"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." — Luke 2:1-14
"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin." — John 15:18-22
Mark in your Bible the statement by Jesus in Verse 22 where He says, "If I had not come."
We read earlier what is the most famous rendition of the Birth of Christ from the Gospel of Luke. Then we read from the gospel of John chapter 15, and make note the statement by Jesus in verse 22 where He says "If I had not come." Jesus was saying, if He had not been born and come into the world as the sinless son of God and God the son, the savior of the world who knew no sin, then He says "they had not had sin."
One commentary says this:
"They had not had sin." This is evidently to be understood of the particular sin of persecuting and rejecting him. Of this he was speaking; and though, if he had not come, they would have been guilty of many other sins, yet of this, their great crowning sin, they would not have been guilty. We may understand this, then, as teaching:
1st. That they would not have been guilty of this kind of sin. They would not have been chargeable with rejecting the grace of God if Jesus had not come and made an offer of mercy to them.
2nd. They would not have been guilty of the same degree of sin. The rejection of the Messiah was the crowning act of rebellion which brought down the vengeance of God, and led to their peculiar national calamities.
Story"
We are not going to debate today whether December 25th was really the date of Jesus’ birth, but what is the single most important thing about this day? Is it the giving of gifts, the traditional foods, the time off from school or work, what is it that you think most about when you think about Christmas?
The Barna Research Group poll, conducted a poll for the Lutheran Hour Ministries found that:
37% of adults in the national survey (88% of whom identified themselves as Christian) said the birth of Jesus is the most important aspect of Christmas.
More than 75% of evangelical Christians placed Jesus’ birth as of first importance on Christmas.
Only 29% of Catholics placed Jesus’ birth first.
Only 24% of theological liberals said the birth of Christ made Christmas important for them.
44% of the respondents said "family time" is the most important part of Christmas.
26% of respondents ages 18 to 34 said the birth of Jesus was the most important aspect of Christmas.
39% among respondents 65 and older said the same thing.
Only 3% said presents or parties were the most important part of Christmas. The same percentage that said the best thing about Christmas was getting a paid holiday.
"I guess it demonstrates what preachers have been wringing their hands over for some time: Christ has been evacuated from Christmas," said the Rev. William Willimon, a theologian and Duke University chaplain. "It’s good to know where we are. Christmas has been a co-opted holiday."
"Americans are more likely to correctly recall the significance of April 15 (tax day) than they are to connect Christmas with the birth of Jesus. As America becomes increasingly anesthetized to Christian principles and practices, it seems only fitting that we have contracted acute amnesia regarding the spiritual significance of December 25," said pollster George Barna.
Barna goes on to say, "Even with all that I know about how secularized our culture has become, I would have thought that more people would say Christmas, the birth of Jesus."
What about you here today? What is the single most important fact about Christmas to you?
Well, Let’s look at that statement by Jesus when He said "if I had not come" and I want to put it to you in a question as well.
"What if Christ had never been born?"
What would our world be like today without the influence of Christ and His people?
Jesus Himself hinted at the hopelessness of man had he not been born in Bethlehem when He said in John 15:22, "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin." Jesus said, "If I had not come…."
Suppose He hadn't come. How spiritually and morally destitute would the world be?
This world now, even with the influence of God's people, is a wicked, vile, and horrible pit of iniquity, and yet if Christ had not been born, how much the worse it would be?
Life without Christ is unthinkable!
When Christ left the Glory of Heaven and came to a hopeless and helpless world He brought both hope and help to humankind!
But what if He hadn't come?
Story:
A Pastor was preparing a Christmas message and fell asleep in his study. He dreamed that he was in a world into which Jesus had never come. He walked out on the streets, but no Church steeples pointed toward heaven. He was summoned by a weeping child to visit her dying mother, but on arriving he found that all of the New Testament, with its promises of Heaven, had disappeared from his BIBLE. He bowed his head and wept in bitter despair, for he could offer her no hope beyond the grave. Suddenly he was awakened by the choir practicing the familiar Christmas carols. "Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the new born King" Joy filled his soul as he realized as never before, the importance of Christ's coming!
This morning, I want us to consider what life would be like "If Christ Had Not Been Born!"
(1) IF CHRIST HAD NOT BEEN BORN, WE WOULD HAVE A GOD WITHOUT
HONOR
PSALM 145:17—"The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works."
*If Christ Had Not Been Born:
A. GOD’S CHARACTER WOULD HAVE BEEN PROVEN UNTRUTHFUL.
Truth is one of the character attributes of our heavenly Father!
