I. Jesus was born to save His people from their sins.
This implies that each of us is guilty of sin. Romans 3:23 affirms that, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Sin has caused a separation between us and God, a complete breaking of fellowship with Him. This is why Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden.
There is also a penalty that goes with this, Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through His son Jesus Christ"
So, what does this salvation look like? It means to be delivered from our sins, to be made whole.
1. Means being delivered from being lost. Paint a picture of what it means to be lost. Wandering around in the desert, lost deep in the wilderness - no direction to follow, stumbling about, until the point of giving up and dying.
A. Gospel comes in God sees our condition, sends Jesus to seek and save us from our sins. Luke 19:10
Luke 19:10 NKJV
for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
2. Means being delivered from sin. From our mistakes, corrupt ideas and thoughts, moral impurity, a crooked and perverse generation. Remember sin is a disease for which there is no cure. It takes us further than we want to go, keeps us longer than we want to stay, and always costs us more than we are willing to pay.
A. Where God steps in, God knows about our disease, He knows how it enslaves and entangles us with the world. He sent Jesus to set us free from our bondage to sin and the world. He frees us from the guilt and shame that sins inflicts upon us. 2 Timothy 1:9-10
2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV
who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
3. Means being delivered from future evil and corruption. Saved from aging, decay, death and hell. It is salvation from God's wrath. It keeps us safe and preserves us both in time and eternity.
A. We cannot save ourselves from any of this, but God can. This is the message of salvation. God loves man and He wants to save us, so He sent Jesus to do just that.
1. Complete redemption of man's body and soul.
2. Prefect deliverance from the wrath of God; being separated from Him for eternity.
3. A gift that we can receive because of the final triumph of Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. 5:9-10
1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 NKJV
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
4. Means we are delivered from dangers and the enemy. This does not mean that God saves us from experiencing difficulty and danger. But what it does mean is that God delivers us through the difficulties and dangers of life.
A. God gives us peace and security of the soul, no matter what happens.
B. God gives safety independent of the circumstances or environment.
C. God gives us inward strength and courage to bear the attacks and dangers we face. Hebrews 11:7
Jesus came so we could be saved and not perish. That we could become children of God and not children of wrath. John 1:11-12
John 1:11–12 NKJV
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
II. Jesus was born in order that He might reveal God
1. John 1:18 -
John 1:18 NKJV
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
2. Recall a time when Moses asked god if he could see him face to face. Look at Exodus 33:17-23. Not possible for us to look upon God the Father so Jesus came that he might be able to explain in word and deed, who God truly is.
3. Can best be seen in Jesus conversation with Phillip in John 14:8-9.
John 14:8–9 NKJV
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
III. Jesus was born that He fulfill prophecy
1. There are over 300 prophecies concern Jesus' first and second coming. In doing just a cursory glance, I was able to come up with 44 that are easily recognized as being fulfilled in Jesus Christ at His first coming. Share just a few.
• The how of His birth. Genesis 3:15, fulfilled in Galatians 4:4.
• The where of His birth. Micah 5:2, fulfilled in Luke 2:4-5, 7.
• The time of His birth. Daniel 9:25, fulfilled in Luke 2:1-2.
• A forerunner would proceed His birth. Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1, fulfilled in Mark 1:2 - 4; Matthew 3:1 - 3.
• We could go on, but this is just to give us an idea of how God gives us a reassurance that we can believe what He says in His word. The chances of just these 5 prophecies being fulfilled by one man at one time is greater than 1 in 1 Billion.
IV. Jesus was born so the He could defeat the devil.
1. Paul says to us in Ephesians 6:10-12, we have a spiritual enemy who has been identified at the devil (Satan).
Ephesians 6:10–12 NKJV
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
2. But listen to what the writer of Hebrews boldly proclaims. Hebrews 2:14-15.
Hebrews 2:14–15 NKJV
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
3. Jesus defeated the devil, we have the victory over death. 1 Corinthians 15:57.
1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
V. Jesus was born so that He could die to provide salvation.
1. Not a way, but the only way. John 14:6
2. His ultimate goal. Mark 10:45
Mark 10:45 NKJV
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
3. Peter tells us this. 1 Peter 2:24
1 Peter 2:24 NKJV
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
4. Paul in Romans states: Romans 5:6-8
Romans 5:6–8 NKJV
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus was born for all these reasons and many more beyond the scope of our time. As we begin this Christmas season, let us think about not just the fact that Jesus came, but why He came. Let us recognize that truly God is with us, Immanuel.
Prayer and invitation.
gory A Peterson / General
Christmas 2016 / Birth of Jesus / Matthew 1:21
Explore some of the reasons Jesus was born, often teach our children that Jesus came, but seldom do we help them understand why He came. Perhaps we have never considered this or have come up with the idea this scripture presents but not the why. Explore that today.
