Six Reasons Jesus Came: The Real Meaning of Christmas
Dr RJ Sing, 29 min
Originally preached as “Christmas Day Message 2020”
Sermon outline
Christmas means God sent His Son to ransom us, call us, open our eyes, save us from condemnation and give us eternal life, and that gift is open to everyone who believes.
Main text
- Luke 2:10-11
Opening
Speaking to viewers on behalf of his wife, sons, grandchildren and church family, he wishes everyone a blessed Christmas and opens in prayer. From Luke 2:10-11 he calls Jesus the greatest gift of all, says Christmas means anointing and celebration (Acts 10:38), and urges people to make it a day to remember what Jesus has done and to forgive those who hurt them. Before communion he lets 'the witnesses' of the New Testament give six reasons Jesus came.
1. He came to give His life as a ransom
We sold ourselves to sin and were alienated from God, so a ransom had to be paid. When Jesus gave His life, sin, death and the devil had to give up their claim, and we were adopted into God's family. That is why the Son of God had to become flesh and blood.
Illustration: We ran away and sold ourselves into slavery, but God paid the ransom that redeems us out of slavery into the Father's house.
“The reason Christ took on human flesh was so that he could die and in dying he paid a ransom to free us from the power of death.”
- Mark 10:45
- Galatians 4:4-5
- Hebrews 2:14
2. He came to call sinners to repentance
Jesus came as a doctor for the sick, to invite sinners to turn from their sins. The call rests on the ransom, and He does both Himself. If you are not serving Him, He is calling you today through the Bible and its preaching.
“He paid a ransom and he's calling you.”
- Luke 5:31-32
3. He came to give sight to the morally blind
Our problem is not only slavery and lostness but blindness to spiritual realities. Jesus came as light into the world so that those who do not see may begin to see, and that sight comes by revelation.
“Our problem is also moral blindness needing the gift of sight.”
- John 9:39
- John 12:46
4. He came to divide households
God does not love strife, but true allegiance to Jesus causes division, because those closest to a new believer often do not understand the change. Pray for them, and walk in love and forgiveness until revelation comes to them too.
Illustration: When he gave his life to Christ, his family could not understand him leaving the religion he had served. He was criticised and called names, but over the years his brothers, sisters and mother came to Christ one at a time.
“The point is that strife and division is caused by true allegiance to Jesus.”
- Matthew 10:34-36
5. He came to save us from divine condemnation
Before salvation we lived in condemnation and fear, but in Christ we became the righteousness of God. The greatest danger is God's just condemnation, and the coming of Jesus is God's way of being for us if we will believe.
“Christmas, the coming of Jesus, is God's way of being for us if we will believe.”
- Romans 8:31
- John 3:18
6. He came to give us eternal life
God so loved the world that He gave His Son so that anyone who believes should have eternal life. He invites listeners to believe and receive that gift today, and prays for families, nations, presidents and those in authority.
“Christmas means that God had sent his son so that we could believe and have eternal life.”
- John 3:16
Putting it into practice
- Use Christmas to remember what Jesus has done and to forgive those who hurt you.
- If family do not understand your faith, pray for them and keep walking in love.
- Receive Jesus, or return to Him if you walked away through hurt or disappointment.
- Find a faith-based, Word-based church where you can grow.
- Pray for your country, its leaders and its stability.
Closing
He leads viewers in communion from the words of institution, speaks a Christmas blessing over them, and declares that it is not too late, that God has moments of favour in their future and that explosive blessings are coming. He leads a prayer of salvation, explains that the Hebrew word for blessed conveys being strengthened in your weaknesses, and ends with the priestly blessing from Numbers 6.
Declarations he led
- Dear Lord Jesus, I believe with all my heart that you have come to save us.
- I receive you as my Lord and my Savior.
- I believe with all my heart that my sins are forgiven and now washed away.
- I invite Jesus to come into my heart.
- I now believe that I'm born again and I'm a child of the living God.
In his words
- “The greatest gift of all is the gift of Jesus Christ to us from God the Father.”
- “Christmas means anointing and celebration.”
- “He ransoms and he calls.”
- “It's not too late to accomplish things that God has placed in your heart.”
- “You have not missed any window of opportunity.”
Every scripture in this message
- 1 John 1:7
- Luke 2:10-11
- Hebrews 13:5
- Acts 10:38
- John 3:16
- Mark 10:45
- Galatians 4:4-5
- Hebrews 2:14
- Luke 5:31-32
- John 9:39
- John 12:46
- Matthew 10:34-36
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Romans 8:31
- John 3:18
- Matthew 26:26-28
- Numbers 6:24-26