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I don't want to take too long this evening, but I'd just like to touch on something that's so important to the Christmas message and what Christmas is really all about. I'd like to speak to you about just for a few minutes the reason Jesus came.
If you were to ask people today, even in evangelical churches, what kind of answer.
Would they give?
If you were to ask them, Why did Jesus come? Why did he come? Why? You would get all kinds of answers, and we're going to go right to the scriptures. Scripture itself will give us the answer for this evening's question and message.
The reason why Jesus came. The reason why Jesus came. Two of the most important questions for each person to answer is, number one, Who is the Lord Jesus Christ? Who is he? I really believe that that is the most important question to be answered.
Who is Jesus Christ? And the second question would be this. Why did he come to earth? Like I said, you'd get all kinds of answers, wouldn't you? Why did he come to earth? Why did he come? The reformer Martin Luther saw this when he said, quote, if anyone stands firm and write on this point that Jesus Christ is true God and true man who died and rose again for us, all other articles of the Christian faith will fall in place for him and firmly sustain him, end quote.
I truly believe that tonight. So really the Christmas story is not primarily about the birth of a baby who would grow up to become a great moral teacher and an example or even a prophet. Though Jesus did become those things.
Rather it is the profound and staggering story of the birth of a Savior and we looked at that this great truth this morning that the babe that was born in the manger in Bethlehem over 2 ,000 years ago, then when he came to earth in the fullness of time was truly God in flesh.
God in flesh. That is Christmas and that is the reason and that is who is born. And after explaining that Mary was with child by the Holy Spirit, the angel told Joseph something wonderful. Turn with me to Matthew 1 chapter 1 and we will see what the text says.
In the Gospel of Matthew, let me back up a little bit so we can get the the story as a whole in the in the context. Verse 18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph before they came together.
She was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband being a just man and not wanting to make her a public example was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying Joseph Son of David.
Do not be afraid to take to you. Marry your wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. It's marvelous that the third person of the Trinity had part to do with this great birth as well.
Because that's exactly how It took place in her in her womb the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit and verse 21 tells us and Shisha and she will bring forth the Son. And you shall call his name Jesus For he will save his people from their sins from their sins.
Let's bow with please bow with me in prayer as we look into this wonderful text just for a few minutes. Oh.
Lord.
We thank you for your word.
We praise you we thank you for the great revelation that's given to us about Your beloved son The Lord Jesus Christ the one who came to save us from our sins. Truly, he will save his people from their sins.
It will be a full salvation. It shall happen by your grace and by the power of your spirit. What a marvel this is. What a wonder. We're so amazed and may we just wonder at the wonder of the great the greatness of the story.
And.
We thank you that through the blood of Jesus Christ. You have saved us From the wrath to come but most Lord we thank you that you will save us from our sins. But that is the reason our Lord came. Lord speak to us.
And may the true teacher the spirit of truth teach us from your word this evening in Jesus name. I pray Amen. What a marvel this is. She shall bring forth a son and you shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.
The Hebrew name for Jesus is really an Old Testament Name. It's Joshua in Hebrew, and it actually means Jehovah saves. Jehovah saves. That's what Jesus means. Jesus came to save his people from their sins.
Like to bring out four simple points to help us understand What the text is saying here this evening. Who came? First of all second who was his purpose. What was his purpose in coming? What was his purpose in coming.
Third? Whom did he come to save. Whom did he come to save him. And Fourth what did he actually do? What did he actually do. The first question? We answer the question of Jesus identity and the third the three and the third answer Tells us why he came to earth.
Very simple. I'm going to keep it short as I can this evening and just help us focus on the great truth here of his grain grand purpose in coming to This world and we know that from the Gospels that Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
Christ came into the world to save sinners. Paul says of whom I'm chief. That's a faithful saying. But who was it that came who was it that came? You know you think of it as I was contemplating this question.
I Couldn't help but thinking I think to myself. What if right now He never would have come. Have you ever thought of that. Think of it in the sense that. What if what if he decided not to come? He didn't know us the salvation.
