Jesus Was Born For This

Jesus Was Born For This

Rev. Greg Schermerhorn – December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas!  The angels declared the good news of the birth of our Savior to shepherds in the fields surrounding Bethlehem about 2000 years ago.  Jesus' birth is the cause for great celebration, today and every day.  But I want us to look past the presents and "seasonal" things to look at the true gift of Heaven by looking into what Jesus was really born to do and accomplish in His earthly existence.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NKJV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Now, please allow me to present this passage to you from the Amplified translation of the Bible.  Read to what God’s Word says with the nuances of the original Greek text expanded into English:

Ephesians 2:8–9 (AMP)

For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]

 

It is hard to look at Christmas without looking toward the cross.  The virgin birth of Jesus is absolutely important and we gladly celebrate it with a willing world.  BUT, Jesus grew up!  In His humanity, Jesus grew into an adult to fulfill His role as the rejected Messiah of Israel so that He could become the Savior of the entire world.  This is the Jesus that our society rejects. 

Jesus stepped out of heaven and submitted Himself to the humiliation of becoming a human.  Yes, I said Jesus subjected Himself to the humiliation of wrapping Himself in human flesh. 

Philippians 2:5–7 (AMP)

Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.

 

Jesus willingly became weak and frail.  He willingly took on all of the physical limitations you and I live with every day.  Jesus, the one who created the universe subjected Himself to becoming an infant.  He willingly became helpless and dependent upon others for everything. 

As an adult, Jesus would serve others instead of being served Himself.  He would demonstrate His love for others through His actions, right up to His final human act of willingly sacrificing His life through the cruelest form of death the world has ever known, called crucifixion. 

Philippians 2:8 (AMP)

And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!

 

Jesus was crucified after being nearly beaten to death with a Roman scourge.  And He did it without so much as a word of complaint or regret.

Passersby mocked Jesus while He hung on the cross.  They taunted Him, daring Him to save Himself and come down from the cross.  What a temptation that must have been for Jesus!  One of the greatest miracles Jesus ever performed during His earthly life is that He stayed on the cross.  One thought or, one word from Him, and a legion of angels would have come to His aid, if He had desired it.  The miracle is that Jesus loved us more!  As John 3:16 says:

John 3:16 (AMP)

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to endure the torture, the pain, and bear the shame of our punishment to stay there on the cross and complete the task that He was born in human flesh to do.  Jesus was born to die!  The just for the unjust!

1 Peter 3:18a (AMP)

For Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God.

But, PRAISE GOD!  This is NOT the end of the story!  On the third day after His death, Jesus rose from the dead, ALIVE!  You know the day I am telling you about.  We call it Easter Sunday!

Jesus fulfilled His task in becoming human.He lived a sinless life.

Jesus died as the final atonement or final sacrifice required by God the Father for remission of all of the sins of mankind for all time.Jesus then rose from the dead confirming His final victory over sin and death.

For the first time in human history, mankind was reconciled before God because of the sacrifice of Jesus' blood.  Salvation is open to ALL men, women, boys, and girls of every nationality, everywhere.  The good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ says that if you have faith to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who lived a sinless life, died, and rose again from the dead to pay the penalty for your sins and that He alone can give you the free gift of eternal life, if you simply trust Him for it.  Then you shall be saved!

This is what Jesus was born to do!  He was born to die for me and for you!  Christmas is a celebration of the gift of heaven.  The reality of the gift of heaven is the free gift of salvation that Jesus has earned for you!  Jesus has done all of the work because you would never be able to do enough good to get to heaven on your own.

Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Jesus is the only sacrifice that God has found acceptable to pay for the sins we have committed in our lives.  John 14: 6 says:

John 14:6 (NKJV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

None of us will ever be worthy to enter heaven on our own merit or good works, no matter how good we are or how much we do to try to earn entrance.  We simply cannot earn our way to heaven.  We can only enter heaven through Jesus' righteousness.  That is His free gift to us.

Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do you remember where we started this Christmas message? 

Ephesians 2:8-9 (AMP)

For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]

 

Eternal Life is the original Christmas present!  Jesus was born for this...to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 19:10 (NKJV)

for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

I am going to ask you some questions for you to answer to yourself.  Have you already received the gift of heaven?  Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus as your Savior?  Do you know FOR SURE that you will spend eternity with Him in heaven?  If you can’t answer “YES” to these questions, don’t despair because I’m speaking to you right now.  You CAN have a personal relationship with Jesus and you CAN KNOW FOR SURE that you will spend eternity with Him in heaven.  It really is as simple as having the faith to believe that Jesus is God’s Son, who lived a sinless life, died, and rose again from the dead to pay the penalty for YOUR sins and that HE ALONE can give you the free gift of eternal life, if you will simply trust Him for it.  If this is the intent of your heart, pray this sample prayer to the Lord:

Lord Jesus,

I know I'm a sinner and do not deserve eternal life, but I believe You stepped down from Heaven, lived a sinless life, died, and rose from the grave to pay the penalty for my sins and purchase a place in Heaven for me.  Lord Jesus, I ask forgiveness of my sins.  I am placing my trust in you alone for my eternal salvation, and I accept Your free gift of eternal life.  Lord Jesus, I want you to come into my heart and into my life as my Savior and Lord.  Thank you for saving my soul.  - Amen

If this prayer was the sincere desire of your heart, hear this promise of Jesus in John 6:47:

John 6:47 (NKJV)

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

If you have made a decision to receive the gift of Heaven, please share it with us so we can rejoice with you in your new relationship with Jesus.   Also, so we can pray for you in your new walk of life.  If you don't know Jesus in a real and personal way as your Savior and Lord, please don't leave the gift of Heaven untouched under your Christmas tree this year.  It is truly a matter of eternal life or death.

