Forgiveness is a Matter of Life and Death

 

Forgiveness Is a Matter of Life and Death!

ROM. 3:19-23; 6:23

SUBJECT: FORGIVENESS/ SALVATION

THEME: God Can Forgive Anyone and Everyone Who Receives His Forgiveness…even those with False Guilt. Forgiveness, a Matter of Eternal Life and Death, helps us Understand Why we Need the Savior.

RELEVANCY: Forgiveness is a matter of life and death, eternal life and death. There isn't anything more important that you can do than to receive God's forgiveness and be reconciled to Him.

INTRODUCTION:

I think that all of us are familiar with several concepts about sin and forgiveness. I want to build on this in this message and take you into a fuller understanding of what the Bible teaches about sin, guilt, and our need for a Savior.

You may be a Christian and therefore believe that you don't need to know anything more about sin and guilt. Well, as a Christian, you should be talking to people who are sinners about their need for forgiveness. This message can give you some insights into what to say about sin and forgiveness, and how to encourage a person to accept Christ as Savior.

MESSAGE:

I.  True Or False Guilt Should be Distinguished.

Many people are walking under a dark cloud, feeling God's displeasure or sensing that they should be feeling God's displeasure. Some have a false sense of guilt. Let's recognize several facts about guilt.

A. GENUINE GUILT.

Romans 3:19, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

First, genuine guilt is the way we feel when we have sinned. It is the normal response to sinful behavior. Sin causes guilt.

B. FALSE GUILT.

But not all guilt comes from sin. The guilt we feel is sometimes false guilt. It did not originate is something God said or required.

ILLUSTRATION:  Consider for a moment the young woman who is a victim of incest or rape. She may struggle for years with a sense of guilt because she has been a party to a sin. But she was neither the initiator of nor a willing participant in that sin. She is a victim of someone else’s sin. The guilt she feels is false guilt.

C.  DIVINE ACCOUNTABILITY.

    1.  Why is this guilt false when sin has been involved and a person has been associated with sin?

    2.  It is false because from God’s perspective, there is no accountability placed upon that person for what happened.

    3.  True guilt is associated with willful sin, not sin that is against one’s will.

II. Accountability Involving the Will Increases our Understanding of Guilt.

Genuine guilt arises when we willfully act in a way that we know is contrary to God's law.

A.  A SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY. 

    1.  An accountability ladder involving the will looks something like this:

forgiveness

sin and guilt

knowledge

moral conscience

   2.  Forgiveness presupposes sin and its attendant guilt. In other words, if you feel no guilt of sin, you feel no need for forgiveness.

   3.  Guilt presupposes knowledge. If you don't know that you have sinned, you don't feel guilty.

   4.  Knowledge presupposes a moral conscience—that you have within you the capacity for determining right from wrong.

          — If you don't have a moral conscience, you don't know whether you are doing wrong.

          — If you are unable to determine right from wrong—perhaps because you are mentally disabled—then you cannot be held accountable for your actions.

Romans 2:14-15, For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: [15] Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

B.  THE ROLE OF THE WILL.

In this entire chain of presuppositions is the concept of the will.

     1.  Put the process in reverse.

          A.  If you have the capacity to know right from wrong, and you know something is wrong but you do it anyway, you will feel guilty and have a need for forgiveness.

          B.  You have acted out of your will to do something that you know not to do. You have willfully acted in a way that is wrong, and you are, therefore, accountable for your actions.

     2.  You may say, “Are you telling me that if I don't know something is wrong, I'm not accountable for that sin?” That's exactly what I'm saying, but hear me carefully when I say that very few people fall into that category. Very young children or someone who is mentally disabled for instance.

     3.  Most of us know what to do.

           A.  Most of us know what not to do.

           B.  And most of us choose, at some points in our lives, to do what we know not to do.

           C.  This is true for all people. Human beings around the world have an intuitive sense of what is right and wrong, and they know when they are choosing wrong (Rom. 1:18-23).

ILLUSTRATION: Consider for a moment a three-year-old child who is told specifically, “Don't touch Mommy's special vase.” The child is brought into the living room and told, “In this room, I want you to look at things but not touch them.” The child may even be shown the vase and be allowed to touch it under the careful supervision of her mother as Mommy says, “This is the vase I don't want you to touch, except when I am with you and we are touching it just as we are touching it right now.”

