I’m Dreaming of a Right Christmas
By pastor Kelly Sensenig
Adam, a bright-eyed 3-year-old, had been told of his German heritage. He was raised to be proud of his German heritage. After church in early December, the pastor asked him if he had a part in the Sunday School Christmas pageant. "Yes," he replied, his eyes filling with joy. "I am going to be a German shepherd!"
Down through the years one of the most popular Christmas songs has been “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.” However, instead of dreaming about a white Christmas, we should be dreaming about a right Christmas! We need to put Christ back into Christmas. We need to get back to what Christmas is all about!
The secular world has taken Christ out of Christmas. There are many things that that the people associate with the Christmas season. For the secular world Christmas is all about Santa, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snow Man. There are many distractions that can crowd Jesus out of Christmas. For many Christmas means celebration, parties, fun, and entrainment. It’s also a time when families get together. May I ask you a question? Do all these things really make a right Christmas?
The Bible tells us what a right Christmas is when we read it and discover that Christmas is about the coming of Jesus Christ into the world to become our Savior from hell. In the midst of all the holiday plans and events and holiday rush there is the desperate need to put Christ back into Christmas and have a right Christmas. After all, the name Christ is in the word Christmas. Or do we want to write x-mass as some many are doing today!
You would think that modern America has forgotten about Christ and why He was born into this world. Many today do not want to recognize Christ. That’s why the liberals are bent on trying to tear down the manger scenes across our land and doing away with the Christmas story. I’m going to stick with Christ. And for a few minutes today I want to recreate a Right Christmas!
Alexander Smith said:
“Christmas is the day that holds all time together.”
Luke 2:8-11 says:
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
Dear friend, don’t pass over the real and right Christmas story today. If you want a right Christmas you must put Christ back in Christmas. The Bible says that the baby came into this world and was “a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
This is the real Christmas story! The order of these words (“a savior, which is Christ the Lord”) is very significant. The word Savior must be linked to the rest of these names and titles – “Christ the Lord.” If Jesus was not the Christ, If Jesus was not the Lord, He could not be our Savior. But since Jesus Christ was the Christ and the Lord He can be our Savior from everlasting hell and damnation. What a Savor He is! What a Real Christmas we can have in the midst of a world that is trying to crowd out the Christ, the Lord, and the Savior that was born in Bethlehem. He who was born in Bethlehem and is called “a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord”
There are two reasons why Jesus can be our Savior.
A. Because He is the Christ (sent One).
He is Christ! This is the Real Christmas! The fact that Jesus is the Savior is linked to the term Christ. The word “Christ” (“sent one”) points to His saving purpose for coming into the world. Jesus is Savior because He is first of all presented as the Christ, or the Messiah, the coming One revealed in the Old Testament Scriptures. The Old Testament repeatedly spoke about the coming of Christ. It foreshadowed the advent of Christ into this world. The truth is this. We could never have a Savior if Jesus was not sent into this world to be our Deliverer or salvation from hell and eternal judgment.
Matthew 1:21
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
The Messiah of Deliverer was promised to come and this was revealed in the prophecies of the Old Testament.
Isaiah 9:6
“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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
During the long war years a boy looked frequently at a picture of his daddy on the table. He had left when the boy was a young infant. After several years the boy had forgotten him as a person but he would often look at the picture and say, "If only my daddy could step out of that picture and be real...." Christmas means that in a sad day of sin, when man had almost forgotten God, Jesus Christ stepped into the world in the form of Son and became a real living person who would one day die upon the cross paying the penalty for our sins.
When Jesus was sent into this world He was destined to become the Savior who would one day die upon the cross. So the term “Christ” is linked to Him being the “saviour” (Luke 2:11 - “a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord”) and speaks of Christ’s saving purpose for coming into the world. He the Messiah, the Christ, the One who was sent into the world to become the Savior of lost souls who were on their way to hell.
