Title: Decisions that made Christmas.
Introduction.
In 5 days from now we will celebrate the birth of Christ. Now of course nobody knows for sure what day of the year Jesus was actually born but the bigger point is that we do know he was born and that fact changed everything.
The title of today’s sermon is “Decisions that made Christmas.” It’s important to always remember that Christmas did not happen by change. Christmas could only happen because certain decisions were made. Since we all have benefited greatly from those decisions it’s only right that we take this time to recognize and honor the decisions that made Christmas.We want to start by recognizing and honoring the very first decision that made Christmas happen.The Bible tells us that this decision was made before the foundation of the world and was first revealed to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
1. God’s decision: To send us His Son.
Galatians 2:4-5 tells us a lot about God’s decision to send us His Son at Christmas.
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
Here in these verses we find the answers to the following 2 questions. Why did God send His Son 2000 years ago and not say 1000 years ago? What did God send His Son to do?
Why did God send Christ 2000 years ago and not say 1000 years ago? 2000 years ago was when” the fullness of the time had come.”
2000 years ago was the perfect time to send Jesus.2000 years ago 4 things made it the perfect time to send Jesus
1. A common language (Greek)
2. A good road system (roman roads)
3. A time of relative peace (Roman rule)
4. Prophecy
“Thus there was fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile in Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.” (Matthew 1:17)
B. What did God send Christ to do?
“God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,”
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
God sent Christ at Christmas time for 2 reasons
1. To redeem us from the law
To redeem means to “To buy us back…”
People say that there is way too much emphasis on buying at Christmas.But in a sense Christmas is all about buying.Christmas is all about God sending His Son to buy us back from the Law of Sin and Death!
And you will call him Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.
2. In order to adopt us as His sons and daughters
God sent His Son in order to have more Sons and daughters
Yet to those who received Him. To those who believe in his name. He gave them the right to be called children of God.
God’s decision to send his Son was to buy us back from our sins and make us sons and daughters of God.
2. Christ’s decision: To humble Himself and become obedient to death.
Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
The two greatest examples of the humility and obedience of Christ are found here in these verses
1. The Cross – The time of His Death (v8)
2. Christmas – The time of His Birth (v5-7)
Paul describes for us what Christmas looks like from Jesus’ perspective
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men
A. At Christmas He takes off his divinity and puts on humanity
B. At Christmas time He leaves the splendor of Heaven for a stable on earth
Why? For only one reason: To die on the Cross for our sins!
He made His decision in order to change our destiny! He came to Earth so that we could all go to Heaven!
That’s why the Devil made it his mission to try and kill the child Jesus.He wanted Jesus to die in his crib before he could die on his cross.
3. Mary’s decision: To believe for the impossible
Scripture: Luke 1:35-38
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 “Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 “For with God nothing will be impossible.”38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary’s decision was to believe God for the impossible. Was this a hard decision or an easy decision for Mary? 6 months before this Zechariah the father of John the Baptist was in a similar position.He found the decision to believe God for the impossible too hard.Christmas proves to us that God is the God of the impossible!
4. Joseph’s decision: To do the right thing
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. hen Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.”
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.] And he called His name Jesus."
We don’t know a lot about Joseph but from what we read about him we can see that it was important to him to do the right thing.We see this firsthand when he hears that Mary is pregnant. Immediately he wanted to do the right thing.
(19)Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
Not only is Joseph a man who does the right thing. He is a man who does the right thing the right way.
You can do the right thing yet do it the wrong way. For example when you do something publically that would be better done privately. Or when you tell everybody when you should really tell nobody.
Joseph teaches us that when it comes to doing the right thing Scripture triumphs over culture.
You might think that Joseph changed his mind about what was the right thing to do because he received a dream. Notice that Joseph not only received a dream he also received a scripture!
(23) “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,”[c] which is translated, “God with us.”
Life today is a battle between culture and scripture.Culture tells us this is the right thing to do and scripture tells us that this is the right thing to do.Now at one time culture and scripture said the same thing. But not anymore. Eventually culture is going to say the right thing to do is the opposite too what the scripture says.
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5. The Shepherd’s Decision: To go tell others.
Scripture: Luke 2:15-21
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Where did the angels go after telling the shepherds about the birth of Christ? Into heaven! Why go back into heaven? After telling the shepherds about the birth of Christ why didn’t the angels go on to the next field and tell others?The responsibility and decision to go tell others is not the angel’s job anymore. What the angel’s started we get to finish.
What did they tell others?
17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child
What was the saying that was told them about this child?
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
To you and to all people.The true meaning of Christmas!People are most open to hearing about Jesus at Christmas time.
To all people who will believe.Why shepherds?
When Jesus looked at the multitude he saw them as sheep without a shepherd.
Conclusion
What decisions might God want us to make at Christmas?
1. The Greatest Decision would be for us to receive Jesus as our Savior.
The difference between an inn and a manger.
2. The decision to tell someone about the true meaning of Christmas
3. The decision to continue to believe God for the impossible.
Conclusion
What decisions might God want us to make at Christmas?
1. The Greatest Decision would be for us to receive Jesus as our Savior.
The difference between an inn and a manger.
2. The decision to tell someone about the true meaning of Christmas
3. The decision to continue to believe God for the impossible.
