Title: The attitude we should have at Christmas
Contents
Our attitude at Christmas (Luke 2:1-14; Phil 2:5-8)
2009. 12. 25 (Christmas)
(Luke 2:1) At that time, Caesar Augustus sent down his spirit, saying, “Record all under the heavens.”
(Luke 2:2) This was the first time that Cyrenius did this when he was governor of Syria.
(Luke 2:3) And all went back to their hometowns, each to go register.
(Luke 2:4) Joseph also came from the house of David, so he went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee toward Judea to the town of David called Bethlehem.
(Luke 2:5) And when he went up to register with Mary the betrothed, she was already pregnant.
(Luke 2:6) And while they were there, the days of childbirth were fulfilled.
(Luke 2:7) And she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in cloths, and laid him in a manger, for there was no room for him in the office.
(Luke 2:8) At that time shepherds were outside watching their flocks by night.
(Luke 2:9) And an angel of the Lord stood by, and the glory of the Lord shone about them, and they were greatly afraid.
(Luke 2:10) The angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will come to all the people."
(Luke 2:11) Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord.
(Luke 2:12) This will be a sign for you, and you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
(Luke 2:13) Suddenly, a great host of heavenly hosts were with the angel, praising God, saying,
(Luke 2:14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.
I. Among godly Christians, there are three objections to Christmas.
The first is the reluctance to date.
December 25th was not the actual birthday of Jesus, but a day to celebrate the birth of the sun god in Rome. However, we should not make the mistake of failing to praise and praise even the fact that Jesus Christ became incarnate because of our reluctance to date.
The second is the reluctance to use the term.
The term Christmas is a Catholic term that defiles the Eucharist because it is based on the doctrine of transubstantiation, which blasphemes the flesh and blood of Jesus. However, we should not make the mistake of not being able to appreciate God's amazing love and grace for coming to this earth in the flesh because of our rejection of the term Christmas.
The third is the rejection of the secular Christmas culture.
GS25, a convenience store company, said that, as a result of analyzing sales data for the past three years, condoms sold the most on December 25 every year.
Despite the date of December 25 and the rejection of the term X-Mas and the secular and polluted Christmas culture, there is no doubt that the Christmas of Jesus' birth on this earth is an event to be rejoiced and rejoiced in. By the way, the Christians who should rejoice and rejoice the most on Christmas are not particularly impressed, but aren't they excited by the hype of merchants trying to make more money using Christmas and the excitement of the people of the world trying to enjoy pleasure using Christmas?
II. Who should rejoice and rejoice in Christmas the most?
Verse 14 says, “Peace among those with whom he is pleased.” Who are those who are pleased?
(John 1:12) To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
(John 3:16) God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:17) For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
(John 3:18) He who believes in him will not be condemned, but he who does not believe is already judged because he does not believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Christians who believe in Jesus as the Son and Savior of God sent by God should give thanks and glory to Jesus Christ, who came to save us from sin and death.
Knowing that Jesus Christ, who came as a human being, is the greatest gift from Heavenly Father to us, we must raise our voices to give thanks and praise to Heavenly Father.
Ⅲ. The spirit of Christmas is in the incarnation.
The incarnate spirit of Jesus Christ contains the principles and secrets that bring glory to God and peace in the world.
The Apostle Paul summarized the spirit of the incarnation as follows:
(Phil 2:5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 2:6) Although he was in the form of God, he did not consider equality with God to be robbery.
(Phil 2:7) Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and became like men.
(Philippians 2:8) And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of a cross.
First, there must be a movement of self-emptying.
In verses 6:6 and 7 of the text, it says, “He was in the form of God, but did not regard equality with God as robbery, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”
The spirit of the incarnation, or incarnation, is the spirit of emptiness. He reserved the throne of glory and came to this earth in the flesh. The Creator came into creation, eternity into time, and infinity into finiteness.
Although the first man, Adam, was a human being, he took the path of pride to become like God, and as a result, brought curses and death to mankind.
However, Jesus, who came as the second Adam, took the form of sinful flesh (Romans 6:3) and walked the path of humility, bringing salvation and eternal life to mankind.
Because Jesus gave up all his vested interests, pride, honor, and authority, the path of reconciliation, peace, and reconciliation with mankind was opened.
Second, a lowering movement must occur.
The Apostle Paul said, “When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself” in the first half of Text 2:8.
In order to give hope to mankind, Jesus became flesh like mankind and personally tasted the punishment of poverty, misery, and sin.
From birth, Jesus took the lowest path. He was born in a stable manger. His father, the carpenter Joseph, had a family of poor commoners. You bought it frugally.
Jesus visited the poor, the sick, the demon-possessed, and the guilty sinners. You solved their problems. You have been their friend.
We should pay attention to our shady neighbors who are suffering and marginalized.
A humble heart begins with a compassionate heart.
It is said that this happened when Abraham Lincoln was a young man. One day as he was riding his stagecoach, he found a pig drowning in a ditch. The townsfolk were watching the pigs giggling and enjoying their pain. At this time, it is said that Lincoln, who had strong faith, got off the stagecoach and jumped into a ditch to save him. Lincoln, who regarded the suffering of such insignificant pigs as mine, made him a respected president and liberator of slaves that will go down in history.
Third, there must be a movement of forgiveness.
Fourth, there must be a movement where I die.
In Mark 10:45, Jesus said, “I did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life a ransom for many.” In John 10:10, “I came to be a sheep and life. that you may have a new life, and that your life may abound more.”
What are the problems of this society? Even if others are uncomfortable and suffer, isn't that the only thing that makes me feel comfortable and happy?
Jesus gave us life by dying. He gave us joy through his suffering. He has given us salvation, He has given us eternal life, He has given us peace.
The spirit of Christmas is to take up the cross of sacrifice.
Inheriting the spirit of incarnation of Jesus, peace will come to our homes and societies when there is a movement to empty ourselves, humble ourselves, forgive, and sacrifice.
The birth of Jesus was a turning point in history. So, B.C. and A.D. are divided based on the year Jesus was born. B.C is an abbreviation of before christ in English, meaning ‘before Christ’, and A.D. is an abbreviation of the Latin anno (year) and domini (Lord), which means in the year of our lord.
Christmas, when the Son of God came to this earth as a human being, is the happiest event for mankind in the face of sin and death. This is good news of great joy, especially for us Christians who believe in him as Savior. We must raise our voices to our hearts' content and praise the Christmas of Jesus Christ.
Not only that, but we must also have the spirit of Jesus' Christmas, that is, the spirit of incarnation. I pray in the name of the Lord that you will glorify God by emptying your mind, humble yourself, forgive and sacrifice like Jesus, and bring peace to your home, work, and society you serve.