Galatians 4:4
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son (that’s Christmas), made of a woman (that’s the virgin birth), made under the law (His Jewish heritage).”
Jesus was born at a specific time, so He could in a specific way become the sacrificial Lamb on the cross of Calvary, and die in our place, bearing the penalty of our sins. This is why Jesus was called the Savior when He arrived on this earthly scene. When Jesus came into the world, He was sent by God the Father to become the Savior, by dying upon the cross and bearing the penalty for your sins and mine.
1 Peter 2:24 records:
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
“Hear the story from God’s Word
That kings and priests and prophets heard.
There would be a sacrifice
And blood would flow to pay sin’s price.
Precious lamb of glory.
Love’s most wondrous story.
Hear of God’s redemption of man
Worship the lamb of glory.”
The term Christ then speaks of Jesus being sent into this world in order to be our Savior. Jesus is the Savior because He first of all is the Christ! He is sent by God to die the sinner’s death on the cross. That little baby lying in a manger was the Savior because of what He came to do for you and me. He came to die in our place bearing all of our sins and all of our judgment upon the cross. The shadow of the cross loomed over the manger for this is the purpose and reason why Jesus came into the world. Second Corinthians 9:15 says: “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”
In Luke 4:18, Jesus describes His earthy ministry as the Christ (Messiah):
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”
There were revolutionary implications connected with the Messiah’s mission. He came to deal with the enormous problems that have afflicted mankind throughout history.
1. Jesus was sent as the Messiah (Christ) to preach the gospel to the poor.
This is the real Christmas story! Jesus came to save people who were poor. Jesus offers something to poor people that they don’t have to buy! It’s the free gift of salvation. Those who seem to have nothing from the standpoint of the world can have everything if they will receive the offer of His salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:10 proclaims:
“As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”
This is the story of what Jesus Christ was sent to do as the Messiah. You may not have much in this world’s goods but you can have everything from a spiritual standpoint by receiving the free gift of salvation that Christ offers! We are rich in Christ! We can be rich from a spiritual standpoint knowing that Christ has saved us from hell for all eternity. Of course, you may not be very poor from a monetary standpoint but you may be very poor from a spiritual standpoint. I will tell you what you are today if you are not saved. You are nothing but a poor lost sinner on your way to hell. You have no hope without the salvation of the Savior! I pity you today if you are a poor lost sinner. And Jesus Christ pities you today and wants to save you.
2. Jesus was sent as the Messiah (Christ) to heal the brokenhearted.
This is the real Christmas story! We live in world where the hearts of people are broken. They are full of deep scars from family splits, drugs, empty dreams, and the “happy hour” type of lifestyle. People have nothing to live for and no hope for the future. Many view themselves as worthless pieces of rubbish. They seem to be living it up on the outside but on the inside they are so very empty. There are millions of people like this in our world today. They are broken down on the inside of their heart. They are living with tremendous burdens and they seem to have no way out. My friend, may I say today that Jesus came into this world to heal your broken heart which has been caused by sin and wayward living.
Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Only Jesus Christ can heal a broken heart that is tired of the sinful lifestyle and the indulgence of the world’s storehouse. In fact, Jesus will give you a new heart that no longer craves the old life. He will heal up your wounds and give you a new kind of life.
3. Jesus was sent as the Messiah (Christ) to preach deliverance to the captives.
The text also says “to set at liberty them that are bruised” (bruised by sin or crushed under the weight of sin’s load). This is the real Christmas story! Jesus was speaking about those who are held captive in their sinful lifestyles and who are crushed by the tremendous load of sin without the possibility of escape. This is because they are under the bondage of sin.
Ephesians 2:1-2 gives the sad story:
“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”
In our unsaved state we are pictured as being under the domain and power of sin because we have not embraced the only Person who can free us from our sins! What a wondrous story. The baby was born in Bethlehem and sent into this world to ultimately become the Savior or Deliverer for those who are under the weight and bondage of their sins.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Jesus promised that those who are “heavy laden” could find rest for their souls. People today live as they please and become bound to sin (2 Pet. 2:19). They do what we want to do never thinking about what Christ really wants for their lives. Jesus Christ wants to free people from the power of their sins! Many find themselves under the power of sinful tendencies in life which they cannot break and for which they see no escape.
