What if Jesus Had Not Been Born?

Text: Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-24

Thesis: To better appreciate the birth of Jesus by understanding its significance to us today.

Introduction:

(1)    Christmas is the time of the year that many in the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

(2)    Today, I would like us to consider what life would be like if Jesus had not been born.

Discussion:

I.                   If Jesus had not been born, then the Old Testament would still be unfulfilled.

A.    According to Matthew 5:17, Jesus came to fulfill the Law of Moses.

B.     If He had not been born, then the Messianic prophecies would still been unfulfilled.

C.     If He had not been born, then we would still be under the Law of Moses.

II.                If Jesus had not been born, then we would not have a sympathetic High Priest.

A.    According to Hebrews 4:14-16, Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses (even able to come to our aid – Heb. 2:18) and to offer us mercy and grace in our times of need.

B.     If He had not been born, then we would feel as if God didn’t know what it was like to stand in our shoes.

III.             If Jesus had not been born, then we would not have the hope of the bodily resurrection.

A.    According to 1 Corinthians 15, Jesus’ resurrection guarantees our resurrection.

B.     If He had not been born, then He could not have died and been resurrected.

C.     If He had not been born, then we would grieve as others who have no hope             (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13).

IV.             If Jesus had not been born, then we would not have peace with God.

A.    According to Luke 2:14, Jesus came to bring peace to man.

1.      The peace that is under consideration is peace with God (cf. Rom. 5:1).

2.      Because of our sins, we were separated from God (cf. Isa. 59:1-2).

B.     If He had not been born, then we would not have peace with God.

1.      We could not save ourselves.

2.      The Old Testament could not truly bring about forgiveness apart from the death of Jesus Christ (see Heb. 10:1-4).

Conclusion:

(1)    Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about “what if,” because Jesus was born.

(2)    Because of this, we live under the New Covenant with a sympathetic High Priest and we have true peace with God.

(3)    Let us, like the shepherds, glorify and praise God for what He has done (cf. Luke 2:20).