GOOD TIDINGS of Great Joy!
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Introduction
Introduction
Today we finish our 3 sermon series entitled the “3 Words of Christmas!” Two Sundays ago, we focused on the word “Glory” talking about God’s glory and the fact that the angels proclaimed “Glory to God in the highest.” Then, last wee, we focused on the word “Peace” noting that angels also proclaimed “and on earth peace.”
Now, today, we turn our attention to Luke 2 once again. Let’s read the story of the shepherds and then I will give you today’s phrase.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 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.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
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.
I want to draw your attention this morning to verse 10 which says...
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
This morning we are going to focus on the phrase “Good tidings of Great Joy!”
One of the biggest issue many people face during the Christmas holiday is what we call the “Christmas Blues.” As I mentioned last week, you would think that Christmas would be a time of joy, peace, and happiness. Unfortunately, that is not always the case for many.
What is it that causes people to feel “blue” at Christmas?
There are many factors. Here a just a few to consider.
Some feel “blue” during the holidays because they have huge expectations for themselves and others. In some ways, they expect Christmas to solve all their problems. And, when it doesn’t, they fall into a great depression.
Some feel “blue” because they lose faith in others. Many people depend heavily others. Then, when those people fail them, it causes depression.
Some feel “blue” during the holidays because of its focus on family. For many, Christmas holds many hurtful memories. In some cases, the loss of loved ones means spending the holidays without them. Thus, Christmas becomes a blight and not a blessing. They are faced with hurt and, consequently, they become depressed.
Another huge contributing factor for feeling “blue” during the holidays is alcohol consumption. Many who are depressed or “blue” turn to alcohol as a means of coping with the stress and depression. They are seeking to relieve the tension. Unfortunately, it is only a temporary fix and when they are sober the depression only intensifies.
May I say to anyone who may feeling depressed this morning that there is some Good Tidings of Great Joy! You see with the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ came the promise of good news that leads to great joy. You can find joy in Christ. In fact, if you will listen to the good news of the gospel this morning and accept its message, I can guarantee that it will produce great joy in your life.
The night of Christ’s birth, the angel of the Lord boldly proclaimed that he brought “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” It is good news for you. It is good news for all who will hear.
Here is my first point this morning.
There is Good Tidings of Great Joy about God Himself
There is Good Tidings of Great Joy about God Himself
HE is LIFE!
HE is LIFE!
Please understand this morning that God, from the beginning of time, had a plan for man’s salvation. Over in Hebrews 11:3 it says
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
One of the amazing things about God is that fact that He is eternal. Note that in Hebrews 11:3 is says that God is the one who framed the worlds aka the universe. In fact, He did it with just speaking it into existence.
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
As you study Scripture, you will find that it never deals with the when and how our universe came into being. Instead, the focus of God’s Word is always with the who and the why. You see it is all about a God who lives. The apostle Paul in his great sermon on Mars Hill proclaimed...
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
You see our God is a living God who gives life. He is a God who, on that glorious Christmas night, came into this world so that He might give spiritual life to all men.
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.
HE is LOVE!
HE is LOVE!
Not only is our God the God of Life, He is also a God of great love. Note that “God so love the world.”
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
God manifested His love through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas then is all about “Good Tidings of Great Joy.” Good tidings about a God who gives spiritual life to all who will believe in His Son. Good tidings about a God who so loved us that He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for us.
Now, go back with me, to the angel’s message recorded in Luke 2.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Note that the “good tidings of great joy” is for who? It is for “all people.”
There is Good Tidings of Great Joy for All People
There is Good Tidings of Great Joy for All People
The gospel message, aka the “good tidings”, is a universal message. It is a message for all no matter their skin color, their culture, or even the country in which they are born. It is a message for all people.
What does this is the message of “good tidings” “for all people” about? Note, that first that the “good tidings” is...
There is Redemption and Forgiveness in Christ!
There is Redemption and Forgiveness in Christ!
A great passage that speaks to this is found in Colossians 1.
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Here we find the “good tidings of great joy.” For, as it states, all people can find in the Lord Jesus Christ redemption and forgiveness. You see we all need redemption. Why? Every single one of us were born already sinful and rebellious towards God. We were born “short of His glory” and in need of a Redeemer.
The word “redemption” means the act of freeing or the state of being freed from bondage. It has the idea of paying a ransom so that a person might be set free. All of this speaks to the condition of all men and women. All are born already in bondage to sin.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Have you ever wondered why God could say that you and I would be sinners even before we were born? It is because God already knew that each of would be born with a sin nature.