Did he we really deserve to die if we look at it? Scripturally. Of all sinners. As Edwards said were sinners in the hands of an angry God. But what if the Lord decided not to send the Savior? He could have easily done that and Been just about it.
Just you tell those people about that today, and they know it's. Oh no no no no. Have you noticed in this in this world especially even in among evangelical so-called believers professing believers that a lot of them look at Salvation in the sense that God owes it to them, but that's erroneous.
God doesn't owe us anything actually all he owes us is justice in hell. That's what he really owes us. I think often too that. So many people want to serve God and come to God. I say serve God for wrong and false motives.
It's like they want God for the benefits. The benefits they want all the blessings that come with it. They they want the good things that come with salvation up to escape hell. I call it fire insurance.
And get to heaven with a with a ticket. So to speak and and they have cheapened the grace that. It's costly. It's like they want God just for their own benefits. Isn't that what he saw? Wanted he he really didn't seek repentance because he.
He.
Hurt the heart of God that he sinned against God. He it was about his selfish means. It was because of him that he lost the blessing. So many people as you see. They just want God for the benefits and doesn't that tell you something?
Self is still on the throne. Self is still on the throne. This is why Jesus said First of all, if you're going to follow me and be my disciple you deny yourself take up your cross and Follow me. There's a cost.
And serving Jesus. Oh, there is benefits. Don't don't get me wrong. There's benefits that pours from heaven. But it's always God's way. It's not our way. Actually the song tonight in hell is I Did it my way.
It's crushing isn't it? You see people like this and the church is professing to be Christians and they say.
They say oh.
I.
Love God and I Serve God, but you can hardly get him to come to do the easiest thing in the Christian life. That's to come to church. That's the easiest thing folks. What's going to happen when persecution hits?
Oh. It's going to clean up things I can guarantee and it is coming. It's coming and true motives will be revealed and the tears Will be. You start to see the tears to fall away when the hard times come.
Well, we see here. Who is it? That came. Jehovah saves. Verse 23 behold the Virgin shall be with child and bear a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel. Which is translated God with us. I believe Felicity quoted that tonight all these children did a great job quoting Isaiah and Matthew and.
Heather.
Praise God. Jesus was God in flesh. You know the gospel of Luke says much in chapter 1. Let me turn to it. We see it from Luke's gospel and why Jesus and who he was. He came in verse 31 Says and behold in chapter 1 and behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth the Son and you shall call his name Jesus and he will be great and Will be called the Son of the highest and the Lord God would give him the throne of his father David.
And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom. There will be no end. Oh, did you hear did you hear that? Did you hear that? He will reign he will be great. He will be called the Son of the highest.
The Lord God would give him the throne of his father Dane and he David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. He will reign. He will reign Forever and ever. And Scripture says from Revelation that God has made us kings and priests and washed us in his precious blood and We will reign with him.
I like what JC Ryle said. He said there's a cross less Christianity among us today and this was years ago when this Anglican minister wrote this. He said but unfortunately and I'm paraphrasing it everybody wants a Wants a crown without a cross.
Nothing's changed. Nothing's changed. Look around today. Look in the churches. Everybody wants a good time. They want again. They want the benefits. They want to go to heaven.
But with would they.
Would they be forever happy in heaven the way they're living, you know, you think of it. Heavens a holy city it's a holy place and There's a holy God and there's a holy king and there's a holy people and everything about Heaven will be holiness unto the Lord.
Holiness will reign on this earth and righteousness and when Jesus Christ comes back. So Jesus Christ will reign forever and ever. He was born of a virgin. Virgin birth is important, isn't it?
Why?
This is how God entered into this world. As flesh is the second member of the Trinity without Adam's sin He did not bring Adam's sin with him. That's why he was completely.
Pure.
Without.
The original sin. The important importance of the virgin birth is incredibly important. So it's Jesus who came. Jesus who came. Jehovah saves. Secondly, what was his very purpose in coming? What was his very purpose in coming to?
The text tells us. Back in Matthew. Look at it. She will bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus. Jehovah saves for he.
Will.
Save.
His people. Now there's other commentaries Commentators that comment on this and they basically say that his people is Israel. But it's interesting to say if you read if you read through the scriptures that not all of Israel is Israel.
