Pastor David's Sermons

12/6/08

A Savior Mindset

Hebrews 10:5-7

Long ago, there ruled in Persia a wise and good king. He loved his people. He wanted to know how they lived. He wanted to know about their hardships. Often he dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar, and went to the homes of the poor.  No one whom he visited thought that he was their ruler. One time he visited a very poor man who lived in a cellar. He ate the coarse food the poor man ate. He spoke cheerful, kind words to him.  Then he left.

Later he visited the poor man again and disclosed his identity by saying, "I am your king!" The king thought the man would surely ask for some gift or favor, but he didn't.  Instead he said, "You left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the coarse food I ate. You brought gladness to my heart! To others you have given your rich gifts. To me you have given yourself!"

The King of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ, gave himself to you and me. The Bible calls Him, "the unspeakable gift!"

Today we are looking at the unspeakable Gift that the Father has given to the human race: Jesus Christ.  Today hopefully we will appreciate Him more fully, see Him more vividly, and love Him more authentically.

 

The Pre-Bethlehem Jesus

 

“His name shall be called Immanuel, . . . God with us." "The light of the knowledge of the glory of God" is seen "in the face of Jesus Christ." From the days of eternity the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father; He was "the image of God," the image of His greatness and majesty, "the outshining of His glory." It was to manifest this glory that He came to our world. To this sin-darkened earth He came to reveal the light of God's love,--to be "God with us." Therefore it was prophesied of Him, "His name shall be called Immanuel."

 

That’s who Jesus was, prior to becoming a Babe in a manger.  He was the brightness of the glory of the Father—the express Image of the Father’s glory.  He was one with the Father forever, full of power and might, full of authority and majesty, before Whom angels worshipped.

 

He was the Rock that gave forth water for the thirsty Israelites.  He was in the cloud by day and the fire by night—guiding them safely through a strange land.

 

Before sin existed, Jesus already had a Savior mindset.  There was already a plan in place to save you, to save me, before we even had a chance to sin; before our ancestors Adam and Eve had a chance to sin.  Salvation predates sin.

 

The Lord’s attitude about saving us is perhaps His central characteristic—the main thing about Him.

 

“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
      And He who formed you, O Israel:

      Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
      I have called you by your name;
      You are Mine.
       When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
      And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
      When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
      Nor shall the flame scorch you.”

 

“For I am the LORD your God,
      The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
      I gave Egypt for your ransom,
      Ethiopia and Seba in your place.”

 

“Since you were precious in My sight,
      You have been honored,
      And I have loved you;
      Therefore I will give men for you,
      And people for your life.”

                           Isaiah 43: 1, 2, 4

 

The Lord Jesus has been in the saving business for a long time.  He had agreed with His Father that He would come to this earth, to take upon Himself a human body, live among us, and then give up His life in order to be an Atonement—a Sacrifice for our sins.

 

In the book of Hebrews we find some of the very words that Jesus used when speaking to His Father about coming to this earth:

 

Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

      “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
      But a body You have prepared for Me.
       In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
      You had no pleasure.
       Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
      In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
      To do Your will, O God.’”  Hebrews 10:5-7

 

 

This is Jesus, describing in His own words, why He was volunteering to come to this world.

 

The Purpose of the Incarnation

 

       * To reveal the glory of the Father

 

       * To reveal the love of the Father

 

By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels. He was the Word of God,--God's thought made audible. In His prayer for His disciples He says, "I have declared unto them Thy name,"—"merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,"--"that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them." But not alone for His earthborn children was this revelation given. Our little world is the lesson book of the universe. God's wonderful purpose of grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is the theme into which "angels desire to look," and it will be their study throughout endless ages.

Both the redeemed and the unfallen beings will find in the cross of Christ their science and their song. It will be seen that the glory shining in the face of Jesus is the glory of self-sacrificing love. In the light from Calvary it will be seen that the law of self-renouncing love is the law of life for earth and heaven; that the love which "seeketh not her own" has its source in the heart of God; and that in the meek and lowly One is manifested the character of Him who dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto.  Desire of Ages, 19. 20

We get an idea of the grand scope of the Incarnation.  It’s not just for us.  It’s for the sake of the angels, the unfallen beings in the universe that never fell to Satan’s trickeries and therefore never experienced the need for redemption.  Indeed, we will have quite a story to tell of the redeeming power of God!

 

       * To provide an atonement for our sins

 

This is a basic, fundamental purpose of the Incarnation.  Without Jesus Christ bearing our sins, we are completely lost and without hope.  Baby Jesus was born to take away our sins—to bridge the gap between sinful mortals and a holy God.  To bring us back to communion with the Father—forever.

 

       * To give us a real example of how to live

 

              - full reliance on the Father

 

              - active prayer life

 

              - unquestioning obedience

 

              - willingness to be led by Holy Spirit

 

How a Baby Saves Us

 

(Testimonies from mothers in the audience who have been saved or taught by their babies)

 

Debbie: “The main thing I’ve learned about babies is that there are times when you really have to hand it over to God, and be willing to say, Lord, I know You love this child more than I do, and please do whatever you want to.  Sometimes it’s terrifying—there were several times with Tony that I didn’t know if he was going to make it through the night.  It happened also with Ruthie once.  But God helped them to survive, and He saved them.  It was frightening.”

 

Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

      “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
      But a body You have prepared for Me.
       In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
      You had no pleasure.
       Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
      In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
      To do Your will, O God.’”  Hebrews 10:5-7

 

 

       * Disarms our fears

 

       * Quiets and calms us

 

       * Experiencing what we experience

 

       * Able to speak from standpoint of Creator and Begotten

 

       * Becomes one with us—Forever

 

       * Presents as a Superior Sacrifice 

 

* Teaches us how to do God’s will

 

A blessed Baby!  A Baby who saves!  Born to save!  A Baby whose life mission is to save!

 

Let’s take the opportunity to get close to this Baby Jesus.  Let’s invite Him into our lives, and ask Him to save us today.  For that is His mindset—now and always.