Your Story with the Savior

I hope you enjoyed that this morning.

You know, as we enjoy singing with that.

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And then rising again the third day.

And, you know, it's a story that's been told and retold down through the ages.

And as familiar as it is, and we know the facts, we enjoy the good feelings.

The memories that are entailed at Christmas.

I mean, we gather here, you could probably think back many times to all the different Christmas programs that you were a part of.

Or sang in or participated or sat through or, you know, and enjoyed.

And you hear the words and the terms that are there.

You know, when we sing, we use words at Christmas time that we have no idea what they mean.

Like Noel.

You know, you hear a lot of times people say, you know, sing Noel.

The first Noel.

You hear all these terms.

And, you know, we sang together, you know, sing We Know Well.

And you've heard it.

But how many have ever gave thought to it?

Have gave thought to what are you singing?

It's part.

It's familiar.

It's what we see many times at Christmas.

We begin to participate in those well-known things.

And we would almost think that, you know, singing Noel is just part of Christmas.

And it wouldn't be Christmas without it.

But, you know, I want to help you this morning.

You know, a little bit here.

The modern word Noel, we find, is just a shout of joy or refers to a Christmas song.

So, I mean, it's literally just saying you want to sing about Christ.

Sing about Christmas.

Sing about the things that he's done.

And it traces its back to a Latin word that means birth.

And since Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ, it naturally has come to refer to the celebration itself and what we enjoy.

And, you know, even this morning here, just a little bit ago, we used another term in, you know, Emmanuel.

You know, Emmanuel is another term of Christmas that, you know, we find it throughout the Bible.

It's an Old Testament term from Isaiah chapter 7 or Emmanuel in Matthew chapter 1 and verse 23.

Isaiah 7 · chapter mention Matthew 1 · chapter mention

And Matthew chapter 1 tells us what it is.

Matthew 1 · chapter mention

You know, Matthew chapter 21 and verse 23 tells us this.

Matthew 21 · chapter mention

Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us.

Very important things that we talk about at Christmas.

You know, we talk about those things and we just think through what it is.

But, you know, oftentimes the kids earlier had a story of the Savior.

You know, a story of the Savior, but really, we know the story of the Savior.

The question is, what's your story with the Savior?

Because everybody comes to a terms with the reality that your life intersects with the Savior.

Where you have to make a decision.

Is it just about something that we sing or something that we do?

Or is it something that impacts, something that has substance?

Is it just a cultural event or is it something that transforms lives?

What's involved in it?

Because as we think through the story of Jesus, we think about it's God with us.

You know, we have to ask ourselves a question this morning.

I think a very important question is that why would the God who created the world have a desire to be with us?

You know, that's something to consider and contemplate.

Why would God step out of His place in glory to come here for us?

Or why would He leave His place of honor and glory to be born as a man?

Why would He put on flesh and endure the things of this life?

All those things that He did, the kids talked earlier over there in John chapter 1 and verse 14.

John 1 · chapter mention

And to help you out this morning, each of you should have got a verse sheet.

That's the verses we're going to go down through.

That'll kind of help you to follow along and you can take that home with you.

I encourage you to read through them and think about them.

And contemplate, you know, how does this intersect with my story?

Because the story of the Savior intersects with us.

That's the reason He came.

He came not just for us to have a celebration or to feel good or just to be able to rejoice.

Jesus came and His story was purposeful to intersect with yours.

To have that point of intersection in your life to say,

this is what God has done for me.

You know, John 1 verse 14 there says,

John 1:14

The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

And we beheld His glory and the glory of the only begotten of the Father,

full of grace and truth.

You know, here we find the Savior this morning.

He speaks very specifically about the reality that Jesus Christ, He put on flesh.

And in doing so, He humbled Himself.

He gave up His place in glory for a time.

He put that away.

In Philippians, it refers to it this way.

