As we enjoy the sweet story of baby Jesus in the manger and gather with family and friends for Christmas fellowship, let us not forget to humble ourselves in awe before that same Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is seated in glory at the right hand of the Father.
Jesus Christ, whose Virgin Birth was unequaled in human history, who lived a perfect life, sacrificed Himself as our substitute, and triumphed over death, reigns over the Universe as Lord of lords and King of kings.
We should celebrate Him with both joy and sober-minded obedience…at Christmastime and every day.
The Birth of Jesus
Many proclaiming Christians have difficulty comprehending the Virgin Birth of Jesus and often gloss over it when explaining the Christmas story to others. However, if the Virgin Birth of Jesus did not happen, the foundation of Christianity collapses like a house of cards!
Why?
Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, stepped out of eternity as the Christ child to save us. God the Son being made flesh was absolutely necessary for our salvation.
Pastor Adrian Rogers explained:
God gave Adam and Eve dominion in the Garden of Eden. They sinned and they lost that dominion. They turned it over to Satan. Rather than being servants of God, they became slaves of Satan. And they infected the entire human race with sin. Our dominion was lost by a man. The only way it can ever be returned to us is by a man, another man, and that other man is the Lord Jesus. All of us today are represented by one of two men, either Adam or Jesus. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). Jesus Christ, the last Adam, came, born of a virgin, to undo what the first Adam did. Apart from the Virgin Birth, there is no hope of salvation.
Jesus’ life was unblemished. This is something Simeon recognized as fact just a few weeks after Jesus’ birth. It made all the difference to Simeon as he celebrated the first coming of the Messiah and it makes all the difference in the future as we anticipate the Second Coming.
Scripture tells us Simeon greatly anticipated the first coming of Christ. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, Simeon’s wait was over; he knew the promise had been fulfilled, not only for Israel but for all people and all time.
Luke 2:25
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
This was Simeon’s reaction:
Luke 2:28-32
He took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”
Adrian Rogers dissects what Simeon said about the baby Jesus when he held him in his arms and emphasizes the importance of our anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ. Read the article, “The Life of Jesus Was Perfect and Unblemished.”
The Deity of Jesus
Do you believe the Babe of Bethlehem is the God of Genesis One?
Many who look at the life of Jesus believe He was merely a great man or a moral teacher.
Pastor Rogers expounded:
Now others say, “He’s a prophet; a messenger of God.” The Koran of Islam says that about the Lord Jesus Christ. Others say, “He’s a mystic medium.” They believe Jesus is a channel to know God, a crystal Christ, who is but a demon imitating the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me tell you without any stutter, stammer, apology, or quibble: Jesus is God in human flesh.
Jesus Christ is called “Lord” 747 times in the New Testament alone! The question is not if He is Lord…it is if you will submit to His lordship.
Adrian Rogers asked these penetrating questions:
Let’s be more specific. Is He Lord of your tongue? Is He Lord of your time? Is He Lord of your treasure? Is He Lord of your talents? Is He Lord of your testimony? Is He truly Lord? Is He Lord in deed as well as word? It’s one thing to sing “Bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all.” It’s another thing to mean it.
We must submit to the Lord Jesus Christ for three reasons, Pastor Roger said:
The confession of His lordship secures our salvation. Salvation is our greatest need, and God sent Jesus Christ to give it to us. But we cannot receive the salvation Jesus gives while refusing who He is. We must put away our pride and bow our hearts before Jesus.
The confession of His lordship simplifies our service. When we make Jesus Lord of our lives, it is the last independent decision we ever make. From then on, He is the only one our hearts should ever serve.
Adrian Rogers said,
My life is to please Jesus. If I please Jesus, it doesn’t matter whom I displease. If I displease Jesus, it really doesn’t matter whom I please. And the way to please Jesus is to obey the Lord Jesus Christ.” Whatever He tells you to do, do it.
The confession of His lordship subdues Satan. When we know who Jesus is and submit to Him, we have nothing to be afraid of. No attack from the devil is a match for Jesus’ power. And when we submit to Jesus, that same power lives in us.
Adrian Rogers said,
When you bring your life in alliance with His divine will, and (say) “I will follow Him, any time, any place, anywhere, any cost,” then friend, you’re going to find out that Satan will cower before you—he trembles!
For more about why we should submit to Jesus’ lordship and what happens when we do, read the article, “Baby Jesus is Lord.”
This Christmas Celebrate the Whole Story
Let’s look beyond our conception of a snow-dusted animal stall housing a sweet newborn and seek to more fully understand the baby Jesus as the Son of God and God the Son. Let’s ponder with humility that He came sacrifice Himself to save us in our sin when we had no hope of redemption. And let’s remember what we owe to Him: our full devotion and uncompromising allegiance as Lord over our time, our talents, our treasures, our testimony, and our entire lives in word and deed.
