Jesus; the Life of the World

Christmas for the World: (Part II) JESUS – THE LIFE FOR THE WORLD

John 3:16-18; Luke 4:18

John 3:16-18

16)  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

17) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

18) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

Luke 4:18 18) "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,

            As Christmas is celebrated around the world, there will be all sorts of decorations to bring the Christmas spirit. One of the most traditional decorations is the Christmas tree. It has been said that in North America alone there are approximately 33 million real Christmas tress sold every year.

            Do you know the significance of the Christmas tree? Many believe that the evergreen tree represent the most everlasting aspect of the first Christmas in Bethlehem – the eternal life in Jesus Christ. Of course, the Christmas tree, once cut, won’t last forever, but the picture it provides is essential – life in heaven forever.

            This morning, with the continuation of our series, Christmas for the world, I would like to emphasize the gift that we have received from God through our Lord Jesus Christ. In order for us to appreciate the gift, let’s understand three important truths:

I           MAN’S POSITION WITHOUT JESUS:

            Our key passage presents the truth clearly that Jesus did not come into the world to bring condemnation. In the sight of God we are already condemned because of the sins we have committed.

            I believe we will understand this truth better when we examine the context of John 3. These words came from Jesus Christ as He addressed a man named Nicodemus, a prominent religious figure during that time in Jerusalem .

John 3:1-3

1) Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.

2) He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

3) In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

            Do you understand the significance of this conversation? Perhaps, first of all, we need to be familiar of the position of Nicodemus. He was a very religious man, a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. The Sanhedrin had 70 members who were responsible for religious decisions and also, under the Romans, for civil rule.  With such a stature, he should probably be the last one to be told that He needed to be saved, to be born again or to receive the life from God. 

            But, just as we have been told, even a man like Nicodemus, in all his religion is still condemned and needed salvation from Jesus Christ. You see, in religion man is trying to save himself with all the works he is doing for God. God has made it very clear in the Bible that we cannot work ourselves into heaven:

Ephesians 2:8-9

8) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

9) not by works, so that no one can boast.

            The Scripture made in plain, “Not from yourselves . . . not of works.” It is not us, but His work, His gift who is Jesus Christ.

            Many think that God is like Santa Claus – making a list, checking it twice, finding out who’s naughty or nice. Then they think one day at the judgment we will stand before Him and He is going to weigh the good we’ve done against the bad and see which side is heavier. But again, this is false perspective. Without Jesus Christ, man is helpless and hopeless. If he dies in his sins, he goes straight to his eternal punishment, which is hell because he is condemned already.

 John 3:36

36) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

II         GOD’S PROMISE IN JESUS:

            In our condemned condition, God provided the help in Jesus Christ. He is the life who is God’s precious gift to the world. The Lord Jesus himself says something wonderful about the work he will accomplish being the Messiah for the world in Luke 4:18: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,”

      When Jesus stood in the synagogue to read the Scriptures, He read the Old Testament Isaiah 61:1-2 as a reference to himself being its fulfillment. These are the descriptions of the people to whom Christ came and whom he saves.

Ø      Good news to the poor = The word “poor” can cover poverty of every kind. But the emphasis here is on a conscious moral and spiritual poverty. The usage of the word is the same word Jesus used in the first beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

Ø      Freedom for the prisoners = The word “prisoner” broadly includes many forms of spiritual bondage — bondage to money (Luke 19:1-10), bondage to Satan (Luke 8:26-39), bondage to guilt (Luke 7:41-50), bondage to sensuality, and bondage to hatred. To all in the prison-house of sin, the truth about Jesus’ ministry is:

    He breaks the power of cancelled sin,     He sets the prisoner free;

    His blood can make the foulest clean;    His blood availed for me. 

                              Charles Wesley

Ø      Recovery of the sight for the blind = This was a great spiritual promise. Jesus will open people’s eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they will receive forgiveness for their sins and the life he offers.

Ø      To release the oppressed = The root idea of “oppressed” is “broken in pieces” or “shattered” or “crushed.” Jesus comes to those squashed by life’s circumstances, who can see no way out, who find living itself oppression — and he gives them freedom. Malcolm Muggeridge wrote, after coming to Christ in his later years, “All other freedoms, once won, soon turn into new servitude. Christ is the only liberator whose liberation lasts forever” (Jesus Rediscovered). Without Jesus, each one of us can easily fall into one of these categories – poor, prisoner, blinded, or oppressed. Jesus came to impart the quality of life He alone can give. This life is not only available when we die; it is already available while we are still alive. This is a present possession.

John 6:47

47) I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

            The Bible does not say, “will have life,” it says, “has life.” We can enjoy a much better quality of life while we are waiting to go to heaven.

John 10:10

10) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

            Indeed, He promises a full life today and tomorrow. I hope none of us will miss it.

III        GOD’S PREREQUISITE IN RECEVING JESUS:

            Lastly, if Jesus is the gift for the world, does it mean the entire world will have His life? Absolutely not! God has clearly set a condition -  whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

            Believing Jesus as your personal savior means putting your dependence on what He has accomplished on the cross. In other occasions in the Bible, this is called faith. Someone gave an acrostic for faith:

            F – Forsaking

            A – All

             I – I

            T – Trust

            H – Him

            This definition means we are to forsake all our own good intentions, our own good deeds, our own sense of self-worth, and our sins. Then, put our trust on the Lord Jesus Christ to whom God has put our sin.

            This faith is not a mere intellectual belief because even demons can do this:

James 2:19

19) You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.

            It is a commitment. I can believe an airplane can fly, but I don’t truly trust it until I get it. Through faith, you literally lay hold of Jesus Christ who will cover you from the judgment or condemnation of sin.

            Have you already trusted Jesus as you savior? Christmas can be a more glorious celebration for you if you know Jesus. Then, for those of us who know Jesus, may we continue to share Jesus to those who need Him. Think of Jesus as the greatest gift you can give to someone this Christmas season.  It is a great blessing to have Jesus in our life or to be in Jesus Christ.

                    Now I Belong to Jesus 

    Jesus my lord, will love me forever. From Him no pow’r of evil can sever. He gave his life to ransom my soul; Now I belong to Him. Now I belong to Jesus,                     Jesus belongs to me; Not for the years of time alone, but for eternity. Joy floods my soul, for Jesus has saved me, freed me from sin that long had enslaved me; His precious blood he gave to redeem, now I belong to Him.