Deuteronomy 32:4 tells us, "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."
Psalm 117:2 assures us, "For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth forever. Praise ye the LORD."
We read in Romans 3:4b—"Let God be true, but ever man a liar..."
Paul tells us that as believers we live "In hope of eternal Life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus 1:2).
If there is one thing that we can count on in this crazy world in which we live it is the integrity of God! But if Christ had not been born, God would be a liar! Why? Because He promised to send a redeemer to the world all the way back in Genesis chapter three!
Also:
B. GOD’S PROMISES WOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND UNTRUSTWORTHY.
Remember the promise God made to the serpent in Genesis 3:15 which says,
"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heal," That promise would never have been fulfilled! All the prophecies concerning Messiah given by God to the Old Testament prophets would be null and void!
But God, who is TRUTH, because of His foreknowledge, looked down the avenue of history and knew that man, after his creation would sin and need a Savior! That Savior was Jesus, God's Son, who was born just as all the prophets declared! The very character of God depended on the promises He had made. If Christ had not been born, God's very character would have proven dishonorable and His promises untrustworthy!
There are four words I wish we would never forget, and they are,
"God keeps His word"
Listen to these recent statistics:
A USA Today poll found that only 56% of American teach honesty to their children. And a Louis Harris poll turned up the distressing fact that 65% of high school students would cheat on an important exam. Recently a noted physician appeared on a network news-and-talk show and proclaimed, "Lying is an important part of social life, and children who are unable to do it are children who may have developmental problems."
I’m happy to report to you today that our God is not a liar! Amen!
IF CHRIST HAD NOT BEEN BORN, WE WOULD HAVE A GOD WITHOUT HONOR but also…
(2) IF CHRIST HAD NOT BEEN BORN, WE WOULD HAVE A BIBLE WHICH IS INACCURATE AND INCOMPLETE
PSALM 119:89—"Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."
A. THE BIBLE IS PRECIOUS IN ITS MESSAGE.
I love the BIBLE this morning! I love to read the BIBLE, to study the BIBLE, and to preach from the BIBLE! One of the reasons I love the BIBLE so much is that it doesn't just contain the TRUTH, but it is the TRUTH!
Psalm 19:7-11 tells us, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."
Abraham Lincoln said, "I have but to say, the BIBLE is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this Book. But for it, we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it." (Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring Quotations-Contemporary & Classical. p. 15).
That "…for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.," is the most precious message this world has ever received!
The angel’s pronouncement in Luke 2:11—"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord," gave unto mankind the promise of hope, help, and Heaven!
So the Bible is precious in it’s message! And,
B. THE BIBLE IS PROFOUND IN ITS MESSAGE.
The BIBLE is our foundation for hope, encouragement, and strength! If it is untrue, we have no hope at all!
The message that God sent His only Son, who took upon Himself the likeness of man, was born of a virgin, died on a Cross for our sins and raised again for our justification is a message that is incomprehensible, incredible and incomparable!
C. THE BIBLE IS PERFECT IN ITS MESSAGE.
Majestic as the Old Testament is, with its unfolding of the person and purpose of God, without the New Testament it would be but a broken arc of Divine revelation!
We would have a Revelation without a Realization! A Prophecy without a Fulfillment! A Story without an Ending! If Jesus had not been born, we would have an incomplete BIBLE! There would have been no babe in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. No miracles, no teachings, no
Parables, no betrayal, no trial, no crucifixion, and no resurrection!
The Old Testament without the New would have been as a bridge that went only half way over the chasm of human darkness.
We read in Malachi 4:5-6—"Behold, I will send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
Malachi 4:6, the last verse in the O.T. ends with the word "curse". What a tragic ending to the first half of the BIBLE, beginning as it does with the sublime sentence, "In the beginning God..."
First, God's creation-and then a curse. This is the story of the Old Testament! This curse fell upon all men because of SIN!
Galatians 3:10 tells us, "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."
That was the predicament of all men before Christ was born into this world:under the curse…under the law! How miserable we would be if we had been left under a curse!
But God came to our rescue!
The angel of the Lord told Joseph concerning Mary in Matthew 1:21—"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." The angel told the shepherds in Luke 2:11—"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
Galatians 4:4-5 says, "But when the fullness 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."
Jesus became a curse for us who were under the curse to deliver us from the curse!
Galatians 3:13 tells us, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."
Jesus hung on that old rugged Cross to deliver us from the law's curse and condemnation of sin!
2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "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."
