, your are literally a new person!

2 Corinthians 5:17–21

“17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

The old life has gone, a new life has begun!

With this new life, God removes his punishment for sin from our lives.

We may still have to deal with the consequences of our actions in this life, but as far as God is concerned, his punishment for sin is removed.

Titus 3:4–7

“4 But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life….

This new life isn’t a physical new life, you don’t get a new house, a new car, or a new job.

It’s a spiritual one…

John 3:1–7

“1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” 3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” 4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” 5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’”

This new spirit you are given will and should effect your physical life, but it is not physical, (not yet anyway)!

Romans 6:4

“4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”

New life only comes when the old is removed, otherwise you would just be refurbished!!!

Have you ever been shopping online or in the store and see an item you have been looking for at a lower price than everywhere else you looked and you wondered why? Then you noticed that it says, “refurbished.”

Refurbished is not new, but like new! It was used, but then returned and the company made sure it looked and worked like a new one and the is selling it with a little discount.

Jesus did not die for your sins so you could have a refurbished life, he died so you could have a NEW Life!

Encourage Change

Romans 12:2

“2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

God wants to do an amazing work in your life, but you have to let him do it!