The Key to Christmas -- “A Saviour which is Christ the Lord”
The key to Christmas was given to humble shepherds outside Bethlehem in 3 BC. Not just by some human being, but by an angel sent from God. And what he said was this: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10,11)
Presumably, these Jewish shepherds were familiar with the prophecies concerning the Messiah. Otherwise the significance of that announcement might have been puzzling. Presumably, these shepherds were sincere worshippers of the Most High God. Otherwise God would not have shown them His glory, or sent to them an angel with the glorious Gospel. Even so when the glory of God shone round about them, it was a fearful sight. Consequently they were “sore afraid”. Therefore we need to take each portion of what the angel said and look at it carefully:
Fear not -- they were asked to abandon their fearfulness because they would be receiving Good News. So is every sinner who is fearful of the consequences of his or her sinful life asked to abandon fearfulness when they hear the Gospel.
For behold -- this meant that a proclamation from God was to be given to them, and they in turn were to go and announce it to others. Therefore these shepherds were the first heralds of the Gospel. The first “evangelists”.
I bring you Good Tidings of great joy -- the Gospel is called “Glad Tidings” or Good News. And the Good News is that salvation is offered to all by God’s grace. All may receive the gift of eternal life if all will repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Which shall be to all people -- absolutely no one is excluded from the grace of God, the forgiveness of sins, and salvation from the jaws of Hell. The atoning work of Christ is unlimited and extends to “every creature” (Mk 16:15)
For unto you -- this was not only a personal message to each of those shepherds, but it was also a collective message to the nation of Israel, which was under the rule of the Romans. Now it is a message for all mankind.
Is born this day -- while we do not know the exact date of the birth of Christ from the New Testament, it has been calculated from circumstantial evidence that it was in early September -- possibly even September 11, 3 BC (the Feast of Trumpets). But we are also told that “when the fulness of time was come” God sent forth His Son (Gal 4:4). God had an exact date and year in mind.
In the city of David -- the city of David was Bethlehem, and perhaps these shepherds may have been familiar with Micah 5:2, which pinpointed Bethlehem Ephratah as the birthplace of the King of the Jews. Christ is the rightful heir to the throne of David, but in fact He will give David his throne in the future, since Christ has His own eternal throne in Heaven (Hebrews 1:8).
A Saviour -- Christ is not just “a Saviour” but He is “The Saviour”. And He is not just the Saviour of the Jews, but He is “the Saviour of the world”. Not only does He save from Hell, but He also saves unto the uttermost those who believe on Him. Which means that He saves us from the penalty for our sins. delivers us from our sinful ways, makes us righteous and holy, and eventually perfects us for Heaven.
Which is Christ -- the word “Christ” comes from the Greek “Christos” which is the equivalent of the Hebrew “Mashiach” (Messiah) which means “the Anointed One”. And the anointing which Christ received was the fulness of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit every day and every moment because He is God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16). He was the only sinless Man, but He was made “SIN” for us on the cross, so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21).
The Lord -- Jesus is God the Word, and He was declared to be the “Lord Jesus Christ” at His resurrection, because He is not only Lord of all creation, but when He died on the cross, He destroyed the power of sin, death, Hades, Hell, Satan, and all his minions. Therefore while His body lay in the tomb, He proclaimed His victory to the spirits in the prison of Sheol/Hades. And then He rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven, is now seated at the right hand of the Father, and will return to earth “with power and great glory” (Mt 24:30). And because He is Lord, He said that all power and authority in Heaven and on earth have been given to Him (Mt 28:18). Which means that He is the Lord and Master of every believer.
So the real message of Christmas is this: God now commands all men everywhere to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved (Acts 16:31; 17:30)
The key to Christmas was given to humble shepherds outside Bethlehem in 3 BC. Not just by some human being, but by an angel sent from God. And what he said was this: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10,11)
Presumably, these Jewish shepherds were familiar with the prophecies concerning the Messiah. Otherwise the significance of that announcement might have been puzzling. Presumably, these shepherds were sincere worshippers of the Most High God. Otherwise God would not have shown them His glory, or sent to them an angel with the glorious Gospel. Even so when the glory of God shone round about them, it was a fearful sight. Consequently they were “sore afraid”. Therefore we need to take each portion of what the angel said and look at it carefully:
Fear not -- they were asked to abandon their fearfulness because they would be receiving Good News. So is every sinner who is fearful of the consequences of his or her sinful life asked to abandon fearfulness when they hear the Gospel.
For behold -- this meant that a proclamation from God was to be given to them, and they in turn were to go and announce it to others. Therefore these shepherds were the first heralds of the Gospel. The first “evangelists”.
I bring you Good Tidings of great joy -- the Gospel is called “Glad Tidings” or Good News. And the Good News is that salvation is offered to all by God’s grace. All may receive the gift of eternal life if all will repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Which shall be to all people -- absolutely no one is excluded from the grace of God, the forgiveness of sins, and salvation from the jaws of Hell. The atoning work of Christ is unlimited and extends to “every creature” (Mk 16:15)
For unto you -- this was not only a personal message to each of those shepherds, but it was also a collective message to the nation of Israel, which was under the rule of the Romans. Now it is a message for all mankind.
Is born this day -- while we do not know the exact date of the birth of Christ from the New Testament, it has been calculated from circumstantial evidence that it was in early September -- possibly even September 11, 3 BC (the Feast of Trumpets). But we are also told that “when the fulness of time was come” God sent forth His Son (Gal 4:4). God had an exact date and year in mind.
In the city of David -- the city of David was Bethlehem, and perhaps these shepherds may have been familiar with Micah 5:2, which pinpointed Bethlehem Ephratah as the birthplace of the King of the Jews. Christ is the rightful heir to the throne of David, but in fact He will give David his throne in the future, since Christ has His own eternal throne in Heaven (Hebrews 1:8).
A Saviour -- Christ is not just “a Saviour” but He is “The Saviour”. And He is not just the Saviour of the Jews, but He is “the Saviour of the world”. Not only does He save from Hell, but He also saves unto the uttermost those who believe on Him. Which means that He saves us from the penalty for our sins. delivers us from our sinful ways, makes us righteous and holy, and eventually perfects us for Heaven.
Which is Christ -- the word “Christ” comes from the Greek “Christos” which is the equivalent of the Hebrew “Mashiach” (Messiah) which means “the Anointed One”. And the anointing which Christ received was the fulness of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit every day and every moment because He is God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16). He was the only sinless Man, but He was made “SIN” for us on the cross, so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21).
The Lord -- Jesus is God the Word, and He was declared to be the “Lord Jesus Christ” at His resurrection, because He is not only Lord of all creation, but when He died on the cross, He destroyed the power of sin, death, Hades, Hell, Satan, and all his minions. Therefore while His body lay in the tomb, He proclaimed His victory to the spirits in the prison of Sheol/Hades. And then He rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven, is now seated at the right hand of the Father, and will return to earth “with power and great glory” (Mt 24:30). And because He is Lord, He said that all power and authority in Heaven and on earth have been given to Him (Mt 28:18). Which means that He is the Lord and Master of every believer.
So the real message of Christmas is this: God now commands all men everywhere to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved (Acts 16:31; 17:30)
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