Have you opened your christmas presents yet? Did you get what you were hoping for? In recent years Christmas has become more and more commercial, and for many it’s become no more than a reason for a family dinner or gathering with little or no thought for the reason for the season.
What difference does Christmas make?
Christmas is the celebration of God’s decision to show himself to man in a more intimate and understandable way than He had at any time recorded in the Bible or the history of man. God knew when He made man with the capacity to reason and to make choices, that man by his imperfect nature would not remain true to his creator. God knew that man would forget the miracle of creation and in his own vanity would devise and contrive fables and theories about who and what we are and where we came from that would satisfy our small minds; and though God had chosen a special family to reveal Himself to and through, even they, being carnal, turned away and valued their own traditions and explanation of things to a greater degree than the revelation of God, even though He showed them miracles and wonders which could not have emanated from anyone other than God. Even when Moses went up on Mt. Sinai, the clans of Israel made a golden calf to worship, in spite of the miracles, the thunder and lightening, and the cloud.
Look at the shamble of society today. What is the reason for the myriad problems in the world today? Would you agree that self-will, greed, lust and self gratification are at the core of them?
Society hasn’t changed much over the centuries. Society was in a similar state on that day, which now seems so long ago, when God, who loved the world, meaning all of creation, so much, "that He sent His only begotten Son," sending Him into the world to exemplify His ideal and perfect nature, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). And do you understand that Christ’s life, sacrificially given in payment for your sin and mine is the reason we celebrate His birth? And that if He had not come back from the dead, we would not be celebrating, and He would not have been remembered.
1. Say with me saints: Because Jesus came into the world, my past can be forgiven."
A. God’s Word says, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Ro. 3:23-24). Even the most righteous of us sins daily and needs God’s forgiveness if we would come close to Him.
B. None of us is perfect. We each carry the effects of our sinful existance until the day of our salvation which can only come by the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Guilt is the root of depression and disease. Jesus Christ is the only only answer. The wide gap between God who is righteous and sinful humanity can nly be bridged by the grace of God through His Son Jesus Christ.
C. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new" (2Cor. 5:17). From the moment you ask Jesus into your life, God puts your sin out of His memory, and He sees you as perfect as you stand before Him. Can you say, "Because Christ lives in me, I’m forgiven."
2. Say this with me saints: "Because Jesus came into the world, my present can be managed."
A. I’m not saying you won’t have difficulties in this world. "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth" (Heb. 12:6). We are strengthened through adversity. As we are going through difficult times we often fail to see the value in them until we emerge from the ordeal, stronger people and with greater faith.
B. "I cna do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" ((Phil. 4:13). None of us knows what’s coming tomorrow, but God gives us a sufficient measure of faith to make it through today.
C. If God loved us enough to give His only begotten Son for you and me; Shouldn’t we trust in Him? Jesus never lied. He said, "I am the way, the truth,and the life; no man cometh to the Father, but by me." If you’ve accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, you are already in the Father’s care.
3. Say this with me church: "Because Jesus came into the world, my future is guaranteed."
A. If Jesus is your Savior, you know where you’re going. Hebrews 2:14-15 says, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of the flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." god came to earth as the man Jesus Christ. He overcame sin and death on every level, and He’s able, if you let Him, open the door for you to enter into eternal joy and contentment.
B. Because Christ came back from the grave, we know that death cannot hold us; but that we have eternal life. For the Christian, death is a homecoming, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2Cor. 5:8). And if you understand what I’m saying, you can know Him right now, today!
God’s gifts are personal, practical, and priceless. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you" (John 14:27). Through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven, our guilt is eradicated, and we are healed in every area of our need. Do you know Him? If you don’t, you have nothing to celebrate because you’re going straight to hell. Christmas is wasted on you. His free gift of life however, to you is for all eternity. If you haven’t opened your heart to Him before, Why not ask Him into your life right now?
ALTER CALL
