This is the message I will be preaching today (Friday, December 14, 2005), Lord willing. Wanted to remind everyone about the meaning behind the holiday we profess to be celebrating:
The Meaning of Christmas
1) The Person (ie. the names used):
Who was the person born in that manger 2000 years ago? It was God manifest in the flesh (see 1 Timothy 3:16 and John 1:1, 14), the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Isaiah 43:3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
Isaiah 45:21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
2) The Promise - the forgiveness of sins:
This is the main reason why Jesus came:
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Luke 2:10-11 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator;
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist;
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist;
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer;
But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour!
~Source unknown~
3) The Present (ie. the Gift given):
John 3:16 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.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
What do you do with a gift? You receive it. Have you received God's gift of salvation, found only in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Saviour?
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
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