Unto Us

Focal Read Together Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

On July 20, 1969 the Apollo 11 crew landed on the moon. President Richard Nixon telephoned the Apollo crew from the Oval Office and spoke to the crew. He said:

"... Because of what you have done, the heavens have become a part of man's world. {We are inspired} to redouble our efforts to bring peace and tranquility to earth. For one priceless moment, in the whole history of man, all the people on this earth are truly one."

What those brave men did was both historic and praiseworthy. But the act of walking on the moon did not unify the world. President Nixon said "because of what you have done, the heavens have become a part of man's world". Following this historic event President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in a conspiracy we still haven't unraveled. President Richard Nixon resigned the White House in shame. War has escalated. Abortion - the murder of unborn babies - is prolific. People are killing one another on the highways because of road rage.

If history has proven anything to us, mortal man cannot bring Utopia and peace on the earth. "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26)

God would bring Heaven to earth in the most unique way possible. Rather than send an angel, or raise up a person, He Himself would come and walk among us. Six hundred years before that wonderful event we call "The Incarnation" the Prophet wrote:

Focal Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Let's unpack this beautiful prophecy and see how it relates to us today.

1. Unto US A Child Is Born. Unto US. Why US? The Bible tells us that:

Romans 3:23 (HCSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

"All have sinned and fall short". Every mortal man, woman, and child who has ever lived has been plagued with sin. Sin touches everyone, drawing us ever downward toward the grave.

a. Sin touches every RACE of people. It doesn't matter if you are Jew or Gentile, everyone is a sinner. Now it's possible to confuse ourselves, but that's what the Bible says.

Illustrate Several years ago I watched a funny movie in which the main character was - now pay attention - the adopted white son of African American sharecroppers. The man grows up white but because of where he grows up he believes he is black. He keeps on believing that he's a black man until one day his mother sits him down and explains he's really not black - he's white!

You might think that's an impossibility, that no one could be that foolish, but do you know there are many people who feel they are all right with God because of their race. The Jewish Pharisees claimed "We have one Father - God!" (John 8:41). You see, they felt that they were right with God because they were descendents of Abraham. But our Lord Jesus said:

John 8:42 (HCSB) ... If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn't come on My own, but He sent Me.

"Unto US a Child is born". Jesus Christ - Eternal God the Son - came from Heaven to earth for us. And all who believe on Him are of but One Family called "US". The Apostle said:

Colossians 3:11 (HCSB) In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.

Jesus Christ came to this earth for all of mankind,for "whosoever will". The Bible says ..

John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God loved the world. Not just the white man, nor just a certain color of man, but He loved everyone - and unto US the Child was born.

b. Sin touches every gender of people. God does not discriminate, but says that Christ is for every one. Some believe that they will not go to hell because they are popular in school, that they are Beverly Hills 90210. It doesn't matter whether you are a beautiful woman or a handsome man. Sin touches all. Pastor A.C. Dixon said: