The Christus missa is all part of a grand plan that God ordained before the foundation of the world. He came up with it. He developed it. He makes sure it is accomplished so that He gets what He wants.
God's Christmas Plan: Christ is Sent
(Children's Sheet for Sermon Interaction is at bottom. Notes are throughout sermon)
Pastor Kerry Kinchen, Bridgeway Bible Church
We have entered into the Christmas Holiday season. In light of this, I think it is important for us to recognize some things. One is concerning the word "Christmas." We get the word Christmas from two Latin words: Christus, and missa. Putting these two words together, we get the compound word, Christ-mas. Christmas, like all compound words, has a meaning that the particles explain. It literally means "Christ is sent." This morning I want us to prepare our hearts for a sermon that has to do with the great event of the sending of Christ. The theme is,
God's Christmas Plan: Christ is Sent
[prayer]
Whenever we, who are the body of Christ, honor the sending of Christ, we do so in the Spirit as an act of worship. It is important to recognize that the lost world does not do this. The lost can not do this. Christmas, as a seasonal time for observing a certain day in festivity, is something different for them. It is an equivocation. What I mean is that they are not focusing upon God's plan, God's love, and God's mysterious interest in His creations in the sending of Himself as the God man, Christ Jesus. Lost people get together, at Christmas time, and try to convince themselves that another day in a futile existence is worth living. It is the kind of empty activity that comes from a world that is struggling to cope with the coming grave. The Bible reveals the mind of the lost,
"Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die," 1 Corinthians 15:32, Luke 12:19
For the lost, then, Christmas is a special day for doing this. Oftentimes gifts are exchanged in Christless Christmas celebrations. There is a kind of humanistic pleasure in doing this. Yet everyone knows that no matter how many gifts they give, or how many gifts they get, the fact remains, "for tomorrow we die." Ultimately all the Christmas gifts we accumulate in our short lives will fade and crumble away like dead pine needles on a discarded Christmas tree. People who could care less about the coming of Christ, will also sing,
"tis the season to be jolly!"
But what happens to the joy? It fades away. It dissipates into the cold midnight air like the smoke of a billion distractions as they rise through the chimneys and out into the great atmosphere called "reality." What I am saying, is that in the same way that a Christless life is futile and meaningless, Christmas is futile and meaningless without Christ. But Christmas really does have meaning. Christ really has been sent. In His incarnation, He demonstrates God's revelation of Himself to mankind as part of His eternal plan. The Bible explains that in the beginning God made life as part of His plan. In the plan, God made man in His own image. The first man, and woman, lived in the beautiful garden utopia, called Eden. It was a fabulous existence. They literally lived in a wonder-world of provision and intimate relationship with the Creator. But they sinned against God. Their sin not only changed their being; it also changed the atmosphere of their home. Evil was now in utopia.
So what did God do?
He kicked it out. Adam and Eve, now sinful, evil, (tainted), were banished from paradise on earth. They were cast out to live among the cursed world of briars, blood, sweat, and tears. This tragedy is the result of sin. This tragedy is, in a sense, your tragedy. It is my tragedy. It is everyone's tragedy. It is our history in the first Adam. It is where everyone inherits the cursed sin nature of Adam and Eve. We feel its weight every day. We ache under the legacy of sin as it daily stings us like the briars of the cursed world. We experience sin as selfish ambition. We know its bed partner well--it is materialism. We recoil under the sin that divides families, hurts our neighbors, and divorces spouses. We know sin as deep dark hatred for people. Sin is what motivates us to lie to one another. Sin murders. Sin steals, and sin covets. Sin produces every kind of sexual perversion. Sin produces lust for those same sexual perversions. Sin destroys marriages. Sin destroys children. It destroys spouses, families, communities, and nations. Sin is the deadliest disease of all because it is the kindling fire that feeds all disease. It kills, steals, and destroys. God said to Adam and Eve, that in the day that you eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
" ... you will surely die." Genesis 2:17
Paul the apostle reminds us of our inheritance in the first Adam, as we are reminded of the mission of the great physician in God's plan of Christmas,
"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:22
Death is the result of sin--both physical, and spiritual death. But God was not surprised by any of this. God knew that Adam and Eve would sin before He made them. He knew it before the foundation of the world was spoken into existence. But God also knew something else. God had already planned to come as a man. He planned to come as the God-man, His only begotten Son, John 3:16. According to His plan, He came at the "fullness of the time" in sending His Son,
"4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law," Galatians 4:4
@1 When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His ______________. Galatians 4:4
