1. What is the Reason for the Season?
Copyright Norman Geisler 2008

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5. This is the Reason for the Season!

6. The Lamb of God A baby was born in Bethlehem, His body upon the sod.
Where else should a lamb be born?
Behold the Lamb of God!

7. Why Did Christ Come? I. To Fulfill Prophecy II. To Manifest Deity
III. To Redeem Humanity

8. I. To Fulfill Prophecy
“Now all this happened so that it might be fulfilled that which was spoken of the LORD by the prophet, saying, `Behold, the virgin shall conceive in her womb, and will bear a son. And they will call His name Emmanuel’….” (Matt. 1:23)

9. II. To Manifest Deity
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us, and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn. 1:1, 14)

10. III. To Redeem Humanity
“For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mk. 10:45)
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Lk. 19:10)

11. III. To Redeem Humanity
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (Jn. 10:10)
“She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [Savior], for He will save His people from their sins.” (Mt. 1:21)

12. Outline: I. The Object of His Redemption
II. The Extent of His Redemption
III. The Nature of His Redemption
IV. The Mystery of His Redemption

13. Outline:
I. The Object of His Redemption
1. Not Angels

14. I. The Object of His Redemption 1. Not Angels
“And the angels who did not keep their proper domain,
but left their own habitation, He has reserved for everlasting chains…” (Jude 6).
“For God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell…” (2Pet. 2:4).
“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:15).
“Depart from me you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mt. 25:41).
“For indeed He does not give aid to angels…” (Heb. 2:16).

15. Why Angels Can’t be Saved?
Because:
1) They are not a race (Mt. 22:30), and Christ could not die for all of them by assuming the nature of one of them, as He did for us (Rom. 5:12-21).
2) Angels can’t die (Lk. 22:36). So, Christ could not die for their sins by assuming the nature of an angel.
3) Salvation is a change (2Cor. 5:17), and angels don’t change in their nature (Heb. 1:14).
4) Their mind is made up from first moment of their choice, as our is by the last moment (Hb. 9:27).
Note: This is why angels gaze into our salvation (1Pet. 1:12).

16. Why Angels Can’t be Saved?
Good Angels don’t need it

17. Why Angels Can’t be Saved?
Good Angels don’t need it
Bad Angels don’t want it

18. I. The Object of His Redemption 1. Not Angels 2. But Humans

19. I. The Object of His Redemption 1. Not Angels 2
I. The Object of His Redemption Not Angels But Humans “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (Rom. 5:18). “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all [men] shall be made alive” (1Cor. 15:22). “the first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit” (1Cor. 15:45).

20. Charles Wesley Wrote: Angels in fixed amazement
Around our altars hover,
With eager gaze adore the grace
Of our Eternal Lover.

21. Angels Never Knew the Joy
Holy, Holy, is what the angels sing,
And I expect to help them make
The courts of heaven ring.
But when we sing redemption’s story,
They will fold their wings;
For angels never knew the joy
That our salvation brings.
--Johnson Oatman, Jr.

22. Outline: I. The Object of His Redemption
II. The Extent of His Redemption

23. II. The Extent of His Redemption
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes way the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29).
“For God so loved the world that He gave is only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (Jn. 3:17).
“He Himself is the satisfaction for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1Jn. 2:2).

24. II. The Extent of His Redemption
“Through one mans offense judgment came to all men,…even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (Rom. 5:18).
“For the love of Christ constrains us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all…” (2Cor. 5:14-15).
“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…” (2Cor. 5:19).
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1Tim. 2:3-4).

25. II. The Extent of His Redemption
“The Man Christ Jesus who gave Himself a ransom for all…” (1Tim. 2:6).
“We see Jesus, who…by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9).
“The Lord…is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2Pet. 3:9).
“But there were also false prophets among the people…denying the Lord who bought them and bring on themselves swift judgment” (2Pet. 2:1).

26. What About Other Verses?
Problem: The Bible also says Christ died for His own--for His Bride, not for all people.
Mt. 1:21-- “He shall save His people from their sins.”
Eph. 5:25--“Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her….”
Response:
1) It doesn’t say He died only for His people.
2) Paul said Christ died for the Corinthians (1Cor. 1:13)--but this doesn’t mean only them.
3) Paul said Christ died for “me” (Gal. 2:20).