The old classic “Pilgrim’s Progress” reminds us how Christ came to take the load of sin off of our shoulders and free us from both sin’s penalty (hell) and also sin’s power (bondage).
“Now I saw in my Dream, that the highway up which Christian was to go, was fenced on either side with a Wall, and that Wall is called Salvation. Up this way therefore did burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back.
“He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending, and upon that place stood a Cross, and a little below in the bottom, a Sepulchre. So I saw in my Dream, that just as Christian came up with the Cross, his Burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do, till it came to the mouth of the Sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.
“Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death. Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the Cross should thus ease him of his Burden. He looked therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down his cheeks.”
The section concludes in this way:
“Thus far did I come laden with my sin;
Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in
Till I came hither: What a place is this!
Must here be the beginning of my bliss?
Must here the Burden fall from off my back?
Must here the strings that bound it to me crack?
Blest Cross! blest Sepulchre! blest rather be
The Man that there was put to shame for me.”
Some of you have not been released from your sinful burden simply because you love your sin too much. I may be the first person to ever tell you this but it’s true.
Jesus said the same thing in John 3:19:
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
Many people don’t want to repent (break with their sins) and be freed from the bondage of their sinful lifestyles. In fact, many today want to keep that little sinful fling going on in their lives, whatever it might be, and this is why they don’t become a Christian. They have a love life with their sins and can’t bear to repent of their sins and see them for what they really are. Why aren’t you saved? It’s because you love the darkness of your own sin and are not willing to repent of your sin before God.
Jesus said in Luke 13:3
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
That is cut and dry and to the point. In short, Jesus says that you will go to hell if you don’t repent of your sin. To repent of sin means to have a change of mind and new attitude about your sin. You must see you sin as something which is despicable in God’s eyes and something that cannot be accepted in the sight of a holy God You must see your sin as condemning you to an eternal hell fire forever without God. You must see your sin as utterly wicked and vile in God’s sight and be willing to turn to God away from your sin (1 Thess. 1:9). Only repentance will bring you to the place where you are ready to trust in Christ. People who are in open rebellion against God are not ready to be saved. They must change their mind about the wretchedness of their own sins and only then will they be ready to place their faith in Jesus Christ to be their Savior.
4. Jesus was sent as the Messiah (Christ) to recover the sight of the blind.
This is the real Christmas story! Of course, Jesus healed people of their physical blindness but a greater and more serious malady has to do with spiritual blindness. Why are great multitudes of people going to hell? It’s because the lost human race has been blinded by the devil.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
The vast majority of people today are blind spiritually. However, Jesus came to open spiritual eyes from their blindness, to reveal that people are sinners, that they are lost, and that they need a Savior. Jesus wants to open your eyes. He wants to rub His spiritual eye-salve on your eyes so you will see how sinful you are and how great a Savior He is!!
Luke 2:11
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
B. Because He is the Lord (God Himself).
The second reason why Jesus can be our Savior is because He is Lord! This means that when Jesus was born, He was born as a Savior because He was God Himself. The term “Lord” speaks of the sovereign and omnipotent God of the universe. It’s a term for deity. It was an expression used for deities. When Jesus was born in this world He was the true God. He was deity – God of very God! If you don’t believe that He was God then you will die in your sins and go to hell. Do you know why? It’s because only God can save you!
John 8:24
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
The baby that was born in Bethlehem is the Lord because of who He was! He was God Almighty.
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Matthew 1:23
“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.”
O come, O come, Emmanuel! We sing this at the Christmas season but very few understand that the baby born in Bethlehem was God incarnate. He was God of very God in human form.
