Christmas Hope
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Christmas Hope
Christmas Hope
Like many celebrations Christmas involves looking back and REMEMBERING a significant moment in History .
Picture of Berlin Wall coming down - a turning point in history..
Annual ‘Fall of the Wall’ celebration in Germany - because this event isn’t just about the past - it impacts their present reality (a united Germany living in freedom) and shapes their future…
Christmas marks a turning point in History - The main reason for looking back to the birth of Jesus and celebrating Christmas - is to remind us of the hope we can have today in a world that is increasingly filled with fear and uncertainty because Jesus was born. Today no matter what situation we find ourselves in, no matter how difficult or desperate it seems, we can live with with real HOPE...
The celebration of Christmas is really about REMEMBERING a significant moment in History -
The celebration of Christmas is an important reminder of Hope in a world that is increasingly filled with fear and uncertainty.
Christmas marks a turning point in History -
Christmas marks a turning point in History -
Turn to
in the middle of a larger discussion about the purpose of God’s law - Paul gives us a description of I will call ‘CHRISTMAS HOPE’
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
At
1. When the Fullness of Time had come:
Christmas Hope is based on God keeping his promises… Christmas doesn’t begin with angels and shepherds it begins with God making promises...
- God promises that someone born – the seed of a woman – would crush the head of all evil - this is the only place in the bible where instead of the seed of a man it talks about the seed of a woman - 1000-‘s of years later Jesus would be born of a virgin.
God promises Abraham that God will grow his family into a great nation and through his seed the whole world will be blessed - we know From Abraham grew the nation of Israel – and Jesus was born an Israelite
God preparing a homeland and a people - our saviour- would be born of Jewish heritage… but not yet… humanity continued to wait…
God makes a promise to King David of Israel that someone from his family line will be king of God’s people forever – and Jesus is born a descendant of David.
1000 of years, hundreds of prophecies, and God came through on his promise sending his Son into the world when the time was right… Christmas reminds us that God really does keep his promise!
Christmas hope is built on God’s complete faithfulness to do what he promises. It’s not ‘IF’ but ‘When’
2. “...and because you are sons...”
Christmas Hope is based on the privilege of sonship!
Jesus fulfilled God’s promise becoming the sacrifice for our sin, and now is risen from the dead - God promises that ANYONE who receives Jesus –is forgiven of all their sin, adopted into his family...
An employee or a servant basically obeys out of fear of punishment, loss of job, etc. But a child-parent relationship is not characterized by a fear of losing the relationship - you are always my son… not because you’ve somehow earned that status but because I chose to have you…I chose to adopt you…
Because Christ came, now the spirit works in our hearts so that we know God as ABBA - “Dad” or “Papa” or “Daddy.” And this is how Christians can approach the all-powerful Creator of the universe, who sustains every atom, every living thing, the source of life and existence!
Intamacy - “Dad” or “Papa” or “Daddy.” And this is how Christians can approach the all-powerful Creator of the universe, who sustains every atom in existence moment by moment!
Christmas Hope comes from the assurance that we truly are sons and daughters of the living God - because Christ came, as the Lamb of God, who laid down his life to pay our ransom, and has signed our adoption papers with his own blood!
WE can know peace Security, and Intimacy right here right now no matter what is going on around us.
A man on a whim decided to go see a Blue Jays game. He hadn’t bought tickets but he showed up a the rogers center anyway. When he got there he didn’t go to any of the main entrances but headed straight for the VIP entrance. When he got to the door security waived him in without a ticket. He was escorted to a box seat and immediately someone offered to get him some food - free of charge! If you go down to the Rogers Center and try to get in you’ll be turned away - but this was the son of TED ROGERS - Edward Rogers III who now has officially replaced his father as controlling owner of the Toronto Blue Jays
Christmas reminds us that we enjoy the privilege of sonship
3. “...if a son then an heir...”
3. “...if a son then an heir...”
Christmas Hope is based on a guaranteed inheritance - -
In ancient culture it was the firstborn son who received the majority of the inheritance but here Paul is emphasizing that All Christians “heirs of God.” He is saying that what is in store for us is so grand and glorious that it will be, and will feel, as though we each of us were like an only child getting the whole inheritance! JESUS PROMISED
New Living Translation Chapter 14
When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
Just as he came at Christmas, he will come again for those who love him! This means there is an incredible future!
The New International Version (1984) Wisdom From the Spirit
9 However, as it is written:
“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
This means we have an incredible future.
Looking back at the very first Christmas is a call to courageously face tomorrow with renewed hope in the promises of God!
