When John Tells the Christmas Story

Trent Cornwell

Vision Baptist Church

Book of 2 John • Sermon • Submitted 5 months ago • Presented 5 months ago

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Bible Reading

The eternal Son of God came in the flesh and died as a man, all so that death itself would die.

If you had to name the biggest difference between Christianity and all other religions, what would it be?

Only the Christian faith that says “God became a man,” that God took on our humanity.

Josh Ewing in the office. Telling about how when he is in about any room, except a church in Indonesia, he knows he may be the only person that knows this.

This truth is worth all the time, lyrics, and gatherings we can give it!

Christmas is a time where churches may sing better than they understand. I do not expect that to be the case here, but I am going to give my all to help make sure that is not the case. I am not going to let these musicians out preach me. :)

Review of 2 John

We have seen why we rejoice when we see others walking in truth?

Those who walk in the truth are able to experience true love. 2 John 1 “1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;”

Those who walk in truth get to know others who walk in truth.

Those who walk in truth demonstrate the eternal, abiding presence of truth in their lives. 2 John 2 “2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.”

The truth comes to us from our Heavenly Father. 2 John 4 “4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.”

Four principles about love and truth from today’s passage.

2 John 3–6 “3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.”

Truth seeks to convey love, not just facts.

Love welcomes truth into every discussion.

Truth shapes how to show love.

Love shapes how we share truth.

Guidelines for House Guests

2 John 7–12 “7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.”

Walk in truth to discern lies.

Recognize lies to resist their messengers.

Identify false messengers to avoid aiding them.

Stay the Course

2 John 8 “8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”

We should live our lives with the full reward in view.

We should remain mindful of the the investments already made.

Take care of yourselves for the sake of the work we doing together.

Today: When John Tells the Christmas Story

2 John 7 “7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

The eternal Son of God came in the flesh and

died as a man,

so that death itself would die.

Before they sing lets go to the Gospel According to John

John 1:1–4 (KJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Introduction

Christmas Eve of 2006 was on a Sunday.

Ill never forget it for several reasons, one being we held a Christmas service and asked Mrs. Gardner to tell the Christmas story to the kids.

When we think about Christmas and the Bible, we naturally think of Matthew’s account of the virgin birth and the visit of the Magi or Luke’s account of Gabriel’s visit to Mary and of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. We think of the decree going out from Caesar Augustus, of Joseph and Mary going up from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and of Mary giving birth to Jesus in a manger. We think of the shepherds in the field, of the heavenly host announcing peace on earth to those of good will and of the shepherds finding the baby in the manger.

We expected something short and sweet.

What we heard from the wonderful lady in the rocking chair was “to understand the story we must start at the beginning. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”

We knew the service was going to go a little longer that day.

We might all think no need to start that far back.

From Adam and Eve onward, the hope of God’s people has rested on a coming. We are a waiting people, a yearning people, a people who know we need rescue and know that only “the coming one” can bring it

I believe John, the writer of this epistle, might suggest we didn’t start far enough back.

Question asked today is..

What do you mean by “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh?”

Why does it matter so much?

The eternal Son of God came in the flesh

2 John 7 “7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

John had laid his head upon the chest of Christ.

Could you imagine hearing the heartbeat of the Creator of the Universe.

Isn't it amazing, the way He came? No crown, no throne, no big parade There were no fanfares played No jubilant display Isn't it amazing how He came?

It is amazing..

How or the Way in came.. lowly manger, born of a young, virgin, Jewish girl

When He came.. in the fulness of time, fulfilling all OT prophecy

Why He came.. Jesus did not come to be served as a King, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many

What He became is amazing.. Emmanuel. God with us. God for us. God as us.

Athanasius who gave much of his life contending for the faith said it like this “He became what we are that He might make us what He is.”

Remember when the Pharisees make a case for the deity of Christ?

Story: Man has friends who cut a whole in the roof and let him down.

Luke 5:20–21 “20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”

If Jesus came to heal people, He didn't have to be God. God allowed prophets to heal in the OT.

If Jesus came to alleviate oppressive economic and political structures, He didn't have to be God. Kings have done this.

Even if Jesus came to raise the dead, He did not have to be God. Prophets before him had done that, and apostles after Him will do that.

The Word (full expression of God) became flesh came to forgive sins, because that's our problem.

Our problem is a sin problem.

We think a man paralyzed and totally dependent on these four friends to get him everywhere, we think that's his problem.

We meet lepers, we meet tax collectors, we meet parents of children who are dying in the pages of these Gospels, and none of that is the problem.

Jesus looks at this man, and He knows immediately what his true problem is, and He came to solve it.

The Pharisees rarely get it right, but here they get it right. "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Did they know that they were making a case for the deity of Christ? Jesus senses what is going on here and He says, "Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or would it be easier to say, 'Rise up and walk.'?"

Jesus Christ is ‘the Word’ who was in the beginning with God and who was God.

John 1:1–2 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.”

What do we mean from the beginning?

