Dec 20, 2015
“This Is Christmas: It’s About the Gospel”
Matthew 1:1-25
Family Tree, Broken Limbs . . .
Matthew wants his audience, including you, to understand the hopeful message of the gospel is the reason why Jesus came.
- The reality of humanity is that sin separates us from the one true holy God, but the hope of the gospel is that Jesus has put on the flesh of humanity to reconcile us to holy God.
“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him . . .” Colossians 1:21-22
- The point of the gospel is not to make you feel guilty for sin,
but to help you see that you areguilty of sin and in need of a
Savior.
- God has graciously provided the way to relationship with Him through Jesus.
The God Who Intervened . . .
The gospel story is one of God intervening in our lives by stepping down to where we are and initiating a relationship with us not based on what we have done or are doing, but what He has done through Jesus Christ.
- An unlikely entrance into this world.
“ . . . for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit . . . Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son . . .” Matthew 1:20, 23
- An invitation to the most unlikely people for an unlikely
event.
- “ . . . for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
- An ushering in of an incomparable
“ . . . and they shall call His name Immanuel.” Matthew 1:23
The Gospel of Christmas . . .
The gospel of Christmas is evidence of true love that engages and embraces the unlovely and the unlikely for no other reasons than unconditional love and amazing grace.