A Shocking Christmas Message — Shane Idleman

Jesus Commands Repentance

We talked about Jesus coming up to the man and saying, be careful, go and sin no more unless a worse thing come upon you. Jesus told the man, go and sin no more. And we talked about the seriousness of sin and the myth in our culture today that Jesus was this nice guy turning the other cheek, just walked around and everybody walking all over him like this doormat, turning the other cheek, being nice to people.

Christmas Reveals the Purpose of Christ's Coming

But as the song says, He came to save His people, Emmanuel, God with us, why? To save us from our sins. Jesus told this man to go and sin no more. He told the woman caught in the act of adultery, go and sin no more.

Jesus' Warnings About Sin and Repentance

Jesus said, if your eye causes you to sin, cut it out. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it out. He reprimanded entire cities because they did not repent from their sin. He said, I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Why Churches Avoid the Seriousness of Sin

Yet we're not supposed to talk about the seriousness of sin? What is happening in our culture today and the churches today? The very medicine we need is being avoided because we don't want to upset anybody.

We don't want to offend them. Jesus told this man, be careful lest a worse thing come upon you. The seriousness of sin. Jesus came to save us from our sins. We are sinners in need of a savior. That is the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Jesus Christ as the Son of God

A child is born among us. Why? Born to die. He said that God was his father. Let me say that again. Jesus Christ said God was his father, making himself equal to God. You cannot get this point wrong, folks.

This is where many lose it. Jehovah Witness, Mormon, all other religions, everything hinges on this point. Either Christ be the son of God or he's not. If that's not the case, we labor in vain. If that's not the case, we come to church for no reason.

And this is where many go sideways. Yes, I believe in a God, but not Jesus Christ, son of God. And the more I talk to people, I think it's because they're not listening. It hinges on this, because when there's a God, we can make out that God to be whatever we want.

Submission to Jesus Christ as the Only Way of Salvation

All paths lead to him. He likes my lifestyle. I'm doing all these good things. But when you say the Lord Jesus Christ, that involves submission. Submission to the Lord Jesus Christ because we're sinners in need of a savior under the wrath and condemnation of God.

And very few people want to admit that. I truly believe that's at the heart of it. They don't want to give up the so-called good life. It's an issue of the heart. I'm okay with God. No matter who I talk to, I'm okay with God.

The Name of Jesus and Spiritual Opposition

When I mention the name of Jesus Christ, their entire continent changes. Their attitude changes. They get upset, angry, defensive. Hold on, I just mentioned one name. Why do you think they don't want the city council to pray in Jesus' name?

You can have every other religion in that city council meeting praying in the name of whatever, but when we name the name of Jesus Christ, even the demons tremble. Something inside of a person says, I don't like that.

I don't like that because I'm not in right relationship with God. When we hear Jesus Christ, we leap for joy because I've been saved, I've been delivered, I've been saved from the wrath that is to come.

The Cross and the Cost of Sin

It's okay to talk about those things. Please don't understand, we should all be doing that. But again, that's not the gospel. That's a byproduct of it. And we always want to talk about the byproducts, but not the gospel.

That was ugly. It looks nice there. It was ugly, bloodstained, pierced, driving the hammer, the nails through the hands, whipped, beaten because it doesn't matter. That's what breaks my heart. We have the audacity to play with the very thing that put Christ on the cross, our sinful nature.

Christ's Authority to Give Life and Judge

Jesus Christ himself said, I am the son of God. He never denied it, and people confirmed it with the consistency with scripture. Verse 21, I'm skipping to, as the father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the son gives life to whom he will.

For the father judges no one. This is amazing. Mild, meek, nice little Jesus turned the other cheek is gonna be the lion of the tribe of Judah and come with the armies of heaven with the sword coming out of his mouth, judging the nations with a rod of iron.

That's Christ. Judgment is be given to him. That's why when you, in Matthew 7, when it says, for many will come to him in that day and say, Lord, Lord, we did all these things from your name. You said, depart from me, I don't know you.

How can he say, depart from me and cast them in outer darkness? Because all judgment has been given to the son. Jesus was crystal clear on this issue. If you believe on me, as the scriptures say, out of your belly will flow rivers of living water.

Christ Alone as Resurrection, Shepherd, and Way

If you believe on me, you will avoid the wrath that is to come. He said, I am the resurrection and the life. I am the true stone. I am the true shepherd. I am your Sabbath rest. I am the way, the truth and the life.

No man can come to the father except through me. I'm the alpha, the omega, the beginning and the end, the brazen serpent that was lifted up. I am your high priest. I am your Shekinah glory. I am the bright morning star.

I am the lion of tribe of Judah. I am the lamb slain before the foundation of the world. He is Christ and Christ alone. That's why we are here.