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	=Objectives=		=Objectives=
	*Congregants will boldly declare their position through Christ in a way that invites other to share in this blessing.		*Congregants will boldly declare their position through Christ in a way that invites other to share in this blessing.
		+	*Congregants will determine to live life abundantly.
	=Introduction=		=Introduction=

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Revision as of 21:24, 13 December 2019

Objectives

• Congregants will boldly declare their position through Christ in a way that invites other to share in this blessing.
• Congregants will determine to live life abundantly.

Introduction

I want you to take a moment to go back in time with me, well before time. We will try to avoid the deep theological discussion surrounding God's decrees, but consider what it must have looked like for God, the trinity, to decree to create, authorize the fall of mankind, and provide salvation. In eternity past, God knew that Jesus would come as a baby to be born in a manger. When we remember that first Christmas nearly 2000 years a go, there is a sense in which we are remembering something far older than that first Christmas, something from eternity past.

Main Body

Setting the Stage

Main Proposition

This Christmas, take time to reflect on what Christ did for you, place your hope in the future, and live abundantly.

Blessed through Christ (Matthew 1:1)

• Genealogies provided a means for rulers to establish their status and relationship between others. Matthew 1 provides a genealogical prologue to the Gospel that Matthew chose to write. Genesis 1 provides a hook into the Gospel of Jesus.
• In verse 1 we see the phrase βιβλος γενέσεως, that is a record of the origin of Jesus.
• In verse 1 we see Jesus introduced as Jesus Christ, or Jesus Messiah. For Matthew's audience, people of Jewish origins, the concept of Messiah carried a common idea, someone who would liberate Israel. Matthew further elucidates this point by calling attention to Christ's position as the Son of David. In fact, Matthew calls Jesus the son of David no fewer than six times in his Gospel. Matthew is placing emphasis on Christ's position as the one who fulfills prophecy. However, Matthew is doing more, from the title of Son of David, Matthew moves into a non-messianic title, Son of Abraham. Rather, as son of Abraham Jesus fulfills more than just the deliverance of Israel, Jesus is the one through whom all nations on earth are blessed.

The Blessing Promised (Genesis 12:1-3)

• Genesis 12:1-3 presents Abraham as the one through whom God would move to bless the entire earth. In the statement "and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" God provides Abraham with a messianic prophecy.

The Blessing Realized (Galatians 3:7-9)

• By Christ, through faith, we have been blessed. "The apostle concluded this phase of his argument by stating that though provision was made for “all nations” (v. 8), only those who have faith receive the blessing of justification."^[1]

• The story of the Bible is one of failure, hope, and joy.
• From Genesis 3 the Bible presents Man's complete inability to satisfy God's expectation. Each and every person in this room has failed God. We are all sinners in need of something beyond ourselves, something only God can provide. Starting with Adam and Eve our genealogy is one of sin. If any one of us were to trace our genealogy back to Adam what we would find is not a line of kings, a history of wealth, or positions of power. We would find sinners. But just calling ourselves sinners doesn't even feel like enough. You see, in out sin, we put ourselves at enmity with God. We are in open rebellion with the one who created us.
• Yet even in Genesis 3 we see hope. Genesis 3:15 states "he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”^[2] This hope as presented in the unfolding story of Scripture is in one who would come. At first we know very little, by Genesis 12 we see that the one who would come would come from the line of Abraham. As Scripture unfolds we see more and more of this promised one. And then, in Matthew 1:1 we are given a name. This promised hope is realized in the God-Man Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the good news of God sending Jesus Christ, his death in my place, resurrection, and God's acceptance of that payment on my behalf. This is the story of Christmas, this is why we celebrate.
• If you have never admited that you are a sinner in need of a savior, placed your complete trust in Christ, will you do that today?

As followers of Christ we have been placed in the position of blessing and our life should declare this position of blessing, not in arrogant pride but humbly recognition of God's grace.

• As you celebrate Christmas this year will you take time to declare your gratitude for God's provision of joy in through Jesus Christ?
• Will your declaration of gratitude show the love of Christ to others?

Saved through Christ (Matthew 1:18-25)

• Following the genealogy we have some of the most profound theology present. What began with Abraham has reached its eschatological climax. Jesus, heir of David, heir of Abraham but most importantly Son of God will save his people.

Bad Timing? No! God's Timing (Matthew 1:18-19)

• The genealogy of the first 17 verses leaves a lingering question. Why did Matthew write "And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ?" Why include Mary in this way. Matthew takes the opportunity to answer this question and present some important information. Matthew is making sure that his readers understand that Jesus is special, unique, the son of a virgin. The son of God. Don't let that fact breeze by. This is something extraordinary, something special.
• If you were a Jew reading the Gospel of Matthew for the first time you would likely have lots of questions.
  • Was Mary really a virgin?
  • What did people think?
  • Surly Mary had been betrothed, what did her future husband think?
• Matthew provides an answer, "Yes, Mary was virgin. Yes, people found out. Yes, Mary's future husband found out." Was this bad timing? No this was God's timing and God's work.

