
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” —Matthew 1:21
Just because God was
The Christmas story is filled with
I. The sad story of humanity – Hope lost! Genesis 1-3, 5, 6:5-8; Judges 2:11-16; Romans 3:10, 23; 6:23; 5:12-14
- A. Adam & Eve and the Garden – Glorious life Genesis 1-2
- The relationship God created us for Genesis 1:26-30; 2:18, 23-24
- The boundaries God provided for our enjoyment Genesis 2:15- 25; 3:8-9
B. The event that changes everything – Glorious life derailed Genesis 3
The twisting of truth - 3:1-2, 4-5
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, … 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” —Genesis 3:1-2, 4-5
The fall of man - 3:6-7
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. —Genesis 3:6-7
Separation due to sin – Paradise lost – 3:8-13, 23-24
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” … 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. —Genesis 3:8-13, 23-24
C. The demonstration that all humanity is lost – Glorious life lost Genesis 5; 6:5-8; Judges 2:11; Romans 3:10,23; 6:23, 5:12-14
- The reality of death for humanity Genesis 5
The evidence of humanity’s history
a. The Flood – Genesis 6:5-85 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. —Genesis 6:5-8
b. The Nation of Israel Judges 2:11-16
11 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. 12 And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger. 13 They abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. 14 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. 15 Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress. 16 Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. —Judges 2:11-16
c. The whole of humanity Romans 3:10,23; 6:23, 5:12-14
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; … 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, —Romans 3:10, 23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned– 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. —Romans 5:12-14
Only by acknowledging our
II. The need met – “He will save His people from their sins” Matthew 1:21; Colossians 1:27 Romans 10:9-13; Hebrews 10:11-17; I Peter 2:24-25
A. Jesus – Yeshua = Jehovah will save/Yahweh is Salvation Matthew 1:21
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” —Matthew 1:21
B. The gift of glory – “Christ in you” Colossians 1:27; Romans 10:9-13; Hebrews 10:11-17; I Peter 2:24-25
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. —Colossians 1:27
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” —Romans 10:9-13
11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” 17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” —Hebrews 10:11-17
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. —I Peter 2:24-25
The gift of Glory is not about
Small Group Questions
What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.
What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?
How can we make sure that our Christmas celebrations reflect on the Gospel and the provision of a Savior?
Why is important to remember that salvation is about the finished work of Christ and not our performance?
Spend some time praying for the Christmas program next week and that many visitors would come and clearly understand the Gospel.