The Christmas Angels – Part 3 CCCH 12-19-99
INTRODUCTION
Step with me, if you will, for a moment into the world of the Middle East around 3 B.C. It’s difficult to do, I know, but we have a good reference here.
A. After learning about Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph was faced with a tough decision.
B. Joseph was not unrighteous for wanting to divorce Mary. In fact, the manner in which he chose to proceed shows that he was a righteous man. (Matthew 1:19)
3 reasons why Joseph might have sought divorce
1. Jewish and Roman law both demanded that a man divorce his wife if she were found guilty of adultery.
(In fact, Roman law actually treated a husband who failed to divorce an unfaithful wife as a panderer exploiting his wife as a prosititute.
2. Because others would assume that Joseph himself had gotten her pregnant unless he divorced her, his reputation was at stake for the rest of his life.
3. Joseph could have profited financially by divorcing Mary publicly. By taking her to court, he could have impounded her dowry – the total assets she brought into the marriage – and perhaps even gotten back the bridal price, if he had paid one at betrothal.
C. Even though Joseph was going to take the least painful route to terminating the relationship, God sent an angel to reveal another option.
1. “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
2. Mary was also told by an angel to name the child Jesus (Luke 1:31). This name literally means, “the Lord saves.”
What does it mean to be saved from sin?
What does sin do to us that we need to be saved from it?
The Angel’s message to Joseph was one of salvation. News that changed his plans. News for us...
D. THESIS: We will want to obey God when we realize Jesus saves us from our sins.
TRANSITION: Let’s appreciate this angel’s message a little better by reflecting on 3 elements of sin from which we are saved.
I. WE ARE SAVED FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN
A. Jesus gives us a new situation in life
1. To be saved means that our status before God has changed.
2. We’ve gone from sinner to saved
3. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1)
Bible describes salvation with word pictures like this:
Redeemed – payment of our sin penalty has been paid by Christ
Justified – declared innocent by the one who is fit to Judge
Adopted – Now a member of God’s family
Reconciled – All previous estrangement has been overcome and healed
ILLUS - Twenty-one year old Christina Grady had to pay the penalty for her crime...while standing outside a major department store. Twice convicted of shoplifting at a JC Penney in North Carolina, she was ordered by the court judge to stand outside the store’s entrance while wearing a sign that read, "I have been convicted twice for shoplifting at JC Penney. I am truly sorry for what I did." Perhaps the judge had just finished reading The Scarlet Letter, but for whatever reason the judge gave her this choice in order to avoid a 45 day jail sentence.
TS-- What if a Judge who was totally innocent saw the woman in embarrassment as she started to attach the placard around her neck, and as the shoppers started to pull in the lot, the judge said, give that to me, you can leave and I’ll wear it for you." That’s what Jesus did.
R.C. Sproul has said, “Moses could meditate on the law. Mohammed could brandish a sword, Buddha could give personal counsel, Confucius could offer wise sayings, but none of these men was qualified to offer an atonement for the sins of the world. Jesus alone is qualified.”
The importance of the Virgin birth – fully God – untainted by sin – fully man – able to share in our sufferings.
That’s why in our carols we sing things like…
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth.”
“Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”
B. Being saved from the penalty of sin causes us to love God instead of being afraid of Him.
Because he alone gave this gift to us and paid the penalty himself. You will call his name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
TRANSITION: Jesus saves his people from the penalty of sin. The second element we can reflect on is that…
II. WE ARE SAVED FROM THE POWER OF SIN
A. Jesus gives us the opportunity of a new self.
1. “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” (Romans 6:6)
2. “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
The Bible says that in Christ we become a New creation
Sin no longer has mastery or power over us
Chuck Swindoll tells a story (Tardy Ox Cart, p. 503)
A bazaar was held in a village in northern India. Everyone brought items to trade and sell. One old farmer brought in a group of quail. He had tied a string around one leg of each bird. The other ends of all the strings were tied to a ring which fit loosely over a central stick. He had taught the quail to walk in circle, merry-go-round style, around and around. Nobody seemed interested in buying the birds until a devout Hindu man came along, who couldn’t bear to watch these poor creatures walking in their monotonous circles.
