The Good News of Christ
Introduction-
This morning marks the beginning of Advent.
The 4 weeks prior to Christmas.
It is a time set aside for waiting in expectation for the celebration of the Christ child.
For believers in 2014, we celebrate that Christ the savior has come and we anticipate the promise of Christ return for his church and His people.
It is a time of reflection and preparation and a time of celebration.
For a believer, you cannot celebrate Christmas without Jesus.
We all can use some good news right? The problems in Ferguson Mo., not good news, politicians fighting each other and never getting anything done, not good news… war, poverty, taxes, crime, economy, not good news.
Good news by definition is hearing something that changes a situation. Babies being born, marriages, someone sick and then getting better, accomplishments, having a burden lifted.
But there has never been better news for mankind than “Today in the town of David, a savior has been born to you, he is the Messiah, the Lord.” That is Christmas and that is hearing the good news of Christ.
Jesus Christ is the good news and He comes and brings us peace, joy, and He is the ultimate expression of God’s love to mankind.
Luke 2:8-10
“And there were shepherds living out in their fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night, an angel of the Lord appears to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.”
That day the Shepherds lives were changed forever.
I can picture the sky lighting up and God’s angels announcing the birth of the savior Jesus Christ.
I can imagine the shepherds being fearful because it was something supernatural.
Angels assuring the Shepherds that they do not need to be afraid because it was God’s way of giving them the good news.
I want you to see something here- good news becomes good news when you respond and apply it to your life.
It was good news if you respond to the Son of God being born to redeem mankind.
It was bad news if you by choice do not respond to Him.
People today either embrace Jesus or reject Him. They either say yes or no. By doing nothing with Jesus is to say no, to say that you will respond at a later time is to say no.
Those shepherds were in the fields working, it was like every other day until Jesus shows up. Until the angels demanded that a decision was needed.
They heard the message of Jesus and went to meet Jesus.
What about the people that do not respond to Jesus?
Most people know what the Bible says but choose not to respond.
Most have heard pastors plead that they come to Christ.
Most know that they should respond immediately because you do not have forever.
To have Christmas without Jesus is a choice.
Shepherds that night were given a chance for life change. They went from darkness to light.
Some people like the darkness. In the darkness, they do things they know that God would not be pleased with or approve of. In darkness, they do not need to change and associate with people that are like minded.
One of the things we ask people is “Are you ready for Christmas? The better question would be are you ready for Jesus? Many say not yet.
Last minute shoppers running through the stores on Christmas Eve trying to find gifts for someone.
Telling us that Christmas snuck up on them. Christmas sneak up on them because again they came to Christmas unprepared.
People’s relationship with Christ is the same way. Last year at Christmas unprepared, working out a few things, if I can get a handle on such and such.
Every year overwhelmed and no decision made.
Here we are again- blessed by God that they had another year to decide, but unprepared to make a commitment.
You ever see people preparing for Christmas decorations? That joyless person that is “rigging up the lights” going through the motions of Christmas but has no joy in doing it.
“Why are the lights blinking” “Your so smart, you do it.”
Every year, we say next year. We are going to be more prepared. Next year, I am going to take care of a few things in my life Lord and then I will commit to you.
Jobs, relationships , habits, addictions, Lord, then I promise.
God calls us to change.
He calls us to Himself.
He calls us to the light of God.
He calls us now and wants us to respond now.
We have good intentions, but they will fall short unless we intentionally respond to God when He calls. He tells us to be intentional and ready.
Advent for us today is a celebration of the Christ-child, it has already happened. It is a fact and a promise completed by Christ.
As a believer we should look forward to His return. The Good News completed in our lives because of our acceptance of what He has done for us.
Death, burial, resurrection, and return of Christ.
Illustration
I would like each of you to clean out your desk and begin the school year resolving to keep it clean. One day I will return and inspect your desks and the person with the neatest desk will be given this $100.00 bill. I won’t tell you which day it will be. It will be a surprise. Not even your teacher or the principal will know the day. The children squealed with excitement and began immediately pulling things from their desks, filling the trash baskets with crumpled papers, stacking their books neatly inside their desks, and neatly lining up pencils and pens, every morning for the first week, every student checked his or her desk to make sure it was in perfect condition, confident that today would be the day the superintendent returned. The next week, a few boys grew weary of the exercise and returned to their former habits. By the third week, several students remarked, “I doubt if he’ll come back at all. He just said that to make us keep our desks clean.” After two months, all except one girl bothered to inspect their desks. Dutifully, she inspected her desk every day and several times a day, making sure things were in proper order. Near the end of the year, there was a knock at the door and the superintendent entered the room. Quickly, the students flung open their desks and began frantically to clean them. But the superintendent held up his hand and told them to stop. All the students were asked to stand aside their desks at attention while the superintendent inspected each desk. Finally, the superintendent arrived at the little girl’s desk who confidently displayed her well-kept desk while beaming at the superintendent. After inspecting the desk, he took her by the hand to the front of the class and awarded her the 100 bill. This girl never stopped believing I would return so she kept her desk in perfect order. She did not need to worry what day or even what time of day because she was ready. Always.
Matthew 24:36-44
Some that are playing life roulette will be caught unprepared will make all kinds of excuses why they are not ready. They will blame everyone else except themselves.
So why will some not choose Christ?
1. Some are simply unaware they are lost.
The Bible teaches that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Luke 19:10 unless a person is aware of being lost, he will see no need for Christ as savior. Some are involved in unacceptable social behavior and feel guilt is a dirty word and taken out of their vocabulary. Sin, rebellion, are not taken as absolutes because they believe there are no absolutes.
2. Some will not come to Christ because they are not convinced He is unique.
There was a time that most went to church, revered the name of Jesus, but society has been duped to the big bang theory, they do not believe in the existence of God, and the Bible is not the word of God. Without an accurate knowledge of God, you will not be drawn to Him.
3. Some do not come to Christ because of false teachings and believe they already associate with Him.
Correct teachings, accurate understanding and a desire to be obedient mark the life of a believer. Others have created for themselves their own god that overlooks sin in their life, and by their own standards have created a safe place for themselves.
4. Some will not come to Christ because they are unwilling to pay the price
If you are to follow Christ, you must be willing to forsake all that is in conflict of God’s Word. “Deny yourself, take up the cross daily and follow Jesus”.
Jesus very clearly teaches to count the cost before assuming the role of disciple.
5. Some do not come to Christ because of the behavior of other believers.
But what about the believers, what do they have to look forward too?
Those that desire to respond to God’s good news, the Christ child who came to this world to redeem mankind.
The first name in God’s book of life belongs to the shepherds who at the announcement of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ immediately responded and sought Him out.
The blessing of Christmas is that Christ gave Himself for each one of us. He desires each one of us to respond to his love and enjoys our relationship with Him.
Those dirty shepherds realized that they needed a savior.
They realized that God was about to do something extraordinary.
To us today, we are not only celebrating the birth of our savior, but the completion of our savior going to the cross. While Jesus promised His return, believers are again filled with hope, peace, and the joy of Jesus.
Closing,
As we begin Advent we again have a choice.
Be prepared and ready to celebrate the birth of our savior, or put it on the back burner of our lives.
We have the hope of heaven because of Jesus.
We could talk of heaven, but the only way there is in Jesus.
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son not into the world to condemn the world, but save the world through Him. John 3:16-17.
Amen.
