01 Meaning of the Birth of Christ

CHRISTMAS

WHAT THE BIRTH OF CHRIST MEANS TO MANKIND

By way of introduction, and to give you something to think about as we approach Christmas Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance… 2 Peter 1:12-13.

GALATIANS 4:4

I. IT MEANS PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED.

1. Prophecy fulfilled concerning place of birth; Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4.

2. Prophecy fulfilled concerning means of birth; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23.

3. Prophecy fulfilled concerning lineage; Gen. 22:18; Matt. 1:1.

II. IT MEANS AN HEIR WAS BORN TO ISRAEL’S THRONE.

1. God promised an heir to Israel’s throne; Isa. 9:6, 7.

2. God will give Jesus Israel’s throne; Luke 1:32.

3. God will give Him an eternal throne; Luke 1:33.

III. IT MEANS JOY WAS COME TO THE WORLD.

1. The angels rejoiced at His coming; Luke 2:13, 14.

2. The shepherds rejoiced at His coming; Luke 2:20.

3. Simeon rejoiced at His coming; Luke 2:28–32.

IV. IT MEANS A SAVIOUR WAS PROVIDED.

1. He came as a ransom; Mark 10:45.

2. He came to save from sin; Matt. 1:21.

3. He came to seek and save the lost; Luke 19:10.

V. IT MEANS SATAN WOULD BE DEFEATED.

1. Christ was manifested to destroy Satan’s works; 1 John 3:8.

2. Christ by His death destroyed Satan’s works; Heb. 2:14.

3. Christ removes Satan’s armor; Luke 11:21, 22.

VI. IT MEANS PEACE CAN ENTER OUR HEARTS.

1. He came to bring peace; Luke 2:14.

2. He made peace on Calvary; Col. 1:20.

3. He is our Eternal Peace; Isa. 9:7.

VII. IT MEANS A WAY TO HEAVEN WOULD BE MADE.

1. A way is promised by Christ; John 14:6.

2. A way is made by God’s love; John 3:16.

3. A way is made by Christ’s death; Gal. 1:4.[1]

CHRISTMAS – WHAT THE BIRTH OF CHRIST MEANS TO MANKIND

GALATIANS 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

I. IT MEANS PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED.

1. Prophecy fulfilled concerning place of birth;

a. Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

b. Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

2. Prophecy fulfilled concerning means of birth;

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

b. Matthew 1:23 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.

3. Prophecy fulfilled concerning lineage;

a. Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

b. Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

II. IT MEANS AN HEIR WAS BORN TO ISRAEL’S THRONE.

1. God promised an heir to Israel’s throne;

a. Isaiah 9:6-7 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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

2. God will give Jesus Israel’s throne;

a. Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

3. God will give Him an eternal throne;

a. Luke 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

III. IT MEANS JOY WAS COME TO THE WORLD.

1. The angels rejoiced at His coming;

a. Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

2. The shepherds rejoiced at His coming;

a. Luke 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

3. Simeon rejoiced at His coming;

a. Luke 2:28–32 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

IV. IT MEANS A SAVIOUR WAS PROVIDED.

1. He came as a ransom;

a. Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

2. He came to save from sin;

a. Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

3. He came to seek and save the lost;

a. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

V. IT MEANS SATAN WOULD BE DEFEATED.

1. Christ was manifested to destroy Satan’s works;

a. 1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

2. Christ by His death destroyed Satan’s works;

a. Hebrews 2:14 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;

3. Christ removes Satan’s armor;

a. Luke 11:21-22 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

VI. IT MEANS PEACE CAN ENTER OUR HEARTS.

1. He came to bring peace;

a. Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

2. He made peace on Calvary;

a. Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

3. He is our Eternal Peace;

a. Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

VII. IT MEANS A WAY TO HEAVEN WOULD BE MADE.

1. A way is promised by Christ;

a. John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

2. A way is made by God’s love;

a. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

3. A way is made by Christ’s death;

a. Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

CHRISTMAS – WHAT THE BIRTH OF CHRIST MEANS TO MANKIND

GALATIANS 4:4

I. IT MEANS PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED.

1. Prophecy fulfilled concerning place of birth; Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4.

2. Prophecy fulfilled concerning means of birth; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23.

3. Prophecy fulfilled concerning lineage; Gen. 22:18; Matt. 1:1.

II. IT MEANS AN HEIR WAS BORN TO ISRAEL’S THRONE.

1. God promised an heir to Israel’s throne; Isa. 9:6, 7.

2. God will give Jesus Israel’s throne; Luke 1:32.

3. God will give Him an eternal throne; Luke 1:33.

III. IT MEANS JOY WAS COME TO THE WORLD.

1. The angels rejoiced at His coming; Luke 2:13, 14.

2. The shepherds rejoiced at His coming; Luke 2:20.

3. Simeon rejoiced at His coming; Luke 2:28–32.

IV. IT MEANS A SAVIOUR WAS PROVIDED.

1. He came as a ransom; Mark 10:45.

2. He came to save from sin; Matt. 1:21.

3. He came to seek and save the lost; Luke 19:10.

V. IT MEANS SATAN WOULD BE DEFEATED.

1. Christ was manifested to destroy Satan’s works; 1 John 3:8.

2. Christ by His death destroyed Satan’s works; Heb. 2:14.

3. Christ removes Satan’s armor; Luke 11:21, 22.

VI. IT MEANS PEACE CAN ENTER OUR HEARTS.

1. He came to bring peace; Luke 2:14.

2. He made peace on Calvary; Col. 1:20.

3. He is our Eternal Peace; Isa. 9:7.

VII. IT MEANS A WAY TO HEAVEN WOULD BE MADE.

1. A way is promised by Christ; John 14:6.

2. A way is made by God’s love; John 3:16.

3. A way is made by Christ’s death; Gal. 1:4.

[1] Apostolon, B. (1966). Preach the Word (p. 97). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.