The Biblical Message of Christmas

The point: If you truly love Christ, then any display of the glory of his person and the sufficiency of his love, his work can only delight your heart.

Martin uses the diverse convictions and practices within his own congregation regarding Christmas to illustrate the challenge of preaching on this day without offending or disappointing various groups.

Looking out over the face of the congregation and noticing that we have not a few visitors amongst us, I'm going to say something that may be of somewhat a shocking nature to you who are visiting with us, and it's this, that sitting in this place this morning are many earnest Christians who, though profoundly one in the great issues that really matter, have vast and deep differences, both of conviction and practice, with respect to the day called Christmas. We are a congregation who, to a great degree, are profoundly, and deeply, and pervasively one in the things that really matter. But with r...

0:13 - 1:33 Read in full sermon

The point: If you truly love Christ, then any display of the glory of his person and the sufficiency of his love, his work can only delight your heart.

He references the contemporary 'cabbage patch madness' as an example of the pervasive 'social madness' of the Christmas season, highlighting its inescapable nature in society.

This is an inescapable fact that impinges upon us on our highways, in our shopping centers, in our places of business, on the radio and TV, and in a special way this year, with cabbage patch madness. And your snicker indicates that you know whereof I speak. But now, what are we to do with this social madness? This social madness, called the Christmas season.

1:34 - 2:04 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin provides a running commentary on Matthew 1:18-21, 24-25, detailing the betrothal of Mary and Joseph, Mary's miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit, Joseph's righteous…

Pastor Clark's earlier statement is cited to explain that ancient Jewish betrothal was far more binding than modern engagement, akin to how lightly some regard marriage today, emphasizing the seriousness of Joseph and Mary's commitment.

Now often we're told this is sort of like engagement. Well, as Pastor Clark said earlier this morning, this betrothal was more binding than most people regard marriage in our day. Now there's nothing in Scripture to indicate that the practice of betrothal was a God-ordained arrangement. We simply find it in Scripture as part of Hebrew culture.

10:42 - 11:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin provides a running commentary on Matthew 1:18-21, 24-25, detailing the betrothal of Mary and Joseph, Mary's miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit, Joseph's righteous…

Martin challenges the listener who might dismiss the virgin birth as a 'fairy story' by demanding they first resurrect and prove the eyewitnesses (Joseph and Mary) liars, asserting the need to believe the simple, inspired testimony of Scripture.

Now those are the simple facts. And you say to me, Pastor Martin, do you expect me, living in this enlightened twentieth century, to believe that fairy story? My friend, listen. When you're prepared to take upon yourself the awesome task of resurrecting all of the witnesses to these realities, including Joseph and Mary, and prove them liars in a court of law, then you'd better get down off your high horse of skepticism and believe the simple, artless, unembellished testimony of the eyewitnesses to these events and the inspired record of them in the Word of God. Here are the simple facts that c...

22:38 - 23:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Make no mistake on this point, the cornerstone of the redemption of sinners is in the precise identity of the Redeemer's person.

Martin quotes Matthew Henry to illustrate how God is perceived through nature (above us), the law (against us), and only in the gospel (with us as Emmanuel), underscoring the unique revelation of Christ.

That we might have a Redeemer who is God. Apart from which there is no hope, there is no light, there is no salvation. Matthew Henry in his beautiful and quaint way expressed it this way, by the light of nature we can see him as God above us. Look out, the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork.

29:31 - 30:02 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But Matthew Henry went on to say that it's only in the gospel in which we see him as Emmanuel, God with us.

He uses the contrast between the crying infant Jesus and the God who spoke worlds into being, and the baby sucking nourishment from Mary's breast and the God who upholds all things, to highlight the profound mystery of the incarnation.

He whose cry pierces the stillness of that night is the one whose voice spoke worlds into being. He who subsequently sucks nourishment from the breast of a Hebrew maid is the one who himself upholds all things by the word of his power. But you say, Pastor Martin, how can we understand that? We can't.

31:06 - 31:36 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Turning to Matthew 1:21, Martin explains that Jesus' name signifies His mission: 'Jehovah is salvation,' or 'He shall save His people from their sins.' He stresses that God takes…

Martin describes the entire life history of Jesus as 'a lock with no key,' 'an arch with no keystone,' or 'a building with no cornerstone' without the truth of Matthew 1:21, emphasizing that His mission to save from sin unlocks the meaning of all He did.

And you see, this is the key to everything that follows in the life history of Christ. From that obscure childhood to his public ministry, to his open rejection, to his death as a common criminal, to his glorious resurrection and triumphant ascension. Listen, listen carefully. All of the life history of Jesus is like a lock with no key.

38:11 - 38:37 Read in full sermon