Christmas Changes Our Lives
CHRISTMAS CHANGES EVERYTHING — Series: Message #1
Isaiah 9:6-7, Titus 2:11-14
INTRODUCTION:
Well, today we’re beginning a new series I’m calling “CHRISTMAS CHANGES EVERYTHING!” And, I want to begin with a question:
What is it that makes Christmas special to you?
— Is it the sounds? The familiar music and seasonal songs, is it those classic holiday melodies or faith-filled hymns that play on the radio, in the stores, and in your head at this time of the year?
— Or, is it the sights? The decor of a tree, the red and green that drape the streets and fill out homes., or maybe the glistening of tonsil on the trees or the way the windows frost and the sparkle of the lights that drape the homes within your neighborhood?
— Or, is it the smells of…fresh cut pine, or the way cinnamon and ginger fill our homes? Is it the smells of Christmas cookies or pies wafting through the air as the seasonal baking takes place?
— Or, is it the shows for you? Shows like Frosty the Snow Man, or A Charlie Brown Christmas. Or Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, or maybe for those of you with more sophisticated palate, it’s White Christmas, or Holiday Inn or It’s a Wonderful Life?
— Or maybe its something more…more than the sounds, the sights, the smells, and the shows. Could it be that the most significant thing that makes Christmas special is the love of God, and the gift of the Savior?
TRANSITION:
Well, over the next 4 weeks — I want to walk you through the Word of God and those passages that tell the story of Christ’s coming, to help you discover (once again) the significance of this season.
Because, I want you to find meaning in your moments, and joy in your journey. And, most of all — I hope to show you how…CHRISTMAS CHANGES EVERYTHING!
MESSAGE:
A few moments ago, I asked you — “what is it that makes Christmas special,” and we talked about the many trappings and traditions of this season. But, it we look beyond those things — we discover that the real point and promise of this season is the incredible love of God, the gift of the Savior. The real meaning of Christmas is the coming of Christ!
There are so many places within the Bible that speak of Christ’s coming…from the promises found in Genesis, to the prophetic words of of the Old Testament, the eye-witness accounts of the gospels, to the detailed expressions of the epistles.
And each week, we will explore different passages and stories that point to Jesus and His first coming. But today, I want to look at two places in Scripture.
The first comes from the prophetic words of Isaiah. And then we’ll conclude by connecting that passage with the words of Paul to one of his protege’s in ministry — a pastor named Titus.
So, if you have your Bible — turn with me (first), to the Old Testament book of Isaiah. We’ll be in chapter 9. A familiar passage for sure. And in verse 2, we read:
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)
I want you to note the the climate and culture to which Isaiah was describing. He is forecasting that time when Christ would enter our world. And of that time, he says — it is a world filled with darkness…that’s a world without light, without hope, without any expectation of promise, or future.
For, it’s in the midst of the mundane and debilitating darkness of a world ravaged by sin and selfishness that Christ would come.
And so, in verse 6, Isaiah says,
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)
When we consider the mystery and majesty of Christ’s coming at Christmas — let’s remember that this wasn’t some random event in history. But rather, this was something God had been planning since the beginning of time.
This passage in Isaiah is joy one of literally hundreds of prophesies that God gave us concerning the coming of Christ.
The purpose of his coming was to provide us with a gift — the best gift ever.
Just curious, how many of your prepare a Christmas list of the things you’d like for Christmas? Well, it doesn’t matter how good that list may be — there’s no comparison to the gift God’s offers us through Christmas. In Titus 2:11-14, the apostle Paul writes a
In the first part of this chapter, he tells us how to live for Christ, how to work for Christ, and how to lead for Christ (v. 1-10). And here, in these verses, Paul says — the reason we can do all of those things — is Because of Christmas.
Look at it with me. Titus 2:11-14. Here Paul writes,
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Titus 2:11-14 (NIV)
Again, Paul says — because Jesus has come (and has brought salvation as a gift for all people), everything has changed!
And that long list of change begins with our lives.
