The Theology of Christmas B

He became human.

A real man true man hundred percent human as it represents God.

This is the mystery of the incarnation is not half got half man is not all God. Mass grading is a man is fully God and fully man know what it's all about. How could a child born in the lowliest of circumstances make such an astounding mark on history. Find out today as John MacArthur looks at amazing aspects of Christ's birth that maybe you haven't quite understood John's lesson here on grace to you is a look at the theology of Christmas is also the title of the sermon. It comes from a chapter that you may not associate with Christmas, but it is critical for understanding Christ's birth. Philippians chapter 2. So if you're able turn to the second chapter of Philippians. And here's John with the message open your Bible to Philippians chapter 2 Philippians chapter 2. Here's the theology of Christmas. Okay, the theology of Christmas in Philippians chapter 2 verse five ends by identifying Christ Jesus, then Christ Jesus becomes the theme of the next few verses, so let's listen as Paul writes, Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or seized, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave and being made in the likeness of men being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, so that the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father. What this section explains to us is the condescension of the son of God to come to earth to die and then to return and exaltation glory want to just give you five simple steps.

Five steps as God enters the world five steps as Jesus comes to Bethlehem number one, he abandoned a sovereign position. He abandoned the sovereign position, Jesus had all the privileges of being God and he chose to set those privileges aside to serve sinners in the father's will. So is like a king takes office crown and takes off his majestic robe and puts on the rags of a slave and comes out of the palace to help the poor, destitute poppers survive. So the story of Christmas begins with the son of God, abandoning a sovereign position.

Secondly, he accepted a slaves place he accepted a slaves place back in verse seven, taking the form of a slaves do loss slave is no such word as bondservant in the Greek it's the word for slave became down how far down you didn't come from being the King of heaven, to being a king of earth or a king of Israel that he will eventually be the King of Kings and the king of Israel, but for this occasion in his incarnation, he came to be a slave, he took off the robes of majesty and put on the apron of a slave. This of course is what the Old Testament promises. Look at Isaiah the last part of Isaiah where the Messiah is designed to be the servant of the Lord, the servant of the Lord, he is called that again and again and again and again. He is a slave he takes on the form of a slave. Here's that word more say again he takes on the attributes takes on the characteristics of a slave. He literally becomes a slave, a slave of God and a slave of sinners. If you will.

He came not to be served but to serve, I am in the midst of you as one who serves.

Luke 2227 Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and how giving his life and so he takes on not just a masquerade as a slave, not just a superficial costume, not just the garments of a slave he takes on the very attributes the very characteristics of a slave and what is that which is characteristic of his life absolute total submission to the will of another. In his case it was the will of his father that he gladly submitted to became the slave of God, that he might serve us at the point of our deepest need, so he abandoned the sovereign position accepted a servants place. And thirdly, he associated with sinful people he associated with sinful people would begin to get to the depth of his slavery in verse seven it says he was made in the likeness of men. There would've been a lot of ways to serve God he maybe he could have provided redemption by becoming an angel. Maybe he could have been the slave of God, obeying God like an angel obeys God in the holy angels are the slaves of God. They obeyed God they do his will at all times at all point. Maybe God could have designed that that redemption be accomplished by angels, after all, it was angels that brought the law. Maybe it could be angels that brought salvation but not in the plan of God.

He came down as a slave he came all the way down to being made in the likeness of men. And it repeats it in verse eight being found in appearance as a man being in the likeness of men that that's that's again the verb to be. Being again I'm in us that's being he literally became human, he became human likeness home all Almighty Homo the same the same as humanity, a real man true man hundred percent human as 100% God. This is the mystery of the incarnation is not half God, half man is not all God's masquerading as a man, he is fully God and fully man. He takes on the likeness of men. That's why said he approached the sinful people the verse eight tells us that this likeness to men was not only true on the inside he was truly human but it was manifest on the outside being found in appearance as a man hears the word schema schema simply means the external the external is not the same as more fame or fate describes the attributes the. The inside what what is true of a person by nature or by attribute characteristic this word. This word is the word for the X exterior. The outer manifestation being found in fashion as a man schema to get the word scheme or schematic from it.

He was made in the likeness of men.

But he also looked like a man. He also looked like a man. This is a this is important for us to be reminded of Jesus didn't walk around.

By the way, with a halo on it said he didn't walk around with a gold aura around him.

He didn't walk or he didn't float a foot off the ground.

He didn't glide that way through life. He didn't have a robe.

It never got dirty or feet that never needed to be washed.

He looked like a man.