Save His People From Their Sins (Matthew 1:20-21)

• In perfect orchestration God provided a message for Joseph. The angel explained the situation to Joseph and uses the phrase Son of David to emphasize that Joseph is part of the royal line. The angel instructs Joseph to go forward with the marriage thus providing a legal claim to the throne of David to Jesus.
• The name Jesus reflects the Hebrew word "Yehoshua" which means Jehovah saves.
• From what do we need saved? Ephesians 2:1-3 states "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the [course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."^[3]
• The biggest problem with this world is sin. sin has corrupted everything:
  • Violence
  • Greed
  • Pride
  • Anger
• Have you ever thought to yourself, I can't wait until I get to heaven and get to experience perfection? I have, but I want you to notice something. The passage says that Jesus will save his people from their sins. Jesus came to save us from our sins, and while we have a future expectation of perfection in heaven, I want to remind you that you also have abundant life today.
• John 10:10 states, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
  • One theologian states "Within the metaphorical world, life … to the full suggests fat, contented, flourishing sheep, not terrorized by brigands; outside the narrative world, it means that the life Jesus’ true disciples enjoy is not to be construed as more time to fill (merely ‘everlasting’ life), but life at its scarcely imagined best, life to be lived."^[4]
  • What is abundant life? The Greek word for abundant here is περισσὸν. BDAG defines the word as "to that which is not ordinarily encountered, extraordinary, remarkable." ^[5]
  • Borchert states, "The Greek perisson means “that which goes way beyond necessity.” John wanted all his readers to know that the gift of Jesus is life beyond our wildest dreams."^[6]
  • How do we have such an abundant life? Kruse states that "To have it to the full could refer either to enjoying the richness of life in relationship with God in the here and now or to resurrection to eternal life at the end of the age (5:24–29), or both."^[7] The emphasis is that we are under the care, protection, and provision of Jesus and that care, protection, and provision provides us with abundant life. If you want to have abundant life, then you need to "go in an out and find pasture in Christ."
• Yes, we live in a fallen world, but that does not mean that we cannot have abundant life. Jesus came to save us from our sins.

God with us (Matthew 1:22-25)

• In verses 22 and 23 we see that God orchestrated all of these events in perfect fulfillment of his plan. Theologians have spent a lot of time focussing on the phrase "a virgin shall be with child." This is an important phrase but probably not the area of emphasis for Matthew. Matthew is likely emphasizing the word Immanuel, God with us.

• Hebrews 4:15 teaches us that "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin"^[8]

• Hebrews 4:16 calls on us to "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."^[9]
• In Jesus we have God with us!

• Heaven is going to be spectacular, but as you look for heaven don't lose sight of the fact that Jesus has come. We have abundant life, abundant life through God with us!

As follows of Christ we should live abundant life, recognizing that Jehovah saves.

Heirs through Christ (Matthew 2:1-2)

King of the Jews (Matthew 2:1-2)

• Probably the wise men did not show up right away, but in America, we often associate the wise-men with Christmas so let's continue forward with the wise men.
• These wise men ask Herod a very specific question, the emphasis is on "born." Herod The Great was a half-Jew, half-Idumean. Herod had been placed on the throne by Rome. From the perspective of blood, Herod was not the rightful ruler of Israel. Herod was known for his great evil. Caesar Augustus is said to have said that it would be better to be Herod's pig than his son. The magi's question would have been significant, where is the one who is the legitimate heir of the throne of Israel?
• The wise-men saw the star as proof that someone significant had been born.

A Future Kingdom (Revelation 21:1-7)

• In revelation 21 we have a picture of the eternal kingdom awaiting all those who have placed their faith in Christ.
• We could go through the grandeur and beauty of the new heaven, we could talk about streets of gold.
• All of that is great but I want you to notice what John notes as most significant, look at verse 3 "And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God." ^[10]
• Our hope, our greatest expectation, the reason for our existence is God.

As followers of Christ we must live with the hope of eternity in mind, Eternity with God.

Conclusion

Are you living you life as someone who has been placed in a position of blessing? Not because of anything you have done but because of everything that Jesus has done.

Are you living abundant life today?

Do you live a life that recognizes the coming kingdom?

Through Christ we have life, abundant life from the comment of salvation, now and in eternity.

1. ↑ Donald K. Campbell, “Galatians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 597.
2. ↑ NKJV
3. ↑ NKJV
4. ↑ D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 385.
5. ↑ William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 805.
6. ↑ Gerald L. Borchert, John 1–11, vol. 25A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 333.
7. ↑ Colin G. Kruse, John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 4, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 232.
8. ↑ NKJV
9. ↑ NKJV
10. ↑ NKJV