Well, good evening, everyone. It's my turn to do a bit of community singing, so don't leave me on my own. I know I'm loud, but I'm not that loud. So I want to hear you singing out. The first one, obviously, will be all up on the screen. I haven't got the numbers, sorry. So the first one is, I Will Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving in My Heart. Maybe we'll sing it twice. That's OK. Thanks. I will enter his gates with my spirit in my heart. I will enter his courts with praise. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad. He has made me glad. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad. He has made me glad. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. I will. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad. He has made me glad. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. It's really hard to tell if you're glad or not. There's a mask on. The next one, we're going to sing a couple of carols. Obviously, it's Christmas. The next one is 149, and the book is O Come, All Ye Faithful, one of Sharon's favorites, so that's why I picked it. So we'll just sing it all through. Thank you. O come, all ye faithful, O come, all ye faithful, O come, O come, Emmanuel O come, O come, Emmanuel O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him Okay, so we'll be starting to continue, but ladies, be the first line of the chorus, and then the second and the third. Okay? Nice. I hope I get her help, Lord, in a course that never ends. Mary, Lord, begotten, not created O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him In Christ the Lord Sing hearts of angels, sing in exultation. Sing all ye citizens of heaven above. Glory to God, glory in the highest. O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. ♪ We praise Thee, for this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee. ♪ O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him Christ the Lord Okay, the next one is 153, See Amid the Winter's Snow. Okay, maybe just sing one, three, and five, please. Thank you. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? ♪ Hail the ever-blessed Lord ♪ ♪ Heaven and earth to God we come ♪ ♪ Sing through all Jerusalem ♪ ♪ God's reformed in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ What a joyful music, where the ramblin' angels sing ♪ ♪ Round yon virgin, mother and child. ♪ Every merchant's happy draw, Saving the water, rivers, and water. Teach us, teach us, Lord, each time, By thy grace to live and die. Teach us to resemble thee, In thy strength to help us be. Sorry, I didn't realize there was a verse six. Apologies for that. The last one, just to finish off, is number 205. I serve our risen saviour. He's in the world today. It's actually a favourite of someone who's not here, but I asked him what his favourite was this morning. He gave me this, so he's not here, but I know his wife will probably tell him. Anyway, thank you. We'll just sing it all three. Thanks. I serve our risen saviour. He's in the world today. He lives, He lives, as Jesus did today. He walks with me, and I will follow Him. You ask me how I know He lives. He lives with me. And though my heart grows weary, I never will despair. I know that He is near me, and all that's short may pass. The day of exultation will come at last. as Jesus did today. He walks with me, and He talks with me. Thou, O Christ, are our way. He lives, He lives. Salvation to the poor. He is with us, and I know, I know He lives. In excelsis Deo. Rejoice! Rejoice! O Christians! Lift up your voices and sing. Eternal hallelujah to Jesus Christ, the King. so good and kind. He lives! He lives! Our Jesus lives today! ♪ The nations will rejoin ♪ ♪ Yes, without my loneliness ♪ Well, thank you to Ian for leading us in our worship this evening. It's lovely to have you with us tonight. Those who are here in the building or those watching online, we do trust you'll be blessed as you listen in or watch into the service this evening. Let's stand together and sing God sent his son. They called him Jesus. He came to love, heal, and forgive. He lived and died to buy my pardon. An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. This is the theme for this evening. Of course, we're coming to that time of the year where we are focusing on the incarnation and the coming of Christ into the world. So that's what we're gonna think about tonight, and what a great way to start our meeting with this hymn. ♪ Christ is risen ♪ ♪ Revolting Jesus ♪ ♪ He came to die ♪ ♪ We have forgiven him ♪ ♪ He will not die ♪ ♪ To die by mortar ♪ ♪ And empty graves let him go ♪ Because He lives, I am raised tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know, I know He lives. And life is worth living just because He lives. How sweet to know a newborn baby and feel the pride and joy He brings. God favors him. Left from the shepherds, this child found place on certain days. Because He lives, because He lives, I will praise Him all the world. Because He lives, ♪ No fear is more ♪ ♪ Because I know ♪ ♪ Yes, I know he loves the future ♪ ♪ And life is worth the living just because he lives ♪ ♪ And then one day ♪ I'll cross the river and find my smile. It's way to live free I see the lights of New England I hope it is What he thought he is I can face tomorrow For fear it's gone. Because