Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19: Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20: But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22: Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24: Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. 

Introduction

It's that time of the year again, whether we like it or not and whether we approve it or not, Christmas is upon us. I believe we all agree that the current celebration of Christmas in our society is worldly, materialistic and licentious. By and large the celebration of Christmas involves the sin of irresponsible spending, crash materialism, and drunkenness. So every year when Christmas time comes, it is a challenge to be in the right frame of mind, and to have the right focus. We are constantly flooded with the trappings of worldly Christmas celebration. Now, as Christians we are called to glorify God in our lives. 

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

As Christians who take God's Word seriously we wrestle with this question, "How can you and I most glorify God in this season of the year? What is the wise thing to do as we come to this time of the year called Christmas Season?"

Since we know that many of the Christmas traditions and practices are of pagan origin, should we have nothing to do with Christmas and get rid of everything that is associated with Christmas? Should we all become like Ebenezer Scrooge and say, "Christmas, bah humbug!"? Is that the wise thing to do? Is that the  we can most glorify God?

Let me just say this that in spite of the many of the Christmas traditions are of pagan origin, God by His gracious providence has and continues to bring much good at this Christmas season. Just think of how people tend to be more forgiving or more kind during this season. How many times nations that is at war declare temporary ceasefire on Christmas day?  Bitter enemies agree to lay down their arms for a season because of Christmas. This is a blessing to mankind. There is also something about Christmas season that family members who are not in good terms are willing to get together and be reconciled which would not normally happen at any other time of the year.

Think of people who would not normally go to a place of Christian worship in another season but would come and attend Christmas services and listen to songs and sermons about the greatest story ever told. By God's gracious providence, in spite of the pervasive worldly celebration and traditions, God has used this Christmas season and particularly on Christmas day to bring much good to mankind.

So how should we approach Christmas? What is the wise thing to do? To help us wrestle with this issue, we need to understand that there is no biblical command to remember the birth of Christ on December 25th. There is nothing in the Bible that says that the birth of Christ was on December 25th and that we should celebrate it on that day. Now, having said that, understand also that there is no command that forbids us from remembering the birth of Jesus Christ and to remember it on any day of the year.

I believe it is wise and a godly to use this time of the year to direct our minds to the Word of God and what it has to say concerning the birth of Jesus. While there is no biblical evidence that Jesus was born on December let alone December 25th and while there is no command to celebrate the birth of Christ, I believe you will agree with me that there is nothing wrong or sinful if we focus our minds on the biblical teaching of the birth of Christ and its message. 

We should be thankful that we still have on our calendar, a day called Christmas. Christmas is an opportunity to tell the old story about the advent of the Messiah! It's an opportunity to remember the miracle, the mission, and the motive of Christ coming and that's what I want you to consider with me this morning.

I — Remember the Miracle of Christ's Birth

Christmas is about the greatest of miracles. There are two major miracles that took place on the biblical story of Christ coming.

A. The Conception of Christ

The conception and birth of Christ is called in Scripture as a great sign, a miracle.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Behold a virgin teenage girl will conceive and give birth to a son. All these will take place without a human father. That's a miracle! 

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused [engaged] to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24: Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

The virgin birth shows that Jesus was not born in sin; that is, He had no sin nature. Scripture teaches that our sin nature was passed down through Adam.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Because the Holy Spirit was responsible for Jesus' conception, Christ did not inherit a sin nature.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The Virgin Birth found a way around the transmission of the sin nature and allowed the eternal God to become a perfect man.

May we never get over the great miracle conception and virgin birth of Christ.

B. The Incarnation of Christ

The next miracle of Christmas is the Incarnation of Christ. The term "incarnation" means "to become flesh." The incarnation is that event where the second person of the Trinity, the Word, became flesh and dwelt among us. 

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

When the Word became flesh, He dwelt in the womb of Mary and was born as Jesus. Jesus is the incarnation of God. He is God in flesh. 

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest [appeared] in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The Incarnation is the process by which God became man while fully retaining His nature as God.