The mother asks the child, “Do you understand what I am telling you?” The child nods yes and may even say, “I won't touch your vase, Mommy.”

The next hour, what does Mommy hear from the living room? The crash of her favorite vase.

Now, nobody had to teach that little girl to disobey. We teach our children to obey, but they are born with the ability to disobey.

C.  WE ARE BORN WITH A REBELLIOUS HEART.

And even when we know that we aren't to do certain things because God has commanded us not to do them, we sometimes choose to do those things. Paul wrote, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Rom. 8:7).

We are born with a rebellious nature. And we are accountable for our deeds performed in rebellion against God's commandments.

Again, guilt is true guilt when it is the by-product of our willful sin. Guilt is false guilt when it is the by-product of another person's willful sin.

D.  WHAT TO DO WITH FALSE GUILT.

    1.  What should a person do if he discovers he has been carrying a load of false guilt?

   2.  He should come before his heavenly Father and say, “I confess that I have been carrying a burden that isn't mine. I give this burden of guilt to You today, Lord Jesus. I turn it over to You completely and ask You to carry it. I receive Your forgiveness, and by my faith, I accept the fact that I am free of this guilt and any aspect of sin associated with it. I put my trust in Your Holy Spirit to help me walk in freedom and confidence that I bear no penalty for that incident in my past. In Jesus' name, amen!”

III.  A Definition of Sin Helps Us Appreciate the Savior.

A.  SIN IS MISSING THE MARK.

James 2:10, For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Some people define sin as “missing the mark”—just as an arrow misses a bull's-eye on a target. God's commandments are the target, and we miss God's ideal when we sin.

    1.  We Miss the Mark of God’s Standards.  In the O.T. the Ten Commandments are God’s Perfect Standards and in the New Testament, Jesus Christ is.  If we are as perfect and flawless as Jesus Christ then we are good enough to go to Heaven.  But none of us are, we actually miss the mark of Christ! 

    2.  We Miss the Mark of God’s Character. Secondly, God’s Holy Character is the target, He is absolutely perfect and His demands are exacting.  He cannot tolerate even the smallest deviation from the standard of morale perfection and rectitude.

    3.  One Sin Makes a Man a Sinner!   A man may live and ‘extremely good life,’ but he will still miss the mark that God’s own Holiness demands.

B.  SIN IS FALLING SHORT. 

Romans 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Others define sin as “falling short” of God's perfect will. God's desire is that we live in wholeness and follow Him explicitly in all His commandments and directives. We fail to do so in our imperfection, and that is sin.

C.  SIN IS TRESPASSING.

2 Cor. 5:19, To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Col. 2:13, And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Still others define sin as “trespassing.” God has areas of behavior that He designates off-limits to us, and we trespass into those territories and are subject to penalty. Or we trespass against another person. We have sinned against God and others.

 D.  SIN IS REJECTING.

My personal favorite definition of sin comes from Jeremiah 2:13, which says, For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

    1.  Rejecting a Free and Abundant Supply.

       — Cisterns are wells that are dug into the earth, usually into solid rock, with the intention of holding water.

       — God is painting a fascinating word picture in these words of the prophet. He is saying, “You have rejected Me as a fountain of living water for your life.”

       — A fountain is an artesian spring—one that bubbles up from the earth with an unending supply of fresh, pure water. A fountain gives water that is free for the asking.

    2.  Rejecting an Opportunity to Ask Christ for Living Water.

ILLUSTRATION: Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman by the well of Sychar, and in the course of His conversation with her, He said of Himself, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is who saith to thee, ‘Give Me to drink,’ thou would have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water” (John 4:10). Jesus is painting this same word picture about Himself—He has life to give that is eternal and is freely offered. His forgiveness—and the eternal life associated with it—is a fountain from which we can draw in an unending fashion. His forgiveness is free for the asking.

    3. Choosing One’s Own Actions for Satisfaction.   

“But” God says through Jeremiah, “instead of choosing My living water, you have chosen to build cisterns.” 

        — To build is an act of the will. The cistern builders rejected the artesian spring for a well of their own making.

        — And the Lord noted with sadness but with certainty, “It is a broken cisterns.” There is a crack in the cistern, which means that it won't hold the water.

