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Speaking the Truth in Love
Galatians 2:11-3:2

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Right Hand of Fellowship
Galatians 2:1-10

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The Gospel as God Gave It!
Galatians 1

Learning From the Songs of Christmas
Away in a Manger
Luke 2:1-21

Jesus’ birth was not a series of unfortunate events – it was not a LaGrande time, but instead, it was a series of unforeseen events. Jesus came on his own terms, in the right fashion, with a timeless message. The Jewish nation expected the arrival of a Conquering King, but He came as a Suffering Servant. People expected Him to testify of himself, but angels and shepherds testified to Him. Israel expected freedom from Rome, but not forgiveness of sins. They wanted prosperity, and not peace and pardon.

What kind of a Savior was He? What kind of gift did He offer? Who are the beneficiaries?

Jesus is Meek and Lowly

The real story of Christmas is captured in the first two verses of the Christmas hymn “Away in a Manger”:

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

He was a descendant of King David, but he was born in a stable, and not a palace or a castle. His delivery was not in a hospital, but a barn. The parents needed to do a lot of work before the baby was born. Joseph and Mary had to sweep the floor, wipe the dust and clean the place. They had to do with what they had, including enduring the noise and smell of animals and coping without the benefit of a kitchen or a bathroom. Even our present-day garages are cleaner than the horse stable, pig-sty or chicken coop that was Jesus’ shelter. No disinfectant or deodorant could sanitize or freshen the place enough.

Jesus is Majestic and Lord

Caesar Augustus had ordered a census, sent everyone packing and made life miserable. Rich or poor, strong or weak, men and women had to return to their hometown to register. Included in the throng was Mary, who was with child. However, the birth of Jesus turned the first Christmas from a gloomy Christmas into a glorious one. He had an invited audience at his birthday party, but His audience was not royalty, diplomats or socialites, but angels, shepherds and the heavenly host, and what a breathtaking, spine tingling and eyebrow raising performance it was.

Jesus is Merciful and Love

The Bible says that we were dead in sins (Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 5, Colossians 2:13), darkened in reason (Ephesians 4:18) and doomed for destruction (I Timothy 6:9), but Jesus came to land a fatal blow to sin. What He had done to sin for our sake in theological terms included forgiving (Matthew 9:2), bearing (John 1:29, Hebrews 9:28), erasing (Acts 3:19), purging (Hebrews 1:3) and canceling (Hebrews 9:26) the sins of men. He died for our sins (I Corinthians 15:3), freed us from sins (Romans 6:22) and remembers them no more (Hebrews 10:17). Three times the Bible says that He is the atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 2:17, I John 2:2, I John 4:10) for our sins.

The birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the two constants after the shopping is done, the sales are counted and the season is over. The greatest gift of all is the gift money cannot buy. It is what the Prince of Peace has given to the world: the forgiveness of sins and salvation of sinners. Our responsibility is to receive the free gift and to tell the lost world of the Saviors’ birth, because one day the tiny babe will return as the conquering King.

Learning From the Songs of Christmas
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Micah 5:1-5

1. Christ’s birth was according to a divine plan. (Micah 5:1-3a)

A. The Savior would be born in an unassuming way. (Micah 5:1-2a)

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (Matthew 2:1-6)

It may be that our part in life’s work may be very small… on note… but even that is important.

The problem with too many of us, as Vance Havner observed, is “So many of us are not big enough to become little enough to be used of God.”

B. The Second part of God’s plan: The Savior would be born in an unusual way. (Micah 5:2b-3)

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

When Christ became a man through the incarnation, he voluntarily limited what to him was the most precious thing in the world; unhampered, unhindered communion with the Father.

2. The second great thing about Christ’s birth is: Christ’s birth makes possible a new person. (Micah 5:3-5a)

A. First, we can become a new person individually.

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

The prophet speaks of the benefits that come to the life of one who has received Christ into their life.

• He will benefit from God’s guidance. (Micah 5:4a, Psalm 23)
• He will benefit from God’s greatness. (Micah 5:4b, Romans 8:35…39)
• He will benefit from God’s goodness. (Micah 5:5a)
• He enjoys peace with God (Romans 5:1), He enjoys the peace of God (Philippians 4:6-7), He enjoys the God of peace (Micah 5:5a).

Perhaps the very best place for those dreams was on the rubbish pile, for God may have better plans for you after all. He will bring them to pass through His own Son, who gives you, in your entirely new life, dreams and plans fashioned in a much better way than you could do for yourself.

B. We can become a new person collectively. (Micah 5:3-5a)

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

There are many porcupine Christians running around. They have their good points, but you can’t get near them because their bad point prick too hard.

The devil never fears a congregation that is not seeking to become the new person collectively that God calls them to be, because they are no threat to his operation! Let’s put the fear of God into the devil, by committing today to growing in unity and love as the people of God!

Conclusion

Having trusted the Savior, we have been set free from sins’ awful condemnation. Now by His Spirit we have the power to turn from our sin and live for Him. That’s the only way to honor Christ – our Great Emancipator.

I’m glad my Savior didn’t hesitate to leave His throne in glory! Christ did not hesitate to die for me; may I not hesitate to live for Him!