"In the one person, Jesus Christ, there are two natures, a human nature and a divine nature, each in its completeness and integrity, and these two natures are organically and indissolubly united, yet so that no third nature is formed thereby." — A. H. Strong

The Infinite has become the infant. Unto us a child is born, and unto us a Son is given. The Christmas season is a wonderful time to remember the great miracle of Christ's birth. 

II — Remember the Mission of Christ's Birth

The Christmas season is a wonderful time to remember the mission of Christ's birth. Jesus Christ came with a grand purpose. He came with a clear mission. And what is His mission? What is His purpose? Please turn to ...

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested [appeared] to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested [appeared], that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus the Son of God came to earth to destroy the works of the devil. The works of the devil refers mainly to the devil's work of deceiving and tempting people to sin. The devil has decided long ago that his main reason for his existence is to promote sin in the human race. 

Sin is man's greatest problem, and Jesus came to solve that problem. He came to take away our sins. He came to destroy the works of the devil. And how did He accomplish that? 

He accomplished that, at a great price, at a great cost, not to us but to God. 

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

There had to be the Calvary. 

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

There had to be the Cross and the Crucifixion! He had to be born and He had to die.

Born to die upon Calvary,

Jesus suffered my sin to forgive;

Born to die upon Calvary,

He was wounded that I might live.

Daniel Akin wrote, "Seeing 1 John 3:8 in parallel with 1 John 3:5, we see that the works of the Devil, which our Saviour came to destroy, are sins. By means of His atonement, sin's penalty has been nullified for the child of God. By means of the new birth, sin's power has been neutralized and dealt a death-blow. And, by virtue of His two appearings, sin's presence will soon pass away forever. Jesus delivered a knockout punch to the Devil on the cross. An empty tomb is an eternal monument to His victory and to ours!" 

III — Remember the Motive of Christ's Birth

The Christmas season is a wonderful time to remember not only the miracle and the mission of Christ's birth but it is also a wonderful time to remember the motive of Christ's birth. What moved our Lord Jesus to come to earth? Jesus Christ's coming to earth was the ultimate expression of God's love for us. How do we know that God loves sinners? 

1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10: Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God manifested His love toward us. Who are we that God should love us? Who are we that God should send His Son Jesus to restore and redeem our broken lives? Think of it! God the Father so loved the world that is dead in trespasses and sins in such a way that He sent His only beloved and begotten Son, that we might have life and live through Him. 

Henry Ironside wrote, "When God looked down on a world groaning under the sentence of death because of sin, a world of people who were alive to the things of this life, but dead to the things of God, God found it in His heart to go down after those people and find a means of bringing "whosoever will" into newness of life. He said in effect, "I am going to give them the greatest gift that one could possibly give, My only begotten Son. I am going to send Him into the world that they may have life through Him."

There is no doubt that God truly loves us. God initiated the relationship by giving His Son. God gave His best by giving His only begotten Son and that we might live through Him. The purpose of God's Son coming is for us to have eternal life now and forever. The Son of God came that we might live life as God intended it to be lived and the great motive is love!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The great motive of His birth is love! A kind of love which holds back nothing and a kind of love that is completely undeserved. 

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Closing Thoughts

Christmas is a wonderful time to remember the miracle, the mission and the motive of Christ's birth. While there is no command to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ, I am sure there is nothing wrong to focus our thoughts on and remember the great truth that Jesus Christ was born to us to be our Saviour and Lord.

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

O come let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord!

Christmas also is a great opportunity to get the gospel out. It's a great and rare opportunity because at this season people tend to be more open and more inclined to listen during this season which they are not in any other season. 

In light of this, let me encourage you to invite your friends and loved ones to our Christmas Service on December 23rd. Give your loved ones and friends the opportunity to hear the gospel and as they sit under the preaching of the gospel pray that God would do a mighty and gracious work on their hearts that they too might know Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.

Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

May God help us to do good to all men this Christmas season!

AMEN!