In Philippians 2 verses 5-7 tells us,

Philippians 2:5–7

Let this mind be in you, which also in Christ Jesus,

who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,

but notice this, made Himself of no reputation,

took on Him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men.

You know, the story of Jesus is a story about one that had authority who came as a servant,

that His story might connect with yours.

He understood what it was, and a servant that would accomplish a task.

You know, the one thing about a servant,

servants are sent forth to accomplish something,

to perform something,

to do something of substance.

And we find here that this is the case,

because Jesus came specifically in the form of a servant to accomplish a specific task.

He came with purpose.

Because I want you to understand this morning,

oftentimes at Christmas, we think of Jesus,

we think of the babe in the manger,

and we have all sorts of warm thoughts of family and the dynamics with it.

And sometimes we'll think of Jesus,

He came as an example of a good person for us to follow,

or instructor in righteousness,

or, you know, that He was a good teacher.

But I want you to understand,

those things may be true,

but it wasn't His purpose.

Because a purpose entails more around it than just the item itself.

And this purpose that Jesus came,

was that He might have a connection with you.

Because He loved you.

And I want you to understand this morning,

as we think about this story of the Savior,

and how that story connects with you,

because this purpose was very clear.

You know, Philippians chapter 2 and verse 8 tell us this,

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

it says,

Being found in fashion as a man,

He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

You know, I want you to see here this morning,

the story of Jesus,

as we saw with the kids.

It's a great reality that it began clear back

in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve,

and with Abraham.

But I want you to understand,

it wasn't just there with Moses and the law.

The story of Jesus began even before those things.

The Bible makes it clear that God set forth a plan for us,

and we understand it was set forth before.

It's a story set from the foundation of the world.

A plan that would provide all that was needed

for a sinner to be rescued,

a sinner to be secured forever.

You know, there in John 1 verse 17,

John 1:17

the Bible says this,

For the law was given by Moses,

but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

You know, we read over that verse many times,

but I want you to stop and consider for a moment.

Moses was given the law,

but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Jesus preceded Moses.

He preceded Abraham.

He preceded at the very foundation of the world.

He is God himself.

In other words, when it came from him,

it came from what was before even the law.

To understand that God had a plan.

The story of Jesus didn't begin in a manger in Bethlehem,

and it didn't end when he died and rose again.

I want you to understand,

the story of Jesus continues.

The story of Jesus continues,

and that story intersects with you

right even here this morning,

because he was a Savior that came to redeem you

so that he might be forgiven and live.

You know, I want you to understand,

the story of the Savior

isn't something we just celebrate.

It's something that we have to have a connection with.

That connection must be real.

It has to have some substance behind it,

and we find here that the story of the Savior

is just that.

It's revealed to us.

You know, 1 John chapter 4 and verse 9,

1 John 4 · chapter mention

the scripture reminds us of this.

It says,

In this was manifest the love of God towards us.

I want you to see,

why did Jesus come?

Because he loves you.

I'm not talking that mushy love

that the world talks about.

It isn't just a feeling he had.

It was a sincere connection

that he wanted to have with you.

When the Bible says he loved you,

he says he's willing to give.

I want you to understand,

love isn't a feeling.

A love involves

not just how you feel about something,

but what you do about it.

It involves something to invest.

Because when you love,

you invest,

you care for,

you're looking out for the best need of another.

But see,

notice what it says here,

because God sent

his only begotten son into the world

that we might live through him.

How is his love manifest?

Because he sent his son as a savior,

as a,

in the form of a servant.

He didn't come demanding,

he came giving.

He came to give unto us eternal life.

Now notice in verse 10 here,

this is important to understand,

herein is love.

Not that we loved God,

but what?

That he loved us

and sent his son

to be the propitiation for our sins.

Say, preacher,

that's another one of those words.

You know,

propitiation is another important word

that you can read over

and sometimes it doesn't even connect.

The importance of what's being said.

