God Incarnate | Christmas Sermon
God Incarnate | Christmas Sermon
March 11, 2012
Topic: Christmas
Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-3
INTRODUCTION
Christmas is the story all about the God incarnate. Jesus is the God coming down in the flesh as God Incarnate to save the world.
1. The Story of Christmas
A. There was a promise
The story of Christmas begins before the beginning of time. The Bible says that even before the foundation of the world was laid, God planned that His Son (God incarnate) would be sent to die for the sins of the world. From Genesis and through the OT, prophecy after prophecy proclaimed that the Messiah would come, live among us, and die to take away our sins.
Then there is a silence of 400 years when no prophet from God speaks. But finally, the silence is broken for Joseph and Mary separately by Gabriel. The secret was then known to Elizabeth and a few others. But then when Jesus was born, the angels telecast the message.
B. There were complications
Rumor & gossip flow through the streets of Nazareth because Mary is expecting a child even before she & Joseph have fully become husband & wife. Then there is the complication of Caesar Augustus’s decree that every family must return to their hometown for a worldwide census. So even though the baby is due at any time, Mary & Joseph must make the journey to Bethlehem from Nazareth, a trip of about 130 KM.
They made that journey slowly with no hotels at night. Sleeping out underneath the stars. Once they arrive in Bethlehem there is the complication of finding lodging. There is no room for them in the inn.
ILLUSTRATION
I heard someone traveling went to a hotel for a room for the night. The manager told him that they were fully booked & there were no rooms available. The man said, “If the Governor of our state requested a room, would you have a place for Him to stay?” The manager replied, “Well if the Governor needed a room, we’d find one for him.” The man said, “That’s great. I know for a fact that he’s not coming, so I’ll take his room.”
If Mary & Joseph had been influential, perhaps there would have been room for them, too. But they were just common people, carpenters. Finally, they reach their ancestral home, and finding all the guest rooms occupied, she probably delivered the child in the living room and put the child in a manger, a trough to hold food to feed animals.
C. There was also a celebration
Now when babies are born there is celebration, right? On the night Jesus the God incarnate was born, it was a private celebration at first – in the house. They knew something no one else knew. They knew that this baby was God’s own Son, & that His birth was a miracle.
Soon the celebration spreads. Angels announced to shepherds that a Savior (God Incarnate) had been born, who is Christ the Lord. So, they came rushing to see the new baby.
Christmas is the proof that God is in charge of things. No matter how difficult the situation, God’s promised Son (God Incarnate) was conceived and delivered on time. Yes, there were complications but there was no delay. Whatever God started, he completed, and what God promised he fulfilled. Every time we celebrate Christmas it is a sign of God’s faithfulness. We have seen difficulties, we have gone through tough times, and sometimes we felt it was all over, but God has enabled us to overcome every setback because of His Son Jesus Christ (God Incarnate).
Christmas Truth
Well, the story of Christmas is about promises, complications, & celebrations. However, the world has just caught on to the celebrations and given it an entirely different picture to it. Many people gladly celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas, only to ignore, shun, and reject Jesus the rest of the year. They don’t mind celebrating the birth of a baby, but they don’t want to hear about the Lord of lords, they sing of His nativity but brazenly reject His authority, they adore Him as an infant but will not pay homage to Him as the God. Consequently, the world ignores the core of all Christmas truth, and instead of honoring Jesus at Christmas, they are mocking Him.
The enemy must love the way the world celebrates Christmas. If you truly see the Bible, Christmas is not about the Savior’s infancy; it is about His deity (God Incarnate). At Christmas, most of the world sees Jesus as a baby in a manger—nothing more. Jesus’s born on Christmas is bigger than that.
What ought to concern us is that many believers fall into the same myopic trap around this time of year. Caught up in the trappings and traditions of the season, they quickly lose sight of why we’re celebrating Christ’s birth in the first place. In simple terms, their emphasis on Christ’s infancy blinds them to His supremacy.
The writer of Hebrews opens his epistle with a vivid reminder of the One who took on flesh for our sake.
Hebrews 1:1-3
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
The writer of Hebrews begins His epistle by describing the incarnation, and birth of Jesus as the supreme revelation of God. The writer of Hebrews points out the incarnation truth in 4 points.
2. The Incarnation of Jesus Christ
A. Christ, God the Incarnate is the heir of all things
The first aspect of Jesus Christ’s pre-eminence concerns His inheritance:
Hebrews 1:2
…but in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things. That states God has planned for Jesus ultimately to inherit absolutely everything.
