Embracing the Gift of Eternal Life Through Christ
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth of Jesus' eternality and the gift of eternal life He offers. As we reflect on the Christmas season, we are reminded that God sent His Son, Jesus, to be born into a human family so that we might be adopted into God's eternal family. This is the essence of the Christmas miracle: the infinite God humbling Himself to enter His creation and offer salvation to humanity.
We delved into John 17, where Jesus' high priestly prayer reveals His eternal nature and His mission to grant eternal life. Jesus, who existed before the world began, came to earth to fulfill God's purpose of providing eternal life to those who believe in Him. This eternal life is not just a future promise but a present reality for those who know the true God and Jesus Christ.
The Christmas miracle is not just a cultural notion but a divine reality. It is the infinite God becoming finite to save us, offering us a relationship with Him that lasts forever. This truth should shape our understanding of Christmas, reminding us that Jesus is the true gift of the season. As we celebrate with family traditions, we must prioritize the understanding that Jesus is the reason for our celebration.
Moreover, Jesus' gift of eternal life is available to all who repent and believe in Him. This gift is the ultimate expression of God's love and grace, offering us a life that transcends the temporal and enters the eternal. As we reflect on this, we are called to respond with gratitude and worship, recognizing the immeasurable value of the eternal life we have received through Christ.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Eternal Nature of Jesus: Jesus is eternal, existing before the world began and continuing beyond time. His eternality is a testament to His divinity, as He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. This understanding deepens our appreciation of His role in creation and salvation. [31:39]
2. The Christmas Miracle: The true miracle of Christmas is the infinite God humbling Himself to become human, offering salvation to finite beings. This act of divine love and humility is the foundation of our faith and the reason for our celebration. [34:55]
3. Eternal Life from Jesus: Jesus offers eternal life to those who believe in Him, a life that begins now and continues forever. This gift is central to His mission and is the ultimate expression of God's love for humanity. [36:16]
4. Gratitude for Eternal Life: Recognizing the eternal life we have in Christ should fill us with gratitude and drive our worship. This gratitude is not just for the blessings we experience but for the assurance of eternal life with God. [43:36]
5. The Gift of Christmas: Jesus is the true gift of Christmas, and His gift of eternal life is available to all who repent and believe. As we celebrate, we must ensure that our traditions reflect the true meaning of Christmas, centered on Jesus. [49:39]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[24:52] - Family Celebration
[28:49] - The High Priestly Prayer
[30:41] - Jesus' Eternal Life
[31:39] - The Eternity of Jesus
[33:23] - The Christmas Miracle
[34:55] - Cultural Reflections on Christmas
[36:16] - Eternal Life from Jesus
[39:00] - Moments of Gratitude
[41:51] - A Father's Gratitude
[42:42] - The Gift of Faith
[43:36] - Eternal Perspective
[44:55] - Jesus: The Gift of Christmas
[45:33] - Prioritizing Jesus in Traditions
[49:39] - The Gift of Eternal Life
[51:00] - Invitation to Salvation
[52:28] - Responding to the Gift
[54:04] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 17:1-5
- Revelation 22:13
- John 3:16-17
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Observation Questions:
1. In John 17:1-5, what does Jesus ask the Father to do, and what is the significance of this request in the context of His mission? [28:49]
2. How does Jesus describe eternal life in John 17:3, and what does this reveal about the relationship between knowing God and eternal life? [30:41]
3. According to the sermon, what cultural examples are used to illustrate the concept of a "Christmas miracle"? How do these examples compare to the true Christmas miracle described in the sermon? [34:55]
4. What does the pastor mean when he says that Jesus is the "Alpha and Omega" in Revelation 22:13, and how does this relate to Jesus' eternality? [31:39]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding Jesus' eternality deepen our appreciation of His role in creation and salvation, as discussed in the sermon? [31:39]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Christmas miracle should shape our understanding and celebration of Christmas? [34:55]
3. How does the pastor's personal story about his daughter's wedding illustrate the importance of gratitude for eternal life? What can we learn from this about recognizing God's grace in our lives? [41:51]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between cultural Christmas traditions and the true meaning of Christmas? How can believers prioritize Jesus in their celebrations? [45:33]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own family traditions during the Christmas season. How can you ensure that these traditions reflect the true meaning of Christmas, centered on Jesus? [45:33]
2. The sermon emphasizes gratitude for the eternal life we have in Christ. What are some specific ways you can express gratitude to God in your daily life? [43:36]
3. Consider the pastor's question about receiving the gift of salvation. If you have not yet accepted this gift, what might be holding you back? If you have, how can you share this gift with others? [51:00]
4. How can the understanding of Jesus as the "Alpha and Omega" influence your perspective on life's challenges and uncertainties? [31:39]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of knowing the true God and Jesus Christ for eternal life. How can you deepen your relationship with God and grow in your understanding of who He is? [30:41]
6. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "Christmas miracle" in your own life. How did this experience draw you closer to God, and how can you share this testimony with others? [34:55]
7. In what ways can you incorporate the message of eternal life into your conversations with family and friends during the holiday season? [49:39]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: The Timelessness of Christ
Jesus' eternal nature is a profound testament to His divinity. He existed before the world began and will continue beyond time, embodying the Alpha and Omega. This understanding deepens our appreciation of His role in creation and salvation. As we reflect on His eternality, we are reminded of the divine nature of His mission and the assurance that comes from knowing a Savior who transcends time. This eternal perspective should shape our faith, providing a foundation that is unshakeable and everlasting. [31:39]
"In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made." (John 1:1-3, ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding Jesus' eternal nature change the way you view your relationship with Him today?
