The Profound Theology Behind Christmas: Redemption and Hope

 

Summary

In this evening's gathering, I reflected on the profound significance of Christmas, urging us to look beyond the familiar story to the deep theology that underpins it. While the narrative of Christmas is widely known and celebrated, even in places where Christianity is not, the theology of Christmas is often overlooked. This theology is crucial because it reveals the true essence of why Christ's birth is the most significant event in human history.

We explored Galatians 4:4-7, a passage not typically associated with Christmas, yet it encapsulates the essence of the season. It speaks of the "fullness of time" when God sent His Son, born of a woman, under the law, to redeem us. This timing was perfect, orchestrated by God, and it reminds us that God's plans unfold in His perfect timing, even when it seems delayed from our perspective.

The incarnation is not just a story of a baby in a manger; it is the profound truth of God the Son entering history, clothed in humanity. This act of humility is part of the greater narrative of redemption, where Christ's active and passive obedience fulfills the law on our behalf. His birth, life, death, and resurrection are the means by which we are redeemed, adopted as sons and daughters, indwelt by the Spirit, and made heirs of God's kingdom.

This season, while we enjoy our traditions and festivities, let us not lose sight of the theology of Christmas. It is a call to trust in Christ for redemption and to live in the reality of our adoption and inheritance. The glory of this truth far surpasses any earthly splendor, like the extravagant Christmas tree in Abu Dhabi, reminding us of the eternal hope we have in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The theology of Christmas is essential, revealing the profound truth of God sending His Son to redeem us. This goes beyond the familiar story to the heart of why Christ's birth is the most significant event in history. [06:24]

- God's timing is perfect, as seen in the "fullness of time" when Christ was born. This reminds us that God's plans unfold in His perfect timing, even when it seems delayed from our perspective. [09:27]

- The incarnation is the profound truth of God the Son entering history, clothed in humanity. This act of humility is part of the greater narrative of redemption, where Christ fulfills the law on our behalf. [17:06]

- Our redemption involves Christ's active and passive obedience, fulfilling the law and paying the penalty for our sins. This double imputation allows us to stand before God as redeemed and righteous. [22:09]

- As redeemed, adopted, and indwelt children of God, we are heirs of His kingdom. This truth surpasses any earthly splendor, reminding us of the eternal hope we have in Christ. [24:36]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:41] - Introduction and Reflections
- [01:38] - Christmas in Zambia
- [02:27] - Commercialization of Christmas
- [03:16] - The Story vs. Theology of Christmas
- [04:12] - The Most Expensive Christmas Tree
- [05:25] - The Story of Christmas
- [06:24] - The Theology of Christmas
- [07:20] - Galatians 4:4-7
- [08:16] - The Significance of Christ's Birth
- [09:27] - The Fullness of Time
- [10:24] - The Promise of a Deliverer
- [11:45] - The Waiting for the Messiah
- [12:46] - God's Perfect Timing
- [13:40] - Deliverance in God's Time
- [14:56] - The Incarnation in History
- [16:15] - The Trinity in Christmas
- [17:57] - The Humiliation of Christ
- [19:21] - The Hypostatic Union
- [20:46] - Christ's Active and Passive Obedience
- [22:09] - Double Imputation
- [23:06] - Adoption and Inheritance
- [24:36] - Our Eternal Hope
- [26:22] - Conclusion and Encouragement
- [27:45] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Galatians 4:4-7

Observation Questions:
1. What does the phrase "fullness of time" mean in the context of Galatians 4:4, and how does it relate to the timing of Christ's birth? [09:27]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Christ being "born of a woman, born under the law"? [20:46]
3. How does the sermon describe the difference between the story of Christmas and the theology of Christmas? [06:24]
4. What role does the Trinity play in the passage from Galatians 4:4-7, as explained in the sermon? [17:06]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "God's perfect timing" challenge or encourage believers in their current life situations? [13:40]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the incarnation of Christ is an act of humility, and why is this significant for understanding the theology of Christmas? [17:57]
3. What does the sermon imply about the importance of understanding the theology of Christmas beyond the traditional story? [06:24]
4. How does the idea of being adopted as sons and daughters of God impact a believer's identity and relationship with God? [23:06]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's timing was delayed. How does the concept of the "fullness of time" help you trust in God's plan? [13:40]
2. The sermon emphasizes the humility of Christ's incarnation. How can you emulate Christ's humility in your daily interactions with others? [17:57]
3. Consider the difference between the story and the theology of Christmas. How can you incorporate the deeper theological truths of Christmas into your holiday traditions this year? [06:24]
4. The sermon speaks of our adoption as God's children. How does this truth affect the way you view yourself and your purpose in life? [23:06]
5. In what ways can you remind yourself of your eternal inheritance in Christ when faced with the temporary splendors of the world, like the extravagant Christmas tree mentioned in the sermon? [24:36]
6. How can you share the theological significance of Christmas with someone who may only be familiar with the traditional story? [06:24]
7. The sermon encourages believers to live as though the truths of redemption, adoption, and inheritance are real. What specific steps can you take this week to live out these truths in your life? [28:55]

Devotional

Day 1: The Heart of Christmas Theology
The theology of Christmas is essential, revealing the profound truth of God sending His Son to redeem us. This goes beyond the familiar story to the heart of why Christ's birth is the most significant event in history. The birth of Christ is not merely a historical event but a divine intervention that changed the course of humanity. It is the moment when God, in His infinite love, chose to enter into human history to bring about redemption. This act of sending His Son is the ultimate expression of God's love and grace, offering salvation to all who believe. Understanding this theology helps us grasp the depth of God's plan and the significance of Christ's birth beyond the nativity scene. [06:24]

Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV): "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."

