To Save Sinners (12-25-11)

1Timothy 1:15 - "It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost."

"Christ Jesus came into the world". Isn't it a marvelous thought? That the eternal God would step out of eternity into time and take on human flesh, it's a wondrous thing. In this verse, as well as others, we're given the reason for the incarnation, the reason that God became a man. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Christ didn't come to perform miracles, He didn't come to be a good teacher or a good example to try and pattern our lives after, although He did and is these things. He didn't come to judge the world or to set in order the earths governments, although He will at a future time. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, plain and simple. The reason for the manger was the cross. Every event in the earthly life of the Lord Jesus pointed to the cross. That's the reason He came, that's the reason He took on flesh and was born in a manger in Bethlehem.

Matthew 1:18-25 says - "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus." Even from the very beginning the reason for His incarnation was clear. Look at what the angel said to Joseph in verse 21 - "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." The name Jesus means "Jehovah is salvation". Jesus is the salvation of God. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."1 John 3:5 - "You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin." Christ appeared, Christ was born to take away sins.

2 Corinthians 9:15 - "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! "