APPLICATION: “Everything you try to do to achieve your own forgiveness is futile,” God is saying. “You can dig and dig, you can make cistern after cistern, you can strive and struggle all you want, and it will never bring you forgiveness.”

The only forgiveness we can ever experience is God's forgiveness, granted God's way. Anytime we attempt to meet any of our needs or accomplish anything by means other than God's means, we are setting ourselves up for eventual failure. We are building a broken cistern. If we want to be our own savior, rather than accept the Savior whom God has provided, we will fail in our attempt.

IV.  Sin is A Willful Choice Against God’s Forgiveness.

A.  IT WILL RESULT IN DEATH.

Ultimately, people's willful choices against God can form a pattern that leads to eternal death. God doesn't want to send people to hell. People choose to go there. They choose to trample upon the blood of Jesus; they choose to walk nonchalantly by the cross; they choose to avoid the empty tomb. They choose to ignore the songs of redemption they have heard a thousand times. They choose to harden their hearts to the prayers of others on their behalf. They choose to turn a deaf ear to sermons that speak of salvation and to the witness of Christ's love from friends and strangers. They choose to ignore and repress the countless promptings of the Holy Spirit tugging at their hearts. They choose to rebel.

B.  IT IS A REFUSAL OF FORGIVENESS.

My friend, you really have to work to refuse God's gift of forgiveness. But some do. They refuse to give up their pride and to submit to doing things God's way. They refuse to drink from the fountain of His living water freely made available to them, and they strive instead to build cisterns—cisterns that inevitably will break and fail to satisfy the deep thirst of the soul.

V.  Forgiveness Is an Eternal Gift from God.

Throughout the New Testament, forgiveness is pictured as a gift of God. Romans 6:23 tells us, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

A.   A GIFT IS FREE TO YOU.

You don't have to do something significant or ordinary to earn it. You just simply receive it. God is presenting eternal life to you…take it, receive it…it is paid for by God for you. That's the way God offers forgiveness to you. He extends it to you as a gift. You cannot earn your salvation.

B.  DEATH IS WHAT WE’VE EARNED.

Note that “the wages of sin is death.” Forgiveness does not belong in the same category as earning what you deserve, taking a payment, or obtaining the gross or profit of our labors. The lake of fire is earned! Death is earned through repeated disobedience and rejection of God’s forgiveness. You can earn the consequences for disobedience, but you can never earn forgiveness. It is God’s free gift—His living water.

C.  RECEIVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS TODAY.

The only thing you have to do to receive forgiveness is to receive forgiveness. And when you do, you truly have made a choice for life. Again, we cannot simply believe anything about Jesus or be forgiven for any reason. We must believe the Son of God, Jesus Christ, died for our sins, was buried, and God raise Him up again the third day for our justification before The Father (see 1 Cor. 15:1-4 and Rom 3:21-31). I beg you to understand that it is faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel that is the power of God that saves us…that grant us forgiveness (Rom. 1:14-17). Again, receive God’s forgiveness even now. This is how we experience God’s spiritual birth.

Remember, you are not beyond God’s forgiveness. No matter what you have done…no sin is too extreme, too undeserving, too awful, or too pervasive for God to forgive. It does not matter who you are…no person is so deep in sin, so firmly implanted in maliciousness, so ingrained in a lifestyle, so deeply rooted in wickedness, so steeped in evil, that he or she cannot be saved. Any sin and sinner, including you and yours, can be forgiven by God.

CONCLUSION: I invite you to read carefully the words of an Old Testament prophet who knew about the nature of sin, guilt, and the obstinacy of the human will when it is turned against God. Daniel wrote profoundly about sin, yet with the hope and belief that God not only does forgive, but will forgive. Let his words speak to your heart today. Make them your prayer.

Daniel 9:3-10,  And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: [4] And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; [5] We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: [6] Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. [7] O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. [8] O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. [9] To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; [10] Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

Daniel 9:16, O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.

Daniel 9:19, O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

How Should We View Israel's Rejection?

Romans 11:1-10

SUBJECT: ISRAEL’S FUTURE

THEME: Israel’s rejection is not total, final, or permanent; in fact, God is saving individual Jews by His grace when they believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

INTRODUCTION:

Rom. 11:1-2a, I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.