Reflection: How does understanding the theology of Christmas change the way you view the holiday season? What steps can you take to focus more on the spiritual significance of Christ's birth this year?


Day 2: God's Perfect Timing
God's timing is perfect, as seen in the "fullness of time" when Christ was born. This reminds us that God's plans unfold in His perfect timing, even when it seems delayed from our perspective. The birth of Jesus was not a random event but a meticulously planned moment in history. It occurred at the precise time God intended, fulfilling prophecies and setting the stage for the redemption of humanity. This teaches us to trust in God's timing in our own lives, even when we face delays or uncertainties. His plans are always for our good, and His timing is always perfect. [09:27]

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you struggling to trust God's timing? How can you remind yourself of His perfect timing in those situations today?


Day 3: The Incarnation's Humility
The incarnation is the profound truth of God the Son entering history, clothed in humanity. This act of humility is part of the greater narrative of redemption, where Christ fulfills the law on our behalf. The incarnation is a mystery that reveals the depth of God's love and humility. Jesus, though fully God, chose to become fully human, experiencing the limitations and struggles of human life. This act of humility was necessary for our redemption, as it allowed Christ to fulfill the law perfectly and offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. The incarnation is a call to embrace humility in our own lives, following the example of Christ. [17:06]

Philippians 2:6-8 (ESV): "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. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Reflection: How can you practice humility in your daily life, following the example of Christ's incarnation? What specific actions can you take today to serve others selflessly?


Day 4: Redemption Through Obedience
Our redemption involves Christ's active and passive obedience, fulfilling the law and paying the penalty for our sins. This double imputation allows us to stand before God as redeemed and righteous. Christ's obedience was twofold: actively fulfilling the law's demands and passively suffering the penalty for our sins. Through His obedience, we are credited with His righteousness, and our sins are placed upon Him. This exchange, known as double imputation, is the foundation of our salvation. It assures us that we are accepted by God, not because of our works, but because of Christ's perfect obedience on our behalf. [22:09]

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV): "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Reflection: In what ways do you struggle to accept the righteousness of Christ as your own? How can you remind yourself of this truth and live in the freedom it brings?


Day 5: Our Eternal Inheritance
As redeemed, adopted, and indwelt children of God, we are heirs of His kingdom. This truth surpasses any earthly splendor, reminding us of the eternal hope we have in Christ. Our identity as God's children is secure because of Christ's work on our behalf. We are not only forgiven but also adopted into God's family, with the promise of an eternal inheritance. This inheritance is far greater than any earthly possession or achievement, offering us hope and assurance in this life and the next. It calls us to live with an eternal perspective, valuing the things of God above the temporary pleasures of this world. [24:36]

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Reflection: How does the promise of an eternal inheritance influence your daily decisions and priorities? What changes can you make to align your life more closely with this eternal perspective?

Quotes


The theology behind the story makes it clear why this birth was unlike any other birth and more significant than any other birth, why this birth is the most significant birth in the history of mankind, why this birth is the one that split time in half. Think about that. We now talk about BC and AD, or if you are sophisticated, BCE. [00:08:47]

When the announcement is made after the fall that there will be enmity between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman and that the serpent would bruise his heel, but that this seed of the woman would crush his head, there is a promise made, the promise that this deliverer would come, but Adam and Eve never saw that promised deliverer. [00:11:31]

There is an old saying, "He may not come when you want Him, but He is always right on time." That is important news, beloved, because that is not just true of the coming of our deliverer. It is also true of the coming of our deliverance. Is anybody praying for a wayward child? Is anybody wrestling with heartache, disappointment? [00:13:25]

The incarnation is not just myth; it is fact. It is history, and in the fullness of time God sent forth His Son. And here is where we start to have a problem. The story of a baby in a manger can bring comfort to all, but the story of the Son of God being wrapped in flesh is an entirely different thing. [00:15:05]

I love the fact that we have the entire Trinity in this passage. Listen to it again. "But when the fullness of time had come, God," there is the Father, "sent forth His Son," so, there is God the Father and God the Son, "born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law." [00:16:46]

The incarnation is about the reality of our triune God. It is about the breaking into time and to history of our triune God. It is about the incarnation of the second person of the Trinity. It is about God the Son wrapping Himself, clothing Himself in flesh. It is about His humiliation before His exaltation. [00:17:33]

Our redemption required not only that Christ die for our sin, but that He live a perfect righteous life and keep the law on our behalf. It is His active and His passive obedience. In His active obedience as one born under the law, Christ keeps the law perfectly so that He might impute that perfect righteousness to us. [00:21:37]

And His active and His passive obedience is what allows for that double imputation; my sin imputed to Christ and nailed to the tree and His righteousness imputed to me so that I stand before God redeemed, "to redeem those who were under the law." That is the theology of Christmas, not just the story of a baby. [00:22:42]

God sent forth His Son not just to redeem His people from their sins, but so that His Son might make us sons and daughters. Listen, it would have been enough to be forgiven slaves, amen? And yet God in His mercy makes us redeemed sons and daughters, adopted children of the King. [00:23:28]

Not only are we redeemed and adopted; we are indwelt. We have union and communion with the triune God so that we might proclaim with the apostle that He is "Christ in us, the hope of glory." And finally, verse 7, "So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God." [00:24:36]

You can have your eleven-million-dollar forty-two-foot tree. Just give me Jesus, because that eleven-million-dollar forty-two-foot tree pales in comparison to what we have inherited and to what we hope for, because God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law. [00:25:47]

So, beloved, I do hope that in this festive season you enjoy all of your traditions and all of your fellowship and all of everything that this season can offer, but by all means do not miss the theology of Christmas. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to redeem you from your sin so that this season might mean so much more. [00:26:50]

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Transcript
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