This is the definition of the true Christmas. Jesus was sent in the fullness of time. Jesus came to live in human form. Jesus also came for something else. Jesus came to die. Just like He was sent to be born at the fullness of time, the death of His physical body occurred "at the right time" in God's plan
"6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6
This time is called the consummation of the ages,
"Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Hebrews 9:26
This is God's great plan that we need to be recognizing in Christmas worship and celebration. It is the revelation of God's plan, God's love, and God's mysterious interest in His creations. God's Son was manifested one time to put away sin by one heroic sacrifice of Himself. But what is important for us to understand, in our worship of God concerning the Christmas, is that all of this humble loving plan was determined before the foundation of the world. Christ the Son; Christ the sent one, declares concerning His Father in Heaven,
"You loved Me before the foundation of the world." John 17:24
Peter echoes the relationship before the atomic architecture of the foundation. Like the fullness of time, and like the right time, and like the consummation of the time, we read,
"[Christ] was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you" 1 Peter 1:20
@2 Christ has appeared in these last times for the sake of ______________. 1 Peter 1:20
When Christ appeared, He arrived to establish the planned kingdom that those who are blessed will inherit. His kingdom was not an afterthought. Christ's kingdom was determined way before the world was made and hung in the vast space of the cosmos. Christ's kingdom was prepared for specific people to inherit. Jesus said,
"Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matthew 25:34
All who inherit this kingdom have been prewritten in the Son's very own journal of life. Let me ask you something:
When do you think the names of the elect were written into the book of life?
If you say that they were written there since before the foundation of the world then you are correct. Christ says that they were,
"... written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain." Revelation 13:8
What I am talking about is God's plan. His plan is His great Christmas gift to Himself. He came up with it. He developed it. He makes sure it is accomplished. This is what the Moravian missionaries of centuries past meant when they cried out in glorious departure,
"May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!"
The great Christmas gift that God gives to Himself is the great reward for the great suffering according to the great plan of His great love, in His astonishing interest in people. His Christmas gift to Himself is demonstrated in a personal humility, and self sacrifice that though not totally comprehensible to us, is believed by us, preached by us, celebrated by us, sung by us, and is sung in the heavenlies,
"9 And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation." Revelation 5:9
@3 Christ purchased people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation with His blood. He purchased those people for ______________ 1 Revelation 5:9
The vast list of names are there in the New Covenant book of the Lamb by design. Notice that all the people who have been purchased in the saving action on the cross, were purchased for God Himself.
Did you notice that?
Salvation is not about you being purchased for yourself. It is about God receiving you as the purchased one for Himself. You and I and all the elect, who are manifested as elect in salvation, receive the blessing because God wanted to bless Himself according to His plan. All the people that Jesus purchased for God have been bought because of the plan in the sending of Christ, the life of Christ, the price paid for them to be there in the crucifixion of Christ, and in the resurrection of Christ. They are there as part of the plan themselves. They are there because of being elected in Christ in that far distant time frame when the plan had not yet been revealed;
"He elected us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be set apart and blameless before Him in love" Ephesians 1:4
After the foundation of the world had been laid, and after Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden, God foretold the coming of His Son through the mouth of His prophets. 700 years before Christ came, Isaiah prophesied,
"14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14
@4 The ancient prophecy proclaimed that a _______________ would be pregnant, and bear the Christ child. Isaiah 7:14
These things would identify the Messiah. He will be born of a virgin. She will specifically call His name Immanuel. We find this prophecy fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. Matthew records the vital details,
" ... an angel of the Lord appeared ... saying, ... the Child who has been conceived in her [Mary the virgin] is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,' which translated means, "God with us." Matthew 1:18-23
This is what Christmas is all about. How wonderful is the fulfillment of that which was ordained since before God laid the foundations of the world--Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit within a young virgin. Jesus was not conceived in sin. Jesus was conceived in sanctification in a miracle impregnation by God's Spirit. How fantastic it is to understand the preordained declaration that the angel made, that Jesus came to save His people from their sins.
