This Christmas morning I want you to consider Jesus Christ whose birth we're celebrating today. Now there are many things that I could ask you to consider, for example what it means that an angel spoke to Jesus' parents, or what it means that he was born of a virgin, or what it means that the king of the world was born into poverty, or what it means that Magi visited him, or what it means that angels proclaimed his birth to shepherds. There are so many exciting and interesting aspects of Jesus' birth that it is really quite difficult to choose just one.
But this morning I have to do just that and so I want to speak about one of the names given to Jesus, 'Immanuel'. Matthew tells us that Jesus' birth fulfils an old prophecy: 'All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us"' (Matthew 1:22-23). But what does it mean that Jesus is called 'Immanuel' which means literally, 'God with us'.
'Immanuel' means God himself came and took on a human body and lived on this earth among people. This is amazing. The one who has existed eternally, has all power, has all knowledge and who made all things – became a living, breathing human being. And what is more amazing is not just that God became a creature that he had made, but he took on the flesh of a race of creatures that is corrupt and sinful. We might be able to consider more easily what 'Immanuel' means if it meant that God became a creature of a race that had never sinned and always lived in perfect purity. But instead 'Immanuel' means that in Jesus God took on the flesh of a race of creatures that have committed evil acts again and again throughout every generation – evil acts against themselves, one another and even against their Almighty Maker. So when we hear the name 'Immanuel' we should be simply and utterly astonished at what it means.
But why would God himself become part of a race that has rebelled against him? God did it so that he could redeem sinful humans to himself. How? By Jesus' death at the cross, Immanuel took our sin upon his shoulders so that if you repent of your sin and believe in his death for you, you do not have to pay for your sin. Is there no greater truth than that?
The question is, have you accepted the glorious treasure of 'Immanuel' for yourself through repentance and faith?
Joel Radford.
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
‘Jesus’ means Saviour
As we come to Christmas, this week I want to take a break from our current series of going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism. Instead I want to take some time to look at what it means that the Son of God was also called 'Jesus'.
A popular text to include on Christmas cards are the words that the angel spoke to Joseph: 'She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins' (Matthew 1:21). But what does it mean that Mary's son was to be called Jesus?
J.C. Ryle, a great preacher from the 1800s, helps explain: 'The name JESUS means "Savior." It is the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament. It is given to our Lord because "He saves His people from their sins." This is His special office. He saves them from the guilt of sin, by washing them in His own atoning blood. He saves them from the dominion of sin, by putting in their hearts the sanctifying Spirit. He saves them from the presence of sin, when He takes them out of this world to rest with Him. He will save them from all the consequences of sin, when He shall give them a glorious body at the last day. Blessed and holy are Christ's people! From sorrow, cross, and conflict they are not saved. But they are saved from sin for evermore. They are cleansed from guilt by Christ's blood. They are made fit for heaven by Christ's Spirit. This is salvation.'
Ryle is quite right. Jesus is our saviour because he saves us from the guilt of sin, the dominion of sin, the presence of sin and the consequences of sin. Jesus deals with our sin as no one else can, including ourselves. Practically every other religion teaches that you can save yourself from sin. Whereas Christianity teaches that it is only through Jesus, the one whose name literally means 'The Lord saves', that you can be saved from sin.
So how do you accept Christ's offer to be saved from the guilt, dominion, presence and consequences of sin? You need to repent of your sin and believe that Jesus died for your sins at the cross. Paul teaches this in Galatians: 'But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe' (Galatians 3:22). God promises to give salvation to all who believe.
Have you trusted in Jesus to save you from the guilt, dominion, presence and consequences of sin?
Joel Radford.
A popular text to include on Christmas cards are the words that the angel spoke to Joseph: 'She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins' (Matthew 1:21). But what does it mean that Mary's son was to be called Jesus?
J.C. Ryle, a great preacher from the 1800s, helps explain: 'The name JESUS means "Savior." It is the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament. It is given to our Lord because "He saves His people from their sins." This is His special office. He saves them from the guilt of sin, by washing them in His own atoning blood. He saves them from the dominion of sin, by putting in their hearts the sanctifying Spirit. He saves them from the presence of sin, when He takes them out of this world to rest with Him. He will save them from all the consequences of sin, when He shall give them a glorious body at the last day. Blessed and holy are Christ's people! From sorrow, cross, and conflict they are not saved. But they are saved from sin for evermore. They are cleansed from guilt by Christ's blood. They are made fit for heaven by Christ's Spirit. This is salvation.'