Paul’s opening question is, “Hath God cast away his people?” That is has God utterly, completely, and finally cast away the nation of Israel? Since the question is rhetorical, Paul answers, “God forbid!” Meaning certainly not! No, every single Israelite has not been cast away. He follows with the reason through a series of illustrations and Old Testament references demonstrating how God historically reserved a handful of faithful believers even in seasons of extreme national apostasy.

Israel’s Rejection by God is not Total; He has Always Reserved a Remnant for Himself; Therefore, Individual Jews can be Saved by Grace.

Remember Chapter 10 of Romans ended with the fact that the Nation of Israel refused to pay attention to the message and messengers of God. Paul described them as a “disobedient and gainsaying people.” There was nothing deficient in the message of God, they opted to close their ears to it. Likewise, there is no weakness in the Gospel of Jesus Christ even though the nation of Israel has rejected it. The majority chose not to believe, but there is a remnant!

CONSIDER THE TWO GROUPS OF ISRAEL (Rom. 11:1-10)

There is the minority group of believing Jews, and then there is the majority group of Christ-rejecting Jews.

The Minority Group Represents the Saved Remnant of Israel (Rom. 11:1-6)

God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace (Rom. 11:2-5).

The Minority Group Is Represented by Paul (Rom. 11:1).  

The converted Pharisee, Apostle Paul, represents the believing remnant of Israel in this Age of Grace. Remember Romans 10:8-13, “Whosoever” includes Jews and Gentiles! We know that all Jews have not been cast away because Paul himself was a Jew and he certainly was a saved man. Exhibit A is Paul himself as proof that God has not fully rejected all of His covenant people Israel. Actually, Paul’s conversion in Acts 9 can be understood as a foreshadow of the conversion of the entire nation of Israel one day. They will acknowledge Jesus’ Lordship, trust Him as Savior, and serve Him faithfully after His glorious future revelation and return to the earth!

The Minority Group Is Represented by Elijah (Rom. 11:2-4).  

Elijah pictures the believing remnant of Israel throughout the life of the nation of Israel. The situation of Israel today is similar to that which existed in Elijah’s time. The mass of the nation had turned away from God to serve the idol Baal. It was so bad that Elijah prayed against his nation instead of for it!     

During Elijah’s season of discouragement, he was convinced he was the only believer in his day, and to make a bad situation worse, his life was in danger according to the death warrant issued by the queen of Israel. Who would worship Jehovah then? In those difficult times, the prophet actually made “intercession to God against Israel” (11:2). Can you imagine national conditions being so sinful and idolatrous that you feel compelled to pray judgment upon your own country? But God (who fully understood the truth) quickly informed him that: “I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal” (Rom. 11:4; see also 1 Kings 19:10, 14,18).

What was true then is true today: God never leaves Himself without a witness. Though it may be modest, He always has a faithful remnant chosen as special objects of His grace (Vs 5, ... “according to the election of grace”). The fact that God always has a remnant of believing Jews is proof that He has not totally and finally cast aside Israel!

The Minority Group Represents the Principles of Salvation for Every Age (Rom. 11:6).

Rom 11:4-6, But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5, Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6, And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Like us, God did not choose this remnant on the basis of their cleaver and devoted works, services, or rituals! No, God's actions evidenced His own sovereign electing grace (vs 6). That is God saved them on the basis of unmerited, undeserved, unqualified, and unwarranted kindness. It is the same way God has always saved anyone who is saved or ever will be saved. Grace is always the basis of salvation. Paul also clearly insists that Grace and Law are mutually exclusive, and they can never be mixed. If you tried to combine them, you will in effect destroy them both. While Law and Grace cannot be fused together, they do complement each other. Law prepares us to see ourselves as sinners in need of the Savior. Accordingly, God saves repentant sinners by special favor motivated by His great love and nothing else—grace. Praise the Most High God that even this remnant under the Law from Elijah’s day were saved by Grace and not on the basis of their works/performance. If salvation was by our actions of service, we all would be damned to Hell for all eternity. God requires perfection and none of us measures up to the absolute perfection in Jesus Christ! Principally speaking, this minority group represents the saved, redeemed of every age! Praise our gracious Lord, I am in this group! What about you?

The Majority Group Represents the Unsaved of Israel (Rom. 11:7-10)

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (Rom. 11:7).

The Nation of Israel desires salvation, but they are going about securing it entirely wrong. Israel failed to obtain righteousness because they sought it through self-effort instead of through the finished work of Christ Jesus. In contrast, this elect minority—the chosen remnant—did indeed obtain God-given righteousness through faith in the Lord Jesus. As a result, the majority of the nation of Israel has and will suffer various forms of God’s judgments. Review the history of the nation….

God Punished Them with Blindness (Rom. 11:7) “and the rest were blinded”: This blindness is a judicial act of Almighty God because of their unbelief, and their insistence upon trusting in their own efforts of self-righteousness (Rom. 10:2-4). They refused to believe God; they would not exercise faith in the all-sufficient atonement of Christ our Lord. Therefore, their refusal to receive the Messiah resulted in a decreased capacity and inclination to receive Him. This is exactly what the OT predicted would happen. Spiritual blindness is an act of divine judgment. Beloved, unbelief is an exceedingly serious matter to God!

Isaiah Predicted This Form of Slumber, Blindness, and Deafness: Compare Romans 11:8 with Isaiah 29:10.

According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear; unto this day (Rom. 11:8).

Today Israel as a nation is in a spiritual stupor; they have become insensitive to spiritual realities, because they refused their Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is key and central to comprehending God’s redemptive work and gracious plan, if you reject Him then nothing makes any sense at all. The greater number of the national population is in this group who have lost their power to see spiritual reality; therefore, they stumble around in utter darkness!

David Predicted This Curse of Enslavement to Blindness: Compare Romans 11:9-10 with Psalm 69:22-23.

And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway (Rom. 11 :9-10).

Understand, that no nation was ever privileged and blessed like Israel was historically. It was God who prepared an unrivaled “table” of spiritual and national benefits for them! Yet, the sum total of their abundant blessings became a source of curses to them! Yes, it even became a form of entrapment judgment upon them! Finally, it proved to be a stumbling block—an obstacle of great offense to them. Both prophets Isaiah and David predicted this. Present-day Israel is thus plagued with a threefold blindness:

         1) The blindness caused by the fall of Adam (Eph. 4:18)

         2) The blindness caused by Satan (2 Cor. 4:4)

         3) The blindness caused by God (Rom. 11:8)

Beloved, there is a sober warning for each of us in these words of Scripture. The things we cherish most can become the very source of our stumbling, blindness, and rejection of the mind and heart of God for each of us. You see a refusal to accept God’s truth and Christian responsibility will result in spiritual blindness for both sinner and saint alike. Peter warms NT believers of the possibility of spiritual senility taking over and crippling our potential for Christ (2Pet. 1:8-10). The writer of Hebrews cautions believers of the awful condition of growing backwards and reverting back to spiritual infancy (Heb. 5:11-14). It is vitally important that we pursue godly growth and maintain real sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Scriptures, our Holy Savior, and our Holy Sovereign.

It is a frightful thing to contemplate becoming so enamored with the blessings that I dismiss the God who blessed me! I shudder at the thought of allowing a human relationship, a professional path, a standard of living, a certain church family, or an unjustified prioritization of convenience and comfort over God’s will, godly convictions, and surrender to Christ. Too many of God’s people can delineate their blessings, but they cannot imagine life without those privileges…not even when God summons them to go further and deeper with Him in life and service. Saying NO, to what God is trying to teach us and refusing to accept God’s will for us is literally asking for His chastening!

CONCLUSION:

Because of the things we’ve explored, we are assured that God still has plans for His covenant people. Once again, the Nation of Israel will be saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and according to the Covenant of God to Abraham. God will fulfill all His great promises to the nation. In the meantime, God will save the Jewish person who repents believing the Gospel of Jesus our Lord. Therefore, Israel’s rejection is not entire, permanent and certainly not final—she has a brilliant future before her when she turns to Jesus Christ in faith.

