Jesus Saves (Luke 2:11)
In the Garden of Eden there existed 2 human beings. They were perfect. They were holy. They were righteous. And they had perfect communion with God and with one another.
In came an invader. We know him as Satan.
Satan, the Great Dragon of Revelation, came to the Garden and tempted Adam to rebel against God.
His name literally means “adversary”. And that he is. Satan, who had himself already led angels to fall from heaven was now attempting to drag humanity away as well. And under the supervision of Adam, who was supposed to protect the Garden, the adversary was allowed to tempt Eve to eat the forbidden fruit that would plunge the entire human race into sin and condemnation.
Adam was representing the entire human race in the Garden of Eden.
If Satan could only bring Adam to rebellion then he could wreak havoc upon mankind. In that moment, he approached Eve, the woman Adam loved more than life itself. Adam was standing right there and Satan spoke with Eve. And with that, the Great Dragon who is the adversary, was allowed to converse with Eve. The “serpent of old” was allowed into the Garden of Eden to tempt Eve. And tempt he did. He convinced here that God didn’t really say what He had really said. And the adversary argued that life would be better for her if she ate of the fruit.
Adam stood by while Eve ate of the fruit.
“So, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6 ESV)
And then Adam ate it as well.
And with that, the entire human race and all the world was plunged into sin and rebellion. As Paul later stated in Romans 5, “…because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man” and it led to “condemnation for all men” (Romans 5:17-18).
And this misery stuck with us. We live in it today.
As was mentioned last week, this event made us sinners. We don’t sin because of something outside of us. We sin because we are sinners.
As is stated in our church’s statement of faith,
“In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation.”
Before the Baptist Faith and Message was written most Southern Baptist Churches held to the Second London Baptist Confession. It is more thorough and much longer. In it we read,
“Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all: all becoming dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.”[1]
Outside of the Baptists we see the same thing among other Protestants.
Presbyterians have historically believed the same thing. We see it in The Westminster Confession of Faith. Conservative Presbyterians still believe this today.
By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion, with God, (Gen. 3:6–8, Eccl. 7:29, Rom. 3:23) and so became dead in sin, (Gen. 2:17, Eph. 2:1) and wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and body. (Tit. 1:15, Jer. 17:9, Rom. 3:10–18)
They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was (imputed); (Gen. 1:27–28, Gen. 2:16–17, Acts 17:26, Rom. 5:12, 15–19, 1 Cor. 15:21–22, 45, 49) and the same death in sin, and corrupted nature, conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation. (Ps. 51:5, Gen. 5:3, Job 14:4, Job 15:14)
From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, (Rom. 5:6, Rom. 8:7, Rom. 7:18, Col. 1:21) and wholly inclined to all evil, (Gen. 6:5, Gen. 8:21, Rom. 3:10–12) do proceed all actual transgressions. (James 1:14–15, Eph. 2:2–3, Matt. 15:19)[2]
The Anglicans, which means that at one time Episcopalians believed this also, say the very same thing. I’m not sure I’ve met an Episcopalian that actually believes anything anymore, but they once did.
“Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam, (as the Pelagians do vainly talk;) but it is the fault and corruption of the Nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the Spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth God’s wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea in them that are regenerated; whereby the lust of the flesh, called in Greek, φρονημα σαρκος, (which some do expound the wisdom, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire, of the flesh), is not subject to the Law of God. And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized; yet the Apostle doth confess, that concupiscence and lust hath of itself the nature of sin.”[3]
Methodists say the same thing in their statement of faith. At least the ones that believe the Bible do.
“Of Original or Birth Sin Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually.”[4]
This is a doctrine that we hold in common with the Papists of Rome.
We all look at the history of the world and find this truth to be evident. Adam rebelled against God and brought condemnation to his offspring.
As we saw last week in Romans 5,
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned– for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:12-21 ESV)
But at the very time that condemnation fell upon mankind, the remedy was declared as well.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”” (Genesis 3:15 ESV)
One would come, born of the woman, that would crush the head of the serpent. The heel strike on the head of a serpent was considered a death blow. And there would come one that would deliver that blow.
But it did not come immediately.
In fact, Eve’s next child would be the first murderer. So it wasn’t that child. Nor was it the next one, for the world’s first murderer committed the world’s first fratricide. So, of the next two children that we are told of, one was a murderer and one had been murdered.
And this pattern did not end here.
Year after year, no Savior came.
Abraham was given promises. And one of them was that through him all the nations would be blessed. But still there was no messiah. Still there was no salvation. But somehow, through Abram all the families of the earth would be blessed.
“Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”” (Genesis 12:1-3 ESV)
As God told Abram, these people would be enslaved in a land that was not their own.
But God did choose a people for Himself. And God sent someone to rescue them out of their slavery in Egypt. But even this person said that another prophet was coming (Deuteronomy 18:15). Another person was coming. There is a sense of expectation for something more when Moses passes away, just outside of the Promised Land.
And it was through Moses that God gave His law. And in His law, everyone saw that they did not measure up. Everyone realized that they do not measure up to God’s standard (Romans 3:23).
Year after year passed and no one came that would undo the damage Satan did in the Garden of Eden. No one undid the curse that had fallen upon mankind.
The people of Israel fell deep into sin in the years following. Joshua helped them to attain the promise God had made. But they quickly rebelled. And so, throughout the Book of Judges “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” instead of the Lord’s.
