Unto Us a Saviour is Given!
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Our focus again on verses 10 and 11...
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Introduction
Introduction
One of the great joys of Christmas as families celebrate is the joy of both giving and receiving gifts. I have many fond memories of our cousins at our house, or us at their house, and waking up early on Christmas morning, with the excitement of going to have a look at the Christmas tree, and seeing the gifts that were laid there, and looking to see whose name was in which gift. Always something that we looked forward to and really enjoyed.
But as we consider this idea of the giving and receiving of gifts, we must have our focus moved to the greatest giver of all, and the greatest gift that was ever given. And young people, I would encourage you, that if you have had the joy of receiving Christmas gifts, that you would not allow your thoughts to remain on whatever it is that you have received. Rather, I would encourage you to lift your eyes and your hearts to consider a gift of far greater value. In fact, the gift of inestimable value that was given to us by the Almighty God. And that is the gift of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son.
Our focus this morning is on verses 10 and 11, and I really want to draw our eyes to verse 11, where the angel announces to the shepherds that in that partiular day “a Saviour has been born to you…”
God’s very own son, in a sense God’s gift to humanity was born.
This morning, we will briefly consider together this gift that was given unto… not only shepherds, but unto the world. As we do that, I want us to consider 4 important things for us...
The Son Given Unto Us
The Need Met for Us
The Benefit Bestowed Upon Us
The Fitting Response from Us
Notice firstly then with me...
1. The Son Given to Us
1. The Son Given to Us
Notice specifically these words from verse 11…
“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you...”
Firstly, in this regard, we must consider the extent of the gracious kindness of God in giving us this Son. A son, a Saviour, was graciously given to us. The express purpose of God the Father sending His Son into the world was in order to bring salvation to man.
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God gave this wonderful gift of a Son, a Saviour for us.
Let us consider further the “you” in that phrase. The Saviour born to you.
The “you” in this phrase is plural. This means that the Saviour was given to not just one person, but to many people. In this particular case, the shepherds who were being addressed could gladly know that a Saviour was given even to them. But the Saviour would be not only for these Shepherds. In fact, the Saviour would not only be for the people of Israel. Rather, the Saviour would be for all people.
In Romans, Paul addresses this idea when he compares the sin that came into the world through one man but affected all men, and then contrasts that with the one perfect Saviour, and how that perfect saviour brings grace for all who will believe.
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
The foundation of this glorious truth goes all the way back to the book of Genesis, in the opening chapters of Scripture. One example is the promise to Abraham by God back in Genesis 12. That promsie was that through Abraham ALL NATIONS would be blessed.
When Christ commissioned his disciples, that commission was to make disciples of all nations… (Mat 28:16)
But friends, what a great joy to know that this Saviour came into the world in order to save people from every background and culture and socio-economic standing. There is no discrimination, but rather a call for people to repent and believe, whoever they may be, and to live in submission to Jesus Christ as Lord.
Unto us… unto all of us a son is given.
Clearly this Saviour was given to us in the plural sense. That said, we need to recognise that this gift was also of a personal nature, in that the gift that was given has personal application to each individual person.
This will become clear as we consider secondly...
2. The Need Met for Us
2. The Need Met for Us
When Christ, the Son of God, came into the world, it was in order to meet a deep need of humanity, and so to bring glory and honour to God. As the angels address the shepherds, they say in verse 11...
Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you...
this is truly the most pressing need of any person. We like to speak about our needs… we have “need” of all kinds of things. But do we recognise our greatest need? Reconciliation with God?
Paul outlines our desperate state in the book of Romans. He writes...
10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
He goes on in that passage to describe the utter state of depravity of man as they are lost in sin, and essentially states that all of humanity is in this state of depravity under sin. There is no person who has any hope before God. In verse 23 of that text, he writes...
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
The sad reality is, all humanity was under the curse of sin. Every single person born into this world, was born in to a state of sinfulness, a state in which there was inherent rebellion against God, and a state in which there was an utter inability to live according to God’s holy standards of righteousness.
This reality and truth concerning the sinfulness of man placed each one of us in a very dire predicament. Instead of being in favour with God, and in right relationship with God, humanity found themselves alienated from God, with a great separation between God and man. In fact, the Scriptures are clear that we are living in opposition to God in this state of sinfulness.
8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
And so Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour, came into the world in order to save sinners. The great need of all of humanity is that their sins be forgiven, in order that they may stand in right relationship with God.
In Mark 10, we find that Jesus came for this specific purpose… He came as a ransom;
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
A ransom is that which must be paid in order to set a person free. In the context of the Saviour, this ransom was paid in order to set us free from bondage to sin and death that was brought about as a consequence of the fall of man.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
And according to Matthew’s Gospel...
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
It is this salvation that was the deep need of every man and woman. And precisely the same need continues today.
