GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS: SALVATION
Matthew 1:18-25
#giftsofChristmas
INTRODUCTION… It’s A Wonderful Life (from wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life)
On Christmas Eve 1945, in Bedford Falls, New York, 38-year-old George Bailey contemplates suicide. The prayers of his family and friends reach heaven, where Angel 2nd class Clarence Oddbody is assigned to save George to earn his wings. Clarence is shown flashbacks of George's life. Important ones include:
He watches 12-year-old George save his brother, Harry, from drowning but he himself loses hearing in his left ear. Later, George prevents the distraught town druggist, Mr. Gower, from accidentally poisoning a child's prescription. George postpones his travel as a young man to sort out the family business when his father dies. Immediately following his wedding to Mary, George and Mary witness a run on the bank, and use their $2,000 honeymoon savings to keep the family business in business. Under George's leadership, the company eventually establishes Bailey Park, a modern housing development to keep people out of the slums.
On Christmas Eve 1945, as the town prepares for a hero's welcome for those coming home from war, Billy, George’s uncle, goes to the bank to deposit $8,000, but absent mindedly loses the money. Billy cannot recall how he misplaced the cash. With a bank examiner reviewing the company's records, George realizes scandal and criminal charges will follow. Fruitlessly retracing Billy's steps, George berates him and takes out his frustration on his family.
Suicidal, he goes to a nearby bridge, but before he can jump, he wishes he had never been born. Guardian angel Clarence is about to show what life would be like if George had never been born. Clarence dives into the river. George leaps in and rescues him.
Clarence shows him a timeline in which he never existed. Bedford Falls is an unsavory town occupied by sleazy entertainment venues, crime, and immoral people. The druggist, Mr. Gower, was imprisoned for manslaughter since George was not around to prevent him from poisoning the pills. George's mother doesn't know him. His uncle is institutionalized. The family business failed. Bailey Park is a cemetery. His brother’s grave is there since George did not save Harry and also Harry was not there to save the soldiers on a transport ship in the war. George finds that Mary has never married.
George returns to the bridge and begs for his life back. The original reality is restored, and a grateful George rushes home to await his arrest and to apologize to his family. The townspeople rally and donate more than enough to cover the missing $8,000 and his arrest warrant is torn up. George, his family and friends all together sing Auld Lang Syne as they celebrate Christmas Eve.
The story I just mentioned is from the 1946 film, It's a Wonderful Life, which is considered one of the greatest films of all time. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and has been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made. It was No. 11 on the American Film Institute's 1998 greatest movie list, No. 20 on its 2007 greatest movie list, and No. 1 on its list of the most inspirational American films of all time. In 1990, the film was designated as "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" and added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.
I bring up this movie and the story for two reasons. #1 it’s a Christmas movie. Unlike Die Hard (1988), Batman Returns (1992), and Gremlins (1984), this is an actual Christmas movie and there are no debates about it. #2 I want to bring up the central idea from the story: What if George Bailey had never been born? Keep that thought in mind… ‘not being born.’ I want you to keep that thought in mind because today I would like to ask the question: What if Jesus had never been born? That is a significant question I think.
THREAD: What if Jesus had never been born?
I’d like to read from Matthew 1 this morning and answer that significant question.
READ MATTHEW 1:18-25 (ESV)
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called His name Jesus.”
SUMMARY/POINTS OF THE PASSAGE
Matthew describes for us the birth of Jesus. Mary was a young woman that found favor with God and He overshadowed her with His Spirit and a baby was conceived. By the way, Mary agreed and was not forced. In our culture today, I think that is important to point out. Joseph, her fiancé was a good man, but he wasn’t sure what was going on so he was contemplating divorce. Believe it or not, in the day in which Joseph and Mary lived engagement was legally binding and so to call off the engagement was a divorce even though they were not technically married.
God sends a dream to Joseph and lets him in on the plan. The child will be named Jesus because “He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew reflects that even the nickname given to the Baby would be significant, “Immanuel” means “God with us.” “God with us” would “save His people from their sins.” Jesus was the Son of God.
If we read through the rest of Matthew’s record of the life of Jesus, or any record of the life of Jesus, we see His life was significant, but His death and resurrection were even more significant. This now leads me back to our significant question of the day.
THREAD: What if Jesus had never been born?
SURFACE THINGS THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT
To me the deeper things that would be different is quite obvious, but that is because I am a pastor and as my wife says… I sit and think all day. Well I sat and thought about some surface… not as important things… that would be different in our world if Jesus had not been born.
The Roman Empire would have been different and many governments as well.
The dating of our years would be different.
Art and art history would be changed as well as music.
Churches own over 180 million acres of land all over the world and in the US alone almost 20% of land is owned by churches… all that would be in someone else’s hands.
Most universities would need to have been started in other ways.
Most hospitals would need to have been started in other ways.
Philosophy and politics and our view of human rights would all be different.
The role of women in society would be different.
Slavery would be viewed differently.
65% of the contributions of Nobel Laureates would be diminished or changed.
Personal hygiene would even be different… even the use of soap may not be normal.
The #1 selling book in the world would have to be something else other than the Bible.
These are just some of the surface things that would be different if Jesus Christ had not been born because then also Christianity and the Church would not be around. Again, these are just surface things. It is the deeper truths that are important for us today.
THREAD: What if Jesus had never been born?
DEEPER TRUTHS THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT
I believe that there are three deeper truths that would be different if Jesus Christ has not been born. You see, one of the reasons the birth of a child is so exciting is because of the promise that life holds. What will he or she do? Who will he or she become? How will he or she change the world?
