Rescued - Week 3 - Christmas

From Darkness to Light: The Rescue Plan of Christ

Bible Passage: Galatians 4:4–5, Romans 5:6–8

Summary: These passages reveal how God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, at the right moment in history to redeem humanity, bringing hope and light to those lost in sin.

Application: This sermon can encourage believers to recognize the significance of Christ's birth as a pivotal moment of redemption. It emphasizes how we, once enslaved to sin, are now free and empowered by the presence of Christ in our lives to face struggles and darkness with hope and purpose.

Teaching: This sermon teaches that the incarnation of Christ was not an accident of history, but a deliberate plan of God to rescue us from our sins and restore our broken relationship with Him through grace and love.

How this passage could point to Christ: Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promise of redemption, signifying the ultimate light that dispels darkness, thus being the central figure in God’s redemptive narrative throughout Scripture, pointing towards His role as Savior from Genesis to Revelation.

Big Idea: The birth of Christ marks a transformative moment in history where God’s rescue plan for humanity was revealed, signifying hope for all who were lost in darkness.

Recommended Study: For a deeper understanding, consider exploring the historical context of Galatians and Romans in your Logos library, particularly the interplay between Jewish law and grace in Paul's letters. Look at how the themes of redemption and justification emerge in the broader narrative of Scripture. Also, examine the theological implications of Christ as our light and how it connects to the theme of salvation throughout the Bible.

Intro

Welcome to Christmas at Flood City Church

My name is Johnny Bayush and I’m the lead pastor here.

I hope today’s message encourages and challenges you and maybe even changes you.

Here’s today’s message - God sent Jesus to rescue us. At just the right moment, He redeemed humanity. We were all hopeless, without light, and lost and Jesus gave us a hope for a future. One where He brought the light and rescued us from sin.

You the see the birth of Christ isn’t just a birthday celebration - its a pivotal moment in the history of the world. A transformative moment where God’s rescue plan for humanity was revealed, showing that there is home for all who are lost in darkness… But it wasn’t a big announcement. It wasn’t the in the news of the world. It was simply done in a stable with the animals. From the highest position in heaven, to the lowliest place on earth, Christ came to rescue us.

1. Perfect Timing, Divine Plan

Galatians 4:4 NASB 2020

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

Anyone know how important timing is?

Illustration about timing

As a musician, if you get timing wrong, you stick out like a sore thumb. My band used to prank me.

A poorly timed joke. DJ wedding

You might have good timing like in the movies. The good guy is in peril and at just the right time gets rescued.

You might show up at just the right moment to get free primanti bros for a year…

We might be good at timing, or we might have good timing BY CHANCE.

But God’s timing is perfect. He never shows up and is like “well thank God.”

It might look like He’s late, or early. But we’re only basing that on what we think His timing should be.

You might not know it, but there is a divine plan being worked in your life. You’re either walking in that plan, or God is prompting you to walk toward it because you’re not on it.

BUT no matter how far you’ve gone… THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY TO IT!

Jeremiah 29:11 NASB 2020

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

In our lives today, when we’re walking in opposition to God’s plan, we’re in sin and God has a plan to get us back to the plan!

Christ was God’s plan to get the world back to His original intention for us and Him - relationship.

It was a rescue plan set in motion.

The plan stretched out over about 4 thousand years since the beginning of time.

To redeem and rescue us, bring us out of darkness and into the light.

2. Redeemed and Set Free

Galatians 4:5 NASB 2020

so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters.

Perhaps you could delve into the theme of redemption introduced in this verse. Christ came to redeem those under the law, illustrating His rescue mission. Emphasizing our transition from bondage to freedom, this point could reassure believers of their identity as children of God, liberated by Christ's sacrifice, and inspire gratitude for this transformative redemption.

The law says that we belong to someone else, we belong to the enemy to be eternally punished for our sin. To receive the punishment for our sin is to be in hell.

But God says otherwise. He wants to redeem us who are under the law.

If you’re redeeming something, you’re giving value to it at a cost. Right?

Before you bought that gift card, it was a gift card but it needed redeemed. But you can’t cash in a starbucks gift card at dunkin.

We are redeemed ONLY by the blood of Christ in His sacrifice for us. That redemption is only valid in the kingdom of heaven.

Because when we’re redeemed, we’re given a new identity in Christ, we’re brought into His family and adopted.

Bayush Adoption announcement.

We were lost before Christ. We were separated from our heavenly father and only through a redeemer could we be brought back into relationship.

Why do we need a redeemer?

I’m not here to convince you but tell you - that we are powerless to rescue ourselves, we are not capable.

3. Powerless but Loved Unconditionally

Romans 5:6 NASB 2020

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Consider emphasizing the theme of God's love shown while we were still powerless and unable to save ourselves. This could encourage believers to remember that Christ’s actions were selfless and initiated without any merit on our part—demonstrating grace. Inspiring the audience to embrace this love in their lives, you could highlight the importance of reflecting this unconditional love towards others.

Have you ever loved something that was powerless?

Powerless but loved example

A dog? Baby?

You see, when we’re saved we are still powerless but we have power and authority.

The baby might be able to feed itself, but when I walk into walmart with it, it has my power, my authority to buy all the food and supplies that it needs.

Like, if someone comes after this baby, there is a power and authority that is protecting it.

Its impossible for the baby to do these things on its own.

Matthew 19:26 NASB 2020

And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

With God, all things are made possible. Without Him, we’re powerless.

And in our powerlessness, He loves us and came to rescue us and be our power and authority in our lives.

We need to be rescued and redeemed from that life because we’re helpless.

Christ’s actions were like a parent would defend their child and not ask for anything in return.

His rescue mission, becoming flesh and dying in that flesh for our sin was selfless. It was the perfect demonstration of sacrifice.

4. Sacrificial Love, Eternal Hope

Romans 5:7–8 NASB 2020

For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

You might reflect on the depth of Christ’s sacrifice as the ultimate demonstration of love. While human examples of sacrifice exist, Christ’s death for sinners shines as the greatest act of love. This point could call believers to respond to this unparalleled love with wholehearted faith and devotion, realizing that this sacrificial love dispels all darkness and brings eternal hope.

We used the dog and the baby because we can think of human examples of sacrifice and love - but to reflect on the depths of Christ’s love for us and God’s desire to rescue us, it should bring us unfathomable comfort.

For God to send His son would be the ultimate sacrifice.

Some of us might struggle with “how can a loving God send His people to hell?”

Well think about His sacrifice. It was to pay a debt that we owed. to accept this, would take our free will that He gave us.

Christ gave it all for the desire - not even the guarantee that we would be saved.

He gave it all and we can still turn our backs on Him.

His redemption for us is an option. We have the ability to accept Him or not.

A child who is born into a family doesn’t have the choice, but God doesn’t want us forced into relationship - He desires it that He was willing to give it all for a chance at our affection.

Closing

If you’re lost, hopeless, in darkness, there is hope and a light for you

His demonstration of love was done while we were still against Him.

We are adopted into His family when we accept Him. We are rescued from a life of darkness.