This salvation is available to all who confess their sin, repent of that sin, and turn to trust in Christ as their only hope of salvation.
3. The Benefit Bestowed Upon Us
3. The Benefit Bestowed Upon Us
As we consider this further, we should marvel at the benefits that this mirculous coming of the Son of God into the world brings to us. There are at two primary benefits that I’d like to point out in this regard, in terms of the benefits (although there may be many more that I won’t mention).
The first benefit, and one that we’ve already touched on under our previous point, is...
3.1. Deliverence and Salvation
3.1. Deliverence and Salvation
For all those who place their trust in Christ, having repented of sin and believed in Him, they will be granted deliverance. They will be saved. Ultimately they will be saved from the just wrath of God
Christ came into the world in order to conquer Satan. Satan was the adversary of Adam in the garden. It was this very deceiver that sought to bring permanent separation between man and God. Only God could bring about the salvation and deliverance that was necessary in order to set us from the grip of the adversary. Christ by His death destroyed Satan’s works;
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—
Further to this, we are told in Luke’s Gospel that Christ removes Satan’s armor;
21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.
In that text, the strong man is Satan, the adversary, under whose power the world was subjected. But the person who is stronger is Christ Jesus, and this Christ entered into the world in order to bind up the strong one, and to take the spoils of war, those who would be saved and redeemed by His blood.
It is precisely because of this setting free that was effected at the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that he made a way for us to be reconciled to the Father, and thus open up the way to heaeven for all who would believe in him. But it is also important to note that it is only through jesus Christ that this way is made available. Since it was only Christ, the Eternal Son who entered into this world, who came to do the work that he did, the redeeming work that all mankind needed, it is only through this son that we may have eternal life and gain access to the presence of the Father.
It was only through Christ’s death on the cross on our behalf that we would be able to gain access to the Father...
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
It is thus that Jesus declares to all....
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
There can be no other way by which men are saved, but by the shed blood of JEsus Christ, because no other sufficient sacrifice for sin exists. Only the blood of the lamb would suffice for our salvation.
Let me just say, that is is precisely for this reason that it is impossible for man to earn his way to heaven, because there is no sacrifice that we could possibly make, no matter how great that sacrifice, no matter how self-sacrificing, and self-abasing, and no matter how much we give… it is never enough to save us, because our sin is great, and even the smallest of sins is deserving the wrath of God. How much wrath then do we deserve due to the multitude of our sins?
But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more!! That is the Gospel message of the salvation that Christ wrought on our behalf.
Do you recognise yourself as that sinner that Christ came into the world to save? None of us are worthy of the grace of Christ. None of us would look for God and seek Him out. But He came into this world in order to seek and to save what was lost.
We see a further benefit of this coming of the Son...
3.2. Peace With God
3.2. Peace With God
Christ came into the world, and through this salvation and deliverance that was wrought through his work on the cross, we have the forgiveness of sins, and thus we have peace with God.
As the angels cried out in worship before the shepherds to whom they had appeared, their cry contained these words...
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
Peace to me. Through the coming of the Son, there is peace that is granted to men. Those who may know peace are those on whom his favour rests. This means that his peace is upon those who are known by Christ. Those who have surrendered their lives to living for Christ and His glory and honour in every day and in every circumstance. Peace to these men.
Paul speaks of this peace in his letter to the Colossians.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
In that verse in Colossians, we see the important aspect of reconciliation with God. God was reconciling all things to himself. This reconciliation speaks of a change that is wrought so that where there was once enmity and animosity between parties, that is hencforth changed such that there is now a unity. There is a peace that now exists between the two parties.
God has worked in order to allow us to be brought back into fellowship with Him because he has dealt with that which was the cause of the animosity - our sin. God, in the Lord JEsus Christ, carried out his divine wrath due to us on the Son Jesus Christ at his death on the cross. God made peace through his blood shed on the cross.
The prophet Isaiah spoke about this peace that was to come…
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
You see, the work that God did through Jesus Christ is effective and cannot be undone, even into all eternity. Christ came to perform that perfect sacrfice that would result in eternal peace between us and God. Praise God for His Son coming into the world.
Dear friend, do you see that this is what God has done for you? Do you recognise it? Or perhaps I should ask, has he done this for you? Or are you still giving half-hearted devotion to the God who gave all - even His only Son - in order to redeem you?
This leads us to consider finally...
4. The Fitting Response from Us
4. The Fitting Response from Us
If we just ponder and marvel at this great work that has been done in and through Christ, that God himself entered into the world, entered into humanity in order to bring about such a great salvation, this must surely drive us to responses that are worthy of such a great salvation. Such a great gift given unto us...
The first response, the starting point of this is...
4.1. Repentance and Faith
4.1. Repentance and Faith
The crux of the Gospel message, as I’ve already outlined it this morning, is that there is to be repentance of sin.