Because propitiation,

you know,

that's one of them,

that's a big theological term,

preacher,

but I want you to,

let me boil it down for you.

It simply means this,

the act of appeasing wrath

are conciliating the favor

of the offended person.

In other words,

I want you to understand,

as we're going to look here

in just a moment,

that there was something

that Jesus came to do.

He loved us enough

that he came on purpose

as a servant

to give unto us

eternal life.

Why did he have to do that?

Because of sin.

You cannot separate sin

from the story of the Savior.

He loved us enough to say,

you are a sinner.

You have separated yourself.

There's something

that must be taken care of

because I want you to understand

that God hates sin.

Sin separates us.

Sin is that rejection

and violation

of God's authority.

I want you to understand

the Bible makes it clear,

very clear.

Romans chapter 1

Romans 1 · chapter mention

and verse 18

tells us this,

for the wrath of God

is revealed from heaven

against all ungodliness

and unrighteousness

of men who hold the truth

in unrighteousness.

Now I want us to talk

just a moment there

because I think this is important

to understand

because we all have

an innate nature

to understand

and desire justice.

When something's been violated,

we want justice.

It's an innate thing with us

that as a human being

it's part of the image

that we have of God

when God created us,

that we have a sense

that we want things

to be made right.

When somebody offends us,

we need something

to reconcile that,

to take care of that.

It's innate within us.

It's something that God

put there

that we might understand

our need

because that innate nature

of needing

to reconciliation,

of dealing with offense

because we've all offended God.

But the reality is this,

I want you to keep in mind,

you may have offended them,

but you know what?

Love said,

I'm still going to provide.

That's real love

when somebody offends you

and you say,

I'm still willing to give

what's needed to reconcile.

That's genuine,

true love

that God has for you.

I want you to understand

that God's wrath

is revealed

not because he's hateful,

because he's just.

Violation and offense

have to be dealt with.

You know,

none of us look at it

and say,

well,

there's a big offense

against me.

Well,

I'll just brush it off

and we can still be friends.

I don't know of anybody

that just brushes it off.

If we're going to be able

to be reconciled together,

there has to be something

that deals with

the offense.

Takes care of that offense.

I want you to understand

it's natural

and to understand

the wrath of God.

We all understand

that one day

we're going to stand

accountable before God.

Your conscience speaks to you

of the reality

of accountability.

that conscious

reality

of justice.

Verse 19 says,

because that which may be

known of God

is manifest in them,

for God has showed

it unto them.

You know,

the reality is

we're all sinners

that need a Savior.

But the problem is

is oftentimes

we look past

how Jesus' story

connects with ours.

To understand

that connection,

we fail to see

our story

connecting directly

to the story

of the Savior.

You know,

we come and we hear

things at Christmas

and oftentimes

we love the feeling

and the enjoyment

of it.

We love the family,

but we miss

what the story is.

The theme of the story

is that a Savior

came

for you

and for me.

Jesus didn't come

so there'd be

a good story

to write.

He came

that it might

connect with you.

Because there needs

to be a point

in time

where it intersects

with your life.

You have to make

a decision.

what are you going

to do

with Jesus?

We're all sinners

that need a Savior,

yet when we fail

to see our story

connecting directly,

we reject the truth

that is before us.

And you know

what we do

when we reject

the truth

of the story

of the Savior?

We want to make up

how we want to do it.

Because we think

salvation oftentimes

is accomplished

by information.

You know,

this morning

there's many people

who believe in God.

But I want you

to understand,

Jesus didn't come

that you might

just believe

that there's a God.

He didn't come

that you just

might know

who He is.

Many people

believe that,

you know,

I believe in God.

You know,

that's basically

it's called this.

It's called theism.

There's a lot

of theistic people.

They like the idea

of God.

They recognize God,

but it's all

the farther it goes.

They like the fact

that God holds

somebody else accountable.

Have you ever noticed

that people like

that God might hold

somebody else accountable,

but we never equate

it to us?