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
When you heard the true teaching—the Good News about your salvation—you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he had promised. 14 That Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive what God promised for his people
The Everyday Bible: New Century Version. (2005). (). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
The Everyday Bible: New Century Version. (2005). (). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
The Everyday Bible: New Century Version. (2005). (). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
In ancient culture it was the firstborn son who received the majority of the inheritance but here Paul is emphasizing that All Christians “heirs of God.” He is saying that what is in store for us is so grand and glorious that it will be, and will feel, as though we each of us were like an only child getting the whole inheritance!
In ancient culture it was the firstborn son who received the majority of the inheritance but here Paul is emphasizing that All Christians “heirs of God.” He is saying that what is in store for us is so grand and glorious that it will be, and will feel, as though we each of us were like an only child getting the whole inheritance!
The Everyday Bible: New Century Version. (2005). (). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
When you heard the true teaching—the Good News about your salvation—you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he had promised. 14 That Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive what God promised for his people
When you heard the true teaching—the Good News about your salvation—you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he had promised. 14 That Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive what God promised for his people
The Everyday Bible: New Century Version. (2005). (). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
The Everyday Bible: New Century Version. (2005). (). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
In ancient culture it was the firstborn son who received the majority of the inheritance but here Paul is emphasizing that All Christians “heirs of God.” He is saying that what is in store for us is so grand and glorious that it will be, and will feel, as though we each of us were like an only child getting the whole inheritance!
This means we have an incredible future. all Christians “heirs of God.” Paul is saying that what is in store for us is so grand and glorious that it will be, and will feel, as though we each had alone gotten most of the glory of God.
In ancient culture it was the firstborn son who received the majority of the inheritance but here Paul is emphasizing that All Christians “heirs of God.” He is saying that what is in store for us is so grand and glorious that it will be, and will feel, as though we each of us were like an only child getting the whole inheritance!
Looking back at the very first Christmas is a call to courageously face tomorrow with renewed hope in the promises of God!
Our primary source of fear and anxiety is misplaced hope – we put hope in ourselves, hope in our wealth, hope in our government, hope in our families, hope in our health, hope in our education, hope in our ability to control our circumstances… all of these things fade as we age…
Looking back at the very first Christmas is a call to courageously face tomorrow with renewed hope in the promises of God!
Our primary source of fear and anxiety is misplaced hope – we put hope in ourselves, hope in our wealth, hope in our government, hope in our families, hope in our health, hope in our education, hope in our ability to control our circumstances… all of these things fade as we age…
Which is why the Sr years can easily be dominated by fear and anxiety… especially in a world that often seems to be spinning out of control… but hope, real hope, is not found in escaping our circumstances, or moving up in our position in life, or going back to the way things used to be… Hope is found in the sweat and mess of the stable, the cries of a baby born out of wedlock, and the stories of some blue collar shepherds hearing voices and seeing angels. Jesus brings us hope in the everyday mess of this world.
Christ is our hope! Emmanuel - God with US! In the face of a seemingly hopeless world we can have CHRISTMAS HOPE alive in our hearts.
reminded that hope is not found in the gifts under the tree, the absence of war, or a harmonious family gathering. It is found in the sweat and mess of the stable, the cries of a baby born out of wedlock, and the crazy stories of some blue collar shepherds hearing voices and seeing angels. Jesus brings us hope in the everyday mess of this world.
Think back to when you were a child… the excitement of Christmas morning! I couldn’t sleep in the days leading up to Christmas!
so Let us, who belong to Christ live today – not as grumpy old men and women complaining about all that’s wrong with the world - but as people who live with the Anticipation of Christmas morning – serving and praying and doing good in this world, with Joy in our hearts because we are sure that something great is just around the corner! Not because of some foolish wishful thinking but because of God’s faithful track record of fulfilling his promise to Send a Savior!
we can live anticipating the fulfillment of all his promises –
– NOTE all these things fade with age… Alfred – discouraged
b.
c. The Christmas story begins with a promise – Notes from (TCBC CHRISTMAS)
d. In the face of seemingly hopeless situations we have CHRISTMAS HOPE – anticipation in the fulfillment of all his promises – not wishful thinking but based on God’s track record of fulfilling his promise to Send a Savior.
e. Looking back at fulfilled promises fuels our hope for the future – When Jesus says ‘REMEMBER ME’ it’s not a call to nostalgically wish that things would go back to the way they once were – but a call to courageously face tomorrow with renewed hope in the promises of God!