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MATTHEW 1:18-21

"THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING, 
TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS, HOW TO CELEBRATE"

Intro: Man's concepts of God thoroughly confused, He came to reveal the
Father. Man was spiritually dead, He came that we "might have life, and
..." Man was  being ruined by Satan's work, He came to destroy the works
of the devil."

I. THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING DECLARED.
        A. To Joseph by an angel.
                1. It lies in His very name.
                2. To the Hebrews a name significant.
                3. Name Jesus is Greek for Hebrew: Joshua.
                        a. Contraction of Jehovah Shua.
                        b. Means "Jehovah is Salvation"
                4. "Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins."
        B. By the angels to the shepherds.
                1. We are surrounded by a glorious unseen world.
                        a. It seems that one from this unseen world by the
                           name of Gabriel given charge of overseeing the
                           events of the birth of Jesus.
                                1. 500 years earlier, appeared to Daniel.
                                2. He appeared to Zacharias.
                                3. He appeared to Mary.
                2. I believe it was Gabriel, His task finished, so excited
                   he had to share with the shepherds. Probably the temple
                   shepherds.
                3. "There is born this day in the city of David a Savior."
        C. Jesus announced at the house of Sachets "For the Son of Man has
           come to seek and to save that which was lost."

II. MAN'S NEED OF SALVATION.
        A. Natural selection is a downward trend.
                1. Develop a high breed of cattle; let them go.
                2. Develop a pedigree of dog; let it go - mongrel.
                3. Man had followed his natural instincts.
                        a. Greed, hatred, lust resulted.
                                1. Some of the motorcycle gangs today
                                   excellent example of natural selection.
                        b. Mankind was caught in the horrible pit of sin.
                                1. No one to lift him out. Tried to climb
                                   out.
                                2. He was without hope, lost.
        B. Every endeavor of man failed.
                1. Each form of government became corrupted.
                        a. The dream of our forefathers, to create a
                           system of checks and balances that would
                           eliminate the possibility of corruption.
                2. Each religious system equally disastrous.
                3. Each philosophy had its flaw.
                4. It was obvious man could not help himself.
                5. He needed help from without, for he was lost.
        C. Jesus came to save that which was lost.
                1. Sin was the corrupting factor in man.
                        a. He took the guilt of our sins upon Himself and
                           died in our stead.
                        b. "He was rich..."
                        c. "God made Him to be sin..."

III. HOW SHOULD WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS?
        A. Day of rejoicing and praise for those who are saved, who have
           received the gift of God.
        B. The Romans used to have a pagan celebration on 25th of December
           called Saturnalia and they would give gifts, feast and get
           drunk. They were celebrating the Sun's victory over the winter
           solstice, purely pagan.
        C. Some of you tomorrow are going to exchange gifts, feast and
           drink.
        D. Others are going to give gifts, feast and worship.