The Purpose of Christmas

A Time for Salvation

Ephesians 2:4-10

Opening Words: It has been written, “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.” Those words still hold true.

This is the third Sunday of Advent and the third sermon in a five part sermon series I have called The Purpose of Christmas. There is more to Christmas than the secular side of cards and gifts. There is a spiritual side. Each one of these messages is designed to help you appreciate the spiritual side of the Christmas. Two weeks ago we began by talking about Christmas being a time of preparation. Last week we talked about Christmas being a time of celebration. Today, we talk about the third purpose of Christmas, salvation. Let me call today’s message A Time for Salvation. Our scripture lesson comes from the second chapter of Ephesians, verses four through ten.

Ephesians 2:4-10 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

On November 10, 1483 Hans and Margaret Luther presented to the world their first son, Martin. Like every father Hans dreamed of what the future would hold for his son. He dreamed of his son becoming a lawyer so at the age of seventeen Martin entered Erfurt University. Upon graduation he entered law school at Erfurt. Hans Luther was pleased, law was going to be his son’s life! The problem was God had a different plan for Martin’s life. The plan began on July 2, 1505. Martin was traveling back to school from a visit at home. A great thunderstorm struck and a lightning bolt nearly struck Martin. Terrified of death and judgment he cried out, “Help! Saint Anna. I will become a monk. “Those words not only changed his life but the history of Western Civilization. If we could resurrect Martin Luther he would tell you that was his conversion experience, the day he was saved. Do you have a date you can point to and say that was the day that you were saved?

The topic of salvation is complex so let me ask you this question on the third Sunday of Advent. What do you need to be saved from this Christmas? Does anyone here need to be saved from their family? You promised to help watch the grandchildren once in a while but now they are over everyday. Or do you need to be saved from your in-laws? You married your spouse out of love but no one ever told you it was a package deal. Does anyone here need to be saved from Christmas cards and presents? The issue is not money, it is time. Does anyone here need to be saved from their own guilt? Your past includes some ugliness and the people in your life won’t forget. Does anyone here feel like they need to be saved from responsibility? Wouldn’t it be nice to think of yourself just once? Won’t it be nice if someone in your life did something for you? What is it in your life that you would like to discard? What do you need to be saved from this Christmas?

One of the most dramatic scenes in the Bible comes out of the second chapter of Luke. You know the scene. We visit it every year. The shepherds are out in the fields in the hillside surrounding Jerusalem. Their day is much like every other day but then everything changes. The scripture tells us an angel appears. The shepherds are afraid but the angel makes an announcement that changed the history of the world. It was an announcement that changed your life and mine. Luke 2:11 quotes the angel, “Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord.” Did you hear what the angel said? Our Savior had been born. Later we discover the name of that baby is Jesus. The name Jesus means, “The Lord is salvation.” There is no way to talk about Jesus and not bring up the complex topic of salvation.

So today I want to talk about Jesus as our Savior. When you say that Jesus is your Lord and Savior what are you really saying? I hope that when I am done you have a greater appreciation of Jesus as your Savor. We are going to talk about Jesus coming to save you from your sins. We are going to talk about Jesus saving you by his grace. We are going to talk about Jesus saving you for a purpose. Each one of these points is just basic Christian theology. They should not be new to you. So if you are ready to be saved again say, “Amen!”

Jesus came to save you from sin.

The first divine truth for today is Jesus came to save you from sin. Let me make this perfectly clear. We are all in need of a savior because we have all sinned. We can not help sinning; it is all part of being a human being. That is what Roman 8:23 says, “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.”One of the reasons we celebrate Christmas is that Jesus came to save us from our sins. He came to save us from our human weaknesses. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Back in 1830 George Wilson was convicted of robbing the U.S. Mail and was sentenced to be hanged. The case was complex so President Andrew Jackson issued a pardon for Wilson. Everyone was shocked when Wilson refused to accept it. The justice system didn’t know what to do. The matter went to Chief Justice John Marshall, who concluded that Wilson would have to be executed. "A pardon is a slip of paper," wrote Marshall, "the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged."

