WHAT S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT CHRISTMAS? THE PERSON OF CHRISTMAS Romans 1:1-6 December 7, 2014 INTRODUCTION: Research shows that literally BILLIONS of dollars will be spent on Christmas gifts in 2014. If you were to read Love Languages by Gary Chapman, ( How to Express Your Heartfelt Commitment To Your Mate ) you would discover a lot about how you display love. Janet does so by giving gifts. I personally feel that one of my secondary gifts is from Romans 12:8 he who gives, with liberality. In this same text is my primary gift he who exhorts, in exhortation. Verse 6 of Romans 12 says, having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them I m grateful to God for every gift given and every gift received. People this season will be blessed and a blessing. However, Christmas is a BIG DEAL. I wish to use my platform that Christ has given me to promote the BIG DEAL of Christmas. My prayer is that I would be motivated by the Love of God (John 3:16), Empowered by the Spirit of God (John 15:5) and preach this message to the Glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). I pray that Christmas will be a Celebration of the Big Deal and not a DISTRACTION of the 1
Big Deal. There is a constant danger of loving things and using people rather than loving people and using things. A person engulfed in self-will, self-indulgence, and self-fulfillment becomes less and less capable of loving and giving because as their desire to possess grows, their desire to give withers. Selfish greed progressively alienates a person from everyone else, including those who are closest and dearest. The end result is loneliness and despair. Everything that is craved soon yields to the law of diminishing returns and the more one has of it the less it satisfies. I. THE PREACHER 1 A. He Is A Servant bondservant voluntarily served others; humble nobility and honor. (DOULOS) 1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 2
Realizing that even as a Christian we are still sinful, depraved, and underserving, Paul saw his service as underserved but real dignity God bestows on those who belong to Him. B. He Is An Apostle called not his own doing, not a volunteer but elected. (Acts 9:15) apostle person who is sent C. He Is Separated Set apart consecration; speaks of being called away from something and to something. D. He Had The Gospel Glad tidings; it is the good news that God will deliver us from our selfish sin, free us from our burden of guilt and give meaning to life and make it abundant. The Gospel is of God. He is the Source. The Preacher (Paul) was living proof of God s great love and mercy. He once opposed Christ, persecuted His church, yet God now had made him a preacher, a spokesman of His Gospel. 3
What Does The Gospel Address? 1. Sin Has Selfishness at its Heart. 2. Sin Produces Guilt. 3. Sin Produces Meaninglessness a. No sense of purpose 4. Sin Produces Hopelessness Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. Matthew 4:16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned." 4
II. The Person 2-4 V 2 Jesus Christ coming into this world and dying for sin was not an afterthought or an accident, it is the gospel that originated with God before the foundation of the world. Old Testament contains at least 332 prophecies about Christ. 1 Peter 1:10-12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven things which angels desire to look into. V3-4 In Jesus Christ God became a man who could die for all men, a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call Him a man; for He was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of 5
such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to Him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was Christ. And when Pilate at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned Him to the cross, those that loved Him at the first did not forsake Him; for He appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning Him. And the tribe of Christians so named from Him are not extinct at this day. Josephus, Jewish Historian V4 Spirit of Holiness according to the nature and work of the Holy Spirit. V5 Donald Grey Barnhouse said, Love that gives upward is worship, love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace. In divine condescension, God looked down on sinful, fallen mankind and graciously offered His Son for its redemption. THAT S THE BIG DEAL V5 for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name. Every believer is called not only to salvation and to service but to witness for Christ in 6
order to bring about the obedience of faith to others. Romans 16:25-26 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith. The very purpose of salvation as far as our earthly life is concerned, we are saved to not by good works. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. This is Shoe Leather Christianity This is LMCO to fulfill the Great Commission 7
NOTE: Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. NOTE: Romans 16:19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. His name sake All redemptive history focuses on God s glory. When a person believes in Christ, he is saved; but more important than that, God is glorified. John 17:4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. V6 The Big Deal about Christmas is that God came to us in Jesus Christ, and desires us to be saved and once saved to serve Him by telling others of His great salvation. 8