(Luke 2:11)
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INTRODUCTION:
What happened when Adam sinned?
Titles are important in our society and many times they go well beyond the face value of the term.
When we truly consider the necessity for Christmas,
does it not force us to think about .
As many of you are familiar with ;
describes the day in which Adam and Eve sinned.
And I want us to consider a question here about that story.
What happened when Adam sinned?
Probably the first answer -
Sin entered the world.
We no longer were set to holiness and righteousness,
but instead for the first time humanity felt an imprisonment to sin.
Like being behind bars,
The power and passion of sin was ever present in people’s lives - with no escape.
And we know that from first hand experience do we not?
As children did we not struggle with sin.
- We never made mean faces at our brothers and sisters,
or stole the X ball from friends on the playground.
- We never struggled with obeying our parents,
we always kept our room cleaned.
never dare speak without manners
or talk back.
And you all are saying, yah right - we all struggled with sin as children.
But then we became adults - and we never struggled again right?
Quite the opposite.
Marriage taught us our selfishness.
Children helped us understand anger.
The world became indwelled with sin. It is part of the fabric that makes this world.
Which also means - Satan gained a foothold in this world.
Because of Adam’s sin,
satan now had people who are set against God.
People in Rebellion willing to fight the most high.
And even those who still desired to be faithful God - had a sin nature that he could tempted.
And we know from Scripture - Satan goes about trying to tempt and devour God’s people.
Further,
this also means death and disease ravaged the world.
No longer did we enjoy the fruitfulness of the Garden or the immortal life - but now were destined to die.
Sometimes by the hands of people - murder, war, and abuse.
But also by disease. Sometimes it is called a natural death, but anyone experiences death or near death experience will tell you it is in fact a very unnatural experience.
Which created several important
As we understand the
Encouragement
suffering
sin
- As we consider for example,
the title of mom.
Doesn’t that carry with it a special meaning.
Mom as a definition is “a female parent” - yet isn’t mom more than that?
- Or consider a Medal of Honor Winner.
- How about a medal of honor winner?
A person who has the Medal of Honor,
When you hear of someone who has received a medal of honor - what do you think?
Courage
Sacrifice
Strength
Honor
I mean, the guy as a person can be a complete crook,
but the title automatically ushers different ideas.
- Or consider for example,
the title Judge.
By definition, a judge is “a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court”
In a court room,
a judge receives extreme honor and respect
- often even by the most wicked criminals or rebellious youth.
- There is power behind that title - and therefore people respect it.
Yet when you meet them on a personal level, we respond diffidently.
A person who has the title judge,
is considered a respected person in the community.
a successful person in the community.
a moral person in the community.
These are thoughts you think of automatically when someone says, I am a judge.
My hope is for us to consider,
the titles that scripture connects with the Birth of Jesus.
Last year,
we looked at one of my favorite Christmas passages.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
We learned that the baby to be born, Jesus, holds the titles:
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
and Prince of Peace.
I would like to continue to look at the titles of Baby Jesus this year,
- not in ,
- But the titles found in .
To understand the context of these titles, let’s read .
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
Here we read of the great Angelic declaration that the Christ was born - which was announced in a magnificent way to the Shepherds of Bethlehem.
Charles Wesley - pinned a great description of this event in his song, “Hark! the herald angels sing” and in the song he captures much of the magnificence of the event.
These shepherds,
are provided a great announcement in v. 11.
And then a sign proving it to be true. - A baby in a Manager.
TRANS:
TRANS:
But our focus this morning will be the announcement,
But our focus this morning will be the announcement,
and particularly the 3 titles the angels used to describe the baby in the manager - Jesus.
and particularly the 3 titles the angels used to describe the baby in the manager - Jesus.
From these titles,
PROP: The Birth of Jesus Ought to give us great Hope and great Joy.
PROP: The Birth of Jesus Ought to give us great Hope and great Joy.
So First,
1) Jesus is called the Savior.
1) Jesus is called the Savior.
As many of you are familiar with ;
that chapter describes the day in which Adam and Eve sinned.
And I want us to consider a question here about that story.
What happened when Adam sinned?
Probably the first answer -
Sin entered the world.
We no longer were set to holiness and righteousness,
but instead for the first time humanity felt an imprisonment to sin.
ILLUSTRATION:
Like being behind bars,
The power and passion of sin was ever present in people’s lives - with no escape.
And we know that from first hand experience do we not?
As children did we not struggle with sin.
- We never made mean faces at our brothers and sisters,
or stole the kick ball from friends on the playground.
