Matthew 1:18
Jesus is the reason for the season-We are the reason for the Season.
Romans 5:12
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— 13 sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.
The Fall of Man-Adam and eve
In Genesis we read the story of a man and woman living in Paradise. We read of their births, and a little about their lives, but mostly we read about their sin. The single act that started it all. Who would have ever imagined that the eating of a single fruit could cause so much trouble?
But, it happened and those two broke the very first commandment and so plunged the rest of human history into the world of sin and destruction.
The consequences of the Fall of Man-Human condition
Physical Condition
This couple was driven from paradise, He was made to work in the fields and she was given pain during child-birth. But most importantly they were both given death. The rest of Human history is filled with God trying to save mankind from that death.
Spiritual Condition
When we are born we are separated from God that relationship is broken. We are born into sin, and we have evil in our hearts. We are corrupt and perverse, for we are in bondage to sin and to Satan. In short we are dead in sin, we are spiritually blind and we are utterly depraved. We can do nothing that is good in the sight of God.
This is the reality of the Fall of man, and life in the Fallen World.
But, from the very beginning God has been trying to redeem his people.
God’s redemptive work of Man throughout History-
Hielgeschetka-Salvation History
He has been trying to redeem His people for thousands of years. Whenever we see God interacting with people throughout history; He is trying to bring them to the point of Redemption.
The Law of Moses- this is the most glaring example of how God was trying to bring His people closer to Him, and remove the stain of sin. This law was intended to be a guide for the people for how they should live their lives and conduct their affairs. What ended up happening is that the people began to worship the law instead of the Law-giver. They began to think that a strict adherence to the Law was what would bring them salvation, they had neglected the relationship that they needed with God and with others around them.
They traded a relationship of love and compassion for a life of strict obedience forgetting love and compassion.
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
For thousands of years people attempted to reach redemption on their own, through following the law, but neglecting the foundation that the Law was built on.
Matthew 22:36
36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him: “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Obedience without love is not what God wants from us.
God’s redemption through Salvation-First Coming Christ
Knowing that man could not save himself from sin God gave them the Law, when He saw what man did to the Law He sent them His Word.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Christ did not come to establish a new set of regulations, he came instead to fulfill the old ones. He became the un-blemished sacrifice, he became the blood poured on the altar for the forgiveness of sin, he took our punishment upon himself so that we might be spared.
And he did it out of Love, so that we might love him.
This is why we read the story of Jesus in swaddling clothes laying in a manger. This is why we learn about this baby, named Jesus. This is why we celebrate the season of Christmas. Not for who Jesus is, but for what he did for us.
It is a celebration of anticipation of what his life on earth would bring to all. The Christmas season is a celebration of God’s redemptive work through Jesus. Christmas is a celebration of God’s Salvation History.
18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. 19 For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
