The Advent of Christmas

Scriptures: Luke 2:1-7 “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

In the beginning of this month, Pastor John sent me a message kindly asking me if could preach this week instead of my usual schedule, which he rarely doing that to us pastors.  I said yes, as I understood that next week will be Christmas celebration and he probably want the preaching to be short and with a touch of “Christmas spirit” but then when he gave me a topic to preach about the Advent of Christmas, I said to myself oh it still about Christmas and the topic is long and it will covered Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. It is because, I believed the advent of Christmas is not just about simply talking about the Nativity and its history but rather it is all about Jesus Christ and HIS story, because there will be no Christmas apart from Christ. Therefore, may I kindly remind everyone when you send and write your Christmas greeting to your loved ones and friends don’t write “ Xmas”. 

Advent comes the Latin word “adventus”means “ Coming”  and signifies the start of an event or the arrival of a person. The period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ.

Let me divide this topic the Advent of Christmas into five important points: Prophecy, Purpose, Plan and Promise.  

1. PROPHECY– It was long been foretold by God himself even from the very beginning, with  the first couple in the Bible in Genesis with  Adam and Eve after the Fall of Men “  in Genesis 3:15 “ And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.” And this Seed, was confirmed in Galatians 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, “and to seeds,” as though many; but as though one: “and to thy Seed,” who is Christ.

“ 6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 ) 

Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14) This immaculate conception of Christ happened indeed and we can read it confirmation in Luke 1: 26-36 “God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Micah 5: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”

6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

• PURPOSE- for the redemption of mankind (Salvation) and forgiveness of sins. To reconcile man to God (Romans 5:10) 

Galatians 4:4–5 ”But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 

Matthew 1:21 “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.  

Jesus himself testify and said the purpose of His coming to this world, For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. 

And what is the Truth?  The purpose of His first coming to earth is not to establish a government, or a political group, or an army, but to established God’s kingdom in our hearts by believing to the One whom God sent,(John 6:29)  Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life that No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6). To call sinners to repentance ( Luke 5:32) 

• PLANS – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ; The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:1,14)  as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)

And being found in appearance as man, he humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)

A King born not in the palace not even in a simple room because of unavailability,  but in a manger! 

God’s plan of salvation involves a perfect and unblemished sacrifice, the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29) He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, (1 John 2:2) Because according to the law, for without the shedding of the blood, there will be no remissions for our sins (Hebrews 9:22) 

Therefore Christmas is not just a cozy time of the year when we reminisce about the story of Jesus coming into the world, but it is a story that must powerfully impact our daily life. Because the Savior is born! 

• PROMISE – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) 

• A promise life –  I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly 

(John 10:10)

• A promise of hope – “we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.”
• A promise of Peace– “ Peace and goodwill to men” (Luke 2:14) 
• A promise of Joy –  Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, (Luke 2:10)  “in your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11)  
• A promise of Love– “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4: 9-10) 

In this season of Christmas, let us remember Jesus is coming back again and searching for a place to stay, just as the angel heralded thousands of years ago to be born in a manger. This time, a voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD (Isaiah 40:3, Mark 1:3) make a room in us and let Him be born in our hearts. 

Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.