Why do we Celebrate Christmas?: The Recompense

Introduction

Last week we began the Christmas series: Why do we Celebrate Christmas? We started by looking at the Reason why Jesus had to come to earth. We had a problem. A major problem. The problem is sin and the wages (or payment) for sin is eternal death! Eternal separation from God, forever! Either we were going to pay for our sins forever or someone else who was without sin would have to pay it instead. Someone would have to make the recompense. Someone would have to pay the bill.

The cost of sin (Old Testament — picture of Christ’s sacrifice)

In the Old Covenant animal sacrifices were offered as a reminder of the high cost of sin. Sheep, goats, birds, cows were all sacrificed to cover the sins.

The writer of Hebrews in the New Testament writes: Hebrews 9:22 “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”

The Israelites got a taste of God’s wrath and mercy while in Egypt (Exodus 12).

The ten plague (first born killed)

Only by the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of the house were the first born saved.

Exodus 12:23 “For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.”

The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16)—the High Priest, the Lamb, and the Scapegoat

The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World

John 1:29-34

Crucifixion

Read account of Crucifixion in the Gospels

The Payment is made

Romans 3:23

Romans 6:23

Romans 5:6-11

Galatians 2:13-15

Illustration: Bird trapped between two panes of glass at my apartment last Sunday afternoon

Conclusion

The Reason Jesus came was because of a problem. The problem was sin and the payment for sin is death. We were trapped with no way out, because we were tainted with sin. Just like that little bird last Sunday that was trapped between the panes of glass. We were trapped in a prison that was going to kill us. To free us we needed someone who saw we were trapped in our sin and was outside of sin. Just like me get the bird and taking back outside to free us. God stepped down into our world and set us free if we accept His free gift that He paid for with His death on the cross. Yet, if Jesus had just stayed dead there would still not be payment for sin. He was born, was sinless, He died on the cross to pay our bill, but He did not stay dead. Jesus Christ also rose from the dead, the resurrection. Next week we will look at the Resurrection of Jesus and why it so critical.