Now consider this brilliant and powerful description of Jesus Christ, the Savior,

In whom [Christ our Lord] we have redemption [Redeemer] through his blood [Blood Atonement], even the forgiveness of sins [Forgiver of our sins]: [15] Who is the image of the invisible God [Revealer & Representative of God], the firstborn [The Unique Superior & Sovereign over creation] of every creature: [16] For by him [Jesus] were all things created [Creator], that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones [Superior to all creatures], or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him [Originator], and for him [Supreme Purpose & Meaning]: [17] And he [Jesus] is before all things [Preeminent One], and by him all things consist [The Providential Sustainer]. (Col. 1:14-17)

Beloved, because of these truths and Paul’s constant proclamation of Jesus Christ as the perfect, divine, all-sufficient Lord, we do not need to add anything to Him and His work to be saved. Nor should be supplement Jesus to find fulfillment, completion, confidence, maturity, power, victory, or meaning in this life and the next! Come Jews and Gentiles alike…there is room at the Cross for all. Come religious person and atheistic person to this one Savior and Lord. He promises to save, to give life to, to forgive, to receive you, to be your Savior when you trust Him. Remember, it is Jesus who died, was buried, and rose again the third day. Yes, He is alive to rescue you from spiritual destruction and hell because of your sin. Listen, God forgave even me when I repented trusting Jesus…He will certainly do likewise for you. Turn to Him now. Cry out to Him for forgiveness, confess that Jesus is the Lord God who became a man to die for our sins. Believe in your heart of hearts that God raised Him from the dead proving that Jesus had conquered sin, death, and hell for us. Our Lord Jesus, the very Son of God, is the consummate Savior! The question remains, is He your Savior? Why not trust the Lord today?

The First Christmas Dream

Matthew 1:18-25

THEME: Mary the virgin miraculously conceives, and her fiancé, Joseph, receives a visit from an angel. Mary and Joseph are married, and the baby Jesus is born.

RELEVANCE: To assure everyone that Jesus is the legal heir to the throne of David and the promises to Abraham are fulfilled in Him. Christ is the Savior and Messiah King. The question is, is he your Savior? Have you believed on Him for the forgiveness of sin? In addition, God guides His people into the details of His grand will. The question is, can He direct and/or redirect you? Will you abandon your will to embrace His? Before Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream, Jehovah God had one and it includes you and me. 

INTRODUCTION:

Joseph did not divorce his fiancé Mary when he discovered her pregnancy because the Lord revealed the truth to him. Through an incredibly important dream, God showed Joseph the miraculous nature of Mary’s pregnancy and the fascinating divine nature of her baby. All of this is a fulfillment of a 700-year-old prophecy concerning Israel’s promised Messiah’s birth in Isaiah 7:14, which says, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.”

Jesus is the virgin-born Son of God; in Christ God dwells with humanity! Truly, the conception of Jesus Christ is a supernatural and absolutely unique event beyond human logic or reasoning. There is nothing else like it in all of human history. Because of this, God sent angels to help certain people understand the significance of what is unfolding (see Matt. 2:13, 19; Luke 1:11, 26; 2:9). In this case, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. Some dreams function in the Bible as a means to convey God’s message to people. The first Christmas dream tells us of the nature of our Messiah King and the wonder of his conception. It presents us an opportunity to ponder deeply God's grand dream for each of us....

LESSON:

Joseph's Dream Confirms Christ’s Divine Heritage and Virgin Birth (1:20-25)

While this gentle and deliberate man was mapping his strategy to protect Mary, “the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream.” As Joseph began to move forward on his decided course of action, God intervened to prevent a major mistake.

THE MESSAGE IN THE CHRISTMAS DREAM (Matt. 1:20-23): GOD REVEALS THE MESSIAH’S COMING

Angels are spiritual beings, created by God, who help carry out his work on earth. They brought God’s messages to people (Luke 1:26), protected God’s people (Dan 6:22), offered encouragement (Gen 16:7), and gave guidance (Ex 14:19). The angel who appeared to Joseph was one of God’s messengers, sent to correct and guide Joseph in his dealings with Mary. So, what was the message in the dream about? (Wiersbe)

It Confirms the Purity of Mary (Matt. 1:20):

Joseph is reassured that Mary’s pregnancy is caused by the Holy Spirit. Notice how God conveys this reality to Joseph.

The Specific Address.

This greeting, “Joseph, thou son of David,” was clearly designed to stir up the consciousness of his royal pedigree and to prepare him for the unusual advent of Israel’s Messiah-King. (MacDonald)

This signified that Joseph had a special role in a special event. The angel explained that Joseph was to take Mary as his wife, for the child was to be in the royal line of David. Joseph, as "son of David," would establish that royal lineage. God has an incredibly significant role for each of us as we partner with him in service and life-purpose.