ILLUSTRATION: I often illustrate this using this illustration. Many of you have heard it before, however, it is worth repeating again. How does a dog communicate? It barks. Why does it bark? It barks because it is a dog. How does a cow communicate? It communicates by mooing. What does a cow moo? It does so because it is a cow. Thus, in much the same way, we commit sin because we are sinners.
Thus, each person is already born in bondage to sin. Christ through His death, burial, and resurrection broke sin’s bondage.
Christ Himself said...
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
What then is the truth? The truth is that all people are born in bondage to sin. However, in Christ, you can be set free. He came as the Redeemer of men. He fulfilled His purpose on the cross of Calvary. And, because of all that He has done, men and women today experience redemption.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Along with redemption comes forgiveness to all who will believe.
Remember Ephesians 1:7 which says...
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Forgiveness is essentially the release from an obligation or a debt. Spiritually speaking, it is a release from the debt of sin. You see we owed a debt we could not pay. God is holy. God cannot look upon sin or reward those who are sinners. Thus, sin must be judged. God’s judgment upon sin is death. Death is simply, by its nature, separation. When you experience the death of a loved one, you are physically separated from them. However, spiritually speaking, all of us are already born separated from God. We are born, as Scripture describes, already dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Note that people are already “dead” in their sins. Romans 6:23 talks about the judgment for our sins.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Therefore, all who have not accepted God’s gift, are spiritually dead. However, note again in Colossians 2:13 that in Christ you can find forgiveness for your sins.
In fact, verse 14 of Colossians 2 tells us this.
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
His death and the shedding of His blood blots out all that was held against us. He took it out of the way and nailed to the cross.
My point is this. The “good tidings of great joy” is that the Lord Jesus Christ offers to all who will accept it redemption and forgiveness. And, additionally, the “good tidings of great joy” is that...
There is Eternal Life in Christ!
There is Eternal Life in Christ!
Go back again to the Christmas story of Luke 2. Look again at the message from the angel. It was a message of “good tidings of great joy” for in that message we find...
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
A Savior is One Who came to save.
God’s Word is quite clear that all who perish in their sin perish separated from Him. Remember all are born spiritually dead. They are born already separated from God.
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
ILLUSTRATION: The way I like to illustrate this principle is this. There are two paths of life. One path is a path without God and the other path is a path with God. We are already born on the first path without Him. It is a path that leads to destruction. It is a path of condemnation. However, today, you are sitting, and perhaps, for the first time you are hearing about all Christ has done for you. Right here and right now you have a choice to make. You can make the choice to know Christ personally setting you a completely different path. A path that is a path of life. In fact, it is a path of eternal life. However, Christ is the key. If you want to die in condemnation, then just keep living your life without Him. By rejecting Him, you stay on the path you are already on. A path that leads to an eternity separated from God. Which, by the way, God is in heaven, a place you cannot go without Christ. The opposite of heaven is hell. Hell is real. It is place of torment, flames, and an unquenchable thirst. You want to spend eternity there, then do nothing today. However, personally, I would rather choose Heaven. I would rather have eternal life aka everlasting life. If you want life, then you must choose Christ and all that He has done for you.
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.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Those verses say all that I just said. Reject Christ and continue heading for condemnation. Accept Christ and enjoy knowing that you are saved from that condemnation and now have everlasting life.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Christ is the answer to eternal life. It is only through Christ that you can have eternal life and live with God the Father.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
My prayer is that you will hear the “good tidings of great joy” about the Savior who was born in Bethlehem this morning. My prayer is that you will accept all that He had done for you. My prayer is that will embrace redemption and forgiveness found only in Him. My prayer is that you will choose an eternity with Him versus continuing on the path of condemnation.
Conclusion
There is so much more that I could say about “the Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” However, my time is finished. Let me conclude by saying that Jesus Christ is the only way into Heaven. It is only through Him that we can part of God’s family. It is only through Him that we can find an ever present help in the time of need.
1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
I started this message talking about feeling depressed during the Christmas season. Depression affects so many people. However, may I say to you this morning, Christ is the answer for the depressed. When you put your trust in Him, He gives you a joy and a peace that surpasses all understanding. In fact, Christ’s birth and the announcement of His birth was so a joyous occasion that the angels could not help but burst forth praising God and saying...
14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.
Last week, we talked about the PEACE that only comes through Christ Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace. You can replace your depressed, spiritually empty life with a life of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. How can you do this? You do this by placing your faith in the Savior, which is Christ the Lord. When you do, His Spirit takes up residency in your life enabling you to live a life that is quite different than the one you live now. Will you open your heart to Him by hearing and receiving the “Good Tidings of Great Joy?”
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.