After a failed king, God gave the people of Israel a king. He was a man after God’s own heart. And his throne would go on forever. But he was not the man. He was a man after God’s own heart, but he was not the promised Savior. And he died having not reversed what Satan did in the Garden. Child after child of David’s lived and died, most of which ruled rebelliously and embracing the work of Satan in the garden rather than ruling righteously.
And if we fast forward a while we see that the people of Israel were carried off into captivity. But they were not destroyed. And so, hope of this promise being fulfilled was still alive.
And during this time, just before, during, and after the captivity prophecy after prophecy came looking forward to the coming Savior and the work He would do. One of those that we read often is found in Isaiah 53.
“Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned–every one–to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:1-12 ESV)
One would come that would suffer and die for the sins of transgressors. We rebelled, but the one who would come, He would heal us by His stripes. It was the will of the Lord to crush Him as an offering for sin.
But He would not remain dead. He would live and He would be “numbered with the strong”.
In fact, other prophecies speak of the power and might, rule and reign of this one who would come. One of those instances is seen in the Book of Daniel.
“”I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14 ESV)
One was to come whose kingdom would know no end. People from every nation and language would serve Him, and His dominion would be an everlasting dominion that would not pass away.
Elsewhere we read that He would sit on the throne of David forever and be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” and His government would never end.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV)
But how would this person come?
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2 ESV)
He would come forth from this seemingly insignificant town of Bethlehem. But He, the ruler, would come from there.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 ESV)
And years later, an angel brought to Mary an announcement.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 ESV)
And in that announcement we see something spectacular.
Jesus Is Savior
Savior means, “a deliverer”.
What is it that Jesus did? Why is He called “a deliverer”?
It is because Jesus delivers us from the awful state described this morning. We rebelled against God and had earned for ourselves God’s wrath and justice. That is what we deserve.
God the Son took on human flesh and dwelled here on Earth. He lived a perfect life, accomplished all righteousness, died on the cross as the substitute for sin, and rose from the grave three days later. He did that so that we could be redeemed. He did that so that we could be delivered from sin and death.
We are sinners in rebellion against God. And God the Son took on human flesh to accomplish our redemption. He was made man so that He could live a sinless life and accomplish everything we should have accomplished. He was made man so that He could die in our place and then rise from the grave.
God the Son took on human flesh for our deliverance from sin and death.
Salvation is offered to you today based on the finished work of Christ.
We are condemned before a holy God and there is nothing we can do about it. We can’t fulfill the law ourselves. We cannot live in complete purity. We cannot measure up to the commands God gave to us. We are sinners. We cannot do it.
But there is a Savior that was born over 2000 years ago. And He accomplished our redemption for us.
You can’t do it on your own. You can’t do it another way.
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18 ESV)
God the Son was born of the Virgin Mary so that He could suffer for our sins and bring us to God. He, the righteous one, suffered in place of wicked sinners so that we could be brought to Him.
That is not something that you can do. But it is something that was done for you.
That was the point of the unsolvable maze in the advent books. The child would do the maze as best it can be done and still fall short.
As Christians we understand that we cannot measure up. But there is one that has measured up for us. There is one who stood in our place. The righteous one, Jesus Christ has accomplished our redemption for us. He is our Savior.
Jesus is the Christ
Christ means “anointed”. He is the one chosen to accomplish this redemption.
Jesus is the long awaited, long promised One that would undo what Satan had begun so long ago in the Garden of Eden.
Sin, death, and corruption entered the world. And now Christ has come and will undo all of it. He has delivered the death blow. And His rule and reign will one day finish it off.
My reason for going through the history of the Bible as I did this morning was to bring out this very important point. Jesus is the long promised Messiah who would undo all the wickedness that Satan brought to us in the Garden of Eden.
As we discussed a few weeks ago. This child was God the Son who took on human flesh. God the Son came to Earth and fulfilled all the promises that had been made. God the Son came to undo the damage done by Satan’s influence in the Garden of Eden.
That baby, born in a manger, was the long-promised Savior that would crush the head of the serpent.
Jesus Is Lord
We know what “lord” means. It means king. And in Jesus’s rule and reign we will finally see the end of all wickedness upon the Earth. He will make an end to all the rebellion against Him. For He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
“They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.””(Revelation 17:14 ESV)
He is King of kings and Lord of lords, therefore He will make all things right. Therefore, He will finish off, for all time, the damage done by Satan himself.
This is good news. But it’s not good news for everyone. For the only people saved from the wrath of the King of kings and Lord of lords are His people.
All those who trust in Him are saved. They are His people. And all those that still live in rebellion will one day be judged by Him.
Conclusion
This thought should lead us to glory in Christ at all times. It should cause us to ponder the greatness of His sacrifice. But it should also cause us to look to Him for salvation, and not ourselves.
God the Son became man. He took on human flesh. That is the wonder of all wonders. And why did He do it? He did it to accomplish redemption for His people.
God the Son took on human flesh to make Himself killable. God the Son took on human flesh so that He could accomplish righteousness on our behalf and die on the cross as our substitute. And then He rose from the grave three days later.
Every Christmas we celebrate the birth of our Savior. And for good reason. He came to save us.
Angels sing of the glories of this event. And shouldn’t we who have been redeemed do the same. Shouldn’t we rejoice. Shouldn’t we tell others about His grace and His mercy.
R. Dwain Minor
[1] 2nd London Baptist Confession, 6.2
[2] Westminster Confession Of Faith VI, 2-4
[3] The 39 Articles, IX
[4] Book Of Doctrines And Discipline, VII.