What Does Christmas Mean? (December 15, 2024)
Sermon Outline for Sunday, December 15, 2024
PASSAGES: Galatians 4:4; Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Genesis 22:18; Matthew 1:1; Isaiah 9:6–7; Luke 1:32; Luke 1:33; Luke 2:13–14; Luke 2:20; Luke 2:28–32; Mark 10:45; Matthew 1:21; Luke 10:10; 1 John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14; Luke 11:21–22; Luke 2:14; Colossians 1:20; Isaiah 9:7; John 14:6; John 3:16; Galatians 1:4
I asked myself the question, “When did December 25th become Christmas?” We know that Christ was NOT born on that day, so why December 25th?
The church in Rome began formally celebrating Christmas on December 25 in 336 AD, during the reign of the emperor Constantine. As Constantine had made Christianity the effective religion of the empire, some have speculated that choosing this date had the political motive of weakening the established pagan celebrations.
So now we ask ourselves, what does Christmas mean?
Galatians 4:4 ~ “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,”
God sent His own Son into the world to deliver men. It was not an angel or some other creature that God sent—nor was it some great leader from among men. It was God’s very Son that He sent. God cared and loved men so much that He would send no less than His own Son to deliver men from the terrible condemnation of the law: the bondage of sin and death.
So, what does Christmas really mean? We could set here and pull out of biblical and historical documents concerning the time that Christ was born and some can debate about the place where Christ was born and some even still can debate about the validity of the virgin birth; however this morning, I would like to cover seven points about what Christmas means and give you biblical references towards those points.
I. IT MEANS PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED
A. Prophecy fulfilled concerning place of birth
Micah 5:2 ~ “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”
Luke 2:4 ~ “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,”
B. Prophecy fulfilled concerning means of birth
Isaiah 7:14 ~ “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Matthew 1:23 ~ “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).”
C. Prophecy fulfilled concerning lineage
Genesis 22:18 ~ “and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
Matthew 1:1 ~ “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
II. IT MEANS AN HEIR WAS BORN TO ISRAEL’S THRONE
A. God promised an heir to Israel’s throne
Isaiah 9:6-7 ~ “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
B. God will give Jesus Israel’s throne
Luke 1:32 ~ “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”
C. God will give Him an Eternal throne
Luke 1:33 ~ “and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
III. IT MEANS JOY WAS COME TO THE WORLD
A. The angels rejoiced at His coming
Luke 2:13-14 ~ “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!””
B. The shepherds rejoiced at His coming
Luke 2:20 ~ “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
C. Simeon rejoiced at His coming
Luke 2:28–32 ~ “he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.””
IV. IT MEANS A SAVIOUR WAS PROVIDED
Mark 10:45 ~ “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
B. He came to save from sin
Matthew 1:21 ~ “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
C. He came to seek and save the lost
Luke 19:10 ~ “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
V. IT MEANS SATAN WOULD BE DEFEATED
A. Christ was manifested to destroy Satan’s works
I John 3:8 ~ “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
B. Christ by His death destroyed Satan’s works
Hebrews 2:14 ~ “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,”
C. Christ removes Satan’s armor
Luke 11:21-22 ~ “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.”
VI. IT MEANS PEACE CAN ENTER OUR HEARTS
A. He came to bring peace
Luke 2:14 ~ “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
B. He made peace on Calvary
Colossians 1:20 ~ “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
C. He is our Eternal Peace
Isaiah 9:7 ~ “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
VII. IT MEANS A WAY TO HEAVEN WOULD BE MADE
A. A way is promised by Christ
John 14:6 ~ “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
B. A way is made by God’s love
John 3:16 ~ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
C. A way is made by Christ’s death
Galatians 1:4 ~ “who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,”
Pastor Andy Lambert
pastorandy@cvcog.church
Call/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101