First Baptist Church Christmas – December 23, 2007
Title: The Wonder of the Incarnation Text: Various
Introduction: What does Christmas mean to you? The local paper asked students in our elementary school, “What does Christmas mean to you?” If you read the responses you can see that Christmas has as many meanings, as there are people. But what is the true meaning of Christmas. President Ronald Reagan gave his definition of the true meaning of Christmas in a speech near Christmas in 1985 (Read Christmas quote by Ronald Reagan).
Proposition: The true meaning of Christmas can be summed up in one word – Emmanuel!
Interrogative: What does Emmanuel mean? – Mt.1:23 “which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Definition: Another word that is often used is the term, Incarnation (in – carne: in flesh) “A theological term for the coming of God’s Son into the world as a human being. The term itself is not used in the Bible, but it is based on clear references in the New Testament to Jesus as a person “in the flesh.”
I. The fact of the Incarnation:
A. According to Old Testament Prophecy
Isaiah 7:14 with Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 9:6
B. According to New Testament statement
John 1:1-3 with verse 14
II. The purpose of the Incarnation:
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
III. The importance of the Incarnation:
If Jesus did not come in the flesh than there would be no plan of salvation for fallen mankind. His coming in the flesh is a central part of the doctrine of Salvation:
Romans 8:3 “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”
Ephesians 2:15 “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;”
Colossians 1:21-22 “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”
Those who deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh have the spirit of antichrist
I John 4:1-3
IV. A practical application of the Incarnation – “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Jesus Christ”
Philippians 2:5-11
Conclusion: Christmas Tree illustration – For us to enjoy the beauty of this tree in our auditorium – it had to die. For us to enjoy the beauty and joy of eternity in heaven Jesus had to die on a tree.
