The Purpose of Christmas | Tony Evans Christmas Sermon

Summary

In this session on the meaning of Christmas, the speaker delves into the purpose of the holiday, emphasizing that Christmas exists to address the issue of sin. Through the birth of Jesus, God sent a Savior to deliver humanity from its sinful state. The message of Christmas, often lost in commercialism and festivities, is rooted in the need for salvation. Jesus, born to die, provides humanity with eternal life by offering a perfect 'credit score' through his sacrifice. This session calls for a deeper understanding of Christmas, urging people to recognize its true purpose: salvation through Christ.

Takeaways

• 😀 Christmas exists because of sin: The true purpose of Christmas is to address humanity's problem with sin, which required the coming of a savior.
• 😀 The uniqueness of Jesus Christ: Jesus is the only one deserving of the holiday and the one who should be honored every day, not just at Christmas.
• 😀 Misunderstanding the meaning: Many people celebrate Christmas as a commercialized event but miss its true purpose, which is salvation from sin.
• 😀 The problem of sin: Sin entered the world through Adam's disobedience, causing a need for a savior to restore humanity.
• 😀 The significance of the name 'Jesus': Jesus means 'savior,' highlighting his mission to save humanity from sin and its consequences.
• 😀 The perfect savior: Jesus, being sinless, became the perfect substitute for humanity's sin, taking on the penalty and offering salvation to all who believe.
• 😀 Christmas as a reminder of God's holiness: God cannot compromise His perfection, and humanity's sin creates an insurmountable distance between God and mankind.
• 😀 Swaddling clothes as a symbol: Jesus' birth in swaddling clothes, typically used for the dead, symbolized that He was born to die for the sins of the world.
• 😀 The unsterilized reality of Christmas: The true story of Christmas involves sin, sacrifice, and the need for a savior, which should be shared with others.
• 😀 Jesus as the savior of the world: Jesus' role as the propitiation for sins is not limited to a few but extends to the whole world, offering salvation to all.
• 😀 The metaphor of the ditch: Just like two men stuck in a ditch, humanity cannot save itself from sin, but Jesus, who is not bound by sin, offers salvation through His sacrifice.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the speaker's message about Christmas?

The speaker emphasizes that Christmas exists primarily because of sin and the need for a Savior. The purpose of Christmas is to address the problem of sin, and the birth of Jesus Christ marks the beginning of God's plan for salvation.

What analogy does the speaker use to explain the misunderstanding of Christmas?

The speaker uses the analogy of a man trying to get his friend to understand the consequences of excessive drinking. Just as the friend missed the point of the demonstration with the worms, many people miss the true purpose of Christmas, focusing on festivities rather than the reason for Christ's birth.

What does the speaker mean by 'sanitized Christmas'?

A 'sanitized Christmas' refers to the way Christmas has been commercialized and stripped of its deeper spiritual meaning. People celebrate it with gifts, decorations, and parties, but often miss the original, profound purpose of Christ's birth—namely, to save humanity from sin.

Why does the speaker argue that Christmas exists because of sin?

The speaker argues that Christmas exists because sin exists. The birth of Jesus is not about creating a festive holiday but about addressing humanity's deep problem of sin. Jesus came to be the Savior, to deliver people from the consequences of sin.

What does the name 'Jesus' signify in the context of Christmas?

The name 'Jesus' means 'Savior' or 'Deliverer.' It is central to the Christmas story because Jesus was born to save humanity from sin and its consequences, offering a path to eternal life.

How does the speaker explain the concept of sin?

Sin is described as missing the mark of God's perfection. The speaker explains that all humans fall short of God's standards, and that sin entered the world through Adam's rebellion, impacting all of humanity.

What is the significance of Jesus being born to die, according to the speaker?

The speaker highlights that even at Jesus' birth, his purpose was clear: to die for the sins of the world. The swaddling clothes Jesus was wrapped in symbolized burial cloths, indicating that from the beginning, Jesus was born to be the sacrificial lamb who would die to redeem humanity.

Why is it important to understand the concept of substitutionary atonement in the context of Christmas?

Understanding substitutionary atonement is crucial because Jesus, who lived a sinless life, took on the sins of the world. He was the perfect substitute for humanity, and his death allowed for the righteousness of God to be credited to those who believe in him, making salvation possible.

What role does the concept of 'propitiation' play in the speaker's explanation of Christmas?

The concept of 'propitiation' refers to Jesus' sacrificial act of satisfying God's wrath against sin. The speaker uses this term to emphasize that Jesus' death on the cross was not only for the forgiveness of sins but also to restore God's justice, making it possible for humanity to receive salvation.

How does the speaker suggest we should approach Christmas celebrations?

The speaker encourages people to 'unsterilize' Christmas by remembering its true purpose. While celebrating with family and friends is fine, it's important to communicate the deeper meaning of Christmas: that it is a time to reflect on the sin problem and the Savior's solution to it.