WE NEED CHRISTMAS BECAUSE WE HAVE A TIME PROBLEM
Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV) But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV) For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NIV) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NIV) for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
INTRODUCTION: WE NEED A CHRISTMAS BECAUSE MAN HAS A TIME PROBLEM. AS WE SAW WITH THE RABBIT, HE HAD A TIME PROBLEM! WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HIS TIME PROBLEM IS THAT THE RABBIT HAD ALL THE INFORMATION THAT HE NEEDED. HE OBVIOUSLY KNEW THE TIME OF THE EVENT. HE ALSO KNEW THE LOCATION OF THE EVENT AND HOW TO GET THERE. WHERE HE MADE HIS MISTAKE WAS THAT HE DID NOT PREPARE FOR ANY PROBLEMS HE MIGHT ENCOUNTER THAT MIGHT DELAY HIM.
INTERESTINGLY, THE MORE WE KNOW ABOUT AN EVENT, THE BETTER ABLE WE ARE TO PREPARE FOR THE EVENT.
TRANSITION: WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT THE COMING OF CHRIST – SPECIFICALLY THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH, WE HAVE LESS INFORMATION THAN THE RABBIT DID. WE KNOW FACTS RELEVANT TO THE EVENT, WE KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING BEFORE THE EVENT, BUT WE DO NOT KNOW THE TIME OF THE EVENT. THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH IS TOO IMPORTANT AN EVENT NOT TO BE PREPARED FOR.
I. TIME TO COME
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
a. DIVINE INTERVENTION
i. GOD SENT HIS SON AT THE RIGHT TIME
1. CHRIST BRINGS HOPE
2. CHRIST BRINGS FREEDOM
3. “SENT” – SPEAKS TO CHRIST’S PRE-EXISTENCE AND HIS ENDORSEMENT FROM GOD THE FATHER
4. CLARIFIES THE RELATIONSHIP – GOD THE FATHER SEND
ii. RIGHT TIME RELIGIOUSLY
1. THE JEWS, SINCE THE EXILE, HAD GIVEN UP ON IDOLATRY
iii. RIGHT TIME POLITICALLY
1. ROMAN RULE HAD BROUGHT PEACE THROUGHOUT THE EMPIRE AS WELL AS SAFETY AND TRAVEL
iv. RIGHT TIME CULTURALLY
1. EVERYTHING UNDER THE CONTROL OF ROME HAD A SINGLE STABLE LANGUAGE
THE BIBLE INFORMS US THAT GOD BOTH KNEW THE RIGHT TIME TO SEND JESUS AND ACTED ON THAT KNOWLEDGE FOR OUR BENEFIT
WE MAY SOMETIMES WONDER IF GOD WILL EVER RESPOND TO OUR PRAYERS, BUT WE MUST NEVER DOUBT HIM OR GIVE UP HOPE. AT THE RIGHT TIME HE WILL RESPOND. ARE YOU WAITING FOR GOD'S TIMING? TRUST HIS JUDGMENT, AND TRUST THAT HE HAS YOUR BEST INTERESTS IN MIND.
b. DIVINE AMALGAMATION
i. NOT ONLY WAS THE TIME OF GOD’S SENDING PERFECT, WHAT HE SENT WAS ALSO PERFECT
ii. GOD SENT HIS SON
iii. JESUS CHRIST WAS FULLY GOD
1. ONLY A PERFECT SACRIFICE WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO PAY FOR OUR SINS
iv. JESUS CHRIST WAS FULLY HUMAN
1. HE WAS BORN THROUGH OR OUT OF A WOMAN
a. WOULD KNOW WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH, YET DO SO WITHOUT SINNING
v. THIS MELDING OF BOTH NATURES PERMITTED CHRIST TO REMOVE THE CURSE OF SIN THAT WAS ON US AS A RESULT OF THE FALL
Galatians 3:13 (NIV) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
THE REASON YOU AND I ARE NOT BRINGING A SACRIFICE TO CHURCH IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO LONGER ANY SIN DEBT TO BE PAID. JESUS PAID IT ALL. ALL TO HIM I OWE. SIN HAD LEFT A CRIMSON STAIN, HE WASHED IT WHITE AS SNOW!
c. DIVINE REVELATION – THE REASON AND RESULT OF CHRIST’S COMING
i. CHRIST CAME TO REDEEM US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW – TO BUY US BACK – THE PAY THE PRICE FOR THE FREEDOM OF A SLAVE
ii. TO SECURE OUR RIGHTS AS SON/CHILDREN OF GOD
iii. OUR RIGHTS AS GOD’S CHILDREN
1. WE ARE NO LONGER DEBTORS, NOR CURSED (3:13).
2. WE HAVE RECEIVED "NEW LIFE" (2:20).
3. WE ARE PART OF A NEW FAMILY (4:5).
4. WE HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT (4:6; 5:25).
5. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A SUPERNATURAL BIRTH (JOHN 1:12-13; GALATIANS 4:28-29).
6. WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF FUTURE RESURRECTION OF OUR BODIES (ROMANS 8:23).
7. WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF A PLACE IN THE FUTURE (JOHN 14:2).
8. WE WILL BE WITH CHRIST IN ETERNITY (JOHN 14:3).
9. WE ENJOY THE SAME SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD PREVIOUSLY LIMITED TO ISRAEL (ROMANS 9:4; GALATIANS 3:28).
10. WE RECEIVE INESTIMABLE RICHES PREDESTINED FOR US BY GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST (EPHESIANS 1:5)
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A TIME PROBLEM, WHICH WE SHALL SEE IN A FEW MINUTES, GOD HAD NO PROBLEM WITH TIME WHEN HE SENT HIS SON AT THE PERFECT TIME TO EFFECT OUR REDEMPTION.
II. TIME TO COME TO CHRIST
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV) For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
a. IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS VERSE, PAUL IS GIVING A REBUKE TO WHO WANTED TO OBEY THE LAW OF MOSES AS A WAY OF OBTAINING OR ACHIEVING RIGHTEOUSNESS.
i. THEY STILL DID NOT GET IT THAT THE LAW WAS NEVER ABOUT BEING RIGHTEOUS, IT WAS ABOUT NEVER BEING ABLE TO MEASURE UP TO THE STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ON OUR OWN.
ii. EVEN TODAY, WE DO NOT GET IT
1. EITHER WE DO NOT MAKE THAT STEP OF INVITING CHRIST INTO OUR LIVES BECAUSE WE THINK WE ARE EITHER TOO FAR GONE OR WE NEED TO CLEAN UP OUR LIFE FIRST
2. AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, WE DO NOT EXPLORE AND EMBRACE A CLOSER WALK WITH OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, THINKING THAT HIS IS RESERVED FOR THE SUPER SPIRITUAL
3. OR WE STOP SERVING BECAUSE SOMETHING, NOT IN OUR NOW – MEMORY FROM OUR PAST OR A WORRY FROM OUR FUTURE HAS SUCKED OUR ENERGY FOR SERVING CHRIST.
b. THIS CHRISTMAS, WE NEED TO EMBRACE THE CONCEPT OF “NOW” CHRISTIANITY
i. TODAY IS WHAT MATTERS MOST TO GOD
ii. A classic comic strip shows two children debating the merits of remembering, anticipating, and living life. The little girl finally says, "Yesterday is past. Tomorrow is future. All we have is today. Today is a gift. That is why it is called 'the present.'"
iii. WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN, HIS WHOLE MINISTRY FOCUSED ON THE NOW
1. PREPARE NOW FOR THE FUTURE
iv. OUR CHRISTMAS FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE NOW.
1. WHAT CAN WE DO NOW
2. HOW CAN WE DO IT NOW
THE REASON WHY WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE “NOW” IS BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE “NOW” IS DONE.
III. TIME TO LEAVE
1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NIV) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NIV) for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
a. THERE IS NO PARTICULAR TIME THAT TELLS US CHRIST IS RETURNING AND WE BETTER BE READY
b. THERE IS NO PARTICULAR NATURAL EVENT THAT SAYS THE LORD IS RETURNING AND WE BETTER BE READY
c. WHEN JESUS RETURNS FOR HIS SAINTS, THE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE UNMISTAKABLE
i. FROM HEAVEN FOR ALL TO HEAR
ii. FORCEFUL – THERE WILL BE A SHOUT
iii. DRAMATIC – THERE WILL BE A TRUMPET
d. THE RETURN OF CHRIST FOR HIS SAINTS IS UNAVOIDABLE
i. THE BIBLE HAS PREDICTED IT
ii. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO OCCUR BEFORE THE LORD RETURNS
e. WE CANNOT DELAY OR AVOID THE RETURN OF THE LORD, BUT WE CAN BE UNPREPARED
i. FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST, TO BE UNPREPARED MEANS TO ENTER INTO THE TRIBULATION AS OUTLINED IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION
ii. TO BE UNPREPARED AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST IS TO NOT BE ABOUT THE BUSINESS JESUS LAID OUT FOR US WHEN HE LEFT
1. PREACH THE GOSPEL
2. MAKE DISCIPLES
3. EDIFY THE SAINTS
SEE WE HAVE A TIME PROBLEM, WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE LORD WILL RETURN. CHRISTMAS ALLOWED US TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF OUR SALVATION, THE GREAT COMMISSION OF CHRIST ALLOWS US TO BE PREPARED FOR HIS RETURN.
SINCE WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE LORD WILL RETURN, WE CANNOT WAIT TO ACT AS HIS AMBASSADORS, SERVE AS HIS SERVANTS, AND ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE HAS LAID OUT FOR US TO DO.
SO, AS WE CLOSE THIS SERVICE TODAY, I WANT TO ASK YOU, “ARE YOU READY?”
IS SO, GREAT!
IF NOT, THERE IS STILL TIME IF YOU START NOW, BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN!
