The Proclamation Of Christmas

          For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder.   And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6  21st NKJV

     Christmas means many things to different people.  We all have our hopes, dreams, and plans wrapped around the “Christmas Season”.   Yet, it seems so few really understand the real meaning and purpose for Chris’s coming to earth as a baby.  At Jesus birth, the angels proclaimed these three purposes:

I.  Celebration  But the angel said unto them, “do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.”  Luke 2:10   

*  why celebrate?  because God loves us with an everlasting love

            “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  John 3:16 NIt* 

*God is with us

            “For God has said, I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.”                                                                                                Hebrews 13:5  GNT

*  God is for us

            “God didn’t send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.” 

                                                                                       John 3:17 NLT

II.  Salvation   “Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you;   He is Christ the Lord.”  Luke 2:11 NIV

*  what is salvation?  God saves us from our sins

            “Give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

         Matthew 1:21  NIV

*  God saves you for a purpose

            “He saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace.”   2 Timothy 1:9  TEV

            “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”  Ephesians 2:8,9  TEV

III.  Reconciliation   “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth, peace, goodwill toward men.”  Luke 2:14  NKJV

*  what kind of peace does Jesus bring?  Peace with God

            “Now that we have been put right with God, through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Romans 5:1 TEV

*  peace with each other

            “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete and fight.  That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.”

            Matthew 5:9  Msg

*  peace of God

            “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand .”        Philippians 4:6,7  NLT