Day 2: The Humility of the Christmas Miracle
The true miracle of Christmas is the infinite God humbling Himself to become human, offering salvation to finite beings. This act of divine love and humility is the foundation of our faith and the reason for our celebration. As we celebrate the Christmas season, we are reminded that God sent His Son, Jesus, to be born into a human family so that we might be adopted into God's eternal family. This divine reality should transform our understanding of Christmas, moving beyond cultural notions to embrace the profound truth of God's love and humility. [34:55]
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:5-7, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you embody the humility of Christ in your interactions with others this Christmas season?
Day 3: The Present Reality of Eternal Life
Jesus offers eternal life to those who believe in Him, a life that begins now and continues forever. This gift is central to His mission and is the ultimate expression of God's love for humanity. Eternal life is not just a future promise but a present reality for those who know the true God and Jesus Christ. This understanding should transform how we live daily, knowing that we are already partakers of this eternal life. It calls us to live with purpose and hope, grounded in the assurance of our salvation. [36:16]
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3, ESV)
Reflection: How can you live today with the awareness that eternal life has already begun for you?
Day 4: Gratitude for the Gift of Eternal Life
Recognizing the eternal life we have in Christ should fill us with gratitude and drive our worship. This gratitude is not just for the blessings we experience but for the assurance of eternal life with God. As we reflect on this, we are called to respond with gratitude and worship, recognizing the immeasurable value of the eternal life we have received through Christ. This gratitude should permeate our lives, influencing our actions, attitudes, and relationships. [43:36]
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16, ESV)
Reflection: What are three specific ways you can express gratitude for the eternal life you have in Christ today?
Day 5: Jesus: The True Gift of Christmas
Jesus is the true gift of Christmas, and His gift of eternal life is available to all who repent and believe. As we celebrate, we must ensure that our traditions reflect the true meaning of Christmas, centered on Jesus. This understanding calls us to prioritize Jesus in our celebrations, recognizing that He is the reason for the season. It challenges us to align our traditions and celebrations with the truth of His birth and the salvation He offers. [49:39]
"Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15, ESV)
Reflection: How can you ensure that your Christmas traditions this year reflect the true meaning of the season, centered on Jesus?
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Quotes
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Son, that the son may glorify you since you have given him authority over all flesh to give. What's that word? Eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life that they know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you. Before the world existed. [00:29:53] (44 seconds)
It's very clear the closing line of Jesus' preamble to his high priestly prayer tells us that Jesus was born as a man, but has always been God. Did you hear that? Jesus said, and now, Father, as I return to you in glory, we're going to share the glory that we had together before any of this earthly stuff ever existed. [00:31:51] (25 seconds)
So this is a miracle. This eternal understanding of Jesus is the reality of the Christmas miracle. And here's why it matters. Because so many of our Christmas movies want to capture this idea of the infinite God humbling himself by entering into his creation as an eternal God to save us. To save mortal man. [00:34:05] (27 seconds)
Culture recognizes this. Film tries to capture it because everyone understands there is something miraculous about Christmas. But here it is. You ready? The Christmas miracle is the infinite God humbling himself to pay the price for the sins of humanity. That's the Christmas miracle. [00:35:21] (19 seconds)
That Jesus, who is forever, he is eternal, would humble himself, clothe himself in humanity so that he could rescue those of us who are finite and restore us into a relationship with God, what? Forever. Forever. So we understand there is the eternal life of Jesus. [00:35:40] (25 seconds)
Since you have given authority over all flesh to give eternal life to all whom you have given him, and this is eternal life, that they know you. The only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. So in the preamble to his high priestly prayer, Jesus acknowledges that he is the one who gives eternal life. And the way in which we can receive eternal life is if we believe in the only true God and in Jesus Christ who God sent to give eternal life. You see? And Jesus is talking about his singular purpose. The mission of God is to provide. Eternal life to man. [00:36:16] (46 seconds)
Jesus acknowledges, and I am the giver of this. Jesus died so we might live. This is the purpose of Christmas. Think about the most familiar verses in the New Testament. In John chapter 3, verses 16 and 17, it says, for God so loved the world that whosoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life or eternal life. And then in verse 17, it says, for God did not send his son into the world in order to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him, right? The singular purpose of Jesus is to provide forgiveness of sinners' sins so we can have eternal life with God. [00:37:10] (51 seconds)
I know that my Catherine and her Luke have a real genuine faith in God through Jesus and therefore they have eternal life. And I've never been more aware of my gratitude. Third John 4 says, I have no greater joy than to know my children walk in truth. And so my heart was full and I was, keenly aware, and yet, at the same time, when you think about eternity, it's really hard for us to wrap our mind around just how long that is. [00:43:19] (45 seconds)
But those things must always be so much less in our family priority list than the real understanding that our children have that Jesus is the reason we celebrate at all. Parents and grandparents, listen, let me love you well. If your kids grow up and what they say about you is, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, one day is mom and dad loved me and we celebrated Santa and they had reindeer footprints in the hallway and they did all these special things and we did elf on a shelf and we went to grandma's house and we road tripped, but they don't know that Christmas is about God sending his son to rescue, then we've missed it. We've missed the mark. [00:46:28] (49 seconds)
He is the gift of Christmas and nothing else makes sense if you don't first have the understanding of what God has sent his son to do. He is the gift of Christmas. And the second thought is this, he gives the gift of eternal life. [00:47:10] (19 seconds)
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