He talked like a man. He acted like a man because he was fully human, both in terms of attributes and characteristics and also in terms of appearance, nobody knew that he was God by looking at him. He didn't stand out in a crowd like a dozen medieval paintings which are silly look like everybody else looked and he experienced the things that human beings experience.

Had they come into this world through the natural process of a mother's womb, so had he had they changed over their lifetime from being an infant to being an adult and all the stops in between. So had he had. They originally when brought into the world been wrapped in cloth.

That's what they did with babies. That's what everybody does with babies rated in Ezekiel 1610, were doing it way back then.

That's always been the way will he was wrapped in cloth. They have brothers and sisters.

These human beings.

So did he. Born to Joseph and Mary did they work so that he did they learn a trade. So did he.

In fact, for 30 years.

He plied his trade in the little village of Nazareth, working in a family business with his father who was a carpenter and nobody knew who he was, nobody knew who he was.

He couldn't tell by looking at them.

Was he hungry course. He was hungry.

Was he thirsty. Of course he was thirsty to go to bed at night sleep course. He went to bed at night and slept. We know that on one time he was so tired he fell asleep in a boat in a storm with the ever angry sure was he ever grieved yes.

Did he ever shout because he was angry yesterday or cried because he was grieving. Yes, he was a human being.

Dress like people dressed. He put his sandals on he put his robe on, had an under garment and that's the way everybody looked in that day that Christmas Carol says the cattle are lowing the baby awakes but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I don't buy it.

I don't buy it. Crying is a signal that all babies have given them by God to let dad know he better go get mother. If nothing else, this is code to the father that you had just reached the end of your usefulness course he cried but was in the sinful cry. He was fully human and would be seen as fully human. Born in an insignificant manger and an insignificant in really an insignificant village raised in a humble cottage lowly mother.

The tradesmen father anyone embarked upon his ministry, nobody knew who he was. John had to point him and say, behold the Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world or nobody would recognize who he was noon after John said most people didn't believe it because there was nothing about him. There was no aura about him and even when he spoke he spoke with a man's voice. And even though he said things no one ever heard they still didn't believe he was God and even though he wielded power that raise the dead, and cast out demons and heal diseases and fed multitudes at a food created by his very words they still weren't sure he was God.

In fact, the party line of the Jewish leaders was. He has this power that's undeniable, but it comes from hell no he came down he abandoned the sovereign position accepted a slave's place and associated with the sinful people. Fourthly, he adopted a selfless posture. How selfless was he back to verse eight, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

How selfless, how selfless the praise in the garden as he begins to feel the cross coming on him and he knows on that cross.

He's going to bear the weight of all the sins of all the people who would ever believe throughout all of human history is going to bear an infinite amount of sin in a few hours he's going to feel the wrath of God, the likes of which we could never comprehend. You asked that question.

How can Jesus in a few hours absorbed all the necessary punishment for all the sins of all the people who will ever believe in the history of the world and absorbed in a few hours when it takes eternal hell and still the sins of sinners who were there are not going to be paid the wrath of God was beyond comprehension.

How could he receive all that wrath in a short time because he is an infinite person and therefore had an infinite capacity to be punished. The selflessness shows up in the garden when he says father let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done. And even says for this. I was born to go to the cross and die, he humbled himself early in his life, he humbled himself and Nazareth. Nobody knew who he wasn't there he was, as a little boy and his father probably taught him how to make a yoke for the oxen. The local farmers father probably taught him how to make a chair somebody a table for somebody else and he was the one who made the universe. Nobody knew he washed the feet of the 12 and he is the one at whose feet all the angels of heaven bow. He came down but he didn't just humble himself to come into this world and humbled himself to the work in a carpenter shop, he humbled himself all the way to death. In the worst possible death, the excruciating death on the cross. Some historians of said anybody who died on the cross died a thousand deaths. Augustine summing up the incarnation of Christ, said the maker of man became man that he, the ruler of the stars might be nourished at the breast that he the bread might be hungry that he the fountain might thirst that he the light might sleep that he the way might be weary by the journey that he, the truth might be accused by false witnesses that he, the judge of the living and the dead might be brought to trial via corrupt mortal judge that he justice itself might be condemned by the unjust, that he discipline itself might be scourged with whips that he, the foundation might be suspended upon a cross that he courage personified, might be weakened and that he security might be wounded and that he the very life itself might die. Augustine went on to say, to endure these and similar indignities for us to free us unworthy creatures.

He who existed as the son of God before all ages without a beginning painted to become the Son of Man in these years did this, though he who submitted to such great evils for our sake had done no evil.

