The Message Of Christmas

Matthew 1:21-2:4

How can a person have the most significant Christmas of his life without family, without friends, without a home, without gifts, without cards, without carols, without celebrations? How do millions of free and prosperous people who have family, who have friends, who have a home, who have gifts, who have cards, who have carols, who have celebrations, celebrate a Christmas so insignificant, even depressing?

Christmas is simple, yet amazing. If you strip away all of the commercial trappings of Christmas, you are left with the true joy that God became a man.

As “Jesus”, He saves His people from their sins. He offers freedom from sin's grip and deliverance from sin's penalty, which is death, both spiritual and eternal. Jesus rescues us from the consequences of our sin because He paid its penalty when He laid down His life to die on the cross.

As “Emmanuel”, God lives among us. God became a man. God will be present with His people. The Child of Christmas is Emmanuel, God with us. The Child that was born that day was fully human and fully God. The presence of God is in a body in the person of Christ. God with us.

As “King”, the Child was born a King. The wise men brought gifts fit for a king, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. He was a King, not a very remarkable beginning for a King, born in humility and poverty. Yet, He is THE King, THE King of kings and Lord of lords; even throughout His life, He was not the kind of King that people wanted Him to be. Truly, all the monarchs of this world will bow their knee to Jesus Christ when He comes again in His glory. He is King. He will be King over the world and the universe in the future. As you look at that little Babe in the manger, this is the Christmas reality. This King is more powerful than any petty ruler this world will ever know.

As “Christ”, He is God's special anointed one. The title reflects His right to rule, His right to have authority as the promised Messiah of God. The Prince of life is the Giver of life. When you think about this Child, think of Him as the Originator of life. At the cross, people actually took the life of the Giver of life, but He is no victim. He is God's Christ.

Jesus. Emmanuel. King. Christ. He is the one who gives life and sustains life. You, who were dead in trespasses and sin, He made alive together with Christ. No matter how lonely your life, no matter how painful your situation, no matter how mistreated, rejected, scorned, and unjustly treated you are, no matter what hardships you face, no matter how unfulfilled, you can live in the hope of the life to come. Joy! Joy! Joy!

Will you receive Christ as your Lord and Savior?

Christ commands all people to believe (Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead to give life to sinners), to repent (turn away from our love of sin to a new love for God), to confess (“Jesus is Lord”; He is in charge), and to follow Him (when it makes sense or not, convenient or not, with others or if you must walk alone with Him).

• Admit to God that you are a sinner; this means that you have disobeyed Him and rebelled against Him.

• Repent; turn away from your sins and turn to Christ.

• By faith, receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior into your heart, receive His forgiveness of sins and eternal life. By faith, believe in your heart that He died to take away your sins, that He rose from the dead to save you, and that He lives to welcome you.

• From your heart, confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

There is no magic prayer that makes this happen within you, but you can sincerely pray to the Lord like this: “God, my life is broken. I know it's because of my sin. I need You. I believe Christ came to live, die, and was raised from the dead to rescue me from my sin. Forgive me. Help me to turn from my selfish ways and put my trust in You. I know that Jesus is Lord, and Lord of all, and I want to follow You.”

If this prayer is from your heart, God promises to forgive you and make you His very own child. The Christian faith does not stop at this point. The Bible teaches us how to follow God. PRAYER – God wants you to talk to Him about everything. CHURCH – the local church is God's family to help you walk with Him. BIBLE – the Bible reveals God's plan, showing you how to follow Him. SHARE – now that you have experienced this Good News, tell others.