Merry CHRISTmas to you and your family!

Joy to the World –The Message of Christmas

Joy to the World –The Message of Christmas

By Rev. Greg Schermerhorn

 

Luke 2:8–20 (NLT)

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.  They were terrified, but the angel reassured them.  “Don’t be afraid!” he said.  “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.  The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!  And you will recognize him by this sign:  You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”  Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”  When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem!  Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph.  And there was the baby, lying in the manger.  After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.  All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.  The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.  It was just as the angel had told them.

We have a lot to celebrate this time of year.  The commemoration of the birth of our Savior Jesus is a reason for great joy. Joy is the message of the third week of Advent.

Can you imagine being a shepherd sitting in a field watching over your sheep when all of a sudden an angel appears before you and declares, "Don't be afraid!"?  Is there anyone here who wouldn’t be startled by that?  Terrified?  But this angel was on a special mission from God the Father.  This angel was sent to the shepherds to declare the birth of God's one and only Son, Jesus, the long anticipated Savior of the world.  This very special birth announcement burst the very seams of Heaven with God's joy.  God the Father had finally revealed His plan for man's salvation to the world in the form of a newborn babe.

Jesus, the very son of God, had been revealed in flesh, on Earth.  The angel declared, "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people."  Yes, there was excitement in Heaven, God the Father's joy spread to the angels, and the angels declared God's good pleasure to the shepherds.  The birth announcement of the King of kings and Lord of lords was made to the lowest class of society, lowly shepherds sitting under the stars keeping watching over their sheep.  The angel brought “Good news that will bring great joy to all people!” Indeed, Jesus not only brought salvation to the Jews but to all people.  People of every class and of every background.  God's gift, His joy was to be shared with all people everywhere and for all time!  Can I get an "AMEN?"

To further emphasize the point, the angel was joined by a great Heavenly host.  Legions of angels joined with the announcing angel and began singing praise to God for sending His son, Jesus, to earth.  It was a truly joyous occasion in Heaven and on earth.  What a startling, terrifying, overwhelming, and reassuring moment it must have been for those shepherds.  They were witnesses to something wonderful that had never happened before and it moved them to action.

After the angels departed and returned to Heaven, the shepherds talked amongst themselves and said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem!  Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph.  And there was the baby, lying in the manger.”

Everything the angel had told them was true.  This event changed their lives.  It so impacted them that they told others about their encounter with the angel and about the legions of angels that also appeared glorifying God and singing praises to Him.  They told others about God's one and only Son who'd been born in Bethlehem as their Savior.  They told all the folks they met that everything was just as the angel said it would be.

The shepherds shared in the joy of Heaven when they sought out and found the Christ child, when they glorified God, and when they told others what God had done.  We too can share the joy of Heaven.  We can and should do the same things that the shepherds did that night long ago in Bethlehem.  God has revealed His Son, Jesus, His special Christmas gift to us!  He has done this through His Word. 

John 1:1–3 (NKJV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

He has done this through nature. 

Psalm 19:1 (NASB95)

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

He has done this though the circumstances of our lives.  Jesus wants to know us in a real and personal way.

Luke 19:10 (NKJV)

for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost

The first thing we should do upon hearing the good news, just like the shepherds did, is to seek out and find Christ.  What I am really talking about here is developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Why?  Jesus loved us so much that He left the comforts of Heaven and set aside His divine prerogatives to die for our sins.

Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus being fully God and fully man specifically came to Earth to restore the relationship between man and God that had been broken apart by sin.  Jesus, by His sinless life, by His substitutionary death on the cross for us, by His burial, and by His resurrection from the dead; has become the final atoning sacrifice for sin, for all time, for all mankind.  The joy in Heaven at Jesus' birth was because God's plan of grace for mankind was finally revealed.

Jesus is the name that is above all names.  Jesus, as God's only Son and as the second member of the Godhead, is worthy of all honor, all glory, and all praise in His own right.  But, because of His atoning sacrifice to make our salvation from sin and eternal death possible, God the Father has elevated Jesus to the place of highest honor. 

Philippians 2:9–11 (NKJV)

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

All of creation will bow to Jesus and confess Him as the Lord of lords and King of kings, in this life or the one to come.  The difference is will you be staying in Heaven with Him afterwards, or will you be departing in shame for the eternal torment of Hell for rejecting Jesus' free gift of eternal life?

Receiving God's gift of salvation is as easy as A...B...C!

A-Admit Admit you are a sinner.  Repent and turn away from your sin.

Acts 3:19 (NKJV)

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord

B-Believe Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and receive God’s gift of forgiveness from sin.

Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

C-Confess Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior.  This is an 18-inch decision.  You have made the mental acknowledgement, now you transfer that knowledge to your heart and confess it with your mouth.

Romans 10:9–10, 13 (NKJV)

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This is not about praying a "sinners prayer."  It is about developing a real and lasting relationship with Jesus, the Creator of the universe and Savior of the world.  It is about repenting of your sins, receiving forgiveness from God, and confessing Jesus as your Savior with heartfelt knowledge and conviction.  This is about opening the gift of joy that God the Father has given to you for Christmas.  How will you respond?  Don't leave here without receiving God's Christmas gift to you, the joy of Heaven, Jesus Christ.