I know, as far as I know, it was the future. And life is worth the living just because he lives. Now, let's seek the Lord together. We want to pray, and we want to really ask that God will bless and speak in our meeting this evening. Our Father, we want to thank you for the truth of what we've just been singing that makes this time of the year so special to us who were saved, that God sent his Son. Father, we thank you that the Father sent the Son to be the savior of the world. Oh, our Father, we want to thank you that Paul tells us that you spared not your only son, but you delivered him up for us all. And Father, what an incredible thought, what incredible mind-boggling truths are in those verses. Lord, a motive that we cannot fathom. Lord, how you could love us, sinners condemned unclean, but not just love us, but demonstrate that love. in the sending of your only begotten Son. Lord, we want to thank you for the life that he lived. Father, this time of the year, we think much about his coming into the world and that life, that sinless, spotless life, but we know that his life was not an end in itself. We know that he didn't come to live, but Father, he was born to die. Father, may we always keep in mind over Christmas that the crib was simply the doorway to the cross. Father, we want to thank you that there upon the cross, he bore our sin in his own body on the tree. But we rejoice, Father, for the fact that he is risen. Father, we thank you we have been singing tonight that I serve a risen Savior. We thank you for being reminded that because he lives, we can face tomorrow. Lord, I pray for those here that Lord, don't know if they can face tomorrow. Lord, help them to know that if they're your children that they can, that they have a strength that comes alone from you. And Lord, for those who don't have a hope for tomorrow and no assurance for eternity, we pray this evening that as they sing these hymns which are full of truth, but particularly as they listen to the word that is preached, that you, O God, would speak. We know that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. We know it is through the foolishness of preaching that you are pleased to save. Father, we do pray that tonight, as a result of preaching, that it might please you to save those who perhaps are here, or those particularly who are listening at home. wherever those who hear this message are, that you would speak with a voice that would wake the dead. Remember, not only in this church, but other churches, drive-ins, carol services, wherever people are tonight, maybe where soft their hearts are found at this Christmas time, that the word of God will go forth in power. Demonstration of the Spirit and souls will come to trust the Savior. Bless us here in St. Phil we ask, may we be very conscious of your presence. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Now Adrian will come and bring us the announcements. Thank you, Adrian. Well, good evening. As Stephen said, it is lovely to see you. Welcome in the Lord's name. Welcome if you're joining us online. I do see some visiting with us, and I bid you welcome also in the Lord's name. The meetings for the incoming week are as follows. Wednesday evening, there will be no searches, now at 6.45, but the Bible study and prayer meeting will continue at 8, and Pastor Moffat will belong to preach the word. The next Lord's Day, the morning service at 11.30, preceded by a time of prayer, and the carol service at 4.30 in the afternoon. So please bear that in mind, 4.30, next Lord's Day afternoon for the carol service. The Christmas calendar packs are in the foyer. Quite a few have been collected, but there's still some there. Your names and some of the areas are printed clearly on the packs, so please take them and distribute them at your convenience. preferably before Christmas I should say. Just an advance notice then of the Christmas services, we will have a Christmas Day morning service at 10.15 as usual and then on Boxing Day Sunday we will hold our morning service at 11.30 but there will be no Boxing Day evening service. And then for many of the works, the searches will start back on the 5th of January, Sunday school and Bible class and the creche will recommence on the 9th of January. And if you are willing and able to help with the creche, please speak to your sister Rachel Moffat. These are the announcements made subject to the Lord's will. Thank you. Thank you to Adrian. And just to say, we do want to encourage you along to our Wednesday nights. I'm going to keep the meeting just to an hour, just from eight until nine, and just preach maybe some slightly more devotional, just a seasonal message over these next two Wednesday nights. I know it's a busy time, but if you can join us for the hour to come and pray and look at God's word together, then that'll be good to see you and it'll be a blessing to be in God's house. I wanna take a reading before we sing again from Matthew chapter number one. Now this isn't where I'm going to be preaching from tonight, but I'll be referring to it. But let's read Matthew chapter one, which is really one of the narratives of the nativity. And I want to read from Matthew chapter one and reading from verse number 18. Matthew chapter number one. And let's commence our reading at verse number 18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise, when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thy son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel. which being interpreted is God with us. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife, and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son, and he called his name. Jesus, and that'll end our reading there at verse 25. Let's stand together again and sing a lovely hymn. It says, I cannot tell why he whom angels worship should set his love upon the sons of men, or why a shepherd he should seek the wanders to bring them back. Let's stand as we sing this hymn together. ♪ I now tell the heathen angel's words ♪ ♪ To take his love upon the sins of men ♪ ♪ For I have shed anew ♪ But this I know, that he was born of Mary, where Bethlehem's danger was his only hope. And that he wept, and blessed Mary, ♪ And so the Savior, Savior of the world, died ♪ ♪ And man of death, how silently he suffered ♪ ♪ And with his wings he raised his face of fear ♪ ♪ For the cross was broken ♪ ♪ And gone away swiftly after years ♪ ♪ Now this I know, he is the God incarnate ♪ ♪ And saves our sin, and has our hurting free ♪ ♪ I am the earth and Father where they lay ♪ ♪ I am the Savior, Savior of the world this day ♪ ♪ I'm the mountain, I'm the eagle where they lay ♪ ♪ His earthly purity ♪ ♪ And so this life with needs and aspirations ♪ ♪ Of peace and bliss, of favor and love ♪ ♪ O Christ shall sing his glory ♪ ♪ And he shall reign the harvest he has sown ♪ ♪ And some glad day is such a shining splendor ♪ ♪ Bring them to salvation ♪ ♪ When all our hearts are filled with love for you ♪ ♪ But this I know, this I know, this I know, this I know ♪ ♪ And would it never end, human voices sing ♪ ♪ And earth to heaven, and earth to earth will answer ♪ ♪ At last the Saviour's name will be known ♪ Amen. Let's just pray together. Our Father, now we come to the most solemn and most important part of our service, where your word is handled and expounded. And Father, we long tonight that the voice of God will be heard in this place. Not the voice of man, but all our hearts will be still and know that you are God. And that, Father, you would speak tonight, that you would speak in the stillness, that you would speak words, life-changing words, that, Father, it might please you to do a work here in our midst this evening. Fill each of us with your Holy Spirit so that we might be able to understand the things that are here. That, Father, that you would be honored and glorified in all that's done. In Jesus' name, amen. I want you to turn to the book of 1 Timothy this evening, chapter one, and the Lord has very forcefully led this verse in my heart, and I feel I want to preach it this evening, and I want to just simply talk tonight about Christmas in a nutshell, Christmas in a nutshell, and I'm going to read some verses and just focus in upon one that'll be very well known to all of us, but I believe that it sums up Christmas. in a nutshell. 1 Timothy chapter number 1 and let's read from verse number 12. This is Paul's testimony, or a shortened version of it, and it's testimony to the great life-changing power of the gospel. Let's listen to what Paul says. And I thank Christ Jesus, our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. He was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious, but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly and in belief. The grace of our Lord Jesus, and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtain mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now on to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. We live in a world that is constantly evolving to simplify everything. Everything needs to be made simpler. We are told that cars need to be made easier to drive. Computers need to be easier to operate. Phones need to be easier to communicate with. And yet, ironically, as the world evolves to make everything simpler, everything is becoming more complex. And things are becoming so complex that the simplicity is actually being overlooked. Cars are becoming so complex. Phones and computers, as they become more intelligent, and the drive to make them simpler are becoming more complex. And you know, Christmas is one of those things that's also becoming more complex as it evolves. Christmas over the years has been evolving and evolving and evolving, and it's almost unrecognizable tonight from what it was at its origin. When we look at houses, when we look at shops, when we look at the lengths that people are going to to celebrate Christmas and make arrangements for Christmas, it's actually become so complex. It's become, almost unrecognizable from its origins. While the real message of Christmas is being further and further forgotten in our increasingly secular society. Stop and ask perhaps a child who's not from a Christian home or has no Christian upbringing, what is the real meaning of Christmas? The chances are they'll not know what it is. The message is being lost. The New York Times a few years ago carried out or wrote an article and the headline was this, is Christmas a religious holiday? A growing number of Americans say no. The article went on to say the Pew study based on interviews conducted in recent weeks with 1,500 adults