We Need Christmas Because We Have A Time Problem Series

WE NEED CHRISTMAS BECAUSE WE HAVE A TIME PROBLEM

Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV) But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5  to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV) For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NIV) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NIV) for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

INTRODUCTION: WE NEED A CHRISTMAS BECAUSE MAN HAS A TIME PROBLEM. AS WE SAW WITH THE RABBIT, HE HAD A TIME PROBLEM! WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HIS TIME PROBLEM IS THAT THE RABBIT HAD ALL THE INFORMATION THAT HE NEEDED. HE OBVIOUSLY KNEW THE TIME OF THE EVENT. HE ALSO KNEW THE LOCATION OF THE EVENT AND HOW TO GET THERE. WHERE HE MADE HIS MISTAKE WAS THAT HE DID NOT PREPARE FOR ANY PROBLEMS HE MIGHT ENCOUNTER THAT MIGHT DELAY HIM.

INTERESTINGLY, THE MORE WE KNOW ABOUT AN EVENT, THE BETTER ABLE WE ARE TO PREPARE FOR THE EVENT.

TRANSITION: WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT THE COMING OF CHRIST – SPECIFICALLY THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH, WE HAVE LESS INFORMATION THAN THE RABBIT DID. WE KNOW FACTS RELEVANT TO THE EVENT, WE KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING BEFORE THE EVENT, BUT WE DO NOT KNOW THE TIME OF THE EVENT. THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH IS TOO IMPORTANT AN EVENT NOT TO BE PREPARED FOR.

I. TIME TO COME

Galatians 4:4-5 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5  to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

a. DIVINE INTERVENTION

i. GOD SENT HIS SON AT THE RIGHT TIME

1. CHRIST BRINGS HOPE

2. CHRIST BRINGS FREEDOM

3. “SENT” – SPEAKS TO CHRIST’S PRE-EXISTENCE AND HIS ENDORSEMENT FROM GOD THE FATHER

4. CLARIFIES THE RELATIONSHIP – GOD THE FATHER SEND

ii. RIGHT TIME RELIGIOUSLY

1. THE JEWS, SINCE THE EXILE, HAD GIVEN UP ON IDOLATRY

iii. RIGHT TIME POLITICALLY

1. ROMAN RULE HAD BROUGHT PEACE THROUGHOUT THE EMPIRE AS WELL AS SAFETY AND TRAVEL

iv. RIGHT TIME CULTURALLY

1. EVERYTHING UNDER THE CONTROL OF ROME HAD A SINGLE STABLE LANGUAGE

THE BIBLE INFORMS US THAT GOD BOTH KNEW THE RIGHT TIME TO SEND JESUS AND ACTED ON THAT KNOWLEDGE FOR OUR BENEFIT

WE MAY SOMETIMES WONDER IF GOD WILL EVER RESPOND TO OUR PRAYERS, BUT WE MUST NEVER DOUBT HIM OR GIVE UP HOPE. AT THE RIGHT TIME HE WILL RESPOND. ARE YOU WAITING FOR GOD'S TIMING? TRUST HIS JUDGMENT, AND TRUST THAT HE HAS YOUR BEST INTERESTS IN MIND.

b. DIVINE AMALGAMATION

i. NOT ONLY WAS THE TIME OF GOD’S SENDING PERFECT, WHAT HE SENT WAS ALSO PERFECT

ii. GOD SENT HIS SON

iii. JESUS CHRIST WAS FULLY GOD

1. ONLY A PERFECT SACRIFICE WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO PAY FOR OUR SINS

iv. JESUS CHRIST WAS FULLY HUMAN

1. HE WAS BORN THROUGH OR OUT OF A WOMAN

a. WOULD KNOW WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH, YET DO SO WITHOUT SINNING

v. THIS MELDING OF BOTH NATURES PERMITTED CHRIST TO REMOVE THE CURSE OF SIN THAT WAS ON US AS A RESULT OF THE FALL

Galatians 3:13 (NIV) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

THE REASON YOU AND I ARE NOT BRINGING A SACRIFICE TO CHURCH IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO LONGER ANY SIN DEBT TO BE PAID. JESUS PAID IT ALL. ALL TO HIM I OWE. SIN HAD LEFT A CRIMSON STAIN, HE WASHED IT WHITE AS SNOW!

c. DIVINE REVELATION – THE REASON AND RESULT OF CHRIST’S COMING

i. CHRIST CAME TO REDEEM US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW – TO BUY US BACK – THE PAY THE PRICE FOR THE FREEDOM OF A SLAVE

ii. TO SECURE OUR RIGHTS AS SON/CHILDREN OF GOD

iii. OUR RIGHTS AS GOD’S CHILDREN

1. WE ARE NO LONGER DEBTORS, NOR CURSED (3:13).

2. WE HAVE RECEIVED "NEW LIFE" (2:20).

3. WE ARE PART OF A NEW FAMILY (4:5).

4. WE HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT (4:6; 5:25).

5. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A SUPERNATURAL BIRTH (JOHN 1:12-13; GALATIANS 4:28-29).

6. WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF FUTURE RESURRECTION OF OUR BODIES (ROMANS 8:23).

7. WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF A PLACE IN THE FUTURE (JOHN 14:2).