The Specific Counsel.  “fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife”

Joseph was not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife; no matter what the social repercussions might be. Of course, she was already his wife because they were pledged, but the angel told Joseph that instead of divorcing Mary, he should complete the marriage process and take her home as his wife. Mary had committed no sin. He should have no misgivings about marrying Mary.

The Specific Reason. (1:20) “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost”

Any suspicions concerning her purity is groundless. Her pregnancy was a miracle of the Holy Spirit. God himself, with her consent, caused this pregnancy, and the child would be very special -- God's Son. Yes, Mary was a pregnant virgin and the baby is God the Son entering the world as the Son of Man. He would also be the fulfillment of prophecy, as described in the next verse.

When facing big decisions, some people freeze with fright. What if I decide wrong? What if I miss God's will? What if . . .? To make good decisions, first take all these worries and put them under God's promise: God cares for you, watches over you, and guides your steps. Joseph came to the best decision he could, but God had other plans and communicated them clearly. Most of our decisions will not be overruled by angels, but that's no reason for lack of confidence. To make good decisions, examine the Word on the subject, pray, evaluate all the options, talk with trusted Christian friends, then act in faith. God is with you, every step.

It Confesses the Person within Mary (Matt. 1:21):

The Angel of the Lord tells Joseph that Mary will deliver a son and his name will be Jesus. In fact, the angel proceeds to reveal the unborn Child’s sex, name, and mission. (MacDonald)

The Gender of this Unique Person.

Mary would bear a Son.  Isaiah 9:6-7, 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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. [7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

The Name of this Unique Person.

He was to be named JESUS, (which means “Jehovah is salvation” or “Jehovah, the Savior”). The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew name, Joshua. There were many Jewish boys with the name Joshua (or, in the Greek, Jesus); but Mary’s Boy was called “Jesus the Christ.”  The word Christ means “anointed”; it is the Greek equivalent of Messiah. He is “Jesus the Messiah.” Jesus is His human name; Christ is His official title! Beloved, there is a SAVIOR! (MacDonald)

The Mission of this Unique Person. (1:21)

True to His Name, He would “save His people from their sins.” This Child of destiny was Jehovah Himself, visiting earth to save lost humanity from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin, and eventually from the very presence of sin. From the very start, Matthew explains, to a Jewish audience, that Jesus would not save the people from Rome or from tyranny, nor would he set up an earthly kingdom immediately. Instead, Jesus would save people from sin.  How would Jesus save them from their sins? The answers to these questions will be found in the unfolding story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. (MacDonald)

  

Jesus came to earth to save us because we cannot save ourselves from sin and its devastating and eternal consequences. No matter how good we are, we cannot eliminate our alienation from God. Only Jesus, the Messiah Savior, can do that. Jesus did not come to help people save themselves; he, and he alone, came to be our Savior from the power and penalty of sin. Hell is extremely real, and God’s grace is abundant—Jesus is the only Savior. Why not trust him? This is God's grand dream for you.

This Christmas it would be good to thank the Lord Jesus for his death on the cross for your sin, and then ask him to take control of your life. Believe that he died in your place and for your sin. Trust the truth that he was buried and rose again the third day as he promised. Know that he did all of this to save you. Your new life begins at that moment. Beloved, Jesus came on a mission of mercy to rescue lost and dying sinners from hell and bring us into a righteous relationship with God.

It Concerns the Prophecy about Messiah (Matt. 1:22-23):

This Son, conceived without the aid of a human father, is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s ancient prophecy. Again, in Isaiah 7:14, the great prophet says, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

This Prophecy was Fulfilled. (1:22)

As Matthew recorded these events, he realized that a new era had dawned in the history of God’s dealings with the human race. The words of a messianic prophecy, long dormant, had now sprung to life. Isaiah’s cryptic prophecy was now fulfilled in Mary’s Child! (Luke 1:69-70) (MacDonald)

The Prophecy Was Inspired.  (1:22)

You see, all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was “spoken of the Lord by the prophet.” Matthew claims divine inspiration for the words of Isaiah—the Lord had spoken by the prophet at least 700 years before Christ. This was God’s ancient prediction coming to fruition.

