Christmas Changes Everything Titus 2:14 What a

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Christmas Changes Everything Titus 2:14 What a great morning to worship the Lord together; Remember/celebrate birth of Christ If have a Bible, turn to Titus 2:11-14; Ushers have them Trust you had a great time of giving and receiving gifts this morning Out of curiosity, I checked out some of the top toys being given this year . . . I don’t know if you received any of these, but what I do know is this – Whatever you got, your life didn’t depend on it That’s what distinguishes the gift of salvation from any other gift we could ever hope to receive – our life depends on it Our life depends on receiving the gift of salvation that Jesus brought at Christmas And if we do, it changes everything because . . . Jesus gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works Paragraph in Titus 2:11-14 builds to this ending – Naming Jesus, what he’s done, and why he came Find in v14 five reasons why Christmas – The appearing of the grace of God (11) The coming of Christ and the salvation he brought, changes everything Starts with being forgiven Christmas changes everything because . . . I’m forgiven – Jesus died for me when I didn’t deserve it Jesus gave himself for us When he died, he died for you and I; He gave his life for our life; He died in our place Bible says that all have sinned, and the consequences of that sin is death We deserve to die for our sins; to be forever separated from God in hell But God offers to forgive us, to clear us of our guilt and the punishment we deserve, through the death of Christ on the cross Like you in traffic court, being convicted of speeding Judge says – “Guilty, but no fine; somebody already paid it” Why are we talking about Christ’s death, when we’re celebrating his birth? Because it’s his death and resurrection that make his birth and life, meaningful Christ’s birth and perfect life would have been a marvelous spectacle at best, of no uses to us, without his death and resurrection on our behalf Jesus satisfied God’s wrath toward us and the punishment he required, when he died But it applies only if you admit that you deserved that death It applies only if you believe that he took your sin on himself, and died in your place It applies only if you embrace the pardon he offers Christmas changes everything because . . . I’m free – Jesus rescues me from the grip of sin To redeem us from all lawlessness Redeem – to buy back, to rescue from bondage Slavery – slaves were redeemed; their freedom was bought They were bought back from the grip of slavery/bondage

In like manner, when we embrace Jesus and the salvation he brought, we’re rescued from the grip of sin (lawlessness) We’re redeemed or bought back from the throes of our sinful nature Like you taking the place of a death row inmate, so he could go free You redeem/rescue his life with yours That’s what Jesus did for us – he redeemed/ransomed our life with his Bible says – Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mt 20:28) Live holy lives, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Pet 1:18) That’s why Christmas changes everything because I’m free from the grip of sin and its consequences, and free to live a life of fullness and joy Christmas changes everything because . . . I’m clean – Jesus washes me white as snow To purify for himself Is 1:18 – God says, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. We have plenty to purify; plenty to be cleansed of Is 64:6 – Even our righteous acts are like filthy rags Even living a “good” life is like filthy rags to God But Jesus came to purify and cleanse you, making you fit for his presence God’s holiness will not tolerate our sinfulness That cleansing and washing starts by confessing your sin – agreeing with God that you’re dirty Unfortunately, some of you walk around wearing sin-stained clothes (sweatshirt on) Still bleeding from the open wounds of present sin Bearing guilt and marks of past sin Trying to cover up the scars that won’t let you forget If you’re not careful – dirty, sin-stained, stinking clothes will become the norm And you won’t care – your heart will become hardened by the deceit of sin You’ll be like a filthy drunk who no longer smells himself, walking around unclean Jesus didn’t come to earth at Christmas and die, so you could walk around in filth He came to cleanse you, and wash you white as snow (sweatshirt off) So that you could say like Isaiah (61:10) – I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness. Confess your sins to God, let him wash you white as snow, and cloth you in garments of righteousness Embracing the Christ of Christmas, and the salvation he brought, changes everything because I’m forgiven, free, clean, and . . . secure Christmas changes everything because . . . I’m secure – Jesus embraces me as one of his own A people for his own possession

This isn’t some sterile, distant thing were God is far off and claims us as his own like a possession-hungry king who could care less Jesus gave himself for us to establish a relationship with us So that he could be our God, and we his people So we could be called children of God So that we could be adopted as sons and daughters of the living God I believe adoption is one of most powerful pictures of what God does for us in salvation When you adopt a child, you give of yourself, your love . . . In fact, when you finally meet the child, you’re willing to give up just about everything in order to embrace them as your own . . . In order to establish a bond and relationship with them In so doing, you bring a security to their lives they previously didn’t have In the same way, Jesus embraces us as his own, adopting us as one of his children . . . Never to leave us or forsake us; Never to let us go Never to be snatched from his presence Never to be separated from his love Rom 8:38-39 – I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. That’s security It’s offered in a relationship with Christ – don’t miss out on it any longer Open your heart and life to the loving embrace of the one who forgives, frees, cleanses you from your sin Want you to hear from someone who has done Testimony – Amy Clayton Tell us how you came to Christ, and how it has changed you . . . That could be your story If it is, you will be ready and motivated to work for Christ in ways you never imagined Christmas changes everything because . . . I’m passionate – Jesus motivates me to do good Zealous for good works When we’re Forgiven of our sins and relieved of the consequences When we’re free from the grip of sin and cleansed of it’s stain When we’re secure in our relationship with Christ . . . We will be passionate (zealous) to do good works Enthusiastic, fanatical, obsessive, extreme – when it comes to working for Christ Bible says – We are his [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus [designed or wired as followers of Christ] for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them [that we should do]. (Eph 2:10) When you give your life to Christ, he prepares the good works, and prepares you for them (Story . . .)

Ran into the story of Andrew Meekens recently – great example of someone who was motivated by Christ, and passionate to do good Elder in the International Evangelical Church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Passenger on an Ethiopian Airlines jet on Nov 23, 1996 That jet was hijacked, eventually ran out of fuel, and crashed Survivors said that when the captain announced that they were going to make a crash landing . . . Meekens stood up, urged people to remain calm, and told them the good news of Jesus Christ, inviting them to respond One flight attendant who survived said that about 20 people received Christ, most of whom died along with Andrew Meekens Whether it’s passion for a moment, or passion for a lifetime . . . Jesus gave himself for you so that you could give yourself for him, zealous for good works If you’ve lost that passion to serve the Lord, to do the good you know you should, it’s time to repent, and get to work, trusting him for the strength If you’ve never had that passion/motivation to do good . . . If you’re one of the airplane passengers this morning Why don’t you give your life to Christ right now? Why don’t you turn to him for the forgiveness, freedom, cleansing, and security you desperately need Because contrary to the gifts you received this morning . . . Your life depends on receiving this one If you do, it’ll changes everything Pray/Invitation If you want the forgiveness, freedom, cleansing, security, passion that Jesus offers . . . Give you the opportunity to pray with me right now . . . Know I’m a sinner and need to be forgiven I believe in Jesus, and that he died in my place, for my sins Free me from the grip of sin, wash me white as snow Come into my life and embrace me as your own Fuel me with a passion to do your work If you prayed that prayer, I’m not going to ask you to come forward this morning But I do want to acknowledge you and pray for you Would you raise your hand and look at me, and wait for me to see you? Pray for them If you’d like to pray with someone, talk with someone – Staff and elders down front Give you a little Bible study to help get you started in your newfound life in Christ Some here, at the tables with the visitor bags, or the information table Close (Becky) Next week – back to 2 services in auditorium – 9 or 11 Merry Christmas