When you stop

and consider

the reality

of what's happening,

you know,

I want you to know

that Bible tells us

this in James.

It says,

thou believest

that there is one God,

thou doest well.

And then he goes on,

the devils also

believe and tremble.

I want you to understand,

just believing

that there's a God

is not enough

to save you.

it's a good start

because God sent forth

his son to die

upon the cross

in the form of a servant

with a purpose.

A purpose that we might know

our need

and what he's done for us.

You know,

sometimes we replace it

because we believe a lie.

You know,

oftentimes one of the greatest

lies I find people have

is my goodness

will outweigh

my badness.

They might,

they express it

many different ways.

You know,

one of the favorite one is,

is I'm not as bad as.

I'm not as bad as such and such

so therefore I must not

be that bad of a person.

The problem is

that's not the standard.

That's not the measurement.

You know,

I've built a lot of things.

You know,

if you get the wrong measurement,

things don't fit together.

If you don't have

the proper measuring tool,

things don't get assembled right.

The problem is,

is that when we think

we're good enough,

we're not using

the right measurement

to get to the conclusion

that we need to be

to build upon the right things.

When we understand

the reality of what it is,

because I want you

to understand

that salvation,

oftentimes when they think

I'm good,

you know what it is?

I can do enough good things

to purchase it.

But I want you to understand

what Jesus Christ offers

is not a commodity

to be purchased or merited.

Matter of fact,

it's an insult to him

when somebody thinks

they can purchase salvation.

You say,

preacher,

why is it an insult?

Think about this for a moment.

It's Christmas time

and you go to give a gift

to somebody

and they say,

let me buy that from you.

What would be your response?

Would that not be insulting?

To say,

I've worked,

I've labored,

I've provided.

I want to give this to you

and the person goes,

well, let me buy that from you.

I think I can get enough together.

The problem is,

no matter what we do,

we could never gather enough anyways.

But we try to make it

of how we can acquire it

because I want you to stand.

He's already acquired it for you.

He purchased it with His own blood,

His life for yours.

Jesus Christ is not a means to an end,

but He is the means and the end.

We must realize

our part of the story.

We know what Christ has done,

but our part is simply this.

Romans 3.23 tells us,

for all have sinned

and comes short of the glory of God.

You know,

all of us miss the mark,

come short of what is required

to redeem ourselves.

This is why Jesus' story

is before us today.

It's why He came.

It's a story

where His story connects with yours.

Because He came,

as a propitiation,

He came to put that wrath,

that atoning dynamic

that could reconcile us to God.

He came and provided a means

that we could not.

And that connects with you

because it wasn't for generic sin

that He died.

He died for your sin

and my sin.

His story connects with you

where you are.

Because all of us miss the mark

and come short of what's required.

You know, Romans 6 tells us this,

for the wages of sin is death.

But the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ,

our Lord.

I want you to understand this morning,

the wages are results of sin

as death.

That's everlasting separation from God.

An eternal death,

yet Christ,

you can receive the gift

of eternal life,

real life.

You know,

sometimes we think life

is all about just what we have here.

But you know what?

The Bible makes it clear

that the first day in heaven

is going to exceed

the best day here.

It's going to exceed

all those things.

Why did He do that?

It's His love for you

that He died for you

that you might enjoy

new life in Him.

Ephesians 2 tells us this,

that in the ages to come

He might show

the exceeding riches

of His grace

and His kindness toward us

through Christ Jesus.

But He makes it very clear.

Titus chapter 3

Titus 3 · chapter mention

tells us,

not by works of righteousness

which we have done

but according to His mercy

He saved us

by the washing of regeneration

and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

We're washed

by the shed blood

of Jesus Christ

and we are renewed

in the Holy Ghost.

We're made a new creature

in Christ

which He shed on us

abundantly

through Jesus Christ

our Savior.