Christmas changes our lives!
So, this morning, in the time that remains, I want to give you 3 reasons why Christmas changes our lives. And the first one is this, because:
1. GOD gives us what we don’t deserve…ETERNAL LIFE!
You know what that’s called? It’s called GRACE!
Simply defined, GRACE is God’s unmerited favor; it’s God giving us what we don’t deserve. And God’s ultimate act of grace towards us began with Jesus setting aside his rights and His position as God, to come — and becoming a man.
Don’t miss this fact, He didn’t have to do that. He didn’t have to come…but rather, He chose to come. In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul says,
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So, Paul says — Christmas didn’t have to happen! It wasn’t a divine requirement, it was a divine offering.
Jesus voluntarily left the fellowship of heaven for the frailty of a human body. He exchanged immortal comforts to be laid in a feeding trough. But he didn’t come to heap shame upon us — but rather to break break with us.
He came because He saw you and me (broken) and ravaged by sin. He came and gave up his life — exhausting his breath, so that you could receive the breath of life!
- Understand, Jesus could have left us to our own devices.
- He could have left us hopeless and helpless.
- He could have left us to an eternity far from him.
But he determined that you were worth His effort. Your life was worth his. So, while you didn’t deserve it — you were worth it. He became EMMANUEL — so you could experience ETERNAL LIFE. That was His gift of grace!
But his grace didn’t stop with His presence. Fortunately for us, His grace continues as an ongoing gift of support and strength and care.
It is witnessed in His Eternal closeness. His Eternal friendship and His eternal love.
As Jesus said in John 10:10,
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” That’s the gift of a “forever life.”
Earlier in John’s gospel, the apostle tells us why Jesus came to earth, when he writes in John 3:16-17,
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Again, Christmas changes our lives — because through it, God has gives us what WE DON’T DESERVE, ETERNAL LIFE.
But that’s not the whole picture.
Secondly, Christmas changes our lives because . . .
2. GOD SPARES us, what we deserve…ETERNAL DEATH!
While we don’t deserve ETERNAL LIFE — we do deserve ETERNAL DEATH! No where is that more clearly stated than in Paul’s theological treatise — we call the Book of Romans.
In Romans 3:23, he reminds us that we have all sinned. We’ve all missed the MARK of God’s call and plan. We’ve all over-shot the path of perfection, and chosen selfishness over godliness and others-centeredness. More than that — as a product of sinful-humanity, we are tainted with sin.
Now…maybe your thinking, “That’s not me. I’m not a sinner. I’m not that bad. I’m pretty good.” Well, as we studied a few weeks ago, John addresses that mindset and way of thinking in 1 John 1:8, when he says,
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Simply put, everyone falls into the unpleasant category of being a SINNER. No one is exempt. And in Romans 6, Paul tells us of the earnings of a life of sin. As he states,
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So get this — the consequences of our sin (the wrong we’ve done, the good we don’t do, and our tendency to choose ourselves over godliness)…the results of that kind of life is death. But more than that — it’s ETERNAL DEATH.
What you and I deserve is the worst possible situation. Eternal death!
So what does that mean? What is eternal death?
The Bible describes that as an eternal separation from God. It doesn’t mean an annihilation or some sort of non-existence. Worse then that — it’s an eternal state of total separation from God, from the new heavens and earth that is promised in Scripture. It’s more than just physical death, it’s a forever state of awful.
In the book of Revelation, John describes what this eternal death will be like when he writes in Revelation 20:14-15,
14 “…The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
That depiction of a “lake of fire” is what is often referred to simply as hell. And for those who have not embraced the wonder of Christmas — and the gift of Christ…that’s what their lives will earn.
It’s what we all deserve! But…because of Christmas, and because of the gift of Christ, we can put our trust in Him and be spared of what we deserve.
Apart from embracing Jesus as our Savior, leaves us with the results of our sin. But if we will embrace Christ — and receive the Christmas gift of salvation and eternal life.