Jesus was there are Creation. John 1:3 “3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Jesus was there before Creation in that is the co-eternal son of God. John 1:3 “3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

He did not come into being. All that did come into being came into being through him. He has always existed.

He is not the Father, because he was “with God” the Father. But he is equally God with God the Father because “the Word was God.”

Jesus is the Word that became flesh; that is, God was united with a human nature in one person, and was truly man and truly God who lived in history as Jesus Christ.

John 1:14 “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.”

John was intent in sharing this message.

It is also very clear that this Word is Jesus. John 1:17 “17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Simply: If you don’t worship Jesus, you don’t worship God.

2 John 9 “9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”

Jesus Christ lived in the flesh upon this earth.

Jesus died as a man

Jesus was born in the flesh, so that He could die in the flesh for our sins.

Many biblical texts confirm Jesus’s true humanity. He was born of a real woman (Luke 2:7), he was hungry (Matt. 4:2), he was thirsty (John 19:28), he became exhausted (Mark 4:38), and, of course, he died (Luke 23:46).

Jesus became flesh not only that He would “get us” but to die for us.

Jesus became human to become a propitiation, or sacrifice, for sins 1 John 4:10 “10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Sin demands a remedy far stronger than sympathy. Sin calls for God’s judgment, and by taking on all aspects of our humanity, except sin, Jesus became the perfect substitute. Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Without this truth, there is no good news.

The gospel is called the “good news” because it addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings, and that problem is simply this: God is holy and He is just, and I’m not. And at the end of my life, I’m going to stand before a just and holy God, and I’ll be judged. And I’ll be judged either on the basis of my own righteousness–or lack of it–or the righteousness of another.

The good news of the gospel is that Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, of perfect obedience to God, not for His own well being but for His people. He has done for me what I couldn’t possibly do for myself. But not only has He lived that life of perfect obedience, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of God.

Wednesday I told you about my skepticism.

I am a “what-a-burger” denier.

You are familiar with that expression.

There are holocaust denier.

There are 9/11 deniers.

There are Jesus “Came in the flesh” deniers. 2 John 7 “7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

There are only 4 verses in scripture that actually use the word Antichrist:

1 John 2:18 “18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” 1 John 2:22–23 “22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”

1 John 4:2–3 “2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

The Holy Spirit testifies to the reality of God in our lives by causing us to confess that Jesus has come in the flesh, so that when somebody does confess that Jesus has come in the flesh, you have evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work and is real right there in their lives.

The spirit of the anti-christ

People like stories of the Grinch or others trying to steal Christmas. There is much more at stake than that.

We talk about the spirit of Christmas, here we see the spirit of the anti-Christ.

Jesus Christ had to born of a sinner to "come in the flesh"

Seems like this time of year that that opinion surely would be some fringe group of people.

Who denies this?

Those who deny that Mary was a sinner deny that Word came in the flesh.

Those who deny the historical account of Jesus deny that Jesus came in the flesh.

Those who believe that Jesus is a prophet but not the Son of God deny that the Word came in the flesh.

Those who believe the Messiah has not yet come, deny that the Word came in the flesh.

Those who celebrate family, friends, and all this world has to offer with no consideration of the significance of the incarnation are those who have been influence by the spirit of this age.

The eternal Son of God came in the flesh and died as a man, all so that death itself would die.

Though the truth.

Though the basis of our good news.

Is the minority opinion and is constantly under attack from the spirit of this world.

We have much greater problem in this world, than the cashier at target not wishing you a Merry Christmas.

2 John 9 “9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”

So that death itself would die.

Why Did the Word Come Into the World?

John 1:12–13 “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: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

How important is this John?

2 John 7 “7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

The message that God has not come into this world and was born and died in the flesh is the most dangerous message in this world.

This is Athanasius, writing in the fourth century:

...He entered the world in a new way, stooping to our level in His love and Self-revealing to us… He, the Mighty One, the Maker of all, He Himself made this body in the virgin as a temple for Himself… Thus, taking a body like our own, because all our bodies were liable to the corruption of death, He surrendered His body to death [in our place], and offered it to the Father. This He did out of sheer love for us, so that in His death all might die, and the law of death thereby be abolished because, having fulfilled in His body that for which it was appointed, [death] was thereafter voided of its power for men.

God the Son took on flesh and died, as a man, so that death itself would die.

The logic is this. Death is the penalty for sin.

So God the Son lived a sinless life in order that he could then die - according to His human nature and on our behalf - the death we deserve.

Because He has taken that penalty on our behalf, we no longer have to take it ourselves.

If we have become united to Him by faith, His death was effectively our death.

His resurrection will one day be our resurrection.

John’s telling of Christmas: Christmas is not just about Jesus’ birth but about the eternal Word taking on flesh to redeem humanity.

Conclusion

One of the hymns the early churches sang is found in 1 Timothy. Believers met at dawn on Sunday, the first day of the week. T

Let’s read this together. 1 Timothy 3:16 “16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

Next Week:

There are a hundred implications of the incarnation. If self-emptying humility and servanthood is what God the incarnate Son looks like. If that is what a perfect human looks like we should follow in His example.

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