Ryle is quite right. Jesus is our saviour because he saves us from the guilt of sin, the dominion of sin, the presence of sin and the consequences of sin. Jesus deals with our sin as no one else can, including ourselves. Practically every other religion teaches that you can save yourself from sin. Whereas Christianity teaches that it is only through Jesus, the one whose name literally means 'The Lord saves', that you can be saved from sin.
So how do you accept Christ's offer to be saved from the guilt, dominion, presence and consequences of sin? You need to repent of your sin and believe that Jesus died for your sins at the cross. Paul teaches this in Galatians: 'But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe' (Galatians 3:22). God promises to give salvation to all who believe.
Have you trusted in Jesus to save you from the guilt, dominion, presence and consequences of sin?
Joel Radford.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Why celebrate Christmas?
At Christmas it is a bit hard not to hear something about Jesus Christ. After all, only those ignorant of history think the meaning of Christmas is Santa Claus and not Jesus Christ. But why do Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ?
The birth of Jesus is significant because it is the fulfilment of a long expected hope. Immediately after our first parents Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, God promised that there would be a son of Eve that would reverse the problem of sin: ‘So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel"’ (Genesis 3:14-15). From that time on, God’s people were looking forward to this son of Eve that would crush the head of Satan and remove punishment for sin.
And just as presents that come after a period of intense waiting are more wonderful when they finally arrive, so it is with the arrival of Jesus as the Saviour of the world. Thousands of years passed with many promising young men being used greatly by God to hurt Satan, but they all had their flaws. Abraham lied about his wife. Moses disobeyed God and struck the rock. David committed adultery with Bathsheba. These men were very helpful to God’s people, but ultimately they couldn’t help others with the problem of sin because they had their own problem of sin. Then Jesus Christ was born. The sinless one, the speaker of God’s word, the performer of miracles. God himself! The wait was over, the remover of sin had come. This naturally is a special event worth remembering for years to come.
But did Jesus remove sin? Yes. At the cross Jesus didn’t die an ordinary death. He died as our substitute – he bore the wrath of God for your sin so that you wouldn’t have to be punished.
So how does this removal of sin become a reality for you? You simply ask Jesus to forgive you for your sin and believe that he has done so through his death. That’s it. If you truly do that, the Bible promises that you are saved. And if you do that this Christmas, I can guarantee that you will celebrate Christmas like you’ve never celebrated it before because now Christmas will mean the beginning of the end of your sin. And that’s something truly worth celebrating!
Joel Radford.
The birth of Jesus is significant because it is the fulfilment of a long expected hope. Immediately after our first parents Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, God promised that there would be a son of Eve that would reverse the problem of sin: ‘So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel"’ (Genesis 3:14-15). From that time on, God’s people were looking forward to this son of Eve that would crush the head of Satan and remove punishment for sin.
And just as presents that come after a period of intense waiting are more wonderful when they finally arrive, so it is with the arrival of Jesus as the Saviour of the world. Thousands of years passed with many promising young men being used greatly by God to hurt Satan, but they all had their flaws. Abraham lied about his wife. Moses disobeyed God and struck the rock. David committed adultery with Bathsheba. These men were very helpful to God’s people, but ultimately they couldn’t help others with the problem of sin because they had their own problem of sin. Then Jesus Christ was born. The sinless one, the speaker of God’s word, the performer of miracles. God himself! The wait was over, the remover of sin had come. This naturally is a special event worth remembering for years to come.
But did Jesus remove sin? Yes. At the cross Jesus didn’t die an ordinary death. He died as our substitute – he bore the wrath of God for your sin so that you wouldn’t have to be punished.
So how does this removal of sin become a reality for you? You simply ask Jesus to forgive you for your sin and believe that he has done so through his death. That’s it. If you truly do that, the Bible promises that you are saved. And if you do that this Christmas, I can guarantee that you will celebrate Christmas like you’ve never celebrated it before because now Christmas will mean the beginning of the end of your sin. And that’s something truly worth celebrating!
Joel Radford.
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