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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.
I want to draw your attention this morning to verse 10 which says...
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
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
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.
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...
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.
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.”
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.
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
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!
A great passage that speaks to this is found in Colossians 1.
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.
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...
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.
Along with redemption comes forgiveness to all who will believe.
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