So, rather than getting what we deserve, we are spared of all condemnation and the ruling of eternal death. So, don’t miss this — Christmas changes our lives because through it, God spares us from eternal death.
But even that isn’t the end of the story. Because lastly,
Christmas changes our lives because . . .
3. God offers us what we most need…total forgiveness!
If you still have your Bible near you, turn with me to the New Testament book of Matthew. Here, in Matthew’s gospel we find an important part of the Christmas story explained.
If you recall, prior to Christ’s arrival — Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married. But those plans became complicated by Mary’s pregnancy.
Listen to what Matthew tells us in Matthew 1:18-24. He says,
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-24 (NIV)
What a story? Right? I’ve often wondered how I would have responded (if I were Joseph). Would I have been as ready to comply with God’s plan?
But what I really want to point out in this story is what the angel of the Lord said to Joseph about Jesus. He said in verse 21,
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
From the very beginning — God’s plan was always to provide us with total forgiveness!
So, get this — the way Christmas is empowered to change our lives hinges on the fact that Jesus gives up His! And that’s so important, because the only way to be forgiven is to receive the gift that He’s offered. And that’s GRACE.
You see — forgiveness isn’t automatic.
— We’re not forgiven just because He died.
— And, we’re not forgiven just because we are alive.
— Nor are we forgiven simply because we may do good things — or even come to church
His Forgiveness requires our response! Just as any other gift has to be opened and received to be experienced, so also does God’s gift of GRACE and forgiveness.
It’s been given — but it has to be embraced. And that happens through your act of faith and repentance.
Here’s the faith part:
Because our sins are an offense to God’s holiness, he requires that a price be paid for them
You’re either going to pay that price yourself, through death, torment, and eternal separation from God, or . . .
You’re going to embrace the death of Jesus as your own – trusting by faith, that when Jesus came and lived, and died — that He did that for you…in your place.
Again, it is Paul (in Romans 5:8), who says:
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
And listen to the way Peter put it in 1 Pet 2:24. He said,
24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. …”
1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)
I love the way Peter puts that — he says, Jesus bore our sins in his body on “the tree.”
Could it be that we need to begin thinking differently about the idea of the CHRISTMAS TREE. Because, the REAL CHRISTMAS TREE was the one that Jesus hung on…not the Douglas Fir we decorate in our homes.
But understand this, FORGIVENESS comes when we place OUR FAITH in Jesus’ death.
And along with our FAITH — must come our REPENTANCE.
Repentance simply means that we have a change of mind about our sin. And a change of mind always leads to a change of direction. And that’s God’s desire for us. He longs to see us change our path, to change our ways, and to live differently.
He longs to see you stop practicing sin — and instead, start practicing godliness in Him.
When you acknowledge your sin, confess it before God, and decide to live your life differently (going in a different direction), the gift of forgiveness is able to be enjoyed. That’s why John tells us in 1 John 1:9,
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
Does that mean that you’ll never sin again? No. // But it does mean you’ll try not to. And, as God gives you strength, you’ll be able to live for Him. And where you fail — God’s grace will not!
Remember where we began. The real gift of Christmas as Paul says in Titus chapter 2, is this:
11 “For the grace of God has appeared…”
Titus 2:11 (NIV)
As believers, you experienced that GRACE when you first believed and repented. But know this, God’s grace is still important. It’s still necessary. We some times believe that it’s a Get started thing — when it’s a keep living in Him thing.
So, if you are following Jesus, remember His grace was and continues to be greater than your sin. Still needed. And still offering you complete forgiveness in life.
CONCLUSION
As we enter into this Christmas season — may we recognize that IN CHRISTMAS we discover, we have become the recipients of the WILD PURSIT OF GOD. And so, He is our hope. He is our joy. He is our peace. And He is our love!
And, because of Jesus, Christmas changes everything! But it all starts with you.
So, choose today to live in the wonder of the gift of Christ this Christmas. Welcome GOD’S GRACE — and live in it, now and always.