And although we who were the recipients of so much good at his hands have done nothing but evil he became obedient even to the death of the cross. He stooped all the way to die for our sins death on the cross was painful, shameful you were a curse. Deuteronomy 2123 says curse. It is anyone who hangs on a tree. Paul quotes out in Galatians 313 Christ became a curse for us absorbing the wrath of God on our behalf. Someone wrote still owe soul the sign and wonder of all ages see Christ, your God, the Lord of glory on the cross for me it's the marvelous reality as a final point, he abandoned the sovereign position accepted a slave's place approached the sinful people adopted a selfless posture and finally he ascended a supreme Prince verses 9 to 11. He ascended a supreme Prince. For this reason also, what reason. The reason of his submission. The reason of his humiliation. The reason of his obedience to death, even the death on the cross. For this reason, because he perfectly obeyed the father and accomplished redemption, God highly exalted him, God raised him from the dead.

It tells us in the New Testament God raised him from the dead as a sign of God's satisfaction over his death and then God exalted him to his own right hand, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, in fact. Hebrews tells us in chapter 1 verse three that God exalted him to heaven, and he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

He was given then and name what name is that it's the name Lord. It's not the name Jesus. That's an earthly name people name their sons.

Jesus that's not the name above every name, the name above every name is Lord God then highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name the name which is above every name, so that that name, which is given to Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father is humiliation complete on the cross, followed immediately by his exaltation raised from the dead lifted to the right hand of God restored to full glory. Full on or full privilege full expression of attributes full use of his own independent will. He accomplished our redemption in God exalted him.

It says in verse 10 that every knee will bow to him in heaven. That would be those that are there on earth that would be those that are here under the earth, that would be those that are in hell. They will all they will all acknowledge him as Lord. Every time in verse 11 will confess Jesus Christ as Lord of the glory of God the father whether they confess it, in heaven, whether they're confessing it on earth or whether they confess it in hell. Don't think for a minute that the people in hell don't know Jesus is Lord he is the Lord of hell they know it. And hell is defined as the terrible inflicted suffering of those people who denied Christ what he deserves, and that is the affirmation of his Lordship and appropriate submission and worship.

That's what sends people to help because they reject Christ. Every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord. If you do it in this life.

What happens Romans 10 910 if you confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth and believe in your heart. God raised him from the dead, you will be saved saved from hell from sin from judgment. Better to confess it now and go on confessing it forever in heaven, then to go on confessing it in bitterness and remorse forever in hell every tongue will confess it, God is giving you the opportunity to make that confession now you make it now you will joyfully make it forever, and he will exalt you to his own throne and you will be a joint heir and sharing all his heavenly riches.

He is God giving himself away, yet remaining God, he is God putting on a Kings Road and then taking it off and taking up beggars, rags, he is God, the judge rising from the bench and going to the gallows as a criminal.

He is God impoverishing himself, badgering himself, exposing himself to evils spiked.

Never sparing himself until he makes it all the way to across Jerusalem's Hill net cross becomes the sum and the sign of his utter selfless humiliation and he did it for us.

Confess him as Lord receive the salvation he offers you will go on doing that forever. Father, we thank you again for your word. We thank you for the truth concerning our Savior. These are wonderful days to go back and think deeply about the coming of Christ, may there be no soul in the hearing of this voice of mine who will wait to confess him as Lord in the fires of hell. May you be gracious and open their hearts to confess him as Lord today and now here on the earth, that they may do it forever in heaven. May we as those who know Christ and love Christ humble ourselves to do your will matter what it costs. Knowing that, to those who obey there will be an exaltation. Jesus is the pattern for us as well. If we humble ourselves. You will one day exalt us. We thank you for this great grace, we rejoice and we celebrated grateful hearts in Christ's name. That's John MacArthur showing you why you need to respond to Christ's birth with worship along with teaching here on grace to you. John is a pastor, author, and he's chancellor of the Masters University in seminary in the Los Angeles area today. John looked at how Christ humbled himself in taking on human flesh. It is a compelling message called the theology of Christmas now. Here's a quick and important note today December 21 is the deadline if you want to get up MacArthur study Bible, or any other item from Grace to you and still receive it before Christmas. John, you have the details and you also have a few gift suggestions, but I do and where were definitely getting down to the wire here. This is the last day to order resources in the United States and have them delivered by Christmas orders must be placed with next day shipping by phone before 4 PM Pacific time or by Internet before 2 PM Pacific time and outside the US, you need to contact your local TTY office. Let me suggest just for things to think about number one and this is a big one. The New Testament commentary series 34 volumes.

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