WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE FOR CHRISTMAS?

JOHN 1:1-9

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I realize that this question might make you think I have confused Christmas with Halloween but let me explain. When I was a kid, I liked toys that allowed me to be someone different than who I was. One Christmas I got a cowboy hat, holster & guns, western shirt & gloves, etc. It was a cowboy Christmas. One Christmas I got a plastic army helmet and a mounted machine gun … another Christmas I got a 007 attaché case. But what about now, what should we want to be for Christmas?

 

I. WE SHOULD WANT TO BE A “GOOD” SON

 

1. A “Good” Son Has Received the Incarnated Christ [John 1:10-18]

 

2. A “Good” Son Has Redemption in the Incarnated Christ [Luke 2:38, Romans 3:24]

 

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

 

3. A “Good” Son Has Reconciliation through the Incarnated Christ [2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Hebrews 2:17]

 

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

 

II. WE SHOULD WANT TO BE A GOOD SERVANT [Romans]

 

1. The Servant of Christ Should Please Christ [Romans 1:1, Galatians 1:10]

 

 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

 

2. The Servant of Christ Should Obey the Word of God [Romans 6:16-17]

 

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

 

3. The Servant of Christ Should Yield to Righteousness [Romans 6:19-20]

 

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

 

III. WE SHOULD WANT TO BE A GOOD SOLDIER [2 Tm. 2:3-4]

 

1. Endure Hardness [v. 3] “If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!”

 

2 Timothy 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

2 Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

 

2. Avoid Entanglements [v. 4, 1:18

 

3. Please Jesus [v. 4b, Romans 8:8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

 

Really now, what do you want to be for Christmas?