Christmas and the Gospel

Pastor Pete Beck III • December 25, 2016

But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21  “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins .” 22  Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23  “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US .” Matthew 1:20-23 (NASB)

Most of us like holidays, merry making, and gifts. Even without Christ, the winter holidays would continue in some fashion or another. Many have no problem with the traditional Christmas story, but they don’t really believe it. Those who are antagonistic toward Christmas object to the many references to the One many believe is the long awaited Jewish Messiah, but at least they seem to comprehend what the holiday is all about. Whether or not Jesus was born on this particular date so long ago is not really the issue; rather, was his birth really the fulfillment of many prophecies made, in some cases, thousands of years earlier? Was he indeed the Promised One, the Messiah, and the coming King prophesied by the prophet Daniel? If he was, Christ’s birth inaugurated a universe-changing series of events here on earth.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is one of my favorite carols. In it is the line “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.” Jesus was born into a world that was wracked with the effects of generations of sin, like waves crashing against some storm battered cottage during a hurricane. He did not come here for a vacation. He was dropped behind enemy lines to raise up what would prove to be a world-transforming team of the most unlikely of followers and to give his life away.

Our sin condemned the whole of humanity to the unwelcome prospect of an eternity separated from God, but the angel announced that Mary would have a miracle son, whom she and Joseph should name, Jesus, which means “God is salvation.” They announced that he would save his people from their sins. Little did they realize how he would do it. It all sounded so confusingly glorious, but the death he would die would be confusing in another way. How and why could the Messiah be crucified? He took our sins and punishment upon himself, so that we could be forgiven and free. He died and rose again so we could live forever with God’s life in God’s presence. His name “Immanuel” means “God with us,” and the Holy Spirit of God will come to live in all who put their trust in Jesus and what he did for us.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8  In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord . Luke 2:7-11 (NASB)

The angel also announced that Jesus would also be the Lord, the long-awaited King who would reign forever on David’s throne over all nations. The child who was born in Bethlehem so long ago will one day come in glory on the clouds to raise the dead, judge all people who have ever lived, and rule forever over his Father’s kingdom. This is the hope of all who believe.

Christmas today is not about a little baby in a manger in a far away land. It’s more about the fulfillment of God’s Messianic promises, which started God’s heavenly clock, which is rapidly winding down. The end of all things and Christ’s Second Coming is getting very near. This Christmas, don’t miss the point. Jesus, the long awaited Messiah, finally arrived in a most unexpected manner some two thousand years ago. He lived, died, and rose again, and now sits in heaven waiting for the grand finale. How you receive him now will make all the difference for you on that coming Day. Receive him now as your Savior and Messiah King, and you will rejoice at his Second Coming. Refuse him now, and you will have no place in his eternal kingdom, no everlasting life, no eternity with God – no hope. Christmas is your invitation to surrender your life and all you have to the Messiah King and, in exchange, receive all his blessings and benefits, both now and forever more.

Prayer

Jesus, I never realized that you are much more than a babe in a manger. Thank you for dying for my sins and sending your Holy Spirit. I receive your forgiveness and life. I also surrender my entire life to you, my Lord and King. I look forward to your coming again. Use me to tell others this glorious good news. Amen.

Kingdom Teamwork

By Pete Beck III • February 10, 2025
Following Christ is not a spectator sport. Each of us has a role to play and a job to do.

How to Escape from the Prison of Bitterness

By Pete Beck III • December 18, 2024
Bitterness imprisons its victims and subjects them to demonic harassment, a version of self-inflicted torture.

What do we do when we are unsure of our next move?

By Pete Beck III • December 17, 2024
One of the most difficult and challenging times is when we are not sure of what to do next.

How Do We Align Ourselves with God's Purposes?

By Pete Beck III • December 13, 2024
When the gospel accomplishes its purpose in us, it brings glory to our Lord and a sense of peace and contentment to us, while it furthers the advance of God’s kingdom.

How Do I Know If I Am Called By God?

By Pete Beck III • December 12, 2024
Our heavenly Father has great interest in our lives and shows his children what he wants us to do.

How Can I Transition from Spectating at Church to Being a Player?

By Pete Beck III • December 3, 2024
Christianity is not a spectator sport. The Reformation renewed some very important truths of the faith that had been lost over time, one of which is the priesthood of the believer . This doctrine means that in the New Covenant there is no clergy-laity distinction. Everyone is called to ministry. All followers of Christ are called, equipped, and expected to partner with the Holy Spirit in the adventure of using their spiritual gifts, time, energy, finances – everything – to fish for people and encourage them to become followers of Christ and fishers of men in their own right. Every football and basketball season an interesting phenomenon takes place. People personally identify with their favorite teams. When their team is doing well, they feel good about themselves and become enthusiastic, vocal, and visible fans. What is so intriguing is that many of us think that we somehow acquire greater worth and prestige, if our team excels and does better than the other teams. It is almost as if we were the ones who are competing. All big sporting events are filled with such fans who get satisfaction out of watching others play the game. So it is with many people who attend churches. We all know that playing and spectating are vastly different. When we spectate, we can imagine ourselves making better decisions and better plays than the players on the court or the field, but the reality is that we are not playing. Jesus has invited his followers actually to participate in the greatest adventure of being his Spirit-filled and empowered representatives. Unfortunately most of us who call ourselves Christians are merely spectating fans. We may agree with the concept of being involved in the Great Commission, but we have fallen into the trap of being passive, sitting on the sidelines, hoping that someone else will lead our family member, neighbor, or friend to Christ and teach them how to follow him fully. Many Christians think that evangelism is inviting someone to church, where they will hear the preacher talk about Christ. We do not see ourselves as the one who can best share the gospel with them. However, the truth of the matter is that we cannot transfer our responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission to someone else. God does not give us the option of merely being fans or spectators. God asks us to be players – disciples and disciple makers. Not everyone is equally gifted in this area, but we are all asked to participate. Some may win thousands to Christ, while others may help only a few become followers of the Master over a lifetime. Sadly, a great number of those who call themselves Christians have never led even one person to faith in Christ. In some cases they have given up trying. This ought not be. Could this be because we do not even talk about Jesus in a serious way with anyone outside of church meetings? Suggestions Ask God to forgive us for succumbing to laziness, fear, and the spirit of the age that tells us to keep our faith to ourselves. Ask the Holy Spirit to stir in us the fire of enthusiasm for Jesus and the Gospel. Ask him to give us a love for those who live around you who do not yet know Christ. Familiarize ourselves with the Gospel. (I recommend The King Jesus Gospel by McKnight. You can read my summary by clicking here or you may wish to read my articles on the subject .) Pray for opportunities to speak meaningfully to people. Make it a priority to get to know the people in your neighborhood, at work, at the gym, at school, and wherever you have the opportunity to connect. As we spend time in conversation, we will begin to see how Jesus and the Gospel can help them. Our care for them may give us a platform from which to speak about Jesus to them. Visit people and have them over to our homes. The more time we spend with people, the greater the opportunity we provide for the Holy Spirit to work in the relationships. Offer to pray for people on the spot when a genuine need for God’s help surfaces. Join a group (or start one) whose focus is fishing for people and making disciples. In many cases this will be what some call a “missional” church, as opposed to an event-oriented spectator church. We need to be encouraged in the work of the Great Commission because, although it is rewarding, it can be difficult and discouraging at times. Never, never, never, never give up. Our heavenly reward will be great!
Show More
Share by: