Christmas Message 99
As we all know, next Saturday is Christmas. So today is a very fitting time to minister on the birth of Christ.
I) It’s almost 2000 years ago that Jesus was born. Jesus birth was prophesied approximately 6000 years ago to Adam and Eve. And throughout the Old Testament we have many prophecies to the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A) Without the birth of Christ, there would be no salvation for us. We would be lost without hope, and destined for Hell.
1) Jesus had to come in this world, born of a virgin, so that He would be that lamb without blemish to pay the price for our sins.
2) And why wasn’t so important that Jesus was born from a virgin?
a) First of all Matthew wrote it, Luke records it, and Isaiah prophesied it.
b) Look at Romans 5:12.
(i) This verse says, “All have sinned.”
(a) Why have all sin? Because sin was passed upon all men.
(b) And who was the one that passed sin upon all men? Adam.
(1) And all of us have come from Adam therefore we all have the Adamic Nature or the sin nature and because of that spiritual death.
c) Jesus came to pay the price for our sins, the righteous for the unrighteous.
(i) Look at 1st Peter 1:18-19.
(ii) Jesus could not come from Adam’s line and be without sin or as Peter puts it, “Without blemish and without spot.”
(iii) God is Jesus father.
B) Turn with me to PHIL 2:7-8.
1) In the Strong’s expanded concordance the words “Of no reputation” in this V means, “Empty or of Christ laid aside equality with or the form of God.”
a) Jesus set aside all of His deity, all of His power to become a man and save us from our sins.
II) Now what would Christmas be without reading some of the passages of scripture about the birth of Christ.
A) If Let’s pick up the story at the angels last words to Mary. LUKE 1:37-45.
1) I just find this so interesting that Elisabeth was given a revelation from the Lord and began to prophesy these things.
a) No one told her that Mary was going to give birth to the Savior.
B) Let’s go on reading. Jump down to Luke 2:1-7.
1) This year when you begin to wrap your presence let that be a reminder to you of the Christmas story. Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes.
a) I know that there’s so much materialism in this Christmas season, but Jesus is still the reason for the season.
(i) His birth is the reason why we’re here.
(ii) His birth is the reason why we decorate the church.
(iii) It’s the reason why we decorate our homes.
(iv) It’s the reason why we have the celebration today.
(v) It’s the reason why we purchase so many gifts.
III) What does Christmas mean?
A) It means that,
1) He descended that we might ascend (John 6:38, 14:3).
2)
3) He became poor that we might become rich (2 Cor 8:9, Jas. 2:5).
4) He was born that we might be born again (John 1:14, 3:2,7).
5) He became a servant that we might become sons (Phil. 2:7; Gal. 4:6, 7).
6) He had no home that we might have a home in heaven (Matt. 8:20; John 14:2).
7) He was hungry that we might be fed (Matt. 4:2; John 6:50).
8) He was thirsty that we might be satisfied (John 19:26).
9) He was stripped that we might be clothed (Matt. 27:28; Gal. 3:27).
10) He was whipped that we might be healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
11) He was forsaken that we might not be forsaken (Matt 27:26; 28:20).
12) He was sad that we might become glad (Isa 53:3; Phil. 4:4).
13) He was bound that we might go free (Matt 27:2; John 8:32-36).
14) He was made sin that we might be made righteous (2 Cor 5:21).
15) He died that we might live (John 5:24, 25).
16) He came down that we might be caught up (1st Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
B) Jesus came in the “fullness” of time to fulfill the work of the God.
1) He came to redeem us from sin and spiritual death and to give us the kingdom of God.
W. O. L. C. C. Sunday, December 19, 1999