Notice this,

being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

You know, Jesus's story connects with our story because this life is brought about by faith in

Christ. Not just that there is a Christ, but recognizing what Christ did for you

and why he did it. It's not by rites or rituals. You know, sometimes people get caught up, you know,

if I take this or do that, or I take a class or I get a certificate, or somebody tells me I'm okay,

or if I, you know, just say the right words and, you know, go through all the right actions, I'll be

okay. But I want you to understand all those things don't connect your story with Christ's story.

Some of those things may be peripheral things that may happen, but it's not the connecting point.

To understand connection comes when we have faith in what Christ has done for us. The Bible says,

for without faith, it is impossible to please him. This is where your story intersects with the

story of the Savior because it's at this intersection that you have to make a choice.

Because you either call upon him as the one recognizing that he paid the price for your sin,

or you'll leave and continue on your way rejecting what Christ did for you. Many times your life may

intersect with the story of the Savior, but you have to make a choice. Is that story going to continue

with the Savior, or is it going to continue my own way? What are you going to do at that point of

where they come together? You know, Romans chapter 10 tells us this, it says,

Romans 10 · chapter mention

I want you to understand what's involved here. Because the heart, that's the mind and the feelings and

understanding what's going on inside. You need to recognize that you're a sinner that needs a Savior.

But you have to have a connection with that. That connection is to say, Christ, I know that you're

my Savior. You're the one that died for me in my place. You're the one that went to the grave.

You're the one that paid my penalty, my wages of sin, that death. And he says, you're passed from death

unto life. When we confess, that confession is very clear. It says, with the mouth, confession is made

unto life. What's it about confessing? I want you to understand, it's not just about coming and crying

or having emotion. Confessing Christ is to verbalize the reality to say, I can declare for sure I know

who he is. I know how his story has connected with mine, and I know what I need to do.

Confession is a recognition of who Christ is. Not just applauding him for what he's done, but saying,

I know that you did it for me. That he is the one that died for your sin and rose in victory on the

third day. You know, when he rose, it's a promise that this promise of eternal life is true. He says

that I can overcome death. It's at that point when you'll have peace with God and no longer under the

wrath of God. You know, this morning, your story and the story of the Savior have come together.

The reality is, what are you going to do with it? What are you going to do? You know, this morning,

when you came here, you came through many intersections. Each of those, you made a decision

of what you were going to do. Do I make a decision to turn right or left or go straight or kitty

corner or some of the weird ones here? But I want you to understand, this morning, you're at an

intersection with the Savior. And the only choice, you have two, because it's a yes or no.

There's no in between. The question is, what's that decision going to be? What's that decision

going to be? Will this morning just be another Christmas to come and to sit and to hear,

to sing about a Savior? Or will it be the one that celebrates knowing why He came for you?

You know, there's no better day than you're at the intersection to make the decision. This morning,

you have a decision to make. I want to ask you for a moment to just, I want you to close your eyes and

just think and consider to yourself for a moment with nobody looking around, because it's really an

important connection, because it's not with what Christ is doing with your person sitting next to

you. It's what has He done for you? What has Christ done for you today? Can you look back and know for

sure that when you came with that intersection of where Christ is with your life, what was your answer?

Did you recognize and call upon Him as Savior, or did you reject and turn away? This morning, if you

don't know Christ as your Savior, if there's not been a time and a moment when you said,

I know that He's my Savior, and why He's my Savior, and why I need Him. Don't leave here today with a no.

I want to encourage you to leave here to say yes at this point where the Savior's story intersects with

yours. Maybe you're here today and you say, preacher, I know this is where I'm at. I know this is a

connection point with the Savior here today. I'd just like to pray for you. If that's you, just slip

your hand up quick. I'm not going to call you by name. I'm not going to... I just want to be able to

pray for you. Do you know for sure that Christ is your Savior? If not, what are you going to do with Him today?

I'm going to call you by name.