Five Realities of Christmas

Intro

4 Stages in the Life of a Man

1. He believes in Santa Claus. 2. He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. 3. He is Santa Claus. 4. He LOOKS like Santa Claus.

Christmas is about far more than Santa Claus...

Today, we will look at five realities of Christmas

God the Son assumed human nature

John 1:14 KJV 1900

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 8:56 (KJV 1900) — 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

1 Timothy 3:16 KJV 1900

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

1 John 1:1–2 (KJV 1900) — 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

1 John 4:2 (KJV 1900) — 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

2 John 7 (KJV 1900) — 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Jesus Christ’s incarnation involved a supernatural conception

Luke 1:35 KJV 1900

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

The incarnation was such that the Son was the exact representation of the Father;

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV 1900) — 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:18 (KJV 1900) — 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

John 14:9 KJV 1900

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Romans 1:4 (KJV 1900) — 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Colossians 1:15 KJV 1900

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Colossians 1:19 (KJV 1900) — 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Hebrews 1:2–3 (KJV 1900) — 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Jesus Christ’s incarnation involved a virgin birth

Matthew 1:22–23 KJV 1900

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Isaiah 7:14 (KJV 1900) — 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.

Luke 1:34 KJV 1900

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Romans 1:3 (KJV 1900) — 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Galatians 4:4 (KJV 1900) — 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Philippians 2:8 (KJV 1900) — 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Hebrews 2:14 (KJV 1900) — 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

The cost of the incarnation

Philippians 2:6–7 KJV 1900

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

The incarnation involved Jesus Christ’s suffering.

2 Corinthians 8:9 KJV 1900

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Hebrews 2:10 (KJV 1900) — 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

The necessity of the incarnation

Romans 8:3 KJV 1900

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Only a person who is fully human and fully divine can be the effective mediator between God and humanity;

In 1988, Anissa Ayala was sixteen years-old and diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. The doctors said that if she did not receive a bone marrow transplant after chemotherapy and radiation treatment she would die.

Neither her parents nor her brother was a match, and they could not find a donor elsewhere. Her parents, both in their forties, conceived another child and hoped that its bone marrow would be compatible with Anissa’s.

To their great delight it was determined that this new baby was a compatible donor, and when Marissa Ayala was fourteen months-old they took some of her marrow and gave it Anissa. Anissa made a full recovery from the Leukemia and both sisters lead healthy lives today.

In a very real sense Marissa saved her sister’s life. She says, “Without me being a perfect match for my sister, she would not be here.”

Jesus was born into this world for the express purpose of saving us. He is the one and only Saviour that can save all those who put their trust in Him. Christmas marks the day we celebrate His birth, and without Him we would not have salvation

Romans 5:17–19 (KJV 1900) — 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

2 Corinthians 5:19 (KJV 1900) — 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Colossians 1:22 (KJV 1900) — 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

1 Timothy 2:5 KJV 1900

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 2:17–18 (KJV 1900) — 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15 (KJV 1900) — 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Conclusion

This Christmas season, let us remember the reasons Christ came.

Believe on Him for salvation.

Follow Him after salvation.

Tell others about Him.