There's some people today even in evangelical churches. They really believe this that Jews the Jewish people because they were the covenant people of God. They do not believe that they should be even evangelized because they were God's covenant people.
Almost like they get an automatic pass. But that's not true. Is it for scripture says even to the Jews after all it is the Jews That first rejected them rejected their Messiah, but the gospel came to the Jew first then to the Greek.
Jesus made that clear. But the Jews rejected Christ. What was his purpose in coming to save his people from their sins and his people is just not The Jewish people it's actually his people that are chosen.
Chosen. Yeah, but pastor, is it Israel chosen? Well, there there are a select chosen few that will be saved but not all of Israel again is not Israel. Salvation is of the Lord John Jonah 2 9 if you actually look.
From.
Ephesians chapter 1 that really tells us a great deal. This is a chapter that a lot of people do not like to go to. You go to chapter 1 of Ephesians, and I'm here to tell you I have witnessed this myself years ago.
Not even mentioning John Calvin's name preached through Ephesians 1 and.
Quite it was a quite a large congregation that I minister to and they literally came Very angry and hostile Toward me. These are so-called church moral people folks moral people. They did not like Ephesians 1.
Because it speaks about the doctrine of election. But I'm here to tell you the doctor of a doctrine of election stands true in the scriptures and it's there. There is redemption in Jesus Christ notice in chapter 1.
Ephesians Verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. It's all in Christ and notice in verse 4 just as.
Chose us in.
Him.
Before the foundation of the world.
Before.
The foundation of the world this decision has already been made in eternity past. That we should be holy. That's our sanctification. That's the perseverance of the Saints. That you will persevere that those who that are saved from the wrath to come chosen by God Are not only saved from the wrath to come but they are sanctified holy and will be without blame before him in love and notice verse 5 haven't predestined us to the adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to himself.
According to the good pleasure of his will if there's anything that saves us and the reason from the heart of God It's the good pleasure of his will. It's nothing in us. It's the good pleasure of his will he had good pleasure in it that he will have a people for himself a righteous People a holy people a sanctified people to the praise of the glory of his grace.
You know, it's all about worship, isn't it? It's all about worship of him because he will have a people that will worship him and love him and adore him and praise him forever and ever. This is a people that will do this forever and ever in heaven.
And I like what Ravenhill says actually this life here is a dressing room for eternity and if we can't do it here How do can we expect to do it in heaven forever? This is just a dressing room.
For the big ones. For the big.
For the big picture to come. To the praise of the glory of his grace by which he made us accepted in the beloved he accepted us. Aren't you glad he accepted you. And by the way, he doesn't accept us because of some good works we do.
Why did God the Father accept us because of his son?
The beloved.
Made us Accepted in the beloved his beloved son in him and him in Christ. That's what he's talking about. We have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace In which he made to abound toward us and all wisdom and prudence.
Haven made known to us the mystery of his will according again. Listen is according to his good pleasure. It's always God's good pleasure. Which he purposed in himself. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord.
I Love Isaiah 46. Let me give a cross-reference here Isaiah 46. It's a great chapter. I tell you the gospel of Isaiah is wonderful, isn't it? If you look at Isaiah 46 God deals with the dead idols. Basically this whole chapter deals with dead idols and the living God Says this remember the former things of old for I am God and there is no other I am God and there's none like me.
Declaring the end from the beginning from the ancient times the things that are not yet done. Saying my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. God's good pleasure. That is to save a people for himself and by the way, it's all for his glory it's all for him.
It's all about him. That's why I tell people about the church. It's not about the pastor. It's not about the people it's it and even though we're part of it. But it's really about Jesus because he's the Lord of the church.
It's his church. He will grow it. We don't have to worry about that. All we have to do is be faithful and and doing exactly what he has told us to do. To the praise of the glory of his grace. Number three whom Whom did his He purposed to save.
Whom did he purpose to save His people his people he will save his people. From their sins, it's amazing that Salvation Is what it is because it's all of God, isn't it? I I've contemplated on this so much and I'm thinking to those that are regenerated.
