The Promises of Christmas

December 20, 2020
Randy Hageman

Home is more than a place – it’s a familiar, safe setting to be with the ones you

that has special meaning in your life.

For many,

is a home where we can return every year to enjoy the familiar, a special sense of belonging that gives our lives meaning and purpose.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” —Luke 2:1-20 (ESV)

THREE PROMISES FROM THE CHRISTMAS STORY

1. The message of the angel to the shepherds was that a

for all people was born.

“Jesus” (Greek) = “Joshua” (Hebrew) =
“Yahweh is salvation” or “Yahweh saves” or “God saves”

Angel, to Joseph: ‘She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ —Matthew 1:21 (ESV)

Jesus: ‘For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.’ —Luke 19:10 (NLT)

The problem is

– our very natures have been corrupted by

Reveal Answer

so that we’re more focused on ourselves than God or others.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:8-9 (ESV)

The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. —Romans 8:3 (NLT)

Jesus took our punishment upon himself so that the righteousness of God could be satisfied and our relationship with Him, broken through sin, could be

.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. —Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)

2. Salvation is a gift, given to us by God through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Spirit, and God did this because He

us.

‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.’ —John 3:16-17 (ESV)

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. —1 John 4:9-10 (NLT)

God knows us intimately, and yet He still

us.

Salvation is about me being made more and more like Jesus, so we “

the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Jesus: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ —Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

3. We are saved by love for a

- we are saved to do good works, to go and make disciples.

We live in

and

Reveal Answer

Christ for a gift we don’t deserve.

Christmas Giving at Gateway
Christmas Eve Offering to Starfish Kenya
Christmas Eve Services – 3 PM, 5 PM (in-person and streaming)
Christmas Gift Bag – tables in the Lobby
Christmas Links on Facebook

Christmas Video – gateway-community.org/movie