The Lord of Christmas
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According to a poll taken during the holidays 2017 by the Pew Research Center, 9 out of 10 Americans will celebrate Xmas. 46% of Americans consider Xmas to be a religious holiday
52% say it doesn’t matter how stores greet their customers “happy holidays” or “merry xmas” and only about 32% prefer “merry xmas”.
Number of Americans who believe the biblical Xmas account reflects actual historical events is declining (Jesus born of virgin, laid in manger, wise men guided by star, angel announced the birth) 57% down from 65% (2014).
Not terribly surprising, this decline, considering the direction of our nation toward godlessness. And even though there seems to be a small movement of those who want to re-capture the true meaning of Xmas…ideas of what the true meaning is differs widely:
It’s the feeling in your heart…causing you to mend broken friendships, repair severed ties with loved ones.
Its time to focus on “what matters most”, spending time with family, giving gifts, helping others less fortunate…
Its time to pursue peace and celebrate.
The world cannot accept why Xns observe Xmas…but they love to celebrate it so they mythologize and secularize it.
Xmas is not about those good/moral virtues: peace on earth, goodwill toward men, extolling brotherhood, charity, kindness, putting off all our troubles to gather with family & celebrate.
Xmas is not about shepherds who were watching over flocks…or angels in chorus, or Magi bearing gifts, stable or a manger…though these things are objects and participants in the account.
Xmas is for worship/adoration of the “Lord of Xmas.” Its not really about any of those things…though they may indeed be part of our observation…but above all, this time is for us to worship Him who is X the Lord.
By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
Everything about the Lord is a mystery. Paul says the mystery is “great” (megas—superiority, importance, sublime). Just how great this truth that is about to be expressed is underscored by the context (vs 15). There should be orderliness within the church b/c God has established it as the pillar and support of the truth and Timothy was to pay particular attention to the appointment of church leaders for this reason: the church is God’s witness on earth and only in the message the church has been entrusted with will the unsaved come into contact with the gospel of LJC.
This “mystery” (previously unknown and now revealed) is “godliness” (the revealing of godliness in the Person of JC). This was very likely a hymn of the early church and arranged in 6 lines…but its the first that I want us to give our attention to today: It epitomizes the story of the incarnation of Christ.
Now, in some ways godliness was revealed in the OT: God revealed Himself in intimate ways to Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses. They all enjoyed a personal communion with God. God also revealed Himself, making known His will in the Law as well as in various theophanies. These all fell short of the incarnation thru which God truly made His dwelling with men.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Martin Massinger “the mystery of godliness was manifested in the flesh, not in a burning bush, not in a pillar of cloud alone, but in actual human flesh.”
I want us to set our hearts up the theme of this “Incarnation” (in-fleshment). Lloyd-Jones “We stand before this mystery of godliness, God in flesh! The strangest, the most amazing thing that has ever happened—indeed, I do not hesitate to say, the supreme act of God. It is so supreme that I expect it to be unusual in every respect, and I find the Scriptures tell me that it was. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, He was born of a virgin named Mary. Man was entirely excluded…It was entirely the work of God.”
Who is this person who came into the world a baby, who grew into a boy, matured into a man and set out in public ministry?
1) He is the Son of God
1) He is the Son of God
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
Over 40x called “Son of God” When the Bible affirms the divine sonship of Jesus Christ, it is speaking of His equality with God. Jesus as the Son of God means that He possesses the essence of deity as equally as the Father.
For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
Thomas “my Lord and My God” (Jn 20:28); Rom 9:5
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
Divine Names Applied to Christ
Divine Names Applied to Christ
Word--John 1:1
Only Begotten--Jn 1:18
Lord (several hundred x) Lk 2:11 X the Lord
Lord of all—Act 10:36
God blessed forever—Rom 9:5
Great God and Savior—Tit 2:13
Lord & Savior—2 Pt 3:2
O God—Heb 1:8
Lord of Glory (YHWH)—1 Cor 2:8; Ps 24:8-10
The Holy One is God—Act 3:14
First and Last—Rev 1:17-18; 2:8; Is 44:6 (God in OT)
King of kings Lord of lords—Rev 19:16
True God—1 Jn 5:20
Divine Attributes Applied to Christ
Divine Attributes Applied to Christ
Omnipotence—Heb 1:3; 1 Cor 15:27
Omniscience—Jn 2:24-25; 6:64
Omnipresence—Mt 18:20; 28:20
Eternal—Jn 1:1
Immutable—Heb 13:8
Divine Works Done By Christ
Divine Works Done By Christ
Creator/sustainer—Col 1:16-17; Heb 1:2-3
He forgives sin—Col 3:13; Mk 2:5-12
Gives eternal life—Jn 10:28
Receives and answers prayer—Jn 14:14
Raises dead—Jn 5:21; 6:39-44
Judges the world—Act 10:42; Jn 5:22-23; 2 Tim 4:1
Divine Claims Made by Christ
Divine Claims Made by Christ
Authority over laws and institutions of God (law, temple, Sabbath, kingdom)
Supreme object of saving faith
I AM’s (Jn 8:58) bread, light, door, way
Divine Worship Accepted and demanded by Christ
Divine Worship Accepted and demanded by Christ
Men and angels refuse worship from men
Christ did not refuse—disciples (Mt 14:33), Syrophoenician woman (Mt 15:25), women on Resurrection morn (Mt 28:9), Blind man (Jn 9:38).
