Why Christmas Matters

BIG IDEA: If Christmas is true, then we have a basis for a personal relationship with God… He becomes graspable!

CHRISTMAS REVEALS THE HEART OF GOD

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. --John 1.3-9

• Our EXISTENCE reveals this to us.

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. --Psalm 139:13-14

• Our CIRCUMSTANCE reveals this to us

26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. --1 Corinthians 1.26-29

• Our SIGNIFICANCE reveals this to us

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. --John 3:16-17

CHRISTMAS REVEALS THE NEED OF PEOPLE

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. --John 1.10-13

• Our need for redemption

• Our need for rescue

18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. --2 Timothy 4.18

• Our need for adoption

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. --Romans 5.6

Christmas reveals the Possibility of the Impossible

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. --John 1.14

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.. --John 14.5-6

• True righteousness becomes possible

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! --Galatians 2.20-21

• Absolute truth becomes possible

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” --John 8.31-32

• Eternal life becomes possible

11 God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. --1 John 5.11-12

NEXT STEP: Christmas is an invitation to know Christ personally… Accept this gift of grace and be saved.