find that while a vast majority of Americans still celebrate Christmas, most find the religious elements of the holiday are emphasized less than in the past, and few of them care about that change. It seems each year commercialism is overshadowing Christ that bit more, while secular festivities and activities are replacing the once prominent spiritual elements. And therefore it is vital that for all that Christmas is or isn't, to the masses that we keep in mind the real reason for the Christmas season. that we keep the meaning of Christmas simple. And maybe tonight, if you've got lost in all that Christmas is becoming, I want to simplify it tonight. And I don't believe there's a simpler text in all of the New Testament that puts Christmas in its most simplest forms, that Christmas in a nutshell, than Paul's words of 1 Timothy 1 and 15. And this is the message of Christmas. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. That is Christmas. In a nutshell, I want to take this verse and just split it up into three points, three things that help us to realize and bring back the simplicity of Christmas as we consider it in 2021. First of all, as we look at Paul's statement here, he brings before us an indisputable event. an indisputable event because Paul says Christ Jesus came into the world. That's what Christmas was designed to celebrate. That's what it was born out of. It's a celebration of the fact that Christ Jesus came into the world. While many can deny who Jesus is or is not, Few can deny that Jesus actually lived. That there was a man called Jesus Christ who came into this world, was born in this world, walked in this world, lived in this world, and died in this world. Christian and non-Christian historians agree on this, that there was a man who lived on the earth called Jesus Christ. The Guardian newspaper wrote these words, it said, the historical evidence for Jesus of Nazareth is both long established and widespread. Within a few decades of his supposed lifetime, he is mentioned by Jewish and Roman historians, as well as by dozens of Christian writings. Compare that, for example, with King Arthur, who supposedly lived around AD 500. The major historical source for events of that time does not even mention Arthur, and he is referred to three or four hundred years after he is supposed to have lived. But the Guardian goes on to say the evidence for Jesus is not limited to latter folklore, as are the accounts of Arthur. Flavius Josephus, a first century Jewish historian with no bias, and certainly no loyalty to the Lord, confirmed the existence of a man called Jesus Christ. Historically, the incarnation is an indisputable event. Christ Jesus did really come into the world. This is not folklore, this is not a fairy tale. Someone has said the name of Jesus was not so much written as plowed into the history of the world. Yet here's the thing tonight, historical accounts matter little when God's word clearly says Christ Jesus came into the world. You see, with every word true, we can be sure that the incarnation was an indisputable event. If God said it, we believe it. That there was a point in time when God sent forth his son to be the savior of the world. But you know, interestingly, not only is the incarnation historically factual, but it was prophetically foretold. The Lord Jesus Christ did not just randomly come into the world. Mary did not just happen to find herself pregnant, though she at once didn't understand what was happening. This was a plan that had been eternity in planning, and through the prophets, God had revealed that there would come a day, listen to Isaiah 7, and verse 14, 700 years before Jesus was ever born, Isaiah said, therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel. God promised the Messiah. God promised to send a son. Did it happen? Well, we know that what God promises, God performs. 700 years later, as we read in Matthew chapter 1 and verse 18, we read these words, now the birth of Jesus Christ, Wasn't this wise when, as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. And then listen to these words of verse 22. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying, behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us. You see, God always says what he means and means what he says. And you say tonight, but how can I trust God for this very reason? You know, this infant that was born of Mary was a miracle. This was no ordinary child. This was Christ Jesus. Born of a virgin, that was essential because he broke the line of original sin. You see, every one of us are connected, not only to each other, but we're linked right back to our first parents, Adam and Eve. And all the way from Adam and Eve right down to you and I tonight, we've all been born in the line of sin. But Christ Jesus was born of a virgin. He broke the line of original sin. And what a miracle is contained in those words that Christ Jesus came into the world. In those words, we have the fact that God was now manifest in the flesh. John puts it like this, that the word was made flesh, or became flesh, and he literally dwelt among us. He didn't come in some mystical or spiritual form. He came literally as a man. You know, what an incredible thought. that God the creator was now in human form, living and moving among his creation. Do