Father commands worship of Son (Heb 1:6)
Host of heaven worship—Rev 5:8-14
All will worship—Phil 2:10-11
Here is part of this great mystery of the 2nd person of the Godhead. We have a hard time understanding the realities of the Trinity but we clearly see that Jesus Christ is described as fully God, distinct from God the Father.
2) Son of Man
2) Son of Man
Gal 4:4—Son of Man (40x—Jesus favorite self-designation) is not simply a title but a characteristic of Jesus who is fully human.
The picture painted in the gospels concerning the nature of LJC is that He is a man. He fully possesses genuine human characteristics.
A Human Birth
A Human Birth
Though His conception is clearly miraculous, but physically speaking His birth was normal in every respect. He was born after the expected period of pregnancy. The shepherds came and saw a real baby in a manger.
Away in a Manger (Luther) “little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes” is an inaccurate since Jesus had the same needs that every newborn baby has.
Human Growth and Development
Human Growth and Development
It is clear that Jesus grew just like other children do.
The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
His development physically, mentally and socially was uniquely marked by sin’s absence in His life.
Human Ancestry
Human Ancestry
The genealogical records of Mt & Lk one tracing lineage from Joseph back to Abraham thru David establishes His legal right the throne and the other from Mary to Adam to show his connection to the human race.
Jesus had half-brothers and sisters, knowing the stresses and joys of family life.
concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,
Human Appearance
Human Appearance
There is nothing in the Gospels to indicate that Jesus ever appeared to the physical sight as anything other than human. The emphasis was on the man who was able to perform miracles, who was arrested and crucified and even who appeared after resurrection.
And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.
Human Experiences
Human Experiences
Jesus became hungry and thirsty, weary and slept, sorrowed and wept. He had special love for special people (Bethany family). When facing the struggles of Gethsemane he craved human sympathy and support. His statement on the cross “Why have you forsaken me” is evidence of the genuine humanity of Jesus—natural expression of a man in the midst of terrible suffering.
The Bible places particular emphasis on the humanity of Jesus Christ.
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Further, Jesus was tempted “in all points as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 2:18).
Though He was truly human, Jesus was perfectly sinless. When Paul says that He came in the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom 8:3), He did not come in sinful flesh.
Importance
Importance
Why is it important that we understand the nature of Jesus Christ?
1) to keep you from error concerning the nature of our Savior. The early church in the 300 years after the birth of Jesus wrestled with significant questions and dealt with error relating to His person.
Some denied the reality of His deity. There were entire groups of people who said Jesus was only a man…a good man, a great moral teachers, setting forth an excellent example of how people should relate to each other—many still hold to this error.
Others denied His humanity. They say He only appeared to be man.
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
Some said Jesus was 2 persons: God and Man.
In the year A.D. 451 the Council of Chalcedon made one of the clearest statements regarding the nature of Jesus Christ.
Our Lord is truly God and truly man, of a reasonable soul and body, consubstantial with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the manhood; in all things like unto us without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days for us and for our salvation born of the Virgin Mary, the mother of God according to the manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably, the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved and concurring in one person and one subsistence; not parted or divided into two persons but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God, the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ.
2) There’s a second reason why we should be concerned with understanding the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ…because it has everything to do with your salvation.
Since it was man who sinned, the penalty of sin must be born in the nature of man. The only way to redeem man is for one who is Man Himself to bear the penalty for the sin of humanity.
Jesus must also be a sympathetic high priest by having human nature Himself.
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
To be an example to believers He must be man.
But equally important is His deity…Jesus has to be God for His sacrifice to have infinite value and to actually deal with sin.
The message/meaning of Xmas is about our worship of the One who is both God & Man. This is a great and glorious mystery…and one that has eternal consequences for you.
Phil 2:5-11
The message is that God loves you to the extent that He called upon His Son to do this. And the Son did it. Though He is eternal God, He went into the womb of Mary and was born a baby, put into a humble manger…yet still eternal God (who created the universe).
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
He endured those hostilities, was beaten, spit upon, mocked and crucified, He died and was buried. And He did these things, because it is the only way for you and me to be saved. It is the only way that your sin and mine could be forgiven in that He should bear our punishment. This gospel…good news is what makes the angels astonished as they long to look from heaven the greatness of the Lord of Xmas.
As you celebrate Xmas—I pray you will consider these mysterious realties and set it in your hearts to worship Christ the newborn king.