Looking Forward With One Eye In The Mirror

Looking Forward With One Eye In The Mirror

Matthew 1:1-17

INTRO: There is a conspiracy afloat in America today to take Christ out of Christmas!

1. We as Christians understand something the common everyday person doesn’t.

 Without Christ there can be no Christmas.

 Happy Holidays can’t begin to replace Merry Christmas.

 Yet even in this, the greatest country in the world, the name of Jesus Christ is under attack.

2. Oh, the world doesn’t have any problem with Christmas…it’s just Christ.

 One look at the stores tells us that Christmas itself is ok!

 They used to wait until Dec to put out Christmas stuff.

 Then it was Thanksgiving.

 Now it’s mid-summer.

3. If only Christians would look forward to the Savior’s birth as Wal-Mart does.

 If only we could get as excited as the retail world does.

 How do we do that?

 We do that by Looking Forward With One Eye On The Mirror.

 As we look forward to Christmas, let us forever look back to Christ.

 This may seem like an odd passage of scripture for Christmas…but stay with me.

 This morning we are looking at the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

4. How can looking at Christ’s genealogy make us look forward to Christmas.

a. Anytime we look back at our Savior it will make us look forward to the celebration of His birth.

b. Three things the record of His lineage will show…

 God’s Grace.

 God’s Sovereignty

 God’s Love

Matthew 1:1 - 17 (NKJV) 1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: 2Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her £who had been the wife of Uriah. 7Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot £Asa. 8Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. 9Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. 10Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot £Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. 11Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. 12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. 13Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. 14Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. 15Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. 16And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. 17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

I. God’s Grace Displayed in the Lives of Individuals.

1. The story of Christ is the story of Grace.

John 1:16 - 17 (NKJV) 16£And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

2. Before Him grace was not available…now it is available for all.

3. This “unmerited favor” the favor of God…now shines throughout this dark old world through His Son Jesus Christ.

4. The covenant of grace, which Paul says is the better covenant…would not have become available had Christ not been born.

5. And Get this…that grace is available to each and every one of us…

6. Even in Jesus’ family tree we see people just like you and I…there are a few suprises hanging around that tree…as there are in all of ours…

 Tamar v3, who was a Gentile of questionable character…

 Rahab v5, a Gentile and a converted prostitute.

 Manasseh and Amon…two of the worst Kings over Judah…

 Slaves…psalmists…shepherds…prophets…priests…and Kings

 Extraordinary and ordinary…just like those He came to save

7. God’s choice of those in the Messianic line proves that He is a God of grace.

8. It makes us look forward to Christmas by remembering God’s grace as displayed in the lives of normal…everyday individuals like you and I.

9. His grace is still working wonders in our lives today.

10. No sin is too great for His blood to cover.

11. No problem is too small to “bother” Him with.

12. No Problem is too complex for Jesus to deal with…some have complex problems…

1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

13. Yes, looking back, we can see, that the grace extended at Calvary, had its birth at Bethlehem…and by looking back…we learn to look forward.