We would not be regenerated unless it was for goods goodness and mercy. We would all be dead and trespasses and sins. Notice Ephesians 2 verse 1 and you and you Who were dead and trespasses and sins and you may see he made alive, but that's actually not in the original.
It literally reads and you who were dead and trespasses and sins in which you once walked according to the course of this world. The course of this world listen to this according to the Prince and the power there.
That's talking about Satan the God of this world the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience. We are naturally sons of disobedience because of Adam's original sin that it is inherited in us. Among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lust and means the desires of our flesh.
Fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by the nature children of wrath just as the others. The transition is made in verse 4. Aren't you glad and these two words we could put the whole gospel in these two words, but God.
But God, you know what? That means God intervened. God is sovereign. He intervenes who is rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us. Even when we were dead and trespasses. Think of that.
Even while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us even when we were dead and Trespasses made us alive together with Christ and Then he says this in parentheses by grace you have been saved by God's unmerited favor.
Nothing that you have earned nothing that I've done.
No.
It not of good works, but all because God is good and he loves you and he favored you by because of his good pleasure raised us up Together together in Jesus Christ, isn't that glorious in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus and listen to verse 7 that in the ages to come he might show that seeding riches of his grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Do you see that? It's all about God. It's all about his glory. It's what he has done in Jesus and through Jesus for who Jesus is. Doesn't that help us get the right perspective that we get our eyes off ourselves that it's not about us.
It's not it's not based on how Faithful, even though he desires us to be faithful, but it's not based on my faithfulness. It's based on Christ who is the faithful one? He's faithful and true. For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God.
There it is the gift of God God's gift. God's gift not of works lest any anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship Created in Christ Jesus for good works notice for good works. It's not we're not saved by good works.
We're created for good works that follows and obedience and.
Faith.
Which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. That's very practical, isn't it? We should walk in them. We should conduct ourselves. This is the way we should walk every day of our lives in our home before our family members.
The practice being Christlike among those who we love and those who we Reach out to. That's his purpose. That's why he came to save us for the good pleasure of his will. Well, what did he do? What did he do.
He actually saves his people from their sins and that is actually a great truth and a fact. He's washed us in the blood of the Lamb that we would be priests unto him. Go with me very quickly. The Titus chapter 2.
I love Titus. It's one of the part of the pastoral epistles and this section here. It really shows us what the grace of God.
Actually.
Trains us and teaches us. You ever think of it like that. God's grace teaches us. It teaches us it trains us. Look at verse 11 in chapter 2. For the grace of God that brings salvation. Let me stop right there.
What is brought salvation. God's grace. What's God's grace. God's unmerited favor. He's had favor. He's gracious, he's kind he's good. His mercy endures forever. God's grace. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
I doesn't mean that all men's going to be saved folks. It's to all people in other words. It's to all. To the whosoever will. It's the general call. It is this invitation to all people.
It's.
Not universalism. It doesn't say that all will be saved. It means it is actually appeared to all men. Look at verse 12 teaching us.
That.
Now this is true sanctification folks. This is what South this is what grace really teaches us. God's grace teaches us first of all to deny ungodliness. It teaches us to deny worldly lust worldly desires.
It teaches us that we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present age. So salvation is here now. We are saved from our sins here. And now we deny ourselves here and now. We repent of our sins here and now.
And by the way that Repentance is just not a one-time act. Is it it is a continual act all the days of our lives. I don't know about you. I repent every day. I were a lot of times. I repent of my repenting.
I need repentance. I.
Need to.
Have self-examination. I need this the searchlight to cut on my my own heart to see Oh God. Are there sins in my life that not only I know but other sins I do not know. Teaching us God's grace keep that in mind it teaches us to deny ungodliness worldly lust.
We should live soberly righteously godly in this present age and notice verse 13 looking for that. For the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, you know. It makes me think when I come to verse 13 that Christ is coming back for a bride.
That would be holy and pure. Washed in the blood of The lamb verse 14 who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from every lawless deed. Purify for himself his own special people. Zealous for good works speak these things.
Exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you. That's the salvation That God has brought. Praise his name. We are. Text is very clear. Jesus will or is another translation. Jesus shall save his people from their sins.
One evangelical Commentator said it like this. And I'll close with this. Are you one of his people? Are you one of his people? How can I know and the answer lies and answer in some other questions and I get this.
From Stephen Cole, he's retired pastor now, but out of him out from, California. He said this here's here's some questions. He said I thought this was excellent. Has God opened your eyes to see that you are a sinner who deserves his judgment?
That's a great question. Has God really opened your eyes to see that you are a sinner who deserves his judgment. If you think you're a pretty good person He says in God's sight then you are not one of his people.
Wow, that's a dead giveaway in it ask people. What what makes you think God's gonna let you into his heaven see what kind of answer you get. I'm a good person most of the time. That's the first thing that comes up folks.
That's a dead giveaway that there they need to be regenerated right there. They do not understand the gospel. They do not understand who God is and they do not understand who they are. That's a great question.
He says at least it has not been yet for them to be revealed who they are. But if you say yes, I know that I'm a sinner deserving of God's judgment. Then the next question is have you fled for the refuge?
From the God's judgment to the cross of Jesus Christ. Have you gone to the cross? Flee from the wrath to come and fly to Jesus. Amen. Next question is and I love this. Are you trusting in his shed precious shed blood alone alone to pay the penalty?
For your sins. Folks this is what it comes down to this is what the gospel comes down to. And he says this if you answer yes to those questions, you need to ask yourself further. Is there any evidence that Christ has saved you from your sins?
Don't you love that? Is there any evidence? I Like what John MacArthur says about this? What's the greatest evidence of my salvation? Because it's not perfect our evidence is Our not perfection, but direction.
Which direction are you going? Are you going backwards? Are you going forward? Yeah, we're going to slip at times. We're going to fall. I don't know about you I I do it quite often, but you know something God is there to cleanse us and watch us.
And renew us and Restore the joy of our salvation. We should never ever I like what one Puritan said. We should always examine ourselves and look and see if there be any into an indwelling sin that will That will grieve the heart of God.
But we do not need to stay there and allow our sins to keep us from going to Jesus. Is there evidence that? Christ has saved you from your sins. And he closes with this and I lie all closed with it as well it is possible to say that you have believed in Christ but.
But to have an intellectual faith that has it does not save you. You must ask yourself has God changed me. Has he changed my heart? Transformation. Before you used to live for yourself only with no regard for Christ or for what he did on the cross.
But now you love the Lord Jesus Christ. You're flooded with gratitude and thanksgiving because you know, he gave himself on the cross for you before you had no before you had no hunger for holiness and We're content to live in disregard of God's commands.
Now, although you do fall into sin You mourn over your sins. Matthew 5 4. You confess your sins and seek to please God by forsaken sin and by obeying God.
Now.
Your aim and goal is to know the Lord Jesus Christ in communion more and more. And I'll close with that. May this be true of us. May this be true of us as God's people. Let us pray Our father and our God.
Lord, we thank you for the gospel. We thank you for the purpose of Sending your dear son and Lord. I think of the scripture that's in Hebrews that Jesus Christ saves to the uttermost. It's a full salvation Lord so many times we have failed you so many times We follow we've fallen into pitfalls and we have grieved the Holy Spirit of God but Lord our hearts if we're truly regenerated our hearts is to know you more and to grieve over our sin and a conviction of sin repent of our sin and have sorrow over sin and and Lord we desire to do something about it and we allow and are doing something is to come to you and Allow the precious blood of Christ by faith to wash us and cleanse us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Thank you, Lord Jesus. You're a perfect Wonderful Savior that continues to help us. May we continue to look to you looking unto Jesus and the author of finish of our faith and may we continue to run With steadfastness Until the very end by the grace in which you give.
We thank you Lord for saving us from our sins and it that would be perfect Perfectly done at the end when we enter in. Only by your grace because it surely will not be anything good in us. It's all by you and your sovereign grace.
We praise you and we thank you for the great work of redemption that you have wrought in Jesus Christ to him and to you be the glory forever and ever. Amen, and amen.