Temple Baptist Church - 12-13-2020
Luke 2:1-20
Introduction:
A. It is hard for us to imagine what it must have been like on that wonderful night when the Son of God who became the Son of man made his first appearance in human flesh in a manger in Bethlehem.
1. Dark was the night.
a. 400 Years of Silence with no prophetic voice. From the last of the Old Testament Books, Malachi, to the first of the New Testament Books, Matthew, God spoke not one word.
b. Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
2. Desperate was the need.
a. Israel was in a sad spiritual state.
b. The blight of sin filled the land.
c. Pagan kings ruled.
d. Immorality flourished.
e. Religion was dead, formalistic, and powerless to meet the deep need of man’s heart.
3. Divine was the remedy.
a. God’s Remedy For Israel’s Plight Was Born.
b. God’s Remedy For Man’s Sin Was Born.
1) He was absolutely God - 2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
a) He was God before Bethlehem - Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
b) He was God before Time - John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
2) He was absolutely Man - John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
a) He had Adam’s flesh - Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
b) He had God’s blood - Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
3) He was absolutely Sinless - 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
B. In Luke 2:11, we find the three-fold identity of the Christ.
1. Saviour – The Title of Acceptance.
a. This child’s mission was not to save the wealthy, or the righteous. He came to make the sinner free.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
b. He came for those no one else wanted.
Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
1) He loved us when we were Disobedient - Titus 3:3-6 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
2) He loved us when we were Destitute - Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
3) He loved us when we were Depraved - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
c. As Saviour, Jesus provided 3 essential services to the sinner:
1) We are Accepted in Him – Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
2) We are Delivered in Him – Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
3) We are Preserved in Him - 1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
d. Thank God, He came not as Judge, but as Saviour – John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
2. Christ – The Title of Access.
a. This child came to do more than provide simple salvation. He came to allow us access into the very presence of Almighty God.
b. Through Jesus, we can:
1) Approach the Father – Jesus is the only means of access.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
2) Appeal to the Father – John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
c. The Name "Christ" refers to Jesus as the "Anointed High Priest."
1) He talks to the Father on our behalf – Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
2) He pleads our case before the throne of God – 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (Advocate - one who pleads the cause of another in a court of civil law.)
3. LORD – The Title of Authority.
a. Lord - He was referring to One who was to be in absolute control. - Acts 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
b. This title of our Lord is a reminder to every Christian that Jesus Christ is to be the absolute authority in our lives. - Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
c. God’s demand for total obedience is not too much to ask. He knows that true love is always shown by obedience to Him.
1) As Saviour - He Is Worthy of Our Worship.
2) As Christ - He Is Worthy of Our Dependence.
3) As Lord - He Is Worthy of Our Obedience.
Conclusion:
1. Jesus – A name worthy of our praise.
2. Jesus – A name that brings hope to the lost.
3. Jesus – A name that brings fear to the devil.
4. Jesus – A name that brings comfort to the bereaved.
5. Jesus – A name that encourages the disheartened.
6. Jesus – A name that gives peace amid the storm.
7. Jesus – A name that is above every name.
8. Jesus – “the sweetest Name on mortal tongue, the sweetest carol ever sung, Jesus, Blessed Jesus!”
A. He was born the Saviour of the world - Salvation in not an experience – salvation is a person!
1. He is the Bread of Life to the spiritually hungry.
2. He is the Bright and Morning Star in the darkness of night.
3. He is the Counselor in the midst of confusion.
4. He is the Light in a dark night.
5. He is the Rock in a weary land.
6. He is the Source of salvation to the lost.
B. He was born the Lord of all – many calls Him Saviour, but few call Him Lord.
1. He should be Lord of your body.
2. He should be Lord of your mind.
3. He should be Lord of your talents.
4. He should be Lord of your job.
5. He should be Lord of your pocketbook.
6. He should be Lord of your home.
7. He should be Lord of your marriage.
8. He should be Lord of your courtship.
9. He should be Lord of your life.
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