Saving Christmas past, present, and future.
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I love Christmas: A Merry Deconstructed Christmas.
Deconstructed Christian blogger: “It is now officially my favorite time of year. I am a Christmas fanatic. As soon as the turkey and dressing are turned into leftovers, the Christmas decorations come out. I decorate everything in sight, ceiling to floor. ... We use Christmas plates, drink from Christmas cups, and dry our hands on Christmas towels.
As a [christian] kid an ...Christmas was sacred. We acted as if it belonged to us, and that everyone who celebrated had to adopt our belief system.
Now that I have left [my faith], Christmas is one thousand percent magic. Everything, from Christmas carols on the radio, silly Christmas cartoons, and shopping trips are magical. At 47 years old, I am finally able to experience the holiday in all its childhood wonder. Everything is prettier, happier, more wholesome. I no longer worry that listening to a secular Christmas song is making Jesus sad.
Why? Because Christmas embodies exactly what Jesus taught. ... It gives us the freedom to feel like kids, catch snowflakes on our tongues, and rattle the packages under the tree to try to figure out their contents. Christmas is all about wonder. It’s about suspending reality and eating cookies.
So, if you were raised to believe Christmas should be reserved for celebrating Jesus, let me welcome you to a new way of thinking.
This Christmas, I will celebrate Jesus. Not in a religious sense, not in the evangelical box, but in the truest sense... I will do it by embracing the magic of this season.
This is an example from a blog-site of someone who claims to have been a christian and has now “deconstructed” their faith.
We are living in an age of deconstruction, and it’s affecting faith. “Every ideal is picked apart. George Washington has his mural painted over because he owned slaves. … In Christian circles, deconstruction takes a slightly different form. Doubt and disillusionment have become the new form of enlightenment. It somehow sounds more authentic to share our doubt than it is to share our faith with confidence. We watch thoughtful Christian leaders “break free” from the faith itself, as though shaking off invisible shackles.” (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/dealing-doubt-age-deconstruction/) This is the age of deconstruction...
Charles Spurgeon “I can ultimately thank God, for every storm that wrecked me upon the Rock of Christ Jesus.”
For Paul was good to reflect on the reason we celebrate the season: Past, present, and future so we never would lose sight of the wonder of it!
Read this with me as we talk this morning about saving Christmas, past present and future.
Romans 11:32–36 (ESV)
This is a conclusive doxology: a technical, poetic, expression of praise to and worship of God. This is going to be followed by the plea for a transformed life based in what you believe... Rom 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Three reasons for the season that will preserve the Wonder and glory of Christmas.
... of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever Amen" (Romans 11:36).
Paul gives three reasons Christmas should never lose its wonder to the believer:
1. Christmas gives a powerful foundation for their past. “Of Him” speaks of the wonder of Christ’s past work—creating all things.
1. Christmas gives a powerful foundation for their past. “Of Him” speaks of the wonder of Christ’s past work—creating all things.
People don’t always learn from the past:
"Knowledge is power, and power corrupts. So study hard and be evil."
Ex: Here Paul is using a phrase to speaks of origins. Something has derived from something else. It is “of”… something.
“Of him” here implies Christ’s creative work
“Of him” specifically alludes to his regenerating work.
This is part of Pauls defense of the Gospel:
because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
*Think of the statues that have been removed in the past few years: (https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/502492-list-statues-toppled-vandalized-removed-protests)
Winston Churchill wrote, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
That is true in American history… but even more-so in the Gospel. - That is why we do not detach the Old Testament from the Gospel.
We celebrate with the prophets who spoke clearly of his coming in the past:
Daniel became a leader among the Magi in Babylon. Matt 2:1-2
This is why Simeon was anticipating the coming of Christ: (Luke 2:28–32).
This is why Anna was anticipating the coming of Christ: (Luke 2:38).
When we speak of the Gospel, Paul said, “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.” 1 Cor 15:3-8
2. Christmas has powerful implications for their present.“Through Him” speaks of the wonder of His present work—upholding all things...working all things together and mediating our salvation.
2. Christmas has powerful implications for their present.“Through Him” speaks of the wonder of His present work—upholding all things...working all things together and mediating our salvation.
Meme: "Worrying works! More than 90 percent of the things I worry about never end up happening."
Paul is speaking of the regeneration of both Jews and Gentiles. God declared all of them “disobedient” why... “that he might have mercy on all.” Everybody needs him for their life equally. The wonder and power of salvation being “through him”.
A faithful God does not expect you to do what you cannot; He supplies the needed strength.
– Erwin W. Lutzer, Getting to No: How to Break a Stubborn Habit
My salvation was “through” Christ “His Son . . . made the worlds . . . upholding all things by the word of His power, . . . He . . . by Himself purged our sins. . . . Whom He hath appointed heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2,3).
My sanctification is going to be through Christ: Galatians 5:16 (ESV) — 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:25 (ESV) — 25 “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Justification is once and for all, sanctification is a continuous process of growing in holiness. When he said “walk by the spirit” in verse 16 it literally means “to go about” or “to walk around.” It’s the same word Jesus used of the paralytic, “get up, take your mat, and walk” (Mark 2:9). This is going to be your life in Christ… by his power and for his glory!
God is not just the God of my past, he is the God of my present.
1 Thess 5:23-24 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”
3. Christmas has powerful consolation for their future.“To Him” speaks of the wonder of His future work—the hope that comes to us at the last trumpet…when Christ’s final advent takes place.
3. Christmas has powerful consolation for their future.“To Him” speaks of the wonder of His future work—the hope that comes to us at the last trumpet…when Christ’s final advent takes place.
Explanation: “To him” speaks of hope.” As Christians in Rome are starting to experience the persecution of Nero.
“to Him” speaks of heaven: Paul was reminding them of the teaching of Christ: John 14:2-5
Heb 6:19-20 “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf...”
Edward Mote (1797-1874).
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
God was reminding them of the powerful reasons for this season we celebrate… in this he saves Christmas past, present and future.
A Christmas Carol…
"Spirit!" he cried, tight clutching at its robe, "hear me. I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope?"
"Good Spirit," he pursued, as down upon the ground he fell before it: "Your nature intercedes for me, and pities me. Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life."
"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!"