Christmas: A Call to Spiritual Rebirth and Witness

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound significance of Christmas beyond the familiar narrative of a baby born in Bethlehem. Christmas is not merely a celebration of a historical event but a declaration of God's war on sin, Satan, and self. It is a reminder of the dual births that Christmas represents: the physical birth of Jesus Christ and the potential spiritual rebirth of each believer. Jesus came into the world to offer us a birthright into God's family, a privilege that transforms us from mere followers into children of God.

We delved into the Gospel of John, where the Apostle John introduces us to the concept of Jesus as the true light of the world. John the Baptist, the last Old Testament prophet, was sent to bear witness to this light, a role that each of us is called to emulate. As believers, we are tasked with reflecting the light of Christ in our lives, bearing witness to His truth, and sharing the message of salvation with others. This is not just a duty but a privilege, as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be co-laborers with God in His mission.

The message also highlighted the importance of recognizing and responding to the Lord of Christmas. Many in Jesus' time, including His own family and religious leaders, failed to recognize Him as the Messiah. Today, people continue to misunderstand or reject Jesus, often due to a reluctance to receive Him. However, for those who do accept Him, there is a birthright waiting—a right to become children of God, adopted into His family with all the privileges and responsibilities that come with it.

Finally, we are reminded that our spiritual birthright is not just about personal salvation but about living as witnesses to the world. We are called to walk, witness, and work as children of God, sharing the love and light of Christ with those around us. This Christmas, let us embrace our identity as God's children and fulfill our calling to be His witnesses in a world that desperately needs the hope and light of Jesus.

Key Takeaways:

1. Christmas as a Declaration of War: Christmas is God's declaration of war on sin, Satan, and self. It is not just about the birth of Jesus but about the spiritual rebirth available to us through Him. This dual birth signifies the certainty of Jesus' physical birth and the possibility of our spiritual rebirth. [54:47]

2. Reflecting the Light of Christ: As believers, we are called to reflect the light of Christ in our lives. Like John the Baptist, we are to bear witness to the true light, sharing the message of Jesus with others. This is our primary mission as Christians, to be witnesses of the transformative power of Christ. [01:09:49]

3. Responding to the Lord of Christmas: Many failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, both in His time and today. The challenge is to respond to Him, not with rejection or misunderstanding, but with acceptance and faith. This response opens the door to becoming children of God, adopted into His family. [01:17:18]

4. The Privilege of Adoption: Being adopted into God's family is a profound privilege. It means we are not just followers of Jesus but members of His family, with the right to call God our Father. This adoption is a testament to God's incredible love and grace towards us. [01:18:16]

5. Living as Children of God: Our birthright as children of God comes with responsibilities. We are to walk, witness, and work as His children, sharing the gospel and helping others come into the family of God. This is the essence of our calling, to live out our faith in a way that draws others to Christ. [01:23:05]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [54:47] - The Significance of Christmas
- [56:36] - Citizenship and Birthright
- [58:42] - The Role of a Witness
- [01:01:16] - Two Births of Christmas
- [01:09:49] - Reflecting the Light of Christ
- [01:10:40] - The Importance of Witnessing
- [01:12:01] - The Great Co-Mission
- [01:14:05] - Responding to Jesus
- [01:15:46] - Mistaken Identity of Jesus
- [01:17:18] - Rejection and Acceptance
- [01:18:16] - The Privilege of Adoption
- [01:19:24] - The Love of God
- [01:21:10] - Responsibilities of Sonship
- [01:23:05] - Living as Children of God
- [01:25:39] - Conclusion and Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 1:6-13

Observation Questions:
1. What does John 1:6-13 reveal about the role of John the Baptist in relation to Jesus? How is he described in these verses? [01:01:16]
2. According to the sermon, what are the two births that Christmas represents, and how are they different? [01:01:16]
3. How does the sermon describe the reaction of Jesus' own family and religious leaders to His ministry? [01:14:05]
4. What is the significance of being adopted into God's family as mentioned in the sermon? [01:18:16]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of Jesus as the "true light" challenge or affirm the beliefs of those who encountered Him, both historically and today? [01:12:01]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers are called to reflect the light of Christ in their lives? [01:09:49]
3. What does the sermon imply about the responsibilities that come with being a child of God? How does this relate to the idea of a spiritual birthright? [01:21:10]
4. How does the sermon interpret the rejection of Jesus by His own people, and what lessons can be drawn from this for contemporary believers? [01:17:18]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: How are you currently reflecting the light of Christ to those around you? What specific actions can you take to improve this reflection? [01:09:49]
2. The sermon mentions the privilege of being adopted into God's family. How does this understanding impact your daily life and interactions with others? [01:18:16]
3. Consider the dual births of Christmas. How does the idea of spiritual rebirth resonate with your personal faith journey? What steps can you take to nurture this rebirth? [01:01:16]
4. The sermon highlights the importance of witnessing. Identify one person in your life who needs to hear about Jesus. What practical steps can you take to share your faith with them this week? [01:10:40]
5. How do you respond to the challenges of recognizing and accepting Jesus in your life, especially when faced with societal or personal doubts? [01:17:18]
6. The sermon discusses the responsibilities of sonship. What is one area in your life where you feel called to walk, witness, or work more faithfully as a child of God? [01:21:10]
7. Reflect on the concept of God's love as described in the sermon. How can you better embrace and share this love with those who may feel unloved or unwanted? [01:19:24]