We live in a world that is rejecting the pardon. Jesus Christ came into this world to free us from our sins. We do not have to die. However, many will die because they have rejected the pardon. One of the things you really need to do today is accept the fact that you are sinner. How many people do you know justify their sins by comparing their sins to others? We look good next to murders, child molesters and terrorists. The problem is they are not part of the equation. The only sins that should concern you are your own. How do you compare next to Jesus? We have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus came to save us from our sin. Martin Luther said, "The life of Christianity consists of possessive pronouns. It is one thing to say, "Christ is a Savior"; it is quite another thing to say, "He is my Savior and my Lord." And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” If you want to find the sins in your life, then look at the attitudes that you hold.

Jesus came to save us by his grace.

The second divine truth for today is Jesus came to save us by his grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” In other words, it is a gift. There is nothing you can do to earn your salvation. It isn’t just true for you; it is true for everyone. We are saved by grace and by grace, alone. I love that divine truth but it is hard to swallow.

I love the story of Clara Barton and Theodore Roosevelt. During the Spanish-American War, Clara Barton was overseeing the work of the Red Cross in Cuba. One day Colonel Theodore Roosevelt came to her, wanted to buy food for his sick and wounded Rough Riders. But she refused to sell him any. Roosevelt was perplexed. His men needed the help and he was prepared to pay out of his own funds. When he asked someone why he could not buy the supplies, he was told, "Colonel, just ask for it!" A smile broke over Roosevelt's face. Now he understood--the provisions were not for sale. All he had to do was simply ask and they would be given freely. I understand why Teddy Roosevelt couldn’t understand. We are raised with the fact that nothing in this world is free. Everything of value needs to be earned. We are more comfortable with the merit system.

For those of us who labor in the church, wouldn’t it be nice to get a little bonus? I will be honest with you. If I were God, things would change. If I were God anyone who labored in the kitchen all day so others could eat all the food in a few minutes would get a bonus. If I were God anyone who served on the Board of Trustees or the Finance Committee would get a bonus. If I were God anyone who tithed or wrote an extra check to help us pay our outstanding $32,000 apportionment for 2008 would get a bonus. Sunday School teachers and Junior Church would get a bonus. If I were God everyone who showed up for choir practice or TOGGLE rehearsal would get a bonus. If I were God every preacher would get an big bonus. Don’t you think those of us who love the church and worry about the church and work in the church deserve a bonus? The problem is it is not based on a merit system. We don’t get a bonus for doing extra work, we do extra work to thank God for saving us by grace. That is hard to accept but it is true. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Jesus came to save us for a purpose.

The third divine truth for today is Jesus came to save us for a purpose. Ephesians 1:11-12 says, “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” That verse disturbs my Wesleyan theology but the point is clear. God came to save us for a purpose.

I love the story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playng in the World Series, and as usual Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his teammates on the one hand, and distract the Milwaukee batters on the other. As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, "Henry, you're holding the bat wrong. You're supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark." Aaron didn't say anything, but when the next pitch came he hit it into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging up at home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, "I didn't come up here to read."

God did not put us in this world to be consumed by ourselves. He put us in this world to be consumed with the needs of others. As pastor of this church I am always humbled by the number of talented and dedicated people that support this ministry. They illustrate to us all that our blessings would not be hoarded; they are to be used. Salvation is not just fire insurance to keep you out of hell. You are saved for a purpose. There is a ministry out there waiting for you! God is calling you to that intersection of life where human need meets personal interest. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!“

A marshal in Napoleon's army -- a man who was devotedly and enthusiastically attached to him -- was mortally wounded in battle. As the last struggle drew near and he lay dying in his tent, he sent for his chief. Napoleon came. The poor man thought his emperor could do anything. Perhaps he even sought to put him in the place of God. So he earnestly pleaded with his leader to save his life. The emperor sadly shook his head and turned away. But as the dying man felt the cold, merciless hand of death drawing him irresistibly behind the curtain of the unseen world, he was still heard to shriek out, "Save me, Napoleon! Save me!" In the hour of death, that soldier discovered that even the powerful Napoleon could not give him physical life.

There is only one name that will save you. That name is not Napoleon, Lebron, Barack or Martin. The only name that will save you is Jesus. He came to save you from your sins. He came to save you with his grace. He came to save you for a purpose. And all of God’s saved people said, “Amen!”