Christ, The Lord, Is Born

“Christ, the Lord, Is Born” (Luke 2:10-11)

I. Introduction. A. Orientation. 1. This morning, we considered that Jesus is the Savior – the One who saves us from God’s wrath. a. We were in danger of everlasting punishment. b. But Jesus rescued us: (i) Through His perfect life/obedience. (ii) Through His atoning death. (iii) Through the power of His Spirit. 2. But this isn’t all He is. a. We don’t want to see Him only as a Savior from guilt, but also from the power of sin. b. You can’t have one without the other. (i) Easy-believism/antinomianism separates the two. (ii) They believe Christ can be a Savior from hell, without saving from sin. (iii) But don’t forget: (a) He came to turn us around. (b) To get us off the broad path. (c) To get us to lay down our weapons. (d) To make us His sons and daughters. (e) He didn’t come to leave us as rebels, but to save us from our rebellion. (iv) This is one aspect of the second thing we want to see from our passage. (a) Christ also came to rule over us (b) To subdue our evil hearts. (c) To turn us into the path of righteousness and to make sure that we continue in that way. B. Preview. 1. This evening, I want us to consider that another reason we are here is because about 2000 years, a King was born. a. Joseph went to the city of David to register for a reason: (i) He was a son of David. (ii) Mary was also in David’s line. (iii) The genealogies that substantiate this in the Bible are there to establish that fact. b. It was important that Jesus be born into such a family if He was to have right to David’s throne. (i) David’s line is the kingly line.

2 (ii) It was to David that God made the promise He would raise up his seed and establish the throne of His kingdom forever. 2. This One who was born a Savior is Christ the Lord. a. Why should we rejoice that a King has been born? b. Because He is a gracious King, a loving King, One who uses His power and authority for the good of His people. c. This is what I want us to consider this evening. II. Sermon. A. First, as our King He subdues His enemies. 1. A king is armed with authority and an army to conquer His enemies. This is what Christ has: a. When He completed His work, He was clothed with all power and authority. (i) Matt. 28:18-20, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” (ii) From that time He has had the authority to order all things. (a) He reigns over the earth, raising up one kingdom, putting down another (Ps. 2). (b) He has the power to rule and overrule all things to the good of His church. b. He also has an army to enforce His will: (i) The Spirit of God: to convict, enlighten, awaken, convert. (ii) An army of angels: to fight the servants of the evil one. (iii) Even an army of men. (a) All men: He uses one nation to subdue another (b) Redeemed: He sends His church armed with the Gospel to subdue men. (iv) With this army, He is ruling, reigning and subduing His enemies. 2. Most importantly to us, we were His enemies and He subdued us. a. We were dead in trespass in sin; we walked according to the prince of the power of the air; we were children of wrath (Eph. 2:1-2). b. We were His enemies, but He subdued us: (i) He changed our hearts. (ii) He overcame our hatred by His Spirit, so that we might willingly submit to Him. (iii) We should be thankful. (a) If He had left us in our sin, we would have perished. (b) By conquering us, He has saved us. 3. With His army He will continue to subdue His enemies (which are ours as well). a. The Bible says that Christ will reign until all His foes submit.

3 (i) “For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet” (1 Cor. 15:25). (ii) He is subduing demons with His angels. (iii) He is subduing His people by His Word carried by the church and made powerful by the Spirit. (iv) He subdues kingdoms with the kingdoms of other men. (v) And He will reign until they are all conquered. b. The very last enemy is death, which He will conquer at His second coming (v. 26). (i) When the last of His people is gathered in, He’ll return. (ii) He’ll raise the dead. (iii) He translate the living. (iv) He’ll gather everyone to judgment. (v) There will be the final judgment and separation. (vi) Then the eternal state. c. He has the power to overcome all evil and bring in all righteousness. In this, we should rejoice. B. Second, we should rejoice because as King, He rules over us and defends us. 1. He rules over us in righteousness, by His Word and Spirit. a. The righteous rejoice to have a righteous king rule over them. b. They know what Solomon said is true, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Prov. 14:34). c. That’s why we rejoice knowing that we have a righteous King over us. (i) One who commands us to do what is right – what we want to do. (ii) One who will reward righteousness and punish sin. (iii) One who is merciful and compassionate, who won’t destroy us when we’re struggling with sin, but bear with us and help us to overcome it. d. He gives us righteous laws and empowers us with the Spirit of holiness to do what is right. e. What could be better than this? 2. He also directs all things by the Word of His power. a. The author to the Hebrews, “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power” (1:3). b. He not only holds everything up in being, He moves it all along according to God’s plan. c. This is why Paul can say, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). d. He will make sure that all works for the good of His church. 3. And while we are here He protects us from our enemies. a. One of the responsibilities of kings is to provide for the protection of his subjects.

4 (i) Paul writes, “For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil” (Rom. 13:3-4). (ii) One way to protect the righteous is to destroy those who do evil, who threaten them. (iii) Swift and speedy judgment causes the wicked to fear, and this protects those who do what is right. b. Christ does the same. (i) One way is through these rulers He raises up. (a) Without government, there would be anarchy – the rule of the strong. (b) Jesus uses government to protect His people. (ii) But He also protects us from our spiritual enemies: (a) His Spirit continues to subdue the sin in our hearts. (b) His angels continue to battle the demonic forces that would swallow us up. (iii) He protects us from other things as well. (a) From war: Any peace in the world is by His mercy. (b) From starvation: He causes the plants to grow to provide food. (c) From poverty: He gives us strength and the ability to make money to provide for our needs. (d) Every good thing we have comes from Him. III. Application. A. The point is that these are things to rejoice in. 1. We all hope each presidential election for a good president. 2. But we have a perfect ruler who will rule over us forever in righteousness. a. He loves us. b. He gave Himself for us to overcome our guilt. c. He sent His Spirit to overcome our hearts, when we were helpless. d. He sends His heavenly hosts to protect us. e. He governs all things for the good of His church, for our good in particular. f. He provides for our needs in every way. g. The angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” h. These are things to rejoice in. B. At least they are if Christ is your King: Is He your King? 1. If He is, then rejoice, as the angels said: Christ is all of these things for you. 2. But if He isn’t, then turn to Him, submit to Him, trust in Him, and then receive all that He has for His loved ones. Amen.