Devotional

Day 1: Christmas as a Spiritual Battle
Christmas is not just a celebration of Jesus' birth; it is a declaration of God's war on sin, Satan, and self. This profound truth reminds us that Christmas signifies two births: the physical birth of Jesus Christ and the potential spiritual rebirth of each believer. Jesus came into the world to offer us a birthright into God's family, transforming us from mere followers into children of God. This dual birth signifies the certainty of Jesus' physical birth and the possibility of our spiritual rebirth. As we celebrate Christmas, we are invited to reflect on this spiritual battle and our role in it, embracing the new life offered to us through Christ. [54:47]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: What areas of your life are still under the influence of sin, Satan, or self? How can you actively participate in God's declaration of war against these forces today?


Day 2: Bearing Witness to the Light
As believers, we are called to reflect the light of Christ in our lives. Just as John the Baptist was sent to bear witness to the true light, we too are tasked with sharing the message of Jesus with others. This is not just a duty but a privilege, as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be co-laborers with God in His mission. Our primary mission as Christians is to be witnesses of the transformative power of Christ, sharing His love and truth with those around us. In doing so, we fulfill our calling and bring glory to God. [01:09:49]

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house." (Matthew 5:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to see the light of Christ through you today? How can you intentionally reflect His light in your interactions with them?


Day 3: Recognizing and Responding to Jesus
Many in Jesus' time, including His own family and religious leaders, failed to recognize Him as the Messiah. Today, people continue to misunderstand or reject Jesus, often due to a reluctance to receive Him. However, for those who do accept Him, there is a birthright waiting—a right to become children of God, adopted into His family with all the privileges and responsibilities that come with it. The challenge is to respond to Jesus, not with rejection or misunderstanding, but with acceptance and faith. This response opens the door to becoming children of God, adopted into His family. [01:17:18]

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways might you be misunderstanding or rejecting Jesus in your life? What steps can you take to fully accept Him and embrace your identity as a child of God?


Day 4: The Privilege of Being Adopted
Being adopted into God's family is a profound privilege. It means we are not just followers of Jesus but members of His family, with the right to call God our Father. This adoption is a testament to God's incredible love and grace towards us. As adopted children, we are given a new identity and a new purpose, called to live in a way that reflects our status as members of God's family. This privilege comes with responsibilities, as we are called to walk, witness, and work as His children, sharing the gospel and helping others come into the family of God. [01:18:16]

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding your adoption into God's family change the way you view yourself and your purpose? What responsibilities come with this privilege, and how can you live them out today?


Day 5: Living as Children of God
Our birthright as children of God comes with responsibilities. We are to walk, witness, and work as His children, sharing the gospel and helping others come into the family of God. This is the essence of our calling, to live out our faith in a way that draws others to Christ. As we embrace our identity as God's children, we are called to fulfill our mission as His witnesses in a world that desperately needs the hope and light of Jesus. This Christmas, let us commit to living as children of God, reflecting His love and light in all that we do. [01:23:05]

"Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What specific actions can you take this week to walk, witness, and work as a child of God? How can you share the love and light of Christ with those around you in practical ways?

Quotes

"We have to trust in Christ Jesus. So some of those folks may have said, you know what? I don't believe I'm saved. Or I have drifted. It's so far away from the Lord, I need to come back. And the good news is, as Sean told us this morning, he never leaves us. He never forsakes us. And when we come to him, we confess our sins, and we cry out in repentance to the Lord, he is always willing, ready, and able to forgive us. Amen." [00:55:23] (24 seconds)


"And we know that the answer to the first question gives us the answer to the second question. And we're reminded that Christmas is not just about one birth. Christmas is really about two births. It's about a certainty and a possibility. The certainty is the physical birth of a Savior. And the possibility is the spiritual birth of a saint." [01:00:49] (20 seconds)


"He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light the true light which gives light to everyone was coming into the world he was in the world and the world was made through him yet the world did not know him he came to his own and his own people did not receive him but to all who did receive him who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God who were born not a blood nor the will of the flesh nor the will of man but of God." [01:01:56] (28 seconds)


"John tells us in chapter 20, or I should say in verse 29, The next day, he, John the Baptist, saw Jesus coming towards him and said, Behold the Lamb of God. Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. See, it's not about who we are. It's about who Jesus is. It's never about how we live. It's about how Jesus died and why he died." [01:13:02] (22 seconds)


"When you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, you don't become an employee in a company or a member of an organization. You become a child in a family. Verse 12 says, Now, that should take your breath away. That should bring a tear to your eye. Because if you believe in the Lord of Christmas, you receive the love of Christmas." [01:18:32] (30 seconds)


"Becoming a child of God has nothing to do with what we do for God. It's about what God has done for us. And if we understand what real belief is, we will know, John says, that to those who believed in his name, it literally means into his name. In other words, it's not a belief that's in your head. It is a surrender that's in your heart." [01:22:41] (20 seconds)


"Because of Christmas, we have a birthright and we descend from a royal divine bloodline. As children of God, we are his bloodline. And if we are, we're to go share with the lost world the truth of Christ, the truth of Jesus so that they can too be adopted into the family of God and enjoy that birthright as well." [01:24:38] (21 seconds)

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Transcript
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