It adheres to Jewish inheritance laws that say the firstborn child received the wealth of the family’s estate. Because Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, He is logically the firstborn Son. Therefore, Christ is the heir of all that God has. Everything in the created order, whether the material or spiritual world—everything God has ever created—belongs to Jesus Christ.
It’s amazing to think that a baby boy who grew up to be a Galilean carpenter, crucified on a cross outside Jerusalem, is the heir to the universe. Admittedly, when Jesus was on earth, He owned nothing. One thing He did own was His cloak, and the Roman soldiers gambled for ownership of that while He was on the cross. He was even buried in a borrowed grave. But someday, all that exists will belong to Christ, and everyone – people, angels, and all powers in the universe – will bow before Him.
Philippians 2:10 KJV
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.
It’s also incredible to realize that we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will be joint heirs with Christ:
Romans 8:16-17
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
If you know Christ, you are a part of His bride, the church, and He, the Bridegroom, allows you to share His inheritance. And someday you will see Him return as King of kings and Lord of lords to make the final claim of His inheritance and exercise sovereign, everlasting rule over all that exists. Therefore, once you say Jesus is Lord, you also say He is the heir of all things.
B. Christ who is God the Incarnate is the Creator of all things
The second aspect of Christ’s pre-eminence listed in Hebrews chapter 1 is His power in creation:
Hebrews 1:2
…but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
That statement is perfectly consistent with
John 1:3
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Colossians 1:16
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Jesus created everything, both the material and nonmaterial parts of the universe. And His creatorship is a characteristic of our Lord—second only to His sinlessness—that sets Him apart from us.
The Greek word made the universe does not mean the material world but “the ages.” Christ created not only the physical earth, but also time, space, energy, and every variety of matter. He effortlessly created the entire universe and finished it as something good. For that reason, the creation, which was marred by humanity’s sin, longs to be restored to what it was originally, and one day Christ will create a new and perfect heaven and earth.
C. Christ who is the God Incarnate is the radiance of God’s glory
Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory. “Radiance” literally means “to send forth light.” It indicates that Jesus is the manifestation of God to us. Just as the sun’s rays illuminate and warm the earth, Christ is God’s glorious light that shines into the hearts of people. And as the sun cannot be separated from its brightness, so God cannot be separated from the glory of Christ.
Jesus Christ is the radiance of who God is, and He affirmed that fact during His earthly ministry:
John 8:12
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Christ can transmit that light into our lives so that we can radiate the glory of God to others. God sent His glorious light, in the person of Jesus Christ, into a morally dark world to call sinners to Himself. No one would ever be able to see or enjoy God’s true radiance if it weren’t for His Son and those who know Him.
It is truly a blessing to know that Jesus Christ can come into your life and give you the spiritual light to see and believe in God. Jesus’ brightness points you to salvation, which in turn results in purpose, peace, joy, and genuine fellowship for all eternity.
D. Christ who is the God Incarnate is the essence of God
Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Jesus is the exact representation of God. Jesus possesses the essential nature or being of God the Father. That is, He has all the attributes that are indispensable to who and what God is, such as immutability (unchanging), omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence. He is God.
The apostle Paul teaches us the same truth in
Colossians 1:15
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
In Greek word “image” is translated as eikon, from which we get the English term icon, meaning a precise copy or reproduction. But both verses communicate the same truth. Christ possesses the essential nature of God and manifests the attributes of God. In His being, Jesus is what God is, and in His person, displays God to everyone who sees Him.
This is the Christ of Christmas, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, God himself in human flesh. If you look beyond all the celebrations around Christmas time and the boy in the manger, we must understand that this boy grew and led a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose again from the grave. He ascended to heaven and was seated on the right side of God the Father. The personal knowledge of Jesus being God and having a relationship with him makes Christmas meaningful.
CONCLUSION
This Christmas I urge you to look beyond the manger scene and see him as God. Many of you see him already as God, but do you truly believe He can help you? Mary and Joseph had complications, this God helped them through, and the promise was delivered on time. You may have complications or problems in life this God can lead you through. But more than anything it is important to understand this Jesus of Christmas as the Lord of your life.
For those who hear me for the first time, you can have a personal relationship with Jesus if accept him as Lord and Savior of your life. Say the prayer with me. Let’s Pray.
For more Christmas Sermons,
Christmas Hope – Hold on Pain ends
Knowing Christ | Christmas Sermon | Philippians 3: 7 – 11
The Christmas Promise | Christmas Sermon
The Call of Christmas 1 | Christmas Sermon | Luke 1: 41 – 43