Christ came into the world and preached a Gospel of repentance and faith in him.
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
When Paul came to the Athens, and saw the plenitude of gods and idols that the people were serving, and even an idol set up to an unknown god, he was compelled to tell them who this God was that was unknown to them. This was the Lord God Almighty, as manifest in His Son. And he preached the Gospel to them, and proclaimed to them...
30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
Dear friends, God has made manifest his one and only Son. Christ came into the world as the perfect revelation of God Almighty. Any who reject Jesus Christ, reject the Father. We are commanded to repent.
I would like to ask, have you truly repented? Have you turned away from all selfish living, living only for your own benefit and good. Living only so that you may have and obtain that which you desire. Perhaps even claiming to worship God through Jesus Christ, and yet your life is so driven by personal agendas and goals, that if you were to stand back and honestly assess your life, you would have to say that you are not truly worshiping Christ, but worshiping self.
Dear friends, this is a most important question to ask yourself. Don’t go through this life thinking to yourself that are serving Christ, claiming to serve Christ, but in reality there is no evidence in your claim. It is merely a claim made because you want the benefits without the sacrifices. That is not a repnetant life.
The person that has truly beheld the glory of Christ, and the glorious Gospel work that He came to perform, is a life that willingly surrenders to Him, and says there is no greater thing in all this world, there is nothing else that I desire in this world apart from Jesus Christ. Have you surrendered yourself to Christ to this extent?
In penning the 73rd Psalm, the Psalmist looked around him and saw people who were otherwise ungodly and how they prospered. And he wondered why it was that he, as a person who was living a life submitted to God lived with such struggles, and was seemingly not blessed with the prosperity that others around him enjoyed. And after much pondering and thinking upon this, and even after he very nearly lost his spiritual footing, he eventually came to his senses, and realised that God was indeed good, and that God would bless his people into eternity. One day there would come a day of reckoning, and all would be laid bare before the Father. And eventually he was led to cry out these beautiful words...
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
Is that the cry of your heart today? Do you have all that you desire right now, because all that you truly desire is God, and that reconciled relationship with Him?
Secondly, in terms of our appropriate responses, we should be those who have...
4.2. Gladness and Joy
4.2. Gladness and Joy
Certainly, the joy of the Christian is the knowledge that God has been so gracious to give us a Saviour, to effect that salvation that was needed, and had even given us the seal of the Holy Spirit.
As the angels announced this message to the shepherds in our text, they said to the shepherds…
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
This joy is not merely a fleeting and momentary joy. It is not a joy that is slight, or weak, or meager. It is a great joy. Indeed, a knowledge of our great sinfulness, coupled with the understanding of the Great Saviour that has come, leads us to great joy, because our lives may be redeemed through His life.
After the message was given to the shepherds by the angels, they went to visit this Saviour that was born, and we read later in verse 20:
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
The shepherds rejoiced at His coming;
Not only did the shepherds rejoice, but the elderly man Simeon, who had been waiting for the salvation of Israel, rejoiced rejoiced when Christ was brought into the temple.
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
The third aspect of our fitting response is...
4.3. Reverent Worship
4.3. Reverent Worship
For such a great Saviour, it is fitting that the people of God bow their knee in worship. Indeed, it is said by the apostle Paul that every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Phil.2:10-11)
The book of Revelation gives a wonderful picture of the redeemed of God worshiping the Lamb...
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
And in Revelation 5:11-14
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Friends, we will one day worship the Lamb at his throne. He is indeed worthy. But given the revelation that we have now, the very revelation of God in His son Jesus Christ, and further the knowledge that this Son died for us, was buried, rose again to life, and ascended into heaven, our response should be praise and honour now. We do not wait until glory, but we worship as pilgrims on route to glory.
And then finally in terms of our fitting response.
4.4. A Life of Obedience
4.4. A Life of Obedience
For such a Saviour, who was come into the world, for the grace of God given in and through Christ, should we not, as those who have been given much, even the very Son who paid for our sin, should we not live our lives in humble obedience?
The Scriptures teach us that we should diligently strive for this.
8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
The Apostle Peter wrote…
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Certainly, having been redeemed at such a great cost, we should make it our goal to please Him.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Just briefly, as we close…
God sent His Son - His only beloved Son. This Son was given unto us, in order that we might be redeemed from the world of darkness.
Dear friends, we must respond to Jesus.
If we refuse to receive Christ, then our guilt remains upon us, and the wrath of God will come upon us.
But let me ask, why would we refuse Christ?
He is no fool who loses what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.
Have you let go of all that you cannot keep, all that this fleeting world presents to you as that which will satisfy but simply cannot live up to its own claim? And have you taken hold of Christ, the Son of God given to us, so that you may gain all, perfect satisfaction and contentment in him unto eternity? That is the question that we must answer.