The Prophecy Was Miraculous.  (1:23)

The prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 includes the foretelling of a unique birth (“Behold, a virgin shall conceive”! In addition, think about the name assigned to God’s Son. “Emmanuel” describes who He is— “God with us.” Jesus Christ is God! We find this name “Immanuel” in Isaiah 7:14 and 8:8. The King, then, was a Jewish male who is also the divine Son of God. Immanuel might also be a designation for Christ which will be used primarily in His Second Advent. Note the thoughtfully crafted statement of this truth by the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 3:16, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” God does the miraculous to save sinners like you and me. Hallelujah! What an excellent Savior! Amen! God is with us.

THE MARRIAGE FOLLOWING THE CHRISTMAS DREAM (Matt. 1:24-25): JOSEPH TAKES MARY TO BE HIS WIFE AND CHRIST IS BORN.

Joseph facing a difficult choice after discovering that Mary is pregnant, takes her as his wife. Though this may have been humiliating, Joseph chooses to obey the angel’s command to marry her.

Joseph Abandons His Plans. (Matt. 1:24) “did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him”

As a result of the angel’s intervention, Joseph abandons his plan to divorce Mary. He continues to recognize their betrothal until Jesus’ birth! Never fear leaving your designs for your future as you embrace God’s plan.

Joseph Adopts God’s Plans. (Matt. 1:25) “and took unto him his wife”

When Joseph awakes from this dream, he obeys the Lord’s guidance. He violates many national customs by immediately taking Mary into his home rather than waiting till the one-year time period of betrothal to pass. Thinking of what would be best for Mary in her condition, he brought her home and began to care and provide for her. (Walvoord)

We can appreciate God’s miraculous working in both Joseph and Mary. Although God’s actions were beyond their comprehension, and although they may have faced misunderstanding and questioning looks from those around them, Mary and Joseph willingly followed God’s guidance. How willing are we to do what God wants, no matter what? Can we follow God’s guidance without question?

Upon awaking, Joseph did not hesitate. The decision was no longer difficult, because he simply does what he knows God wants him to do. His actions revealed four commendable qualities: (1) righteousness (1:19), (2) discretion and sensitivity (1:19), (3) responsiveness to God (1:24), and (4) self-discipline (1:25). Does this accurately describe you and me? Are we cultivating these excellent characteristics? (Wiersbe)

 

Sometimes we avoid doing what is right because of what others might think. Like Joseph and Mary, we must choose to obey God rather than seek the approval of others.

Joseph Adjusts to God’s Plan. (Matt. 1:25) “he knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son:”

To squelch any doubts about the conception and birth of Jesus while Mary was still a virgin, Matthew explained that Joseph had no sexual relationship with Mary until after the birth of this Child, Jesus. Luke (Col. 4:14), records several details surrounding the birth (Luke 2:1-7). (Walvoord)

The statement in verse 25, also refutes the notion that Mary lived her whole life as a virgin; after Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary consummated their marriage, and Jesus had several half-brothers (Matt. 12:46). Two of Jesus’ half-brothers were prominent figured in the Jerusalem Church -- James, became the leader, and Jude, wrote the book that bears his name.

Other references which indicate that Mary had children by Joseph are Matthew 12:46; 13:55, 56; Mark 6:3; John 7:3, 5; Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5; and Galatians 1:19. Joseph was not the inflexible person that is hard to work with because they must do everything one way. He was agile, nibble, flexible and capable of growing through sound God-given guidance. Are you willingly adjusting to God’s plan for you?  

Joseph Adopts God’s Son. (Matt. 1:25) “and he [Joseph] called his name JESUS”

In taking Mary as his wife, Joseph also took her Child as his adopted Son. This is how Jesus became legal heir to the throne of David. In obedience to the angelic visitor, he called the Baby’s name Jesus. Joseph did everything that God had told him! Thus, Jesus is the indisputable King of Israel and Savior of the world. As Joseph accepted the Lord, why don’t we do the same? After all this is God's dream for you and me. 

CONCLUSION: 

Thus, the Messiah-King was born. The Eternal One entered time. The Omnipotent became a tiny Infant. The Lord of glory veiled that glory in a human body, and “in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9). GOD IS WITH US! God is still speaking to His people through the written Word of God. Read, study, meditate upon the Bible’s teachings to hear His great Voice. You do not need a dream necessarily to be certain you have heard from God, you can trust the Scriptures implicitly. As God guides respond in faith and obedience as Joseph did. Wonderful dreams, God's dreams, become reality when we live in concert with His plans.