## Christmas Questions: Why Did God Became Man?

## John 1:14

Welcome to December, for me this is the official start of the Christmas season. For most retailers, it began sometime in mid-October! Let me say up front that I love Christmas! I have always loved Christmas. I have fond memories of special Christmas' in the past (Like the first Christmas Pat and I celebrated together. We lived in California, 1000's of miles away from our families; we were up at 4 am on the phone at the convenience store, so we could be with them as they opened gifts). Some of my memories are not so fond, (like the time I asked for a BB gun, but received a pop gun that had a cork on a string), but I still love Christmas!

One of my favorite stories of Christmas is by Charles Dickens; 'A Christmas Carol' speaks of a transformation that took place in the life of Ebenezer Scrooge. Many familiar phrases have remained from that story. 'Bah, Humbug!' You know there are still some 'Scrooges' who want to ruin Christmas for others. My father never finished high school, but he was one of the wisest men I ever met. He used to tell me that 'a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing'. I have found that to be especially true when it comes to the Bible.

A question that surfaces quite often at this time of the year is "Should Christians celebrate Christmas?" And it seems there is always someone with a 'little' knowledge of the Scriptures that wants to quickly tell us how wrong it is for Christians to do so! [2] (Jeremiah 10:3-4) For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

This passage gets pulled out every Christmas with the same regularity as tangled strings of twinkle lights. I have heard it quoted as a proof text why it is an abomination for a Christian to have a tree decorated at Christmas. Another passage is from Isaiah.

(Isaiah 44:14-15) He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

When we put portions of these verses together here is what we come up with: Christmas trees are idols … they are decorated and we fall down and worship them when we kneel to place gifts under the tree. Oooooh that is some really impressive deductions isn't it? If this weren't so sad, it would be hilarious, but sincere people hear this and become concerned. I don't know anyone who worships their trees, unless it would be Al. : )

I would like to begin a series of messages this morning on "Questions of Christmas". But I don't want to waste time with foolishness like "Can reindeer really fly? Do elves make all the toys at the North Pole? Does Santa really know if we've been bad or good?" I want us to consider biblical questions that will help us understand and be able to communicate to our children, grandchildren, and everyone else what Christmas is all about.

Question #1 Why did God become man?

This is an important question for us if we want to understand what Christmas is all about. This first question is about the incarnation, God becoming flesh. It isn't a question of whether or not He did, but rather why did He become man? The Bible makes it clear that He did!

(John 1:14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

This morning, let me give you four reasons why God became man.

I. He became POOR so we could become RICH.

(2 Corinthians 8:9) For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

A. Grace = God's Riches At Christ's Expense

1. It is because of His grace…

2. Grace = unmerited favor

3. God saw us in our need, and was willing to pay the ultimate price of redemption.

4. Because He was willing to become poor, we can enjoy the riches of His grace.

B. Jesus willingly left the glory of heaven, the privilege of dwelling in the very presence of God the Father, and He became a man.

1. Amazing isn't it?

2. But He did it all for us!

3. He became a man that we might become the sons of God.

(John 1:11-12) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

C. Have you believe on His name?

II. He EMPTIED Himself so we could be FILLED.

(Philippians 2:7-8) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

A. "Made Himself of no reputation"

1. That phrase literally means He emptied Himself.

2. He chose to lay aside His glory and power, that He might take upon Himself the form of a servant.

3. The creator became the creation.

4. Unbelievable? No, that's just how much He loves us.

(Ephesians 3:19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

B. "That ye might be filled with the fullness of God"

1. He completes us…

2. He provides what we lack…

3. That is why He became man!

4. That we might be filled with the fullness of God.

5. Does this sound too good to believe?

6. Listen to the next verse.

(Ephesians 3:20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

C. Have you been filled with His fullness?

III. He gave up His IMMUNITY to sin so that we could escape the PENALTY of sin.

(Hebrews 2:17) Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

A. The One who was without sin was made sin for us.

(2 Corinthians 5:21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1. God views sin SERIOUSLY, and a price must be paid to ATONE for sin.

2. Only a HUMAN may pay it, because it is humanity that has SINNED.

3. Only GOD is able to PAY it, because humans are imperfect.

4. Therefore the only way that humans' sin may be paid for, is by God becoming a PERSON, and paying the PRICE as a person.

(Galatians 4:4-5) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

B. Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe…

(1 John 3:5) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

1. God took my sins, and charged them to Christ's account.

2. And He takes Christ's righteousness and places it to my account.

3. That is the basis of our new relationship to God.

4. All our sins, past, present and future have been paid for by Jesus' death.

5. They are no longer on God's record books.

6. Instead, when God looks at my account, He finds me to be - in actuality and fact - as righteous as His son.

7. God made Him to be sin for us so that we could be made the very righteousness of God.

8. Not in our BEHAVIOR, but in our BEING - that part of us that goes to heaven, the "real me."

Why did God become man?

- He became POOR so we could become RICH.
- He EMPTIED Himself so we could be FILLED.
- He gave up His IMMUNITY to sin so that we could escape the PENALTY of sin.

All of this and more He did for you and for me. Have you placed your faith in Him for salvation? Come today and trust in the One who gave His all for us.

Christian, this month is a wonderful time for us to share the real message of Christmas with those around us. Will you dedicate this month to doing that?

As we bow before God this morning, let us thank Him for His unspeakable gift!