Christmas Sunday 2021

Intro

Colossians 1:21-29

Truth

Today we will be asking and answering five Christmas questions which come from Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

We focus a lot on what God has done for us, and rightly so. But what God has done for us is only the beginning. He is still working, and he has called us to join him in his work which began on that first Christmas 2,000 years ago. Today I seek to help us remember what Christ has done for us, is doing for us, and what he wants to do through us.

After-all, keeping Christmas is about much more than remembering a very special baby who came into our world. It is about living our lives from the same vision which lead him to come to us.

I. What did Jesus come to do? (Colossians 1:21-22)

Jesus came to reverse the events of Genesis 3.

Adam and Eve alienated themselves from God through sin. Christ reconciles us through his obedience and our grace-enabled repentance.

Adam and Eve chose the path of reproach, bringing conviction upon themselves through sin. Christ sets us above reproach through his justifying and sanctifying work for us and in us.

We who were once guilty and on the path leading to death are made innocent, clean, and free through his work.

More than just a nice story about how God came to humanity, the Christmas story is about how God entered into our mess in order to clean us up as only a pure and righteous man could.

II. What did Jesus leave undone? (Colossians 1:24-25)

He left undone the work of gospel proclamation (evangelism) and discipleship.

Christ suffered and died so that we might be saved, but then he went back to the Father. He chose in his supernatural wisdom to hand the baton off to his church to continue his work.

What is the continuation of his work? To make all of the world aware of his life, death, burial, resurrection, and the life we all have through repentance and belief in him.

To be clear, we don't suffer for our sins any longer. Christ did that. We do join Christ in his suffering, putting ourselves on the line so that others can meet the Jesus we now know.

Think about how God condescended to us. He left heaven for a manger and a barn. His condescension is our example. Though we can never stoop lower than he has, we can do like he has done and lower ourselves as servants for the sake of the gospel being delivered to people in our community and around the world.

What is lacking in Christ's afflictions isn't anything relating to salvation. He made the way for salvation but we now make the way by his grace, for evangelism.

III. What has Christ revealed to us? (Colossians 1:26)

The mystery which has been hidden for ages.

Specifically, God’s plan to save the entire world, particularly the gentiles, through Christ (a suffering servant king rather than a triumphant conquerer).

These things are all over the OT, but largely hidden in types and shadows. IT seems obvious now that Christ has revealed himself, but most people living in Paul’s day were shocked by the way Christ revealed himself.

Also, this mystery is something available to anyone though grace which really confounded the gnostic heretics who viewed mysteries as something only available to a select, super spiritual few.

Christmas is an amazing reminder that God has a plan that people often could never understand because we lack the supernatural insight to see the big picture like he does. It is truly an amazing thing that God has brought mere men and women to a place of understanding regarding his plan for salvation and ultimate judgement.

IV. What does Christ reveal in us?

He reveals Christ not only to us, but in us and by grace he gives us the hope of glory.

It would be amazing if all God did was reveal Christ to us but he has done so much more. He has revealed Christ in us.

We have Christ dwelling in us through the Spirit. As a result, we have a firm hope that there is a greater glory which we are approaching in Christ.

Not only are we being saved, we will be glorified and this process of glorification (being made like Jesus in every way) is active in us now.

The Advent of Christ is being fully revealed in us.

Advent and Christmas aren't just things we celebrate once a year during a particular season. They are our total, year round reality.

We commemorate them during this season we are in but we live out their reality daily as we actively walk by the Spirit.

V. What does Christ reveal through us?

He reveals the extent of the true power of the gospel through us.

Paul tells us in verse 22 that Christ came to reconcile us to God so that he might present us blameless and above reproach before him.

In verse 22 Paul echoes the intent of Christ, saying that the aim of his ministry was to present everyone mature in Christ.

The gospel of Christ has the power to not only save us, but also to form our lives into examples of what a redeemed, reconciled, blameless, and mature person looks like.

Christ reveals himself and his power through us by empowering us to live our the purity and maturity he has bought fur us, and pronounced over us.

Ultimately, a mature Christian is someone who’s life resembles Christ’s life.

This means that we condescend to the lost as he did, that we obey the Father as he did, and that we proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom as he did.

Launch

I believe the main difference between Christians who live mediocre lives for Christ and Christians who live great lives for Christ is simple. It is intentionality.

Do you truly intend to keep the meaning of Christmas alive in you year round as Christ intends? What practices will you commit to being a part of your daily routine so that you are sharper in the Spirit than you are in your human nature?

Christ’s intent for you is very clear. He has gone through a lot of trouble to present you blameless and mature before the Father. If He intends for you to be mature, can I be so bold today as to say that you can and will be mature if only you will choose to intentionally walk by the Spirit?

This Christian life is for everyone, not just a perceived spiritual elite. The Bible calls all Christians saints. What separates us is not different levels of grace, but willingness to swim in the grace we all have daily. God is for you and me, so let’s be for him!