I. Jesus was born to save His people from their sins.
This implies that each of us is guilty of sin. Romans 3:23 affirms that, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Sin has caused a separation between us and God, a complete breaking of fellowship with Him. This is why Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden.
There is also a penalty that goes with this, Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through His son Jesus Christ"
So, what does this salvation look like? It means to be delivered from our sins, to be made whole.
1. Means being delivered from being lost. Paint a picture of what it means to be lost. Wandering around in the desert, lost deep in the wilderness - no direction to follow, stumbling about, until the point of giving up and dying.
A. Gospel comes in God sees our condition, sends Jesus to seek and save us from our sins. Luke 19:10
Luke 19:10 NKJV
for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
2. Means being delivered from sin. From our mistakes, corrupt ideas and thoughts, moral impurity, a crooked and perverse generation. Remember sin is a disease for which there is no cure. It takes us further than we want to go, keeps us longer than we want to stay, and always costs us more than we are willing to pay.
A. Where God steps in, God knows about our disease, He knows how it enslaves and entangles us with the world. He sent Jesus to set us free from our bondage to sin and the world. He frees us from the guilt and shame that sins inflicts upon us. 2 Timothy 1:9-10
2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV
who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
3. Means being delivered from future evil and corruption. Saved from aging, decay, death and hell. It is salvation from God's wrath. It keeps us safe and preserves us both in time and eternity.
A. We cannot save ourselves from any of this, but God can. This is the message of salvation. God loves man and He wants to save us, so He sent Jesus to do just that.
1. Complete redemption of man's body and soul.
2. Prefect deliverance from the wrath of God; being separated from Him for eternity.
3. A gift that we can receive because of the final triumph of Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. 5:9-10
1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 NKJV
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
4. Means we are delivered from dangers and the enemy. This does not mean that God saves us from experiencing difficulty and danger. But what it does mean is that God delivers us through the difficulties and dangers of life.
A. God gives us peace and security of the soul, no matter what happens.
B. God gives safety independent of the circumstances or environment.
C. God gives us inward strength and courage to bear the attacks and dangers we face. Hebrews 11:7
Jesus came so we could be saved and not perish. That we could become children of God and not children of wrath. John 1:11-12
John 1:11–12 NKJV
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
II. Jesus was born in order that He might reveal God
1. John 1:18 -
John 1:18 NKJV
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
2. Recall a time when Moses asked god if he could see him face to face. Look at Exodus 33:17-23. Not possible for us to look upon God the Father so Jesus came that he might be able to explain in word and deed, who God truly is.
3. Can best be seen in Jesus conversation with Phillip in John 14:8-9.
John 14:8–9 NKJV
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
III. Jesus was born that He fulfill prophecy
1. There are over 300 prophecies concern Jesus' first and second coming. In doing just a cursory glance, I was able to come up with 44 that are easily recognized as being fulfilled in Jesus Christ at His first coming. Share just a few.
• The how of His birth. Genesis 3:15, fulfilled in Galatians 4:4.
• The where of His birth. Micah 5:2, fulfilled in Luke 2:4-5, 7.
• The time of His birth. Daniel 9:25, fulfilled in Luke 2:1-2.
• A forerunner would proceed His birth. Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1, fulfilled in Mark 1:2 - 4; Matthew 3:1 - 3.
• We could go on, but this is just to give us an idea of how God gives us a reassurance that we can believe what He says in His word. The chances of just these 5 prophecies being fulfilled by one man at one time is greater than 1 in 1 Billion.
IV. Jesus was born so the He could defeat the devil.
1. Paul says to us in Ephesians 6:10-12, we have a spiritual enemy who has been identified at the devil (Satan).
Ephesians 6:10–12 NKJV
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
2. But listen to what the writer of Hebrews boldly proclaims. Hebrews 2:14-15.
Hebrews 2:14–15 NKJV
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
3. Jesus defeated the devil, we have the victory over death. 1 Corinthians 15:57.
1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
V. Jesus was born so that He could die to provide salvation.
1. Not a way, but the only way. John 14:6
2. His ultimate goal. Mark 10:45
Mark 10:45 NKJV
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
3. Peter tells us this. 1 Peter 2:24
1 Peter 2:24 NKJV
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
4. Paul in Romans states: Romans 5:6-8
Romans 5:6–8 NKJV
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus was born for all these reasons and many more beyond the scope of our time. As we begin this Christmas season, let us think about not just the fact that Jesus came, but why He came. Let us recognize that truly God is with us, Immanuel.
Prayer and invitation.
