The Message of Christmas

"What Child Is This?"  "This, this is Christ the King..."

But He was more than King, Ruler, Messiah....

Matt. 1:22-23  - "Immanuel" - in fullest sense!  His proper name = Jesus, but His title = Immanuel"

Our faith celebrates:  The Divine Incarnation - (in flesh)
                                 The Divine Humiliation  (humbled when became a man)
                                 The Divine Sacrifice

I.  Divine Incarnation - God in flesh, human form
on one hand, this is huge mystery, however is clearly declared - John 1:1, 14  (John 20:28)
Example:  Paul - 1 Tim. 3:16

This idea is often rejected ... Not because it is unscriptural/ unreasonable, impossible, but because it is unfathomable, incomprehensible.

This leads (naturally, inevitably) to:

II.  Divine Humiliation - defined by text - Phil. 2:5-8

ie:  "man"  (baby, adolescent, common) with human needs, frailty, which led to:  accusation, ridicule, rejection, crucifixion.....

Note - how His Humiliation differs!!
(1)  = self Humiliation - no one can humble Absolute God!
(2) = Humiliation without reference to/result of weakness, fault, failure, etc.
(3)  = Self Humiliation .... for a Purpose 

III.  Divine Sacrifice

includes... (A)  physical death  ie:  experienced physical death  (not the cessation of being!
                 (B)  Substitutionary death - 1 Pet. 2:24
                                                            2 Cor. 5:21

The Purpose???  He came to.........
(1)  Redeem - buy us back from sin/ to Himself.
Sin = violation of His law, will, only God could forgive that!
So...... Matt. 1:21
Was a covenant between God and man - (He took our unrighteousness and clothed us in His righteousness) - positional righteousness

(2)  Reconcile - 2 Cor. 5:17-19

(3)  Reveal .. Himself, His Will, His Plan
by ... clarifying previous Revelations
and ... giving additional Revelations
(Contrast: dream, vision, etc. with face to face, same language, etc.

(4)  also... Identify (connect with us) - Heb. 4:14-16 -
example:  mediator, middle man, go-between ....

this = who/what/why we celebrate Christmas!

This = why we sing..... Hymn #88 - "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" - (vs. 2, Vs. 4)
                                   Hymn #96 - "Good Christian Men Rejoice" - Vs. 3
                                   Hymn #76 - "O Come, O Come Emmanuel..."

= why (perhaps) we should sing:  Hymn #147 - "And Can It Be" - vs. 1