22-12-2019
Luke 2:1-20 New International Version (NIV)
The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
There are teachers and prophets but there is only one Saviour. Jesus is the Saviour.
Messiah means the long awaited one. Jesus is the Messiah.
And Jesus is the Lord.
And Christ is God.
And God became Man.
The thrill of Christmas morning is that God became Man.
He is the joy to the world. He is the peace to the world. He is the glory of God revealed. He is God made visible to all men.
In Jesus, we have peace with God. And we have peace within ourselves. And we can have peace with one another.
It is God's love that went to Mary.
And Mary said, "Yes" to God's love.
The angel spoke to Joseph and Joseph said, "Yes" to God's love.
The angel spoke to the shepherds and the shepherds said, "Yes" to God's love.
The good news is that eternal life is an act of God's love. It is an act of God's grace. Eternal life is a free gift that God gives to us. It is not earned.
But none of us deserves it.
Sin is a violation of God's love.
We can sin with our words and our thoughts.
That we ought to do we don't do.
Sin hinders us from receiving this free gift of God.
So man cannot save himself.
God had to bring His way.
God is merciful. He doesn't want to punish us. At the same time God is just. He must punish sin.
God showed His love and justice by sacrificing Himself in the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is God became Man. He died on the cross. He rose from the dead and purchased a place in heaven for us.
God came to the same level as you and I. The only difference is He is sinless and we are sinful.
Before He died, He said, "It is finished."
He offers us this gift of eternal life which we can now receive by faith. Saving faith is the one that opens heaven's door. It is not blind faith. It is not temporary faith. It is knowing and trusting in Jesus alone that He is the Saviour. It is a free gift to every one of us.
Jesus comes not to make bad people good. He came to make dead people come alive.
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