December 13-14, 2003   CHRISTMAS IN A REAL WORLD!    Galatians 4:4-7

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, ISN’T IT???

·FEELINGS BEFORE FACTS!

·FACTS BEFORE FEELINGS!

*** Galatians 4:4-7 “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”

[New International Version]

CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT:

1. THE COMING OF A SAVIOR!

A. HIS TIMING WAS PERFECT!

*** Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time came ….” [NASB]

B. HIS ORIGIN WAS DIVINE!

*** Gal. 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son….”

*** John 1:1-2,14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us….” [NIV]

*** Phil. 2:5-8 “…Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man….” [NIV]

C. HIS INCARNATION WAS COMPLETE!

*** Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman….” [NASB]

JESUS WAS COMPLETELY DIVINE AND COMPLETELY HUMAN!

*** Hebrews 4:15 “We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin.” [Message]

D. HIS TEMPTATION WAS REAL!

*** Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law….” [NASB]

*** Matthew 5:17 "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them.” [NLT]

*** Hebrews 7:26 “Jesus is the high priest we need. He is holy and innocent and faultless, and not at all like us sinners.” [Contemporary English Version]

2. THE ACCEPTING OF SINNERS! 

*** Gal. 4:4-5 “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” [NIV]

WHY JESUS CAME!

A. HE CAME TO REDEEM US!

*** 2 Cor. 5:21 “For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God's goodness into us!” [Living Bible]

*** Deut. 27:26 “God's curse on anyone who does not obey all of God's laws and teachings.” [Today’s English Version]

*** Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." [NIV]

B. HE CAME TO ADOPT US!

*** Gal. 4:4-5 “God sent his Son… to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” [NIV]

3. THE PROMISES OF GOD!

*** Galatians 4:4-7 “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” [NIV]

TWO PROMISES:

A. THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

*** Acts 2:38 "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” [NIV]

*** Eph. 1:19-20 “I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead….” [New Living Translation]

B. THE PROMISE OF HEAVEN!

*** Romans 8:18 “The sufferings we have now are nothing compared to the great glory that will be shown to us.” [NCV]

GOD COMING TO MAN THAT MAN MAY COME TO GOD!

“Oh Holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend on us we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in. Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell. Oh come to us, abide with us – Our Lord, Immanuel!”