The Hindu man said, “I want to buy them all.” The merchant was elated, and after receiving the money, he was surprised to hear the buyer say, “Now, I want you to set them all free.”
“What’s that, sir?”
“You heard me. Cut the strings from their legs and turn them loose. Set them all free!”
With a shrug, the old farmer bent down and snipped the strings off the quail. Free at last. But what did those birds do? They simply kept marching around and around in a circle. Finally the man had to shoo them off. But they landed some distance away and resumed their predictable march.
Free, unfettered, released, yet they kept going in circles as if still tied.
Jesus saves us from the power of sin – Salvation cuts the strings that once held us. End the monotony of the sin treadmill and start flying.
That’s why one of the carols says,
“Remember Christ the Savior was born on Christmas day, To save us all from Satan’s power when we had gone away/astray, Tidings of comfort and joy.”
B. Being saved from the power of sin sets us free to do what God wants.
To live lives that please him. Impossible to do when we were slaves to sin. But possible now. You will call his name Jesus, because he will save his people from the power of sin.
TRANSITION: We’ve been saved from one other element of sin upon which we should reflect. We will want to obey God when we realize…
III. WE ARE SAVED FROM THE PRACTICE OF SIN
A. Because of Jesus we take new steps.
1. Those who are saved are expected to live differently.
2. “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9)
Saved people still sin, but their lives aren’t characterized by sin.
Chuck Colson has ample evidence that salvation leads to a better quality of life (How Now Shall We Live?, p. 311-312). The following things have been found to be true of people with high religious commitment – in other words these are studies done on people who go to church – people who probably have been saved.
1. Less alcohol abuse, drug abuse and criminal activity. (one study found that 89% of all alcoholics said they lost interest in religion during their youth).
2. Lower levels of depression and stress. (In one Gallup survey, respondents with strong religious commitment were twice as likely to describe themselves as “very happy.”)
3. Four times less likely to commit suicide. (In fact, lack of church attendance correlates more strongly with suicide rates than with any other risk factor).
4. Greater family stability. (One study revealed that 84% of strong families identified religion as an important contributor to their strength.)
5. Greater marital and sexual satisfaction. (Churchgoers are more likely to say they would marry the same person again. A 1994 survey showed that very religious women enjoy higher sexual satisfaction in their marriage than do non-religious women.)
6. Better physical health. (Evidence today shows that belonging to a religious group can lower blood pressure, relieve stress and enhance survival after a heart attack)
Now, knowing that the overwhelming majority of these “very religious” people were Christians, it seems to reflect that salvation is a healthier way to live.
B. Being saved from the practice of sin allows us to experience the quality of life that God wants us to have.
TRANSITION:
CONCLUSION
A. Joseph was not afraid to take Mary home as his wife. After he heard from God he could obey.
People would be saved from their sins
B. How about you?
1. Is the penalty of sin still over your life?
2. Does the power of sin still control you?
3. Is the practice of sin putting you in a deep rut?
C. If so, you are the kind of person Jesus came to save! Why not trust God and obey?
ILLUS – And that is why at Christmas people say, Jesus is the reason for the season. Maybe over the past couple of weeks you’ve seen those words, heard them or even said them yourself. The statement can be found on greeting cards, T-Shirts, ornaments and other Christmas knick-knacks. I know why we say that. With all the commercialization and hype around Christmas we lose sight of Christ.
But we must not forget that technically, the angel’s message to Joseph was that Jesus is not the reason for the season. Sinners, you and I, we are the reason for the season. Christ came to save us, if not for that, no need to come. WE are the reason for the season.
As you celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas don’t forget the reason for the season.
We are the reason that he gave his life
We are the reason that he suffered and died
To a world that was lost he gave all he could give
To show us the reason to live