you know what would his name be called? Emmanuel. He's being interpreted as God with us. What a marvelous mystery. And yet this is an indisputable event. Christ Jesus really did come into the world. The Son of God really did leave heaven and come to earth. Oh, tonight you've got to listen because what we're giving to you tonight are the facts that Christ Jesus came into the world. It's not a story or a fairy tale. He came into the world, and when he came, he came as Immanuel. But I want to say to the Christian tonight, he's still Immanuel. Emmanuel is still a present reality, though he has left the world physically. Hebrews 13 and eight tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever, which means he is still Emmanuel, child of God tonight. God is still with us. Better than that, he's within us. You see, when we could see if the Holy Spirit comes to live within us, and though the devil will call us to doubt and convince us that we're left alone in this world. Oh, you remember that your Savior is Emmanuel. Jesus promised in Matthew 28 and 20 when he said, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. And I want to say to the Christians struggling and feeling alone tonight, Emmanuel, God with us, is an indisputable event. He's still within you. He's still with you. You see, those who put their trust in Christ, he has promised never to leave them nor forsake them. He has promised that no man can pluck them out of his hand. Oh Christmas, in a nutshell we see first of all an indisputable event that Christ Jesus came into the world. But Paul goes on, and secondly we see an inexplicable exploit. An inexplicable exploit because he goes on and he says that Christ Jesus came into the world to see you. That's an inexplicable exploit. What did Christ Jesus come into the world to do? Paul couldn't have made it any simpler. Christ Jesus came into the world to see you. Quite simply, Jesus Christ, the son of God, left heaven and came to earth with this one mission firmly fixed upon his mind, to see. He didn't come to earth, as some believe, to lead and leave an exemplary life for us to follow. Though he did lead an exemplary life, and though he did leave an example to follow, but here's the thing tonight, you could, follow the example of Christ for the rest of your life, and there's many trying to do that, and yet they've never trusted Him as Savior, and seeking to follow the example of Christ would still leave you and land you in a lost eternity. You see, Jesus Christ didn't come to lead and lead an exemplary life for us to follow. He didn't even come to be crowned as King or to be worshiped as God. That's for His second coming. Christ Jesus came into the world to see him. That was his primary purpose. That was his whole reason for leaving the splendor of heaven, for leaving his father's side. He came into the world to see him. Not only was that his primary purpose, but more than that it was his eternal destiny. You see, Peter tells us that Christ was the one who was verily foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. In other words, here's the thing. When Adam sinned in the garden, God did not scramble to get a redemption plan in place. But long before the foundation of the world was ever led, the Lord Jesus Christ was selected and elected as the Lamb of God. He was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. God had a plan before there was ever a problem. Oh, it's been an eternity in planning, and for all of eternity, that plan has been in place. For all of eternity, Christ Jesus knew that he would come into the world to save. What an amazing thought that we're no afterthought. You say to me, Christ Jesus came into the world to save. What does that actually mean? Came into the world to save who? Came into the world to save what? What does it mean that he came to save? Well, Jesus himself gave the answer in Luke 19 and 10 when he said, for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. The lost? Who's the lost? I'm not lost. I know where I am. I know what I am. I know where I am. Oh, here's the thing that the Bible tells us tonight. All of mankind is lost. What do you mean we're lost? Who has lost us? Has God lost us? Did God lose man? No, man was not lost by God, but rather, man got himself lost. Man got himself separated from God. Isaiah 53 and six says, all we like sheep have gone astray, and we have turned everyone to his own way. We have got ourselves lost. You see, in the beginning, God gave man a roadmap to blessing. Gave him one instruction, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die. In the beginning man disobeyed God and what happened? He lost the map and he ended up lost in sin. Man ended up on a broad road that leads to destruction. Everyone born from Adam would be born on that broad road. Ended up lost under the condemnation of God. Ended up lost with no way back to God from the dark paths of sin. That's where each of us are born. We're born lost. Do you know there's no scarier place than being lost? With all being in a supermarket or seeing a little child that realizes they're lost, they go into hysterics. Do you know that's not the worst condition? I believe the worst condition is being lost and not knowing you're lost. And we've seen that child who has been separated from their parent