27. Outline: I. The Object of His Redemption
II. The Extent of His Redemption
III. The Nature of His Redemption

28. III. The Nature of His Redemption
1. Justification--saved from the penalty of sin
2. Sanctification--saved from the power of sin
3. Glorification--saved from the presence of sin
I was saved--in the past
I am being saved--in the present
I will be saved--in the future

29. 1. Justification--saved from the penalty of sin Justification: the act of declaring us righteous
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:38).
“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:5).
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).
“Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Gal. 3:24).

30. Looking Though Our Eyes
Sin

31. Looking Though God’s Eyes
Sin

32. Looking through God’s Eyes
Justification:
Looking through God’s Eyes

33. 2. Sanctification--saved from the power of sin
Sanctification--the present process by which we are made progressively more righteous
“Now may the God of peace sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Thes. 5:23).
Jesus prayed: “Sanctify them though your truth; Your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17).
“Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify it with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:25-26).

34. The Big Difference: Justification--Getting Israel out of Egypt
(It took one day)
Sanctification--Getting Egypt out of Israel
(It took forty years)

35. 3. Glorification--saved from the presence of sin
Glorification: the future act by which we are made permanently righteous
“Whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Rom. 8:30).
“We know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1Jn. 3:2).
“When that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away…. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face” (1Cor. 13:10-12).

36. The Big Difference Sanctification--Saving us through the World
(It takes a lifetime)
Glorification--Saving us from the World
(It takes an instant)
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet…we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51-52).

37. Outline: I. The Object of His Redemption
II. The Extent of His Redemption
III. The Nature of His Redemption
IV. The Mystery of His Redemption

38. IV. The Mystery of His Redemption
1. HE CREATED LIFE BUT WAS TAKEN BY DEATH (HEB. 2:9)
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God should taste death for every son” (Heb. 2:9).
2. HE WAS LIFE ITSELF YET HE DIED ON A CROSS
“Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6).
HE WAS LIGHT YET LAY IN THE DARKNESS OF THE TOMB Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12).

39. IV. The Mystery of His Redemption
4. HE WAS RICH BUT BECAME POOR FOR US
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2Cor. 8:9).
5. HE HAD NO SIN BUT BECAME SIN FOR US (2 COR. 5:21)
“For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
6. HE WAS LORD OVER ALL AND BECAME SERVANT OF ALL
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it a think to be grasp after to be equal with God but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant …and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:5-8).

40. Charles Wesley Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King:
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the Virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the God-head see;
Hail th’incarnate De-i-ty,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.

41. Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

42. A Unitarian Hymn (not a word of redemption)
It came upon a midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heaven’s all gracious King,”
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

43. The Second Stanza And ye beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing:
O rest beside the weary load,
And hear the angels sing.

44. A Christmas Song of Redemption
Hark! The herald angels sing, Deity
Glory to the new-born King: Messiah
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, Grace
God and sinners reconciled! --Reconciliation
Christ, by highest heaven adored; Deity
Christ, the everlasting Lord! Eternality
Late in time behold Him come, Prophecy
Offspring of the Virgin’s womb. --Virgin Birth
Veiled in flesh the God-head see; Trinity
Hail th’incarnate De-i-ty, Incarnation
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Humanity
Jesus, our Emmanuel Deity

45. Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace. --Virgin B
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! --Virgin B. Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Sinless
Light and life to all He brings, Salvation
Risen with healing in His wings Salvation
Mild He lays His glory by, Humiliation
Born that man no more may die: --Immortality
Born to raise the sons of earth, Resurrection
Born to give them second birth Regeneration

46. Conclusion:
God became the child of a human being that human beings could become the child of God.
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (Jn. 1:12).
Jesus became sin that we could become sinless.
“For He [God] made Him [Christ] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2Cor. 5:21).

47. Conclusion:
Jesus died so that we would never die.
“Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (Jn. 11:25).
He gave His temporal life so that we could gain eternal life.
“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

48. What is the Reason for the Season?
He came to suffer so we could be happy.
He became poor that we could become rich.
He came to die so we could live.
He became sin that we could become sinless.
He was born once so we could be born twice.
Jesus said: “Do not marvel that I said unto you, `You must be born again’” (Jn. 3:7).

49. God Gave the Greatest Gift
“For God so loved the world He gave His only Son….”
(John 3:16)

50. Have You Accepted It? …that whoever believes in Him shall not perish
but have everlasting life”

52. “In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3)