Diving Deeper for Reasons to Rejoice that Our Hero Has Come!
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REASONS TO REJOICE!
So now our hero, our Messiah has arrived and in the message here from our pastor, we are challenged to consider why this news would cause such rejoicing and how would it impact all the
peoples of the earth. Three reasons that Christ came and how it would change the course of eternity is outlined below.
First, Christ came to rescue us.
He came to rescue us from the penalty of our sin.
Sin is the Greek archery term for missing the mark. Anything less than perfection is sin.
Sin is... anything less than perfection.
We are called to live without sin.
Matthew 5:48 says, 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Sin results... in death.
Anything less than perfection will result in death, eternal separation from God.
Romans 6:23 says, 23For the wages of sin is death,
Sin requires justice. Payment must be made.
Any substitution would entail a perfect sacrifice, thus He offers... Himself in our place!
Humility at the utmost.
And, the following passage shows that he came to rescue us from that penalty.
Mathew 1:20-21 says,
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
Then, he rescues us from the power of sin in our lives today.
So, this is not only something for "the peoples of the earth" to look forward to... someday when we die, rather we can experience power now.
Though, hope alone would have been reason enough to rejoice. He goes even further by giving Himself in the form of the Holy Spirit to indwell us. He gives us life, now.
So He extends redemption, hope, and power. Redemption and Hope... when He rescued us from the penalty of sin. And, power from the Holy Spirit when He rescued us from the control of sin.
And, as we consider chains that bind us; substance abuse, the dangers of the tongue, the enticement of wealth, the drive to please...we can, truly, rejoice that their is strength to overcome all that entangles us.
In John 8:34-36, Jesus, obviously, hits the nail on the head when He says:
34Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
1 Peter 2:24 reinforces that because he bore our sins on the cross any further clinging to the the "habits of our soul," for those of us who have surrendered, are living with a gift we haven't opened.
24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
Galatians 1:3-4 further reminds us that this grace He has extended starts today, not the day we leave this earth.
3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Second, He came to reveal God to us. His name, alone, indicates that God was with us.
1 John 14:7,9 points out that because of Him, we have now seen the father.
7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Hebrews 1:3 shows how He was the "radiance and exact representation" of the Father.
3The 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.
Third, He came so we could receive life.
John 1:10-1210He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
This didn't just happen. Like a 2-year old, we hold up our hands and say, "No!"
John 10:10
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Everlasting life has been purchased free of charge because of Him. And, we think we have a better way thus we turn and run the other way.
Romans 6:23
If we receive Him, we accept the gift He is offering. It is He who is on the throne. In order to accept the gift, we must be willing to surrender. And, because of Him we have freedom, power, and life. Praise God!
In Ephesians, we are encouraged to take advantage of every moment. We don't know how many days we have left. Thus in everything we do, may we do it for the glory His name.
Our Hero has stepped into our 'atmosphere,' are we willing to reach out and be rescued? Will we reject or receive the best news ever announced? And for those of us who have received, will we share this hope? What a privilege, and responsibility?
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