Advent thoughts #6: Jesus = God

The Christ of Christmas is God

Text: I Timothy 3:16

Introduction:  One of the themes of 1Timothy is godliness – 2:1-2, 9-10; 4:7-8, 5:3-6, 11.  How we become godly when we are so ungodly is a great mystery that has now been revealed.

Proposition:  The Christ of Christmas is our only hope of godliness!

Interrogative:  Who is this Christ of Christmas?

Transition:  The Christ of Christmas is revealed in this early Christian hymn or confession as God:

 I.      God was manifest in the flesh:

•  At His birth: Matthew 1:23, ^“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
• By His power:  Calming of the sea – Behold what manner of man is this?
• By His words: John 6:33-40
• At His death: Centurion – “Surely this was the Son of God”

 II.   God was justified (vindicated) by the Spirit:

• The Spirit moved Simeon to recognize the baby Jesus as the Messiah – Luke 2:27-35
• The Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted – Matthew 4
• The Spirit raised Jesus from the dead after His crucifixion and burial

Romans 1:4 says: “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

III.    God was seen of angels:

•  At Christ’s birth –
• At Christ’s temptation – Matthew 4:11, “and angles came and ministered unto him.”
• Throughout Christ’s earthly ministry
  1Pet. 1:11 says:¹⁰Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: ¹¹Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. ¹²Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
• At Christ’s arrests –  Mt 26:53,”Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?”
• At Christ resurrections –
• At Christ’s ascension into glory –

IV.   God was preached unto the Gentiles:  

Christ gave the Great commission – Apostles preached

 V.  God was believed on in the world:

John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons  of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

Romans 10:8-13  &   John 3:16-18

VI.   God was received up into glory:

Acts 1:9-11, “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Philippians 2:9-11