@5 Jesus came to save His people from their ______________. Matthew 1:21
He came to save the remnant of "His people" of Israel. During His pre-cross ministry, a gentile woman cried out to Jesus. She said,
"Have mercy on me, Lord, son of David. My daughter is cruelly demon possessed." Matthew 15:22
Jesus' reply had to do with His revealed mission in the part of the plan that was made known at the time. He said,
"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 15:24
This was an aspect of the plan that His Old Covenant people understood at the time. But then we read about hidden details in the plan,
"25 But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, 'Lord, help me!' 26 And He answered and said, 'It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.' 27 But she said, 'Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.' 28 Then Jesus said to her, 'O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.' And her daughter was healed at once." Matthew 15:25-28
This event was a glimpse of the mystery of Christ's fulfillment of Isaiah 49, and other prophecies concerning the nations. Essentially the Messiah also came to save His elect people from among the nations which found its fullness in the New Covenant established in His blood. The point is, that according to the plan, all His people are effectually called and saved "from" their sins. This is necessary. The question is:
Why is it necessary?
His people must be saved from their sins because all people sin. Being in sin, everyone falls short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23. This is the true beauty of Christmas as it shines through the darkness. The ugliness of the darkness is that everyone has inherited Adam's sin. This is what it means to be lost. Without being saved from Adam's curse, all people are lost in sin, and destined to perish. God's salvation of lost people was all according to God's plan, God's love, and God's incomprehensible interest in His creations. Matthew reveals to us here that "Immanuel" literally means "God with us." Jesus (Immanuel) is also the last Adam, 1 Corinthians 15:45. Jesus, the eternal Immanuel, the last Adam, is the one who saves His people from their sins. So, in this Christmas celebration time, there is meaning. We are worshipping Christ, as God Who has come according to the plan; Who has been crucified according to the plan, and has raised up from death to reign at the Father's right hand, as King of kings and Lord of lords, according to the plan.
Do you ever find yourself contemplating the fact that the same One who created all the giant stars you look at each night (the same One who created the sun, this planet, the intricacies of biological life, and everything else but Himself as God), is the only being worthy of worship, and He is God incarnated as a man?
Paul the apostle, declares what is so hard for the human mind to fathom,
"15 He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of [or over] all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and all things are held together by Him." Colossians 1:15-17
This is who we are talking about when we consider the Christmas in worship:
"3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being," John 1:3
This is Jesus, who as baby Jesus, grew up and became adult man Jesus, and was crucified, buried, and risen from the dead Jesus. He is to be praised. He is to be honored. He is to be remembered every single day, because everyday should be a Christmas celebration. Now listen as I share the Christmas story from God's word. Listen as John, Luke, and Matthew express the details of our worship in Spirit and in truth,
"1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it ... 9 there was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. ... 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth ... 18 ... The only one who is the begotten son, himself God, who is in the presence of the Father, has made God known." John 1:1-18
"Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.' 29 she was perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of greeting this was. 30 The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.' 34 Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' 35 The angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36 ... your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 'For nothing will be impossible with God.' 38 And Mary said, 'Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her. 39 Now at this time Mary arose and went ... and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.' 46 And Mary said: 'My soul exalts the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 "For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. 49 "For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him. 51 He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed. 54 He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever." Luke 1:26-55
"Now the birth of Jesus the Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away [divorcing her] secretly. 20 But ... an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 'Behold the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which translated means, 'God with us.' 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus." Matthew 1:18-25
"Joseph ... went up ... from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register [for the census] along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were afraid. 10 But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger,' and ... there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds [said], 'Let us go straight to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.' 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them." Luke 2:4-20
"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.' 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 6 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.' 7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him." 9 [the Magi] went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. 13 [Then] an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.' 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother ... and left for Egypt. 15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'Out of Egypt I called my Son.' 16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and aborted all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. 17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 18 "A voice was heard Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more." 19 But when Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 20 "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead." 21 So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene." Matthew 2:1-23
I encourage you, this Christmas, to worship God for His great plan. Praise and glorify God in celebration of the sending of Christ just as the Magi and shepherds did. How wonderful it is to realize the fulfillment of God's plan at last. How wonderful it is to be part of God's plan. Christ has come. He has set the captives free, and we are experiencing the blessing of God's plan right now. Amen
@1 When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His ______________. Galatians 4:4
@2 Christ has appeared in these last times for the sake of ______________. 1 Peter 1:20
@3 Christ purchased people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation with His blood. He purchased those people for ______________ 1 Revelation 5:9
@4 The ancient prophecy proclaimed that a _______________ would be pregnant, and bear the Christ child. Isaiah 7:14
@5 Jesus came to save His people from their ______________. Matthew 1:21