If we had only the Old Testament with all its exhortations, promises, and prophecies; one could rightly ask, "Where is the other half of the Book?"
Something, no SOMEONE is missing!
Revelation 22:21 ends this way, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Amen."
The Bible ends with a blessing, not a curse. Jesus brought this blessing to man!
John 1:17 says, "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Christ, through His birth brought us the fulfillment of God's purpose!
IF CHRIST HAD NOT BEEN BORN, WE WOULD HAVE A GOD WITHOUT HONOR AND A BIBLE WHICH IS INACCURATE AND INCOMPLETE and…
(3) IF CHRIST HAD NOT BEEN BORN, THE WORLD WOULD HAVE NEVER
SEEN ITS ONLY PERFECT MAN
1 TIMOTHY 3:16—" And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
In Christ Jesus, we have the sum of divine perfection. He is the sum of all human virtues. The flower of humanity!
Colossians 2:9 tells us, "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."
In Christ, God revealed Himself to man in human flesh.
John 1:14 says, "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."
He was perfect man and yet perfect God! He lived 33 years in this world, but never sinned!
B. HE IS THE DIVINE PATTERN.
He left for us an example of love, holiness, forgiveness, and forbearance! The "best" man in our world today is tainted with sin! But Christ "knew no sin."
1 Peter 2:21-23 says of Him, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously."
When He came to this world, He found it a darken and barren place, but He left the light of His love in it, so men could walk in His light!
John says of Him in John 1:9—"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
Jesus said of Himself in John 8:12—" I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
The whole world, ruined by the fall, would still abide in darkness, if He had not come!
But Jesus came and broke the power of sin!
Luke 19:10 says, "…the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Christ's birth spelled man's deliverance! He was the perfect sacrifice Who died for the sins of all!
But if the Christ born in Bethlehem is not born in your heart today, Christmas avails you nothing! This would truly be a meaningless Holiday!
IF CHRIST HAD NOT BEEN BORN, WE WOULD HAVE A GOD WITHOUT HONOR, A BIBLE WHICH IS INACCURATE AND INCOMPLETE, THE WORLD WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN ITS ONLY PERFECT MAN and finally…
(4) IF CHRIST HAD NOT BEEN BORN, MAN WOULD BE FORCED TO FACE
ETERNITY WITHOUT HOPE!
1 John 3:5—"And ye know that he was manifested to take away oursins; and in him is no sin."
1 John 3:8b—"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."
Christ was born to deliver us from our sins and give us a "living hope!'
1 Peter 1:3-5 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
Titus 3:5-7 tells us, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
By His Coming, Christ brought life and immortality to life through the gospel! He is our Hope and without Him there is no hope!
Christ brought a complete revelation of the hereafter. He spoke about Heaven (John 14:1-3)! He spoke about hell (Luke 16:19-31). In fact, He spoke more about hell than He did Heaven, showing us the importance of being prepared to meet Him!
If He had not been born, ALL of us would have to look forward to an eternity in hell! But Christ was born and died and rose again that all who believe in Him can be saved!
Each person must choose to either spend eternity in Heaven or in hell!
(John 3:16-18).
Jesus said in our text in John 15:22—"If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin." Since he came there is no cloak, no covering, no excuse.
I’ll close with this true story:
A woman by the name of Sandy Willey related a Christmas story that occurred during World War II. A woman named Anne took her two little children to Texas to be with her parents because her husband was stationed in Europe. And as they prepared for Christmas, and got the tree up and all the gifts bought and were enjoying the joy of Christmas, almost putting aside the worry of the war, about one week before Christmas, they got that dreaded knock on the door and the terrible telegram greeting.
That mother had to tell the children that day, "daddy wouldn’t be coming home for Christmas, not now, not ever." And then Anne went up to her room to weep alone. And grandma and grandpa debated about what to do and finally they decided to take down the Christmas tree and the decorations and put the presents away. When Anne came out of the room and saw everything empty and put away she said, "Mother what have you done." And her mother said, "Your so broken hearted, your father and I talked and decided this is no time for Christmas." And Anne said, "Oh, no mother, bring the tree back, Christmas was made for times such as these."
If Christ had not been born, we would all have no hope. But we are here today because Christ was born, and Christ lived a sinless life, died to pay for our sins, rose again for our justification and lives forevermore preparing a place for us in heaven!
What about you today? Have you put your faith and trust in Christ for your soul’s salvation? If not, you’ve missed the whole meaning of Christmas. Trust Him today. Let’s pray.