BECAUSE OF CHRISTMAS
"And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ’Behold the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, ’God with us."
Matthew 1:21-23
Because of that first Christmas, the child of God is recipient of three great assurances that provide comfort and strength throughout our life.
I. GOD WITH US!
"…and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us." Matthew 1:23.
Consider these promises:
"…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20.
"And the Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8.
"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me…” Psalm 23:4.
II. GOD IN US!
"… which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27.
The Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of His Son, is in us to seal us until the day of redemption; to guide, comfort, teach and empower us for Christian service.
“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!” Galatians 4:6
“…But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through the Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:9b-11.
III. GOD FOR US!
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things." Romans 8:31-32.
Napoleon was a great general...but an extremely poor theologian! His declaration that "God in on the side of the army with the largest battalions" is patently false.
Who then is God for?
We are to be reminded that the wonderful promise of Romans 8:31 follows that great passage of Romans 8:28-30 which clearly sets forth that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
The "called according to His purpose" are further characterized: "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined,these He also called; whom He called,these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." Romans 8:29-30
The dedicated Christian who walks daily in the will of God can take courage in knowing that "no weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord." Isaiah 54:17.