- We never struggled with obeying our parents,
we always kept our room cleaned.
never dare speak without manners
or talk back.
And you all are saying, yah right - we all struggled with sin as children.
But then we became adults - and we never struggled again right?
Were the grownups.
Quite the opposite.
- Marriage taught us our selfishness.
- Children helped us understand anger.
- Neighbors taught us bitterness.
What we know from experience and from Scripture is that -
The world became indwelled with sin when Adam sinned. It is now part of the fabric that makes this world.
2. And it is important to remember,
2) And it is important to remember,
the importation of of sin into the world also brought God’s just, holy wrath for sin.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
1 Thes 1:18
3. Which also means - Satan gained strength over the world.
Because of Adam’s sin,
- satan now had people who are set against God.
- People in Rebellion willing to fight the most high.
And even those who still desired to be faithful God - had a sin nature that he could tempted.
And we know from - Satan goes about trying to tempt and devour God’s people.
But that is not the only consequence of sin.
4. Because of sin,
this also means death and disease ravaged the world.
death and disease ravages the world.
No longer did we enjoy the fruitfulness of the Garden or the immortal life God created us to have - but now were destined to die.
- Sometimes by the hands of people - murder, war, and abuse.
- But also by disease.
Sometimes it is called a natural death,
but anyone experiences death or near death experience will tell you it is in fact a very unnatural experience.
To say the least,
because of sin humanity is in terrible oppression and tragedy.
Unable to help itself.
ILLUSTRATION:
Humanity is like a sailor lost at sea,
floating around and calling for help.
But land is not in sight.
And he can’t float forever - eventually he will drown.
He needs someone to come and save him.
And everyone one of us are like that sailor,
May I say,
And Finally,
oppressed and overran by sin - in desperate need of a savior.
but praise God marks the promise of a savior.
marks the promise of a savior.
Many consider this promise to be forerunner of the Gospel.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
The effects of sin that all
In that promise,
God foretells of a baby who will be born and overcome sin, death, and satan.
Further,
as we consider the effects of sin - there is no such thing as Godly person who does not need the savior promised in .
This is why there are numerous places in the Old Testament where God promised to save, deliver, rescue Israel from their own wickedness.
This reiterated numerous times to Israel - in which God is pictured as the deliverer, rescuer of Israel from their own wickedness.
Because even the chosen people of God;
the devoted religious people
- are drowning with the effects of sin.
We saw that last week as we looked .
The first 6 verses describe a world in which all have come to sin.
And so they look to the hope of the coming savior in v. 7.
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
APPLICATION:
As we understand the
Encouragement
suffering
sin
Because of the effects of Adam’s sin.
We live in a world in which
- people hurt and wrong us
- and we hurt and wrong others.
We live in a world in which it is easier to hate than to love
even those we are supposed to love such as our parents, spouses, and children.
Have you experienced that?
And guarantee you have.
You have felt guilt for sinning against others.
You have felt the hurt when others have done wrong to you.
And if we truly consider the holiness of God -
we realize we have a great debt we owe to God for our sin.
Further,
We live in a world in which our loved one’s
We live in a world in which our loved one’s
- experience incredible pain.
- even the experience of death.
Just over the last year,
We prayed for and over people who have experienced exactly that.
To say the least,
- we as humanity are in desperate need for a deliver, rescuer, savior
- who will deliver us from plague that Adam’s sin has caused.
trapped in sin
That is our greatest need.
And the reason Jesus should be our hope, joy, and worship on Christmas -
is because the baby of the manger according to the Angels in - Jesus - is the long awaited savior of the World.
That is the first title that should give us hope and joy.
The 2nd title,
2. Jesus is the Messiah.
2. Jesus is the Messiah.
We often say the title Christ,
but it is important to remember what the title means.
Christ refers to the Messiah or Anointed one.
- It was used first of the priests and Israelites Kings,
- but after the time of David,
the term increasingly referred to someone far greater.
On one hand,
the Messiah was promised to restore Israel’s Kingdom.
25 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. 26 They shall forget their shame and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid, 27 when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies’ lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations and then assembled them into their own land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations anymore. 29 And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”
So certainly,
the Messiah is to restore the Kingdom of Israel.
But the Messiah is more than just restorer of Israel.
He was to reestablish the Kingdom of David - as worldwide Kingdom.
He was to reestablish the Kingdom of David -
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:14
But that is not what makes this title good news on Christmas day -
ILLUSTRATION:
We live in a day in which we detest the government.
