Believing In Jesus Series

All over our nation, there is unmistakeable evidence that that there are those who want to bar Christ from Christmas. That’s right, there are mant elites in our nation’s political and educational systems that want to remove our right to celebrate the birth of Jesus. If you don’t believe me, then let me give you a very relevant and recent example:

Have you heard about the debate over the Nativity that is brewing in the New York City public schools? In November 2003, a WorldNet daily article reported the following:

In a dispute over display of holiday symbols, New York City schools are allowing Jewish menorahs and Islamic crescents but barring Christian nativity scenes, alleging the depiction of the birth of Christ does not represent a historical event.

In pleadings with a federal court in defense of the ban, New York City lawyers asserted the "suggestion that a crèche is a historically accurate representation of an event with secular significance is wholly disingenuous.”

As this outrageous example from New York City shows, many are on a mission to expunge the celebration of the birth of Christ from the public square! Wow! The elites of America want to expunge Christ from Christmas. And the issue is simple: lack of belief. There are many who simply refuse to believe that the wonderful story of the babe of Bethlehem is true.

Now, I don’t know if any of you here today would find yourself in this camp of disbelief today. But, J. Sidlow Baxter had it right when he said: “Christmas for millions is just "the holiday season." Are we losing the sense of marvel at the Christmas miracle? Why, this is the most stupendous and astonishing wonder which could ever engross the human mind--that the eternal, infinite Creator of the universe should enter our human life, and assume our human nature, by being born as a baby of a human mother!

And that’s where Adevent comes in. Advent-- a time to prepare for the coming of Christ into our world and lives-- points us to the Christmas miracle! Christmas is about Jesus! And to celebrate it the right way, we must wholeheartedly embrace and believe in Jesus.

PREACHING OUTLINE

--> When we believe in Jesus, we are saying that He alone is both GOD and HUMAN (1:1-2, 9-10a, 14-18).

+Jesus, the Word with God, has a unique relationship with God the Father. (1:1-2).

+ Jesus, the Word made flesh, has a unique relationship to all of humanity. (1:9-10a, 14)

--> When we believe in Jesus, we are saying that He alone is the source of true LIGHT and LIFE. (1:3-9).

+ Jesus is the source of all PHYSICAL life and beauty.

Lo, within a manger lies ~ He who built the starry skies! (Edward Caswall)

+ Jesus is the source of all SPIRITUAL life and understanding.

--> When we believe in Jesus, we are saying that He alone delivers the knowledge and SALVATION of God to us (1:10-18).

+the Christian story is precisely the story of one grand miracle: "The Son of God became man to enable men to become the sons of God."(CS Lewis)

CONCLUSION

Do I believe in the Christmas miracle? Am I celebrating Christmas the right way by believing in Jesus?