John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:14
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
My friend, the baby was the Lord. He was God Himself who came down the staircase of Heaven and entered this world in human form. John 1:1 literally says, “And God was the Word.” Jesus was the Word or the living revelation of God’s being and existence. He was “made flesh” (the incarnation) to bring out in to the light God’s own existence and character in this world (John 1:18 – “he hath declared him”).
Hebrews 1:3 says this of Christ:
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image (exact representation) of his person.”
Malcolm Muggeridge once said:
“What a terrific moment in history that was ... when men first saw their God in the likeness of the weakest, mildest and most defenseless of all living creatures!”
Luke 2:11 again says:
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
Acts 2:36 sums up what Luke 2:11 says about the birth of Christ.
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Now what are you going to do with Jesus Christ the Lord? You know who He is and what He came to do? Will you repent of your sins and trust only in Christ to save your soul for time and eternity? There is only one way to be saved from hell and it is to personally respond in repentance and faith to the Savior who has come into this world.
I received an email on my computer at the Christmas season from some book company that was selling books about Christ. The email read – last chance for Christ! For some of you, this may be your last chance, your last Christmas, your last opportunity to be saved. Tomorrow may not come for you.
Proverbs 27:1 says:
“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
Let us not forget about the brevity of life. All of your boasting, plans, and dreams about tomorrow may never come. We may take our last breath today. Are you ready to die? If you die without the forgiveness that is found through faith in Jesus Christ, then you will be judged for your sins in the next life.
Hebrews 9:27
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
Judgment will follow if your die without Jesus Christ as your Savior. But here is the wonderful story. Here is the real Christmas.
Romans 6:23 declares:
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Salvation is a free gift to receive. It’s yours for the taking. However, this deliverance from hell and eternal judgment can be given to you only when you make a personal decision to trust in Jesus Christ to be your Savior. You must take a step of faith and personally rely on Jesus Christ to be your Savior.
Acts 16:31
“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
You must believe that Jesus Christ died upon the cross to save you from your sinful state and eternal judgment in hell. You must believe He rose from the dead in order to give you eternal life with God forever in Heaven. Belief or faith in the Lord Jesus Christ means I am willing to commit my faith only to Him to save me. It involves a personal decision, at a specific time in life, where I put my full trust in Christ to be my Savior. You must make the decision to transfer all of your trust to Jesus Christ so He can grant you the gift of eternal life.
If you want a real Christmas gift and a real Christmas present, then repent of your sins before God, believe in Jesus Christ, and allow Him to be your Savior. Are you ready to die? Do you know Christ as your personal Savior? If not, this Christmas season is the time to personally respond to Christ in repentance and faith and receive His gift of eternal life (“the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” – Rom. 6:23).
Luke 2:11
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
The coming of Christ by way of a Bethlehem manger seems strange and stunning. But when we take him out of the manger and believe on Him to be our Savior, then the meaning unfolds and the strangeness vanishes. It’s then that Christ Himself comes to live within us.
A photograph of two sculptors decorating a new post office in a suburb of Cologne, West Germany, appeared in the daily newspaper. Two giant hands, each two meters long, seem to be grasping for each other but in vain. One hand, the higher hand, is seen going right out of the side of the building toward the second hand rising from the ground. We do not know the meaning of the mysterious sculptures, but to us they represent the hand of man stretched out for help and the hand of almighty God, stretched out to deliver man from the pit into which he has fallen.
Psalm 40:2
“He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”
This is essentially the real Christmas story. It involved God reaching down to earth so that man might be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18-20). The babe in the manger was the Savior, who would one day die upon the cross, rise again from the dead, and become the personal Savior of those who place their faith in Him.
John 1:12
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Jesus was born do die upon Calvary’s cross so He might be our Savior from hell. This is the real and only right Christmas story. Many today are dreaming about a white Christmas but they must remember and embrace the true message of the right Christmas! We must make sure that we are reflecting upon the right Christmas, by keeping Christ at the center of it, and embracing Him as our Savior today!