When it comes to Jesus, we know about His birth and we know what happened to Him in His 30s which absolutely changed the world. The death of Jesus of Nazareth fundamentally changed the human condition forever. Souls are different. Our relationship with God is different. Morality is different.
Again, I believe that there are three deeper truths that would be different if Jesus Christ has not been born.
THREAD: What if Jesus had never been born?
#1) No salvation from sin.
#2) No victory over death.
#3) No relationship with God.
NO SALVATION FROM SIN
If Jesus had never been born, there would be no salvation from sin. This is the most obvious significant difference that would impact you and I. Jesus Christ and His death on the cross is the manner in which God has designated for us to be forgiven from sin. Forgiveness from sin means salvation.
If Jesus Christ had not come, His atonement on the cross would never have taken place and therefore there is no forgiveness, redemption, justification, sanctification, salvation, or any other $10 Church words. There is no salvation without Jesus Christ!
READ John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
READ Acts 4:12
“And there is salvation in No One else, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
READ Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
READ Romans 10:9
“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
READ Hebrews 2:9
“But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”
Jesus Christ was indeed born so that He could die. At Christmas time we do celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we also have one eye on His death because of how much He means to us. Jesus was born to complete the promises of God recorded in the Old Testament. Jesus was born so that His death would bring eternal life to anyone who believes in Him.
Let us not miss in these verses and in the passage of Matthew we read earlier that Jesus came to save His people from their sins. He has the authority to do that because He is “God with us.” He has the ability to do that because He is holy and sinless. He has the capacity to do that because He is gracious and merciful and willing.
There is no salvation for the human soul outside of Jesus Christ.
NO VICTORY OVER DEATH
If Jesus had never been born, there would be no victory over death. Death is one of those things that every single person who has ever been born faces. It is scary. Most people are afraid of death because it is a complete unknown. We are flesh and blood and bone and our bodies wear out, get sick, and succumb to accidents. Death is a reality for all people everywhere!
Victory in death is reality for believers in Jesus Christ.
READ John 11:25
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.”
READ John 14:3
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.”
READ 2 Corinthians 5:8
“Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
READ Revelation 21:4
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Our world fears death because for them flesh and blood is all there is. What they see and hear and taste and touch is all there is. Family members and success and business profit and politics and meaning in this life is tied to self and is all-encompassing for many people and it all has to do with meaninglessness. Those who live apart from Jesus Christ should fear death.
Those who life with Jesus Christ know that death is unknown, but we also have assurance of victory in this area. Because Jesus was born, because Jesus lived, because Jesus died, because Jesus rose from the dead… and because Jesus promised us that He has taken care of death… you and I need not fear what happens after this life.
There is no victory in death apart from Jesus Christ.
NO RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
If Jesus had never been born, there would be no relationship with God. Jesus Christ entered into humanity and emptied Himself and became human. Jesus is the bridge between human beings and God. Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and us.
Jesus Christ is Perfect Humanity. He is human and yet never sinned. The incarnation of Jesus Christ was not a side option for God in the plan of salvation, but rather necessary. The plan of God to have a relationship with us requires Perfect Humanity. The only way there could be a true mediator between God and us to enable that intimate personal relationship is if that Mediator were on equal footing with both parties involved.
Jesus had to be human.
Jesus had to be God.
READ John 10:9
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”
READ 1 Timothy 2:5
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
READ 1 John 5:20
“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”
READ Hebrews 4:15
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
READ Hebrews 7:25
“Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
Jesus Christ is our empathetic and sympathetic Savior Who paid the price for our sins in order to being us to God so that we could have a relationship with Him.
There would be no relationship with God apart from Jesus.
THREAD: What if Jesus had never been born?
#1) No salvation from sin.
#2) No victory over death.
#3) No relationship with God.
If Jesus had not been born, we are stuck in our sins, guilty of mistakes, rightly afraid of death, and would be permanently estranged from our Heavenly Father.
ILLUSTRATION… It’s A Wonderful Life (from wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life)
On Christmas Eve 1945, in Bedford Falls, New York, 38-year-old George Bailey contemplates suicide. Before he can jump, he wishes he had never been born. Guardian angel Clarence shows George what life would be like if he had never been born. Clarence dives into the river. George leaps in and rescues him. Clarence shows him a timeline in which he never existed. Bedford Falls is an unsavory town occupied by sleazy entertainment venues, crime, and immoral people. The rest, is cinematic history.
READ MATTHEW 1:18-25 (ESV)
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called His name Jesus.”
The rest, is salvation history.
SERMON SERIES FOCUS/SUMMARY
This year for Christmas we are focusing on the gifts of Christmas. We have talked about peace and joy. Christmas is that time of year when we set aside time and energy and effort and thought to focus on the birth of Jesus Christ and what His birth means for us. We can do that in a year that is spectacular and also in a year that has been spectacularly stressful. We absolutely are given salvation because of the birth of Jesus. We understand more about God’s plans for us and His love for us and His desire to have a relationship with us because of the birth of Jesus Christ.
If Jesus had not been born, we are stuck in our sins, guilty of mistakes, rightly afraid of death, and would be permanently estranged from our Heavenly Father.
INVITATION
I would like you to make a decision to follow Jesus Christ today if you have not done so. It could be that you have been living your life as though Jesus had never been born. Perhaps for you there is not yet salvation from sin. Perhaps for you there is not yet victory over death. Perhaps for you there is not yet a relationship with God. Believe in Jesus!
PRAYER