There may be great ethical and moral debates in our culture,
but disgust with our government is universal.
Both sides of the debates are feed up with hypocritical, ineffective, and immoral government leaders.
And as bad as our government may be,
it is nothing compared to the murderous, corrupt leaders of many other nations.
And certainly,
Many people around the world are forced to live under governments, by fear.
n
by fear.
Living in a towns where theft, bribery, and murder are common.
And the government has little or no ability to meet the basic needs of the people,
- such as running water
- and sustained food supply.
But this coming Messiah is nothing like any of the sinful, corrupt leaders we have to day.
To say as I said last year,
it is the kind of rule that we always hoped for.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
17 May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
all nations call him blessed!
Forget economic stimulus packages.
Forget campaign reform.
Quite looking for a good, just leader.
And instead, look to the blessed hope that is found in Jesus - the hope whose fulfillment started on the day we call Christmas.
one day that same baby will be the King you always dreamed of.
The title messiah,
gives us a second reason we should have hope and joy as we gather for Christmas.
The 3rd title,
3. Jesus is called Lord.
3. Jesus is called Lord.
As we considered this title, we may think it is redundant.
After all didn’t we just say that the Messiah is to rule all of the world.
And that is true,
but Luke choose to add the title Lord - to emphasize his complete rule.
Jesus is certainly the savior, and certainly Christ, which means he is the supreme ruler of this World.
The term used here has broad meaning.
ranging from masters of slaves to the Roman Emperor himself.
And major component of Christ ministry was that he was not simply there to restore Israel, or to be the King of worldwide empire,
but that every single person would understand he is the Lord of Lords.
It is interesting that in ,
Peter makes the Lordship of Jesus an essential component of Salvation.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Acts
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
We see again the emphasis of the title Christ and the title Lord.
communicates this idea of Christ supreme authority that we ought out submit to.
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
But Jesus is not simply a Lord of people,
To say that Jesus is Lord - is to say that he is the supreme ruler.
This world does not happen by accident.
It occurs as Jesus rules it to be so.
7 “Are you not like the Cushites to me,
O people of Israel?” declares the Lord.
“Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt,
and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir?
but the authority of all things.
We see the broadness of what it means that Jesus is Lord,
in .
24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Paul emphasizes that Jesus is not just Lord of people like a king,
but literally everything is under his authority.
The Lordship of Jesus is a great and mighty hope.
It is because Jesus is the Lord - that he is also our deliver from the plague of sin and death.
If you have struggle,
take it to the king,
because is the Lord supreme.
We ought to have hope and joy at Christmas because Jesus is the Lord.
CONCLUSION:
So this morning,
we have looked at the great Angelic announcement.
Not simply news like you might read in the newspaper,
but as Charles Wesley described it - a Herald from the God of Heaven.
A mighty announcement from the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
As we consider that this vulnerable innocent infant - found in a manager -
was the one the prophets all longed looked for.
He holds 3 of the most important titles in human history.
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
So the baby Jesus we celebrate and read about on Christmas day,
is called the Savior - because he is the one sent to deliver us from sin.
is called the Messiah - because he is to be the wonderful ruler we have been looking for.
and is called the Lord - because everything, whether death or whether people, is under his rule.
and this is the greatest news in human history
one that should inspire hope and joy for all people in all nations.
Now why would I make Christmas message 2 years in a row around the titles of Christ?
An old Testament passage, .
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6-
And a New Testament passage. .
Because when you gather tomorrow for Christmas,
and you sit down to read about the Birth of Jesus.
Maybe .
Maybe .
I want you to do what Mary, Jesus earthly mother, did -
And I want you to do what Mary, Jesus earthly mother, did -
records
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
I want you ponder in amazement that the
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God
English Standard Version Chapter 9
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Savior
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Messiah
Lord
was born on Christmas day.
- I want you to rejoice in awe knowing the great hope of salvation, and restoration, and Lordship that we get to experience through the Birth of Christ.
- I want you to praise God that you know who the Savior, the Messiah, and the Christ is and enjoy the wonderful blessings that flow out of Jesus.
And I want you to be in awe,
Maybe we praise God this Christmas season.
*******************************PRAYER*******************************************
SALVATION CHALLENGE:
If you are sitting here today,
and you don’t know how Jesus saved you
or you have not believed he is your Lord and Savior
Then what greater Christmas privilege might I have - than to lead you to a saving belief in Christ.
If that is you, I will be in the back and would be glad to share Christ this morning.