Christmas: Jesus Came To Declare War Series

I’m really glad God came up with the idea of Christmas. What did God have in mind when He created Christmas?

Turn 1 John 3 (page 1303 in pew Bibles)

What motivated God to bring Christmas to us? When we think about Christmas, we normally turn to passages inside our Bibles that tell us the story of Jesus’ birth. We remember the angels, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. But, scattered throughout your New Testament are breadcrumbs, little statements of why Jesus came. Like Hansel and Gretel so long ago, these breadcrumbs tell you why Jesus came to earth that first Christmas. If you’re not careful, you’ll simply drive right by them.

This is a series devoted to showing God’s why behind Christmas. This morning, Jesus came to declare war.

Today’s Scripture

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:1-10).

Showing “the Big Why” behind God’s idea of Christmas. The word we use to describe Jesus taking human flesh is Incarnation. Two times in this passage we are told why Jesus came to us - once in verse 5 & again in verse 8. Two times in this passage we are told why Christmas was created. Celebrate Christmas because Jesus Christ came to eliminate sin. Celebrate Christmas because Jesus Christ came to eliminate Satan.

1. Jesus Came to Eliminate Sin

From the moment Jesus came forth from Mary’s womb, it was understood that He was to take away the sin of the world. “You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). He came to save us from our sin. No wonder when John the Baptist say Jesus coming his way, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29b)! Jesus came to destroy sin. Christmas was designed to take away your sins.

1.1 What is Sin?

“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Sin is the most powerful three-letter word in the English language. It is the reason that the world is in such a mess today. It is the reason that our jails are full & our churches are empty. In one word it explains why God sent Jesus, why we need Jesus and why so many people reject Jesus. Sin is the only thing God hates & the only thing that the Devil loves. It is the reason hell was created. Sin caused the fall of man. It has condemned the human race. And sin crucified the Son of God.

1.2 Sin Is Lawlessness

Sin is lawlessness. This is one of the clearest and the best definitions of sin you will find anywhere. Now there are many definitions of sin in the Bible to show its textured layers. “For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23b) “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17). When the Bible tells us “sin is lawlessness,” it simply means that we aim to life on our terms and to live life in our own way. Sin isn’t breaking just any law, it is God’s law. When you sin, you’re saying to God, “I know what you say, but I’m going to do what I want anyway.” This is rebellion.

Did you hear about the little boy whose mother punished him by putting him in her bedroom closet? She had not heard from him in some time and she became worried. She opened the closet door, “What are you doing?” He said, “I have spit on your coat. I have spit on your dresses. I have spit on your shoes but now I’m just waiting for more spit.”