and is going about their business in oblivion. It's only when they realize they're lost, I wonder tonight, do you realize you're lost? Do you realize you're on the broad road? But here's the thing. Just like a shepherd, the Savior could not sit in heaven unmoved and watch his creatures live in lostness and hopelessness, scrambling for help. So Jesus Christ chose to leave heaven and come to earth to be born a man so that he could die for all men. He came seeking and to save lost sinners and finding us and giving us hope involved Christ dying on the cross. That's what it took for us to be saved. Jesus didn't come as a great rescue hero who risked his life to save us. We hear that on TV. You know, maybe the prime minister or someone else will thank you know, the emergency services, and they'll say, who risk their lives to save such and such. But that's not what Jesus did. He didn't come as a great rescue hero to risk his life. But Jesus came as our great Redeemer, and he gave his life. He gave his life. You see, be, and here's the remarkable thing, Being God and fully God, Jesus Christ always knew the cost of the cross. Being co-equal of the Father, he possessed the same mind. The Father did not keep him in oblivion and reveal bit by bit the plan for all of eternity. Jesus always knew the cost of the cross. For all of eternity, Jesus always knew the pain and agony that he would endure. Jesus always knew what it would mean to come into the world to see him. Jesus always knew that it wouldn't be a matter of him risking his life, but he always knew it would involve him losing his life. You see, as I've already quoted, he was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world he always knew would involve the most horrific and painful death for him to come into the world to see it. And here's the thing, knowing all that lay ahead, knowing all what those two words to save entailed, he still chose the cow. And that's what makes the incarnation such an inexplicable exploit. Oh, you know, while the crib is the focus of the Christmas story, and it is in my in-laws' house. They have a little nativity scene, and Jonah's very fascinated. Every time we go in, he says, there's baby Jesus in the little crib, and he's fascinated with the crib. And the world at this time loves to focus on the crib. because how sweet to hold a newborn baby. How sweet to think of a little baby, but oh, tonight, see the real story of Christmas, that the crib was simply the gateway to the cross. We cannot fathom such motivation. but that's because we cannot fathom how much we are loved by God. John 3 and 16 is the gospel in a nutshell. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. God loves us too much to let us be forever lost and so he sent his son to see it. I want to tell you tonight that Christ is seeking for you. He has come to seek, to see of that which is lost. He's seeking you tonight. Oh, I wonder are you seeking him? We see Paul says Christ Jesus came into the world. That's an indisputable event. We see that Christ Jesus came into the world to see of, that's an inexplicable exploit. But look at how the verse finishes. Paul says Christ Jesus came into the world to see of sinners. That's an inconceivable empathy. You know, many parts of this statement are inconceivable to try and get our finite minds around Christ Jesus coming into the world, to get our minds around what it meant for God to save us through Christ. But I believe that this word at the end of this statement is the most unconceivable of them all, that Jesus Christ would leave heaven and come to earth to save sinners. to save those who had rebelled against Him, to save those who were actually His enemies, to save those who wanted nothing to do with Him, to save those who were disinterested in His message or His salvation. God, by right, should have no sympathy, and Christ should have no empathy for sinners. Condemnation was rightly and duly deserved for us all. But such is the compassionate character of God that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Oh, Jesus himself said in Luke 5 and 32, I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. You feel tonight I could never be saved. You don't know what I've done. God couldn't deal with my past. God couldn't give me a pardon. Jesus said I'm not come looking the righteous because there's non-righteous, no, not one. He says, I'm not coming to look for good people. I'm not coming to look for those that made no mistake. Jesus says, I have come not to call the righteous, but I'm calling sinners to repentance. What an inconceivable empathy. The sinless one taking the sinner's place on the cross. Peter says in 1 Peter 3 and 18, for Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God. Oh, the cross was the greatest injustice of all of human history. We can never imagine a judge or a police officer swapping places with a criminal. It just would never happen. And yet that's what happened on the cross. The judge of all the earth came off his judgment throne, as it were, and he took his place upon the criminal's cross. Such is the inconceivable empathy of Christ that he would take his place among sinners. And even as Jesus was being nailed to the cross, he felt no hatred, against his accusers, against those who were fixing him to that wood. He felt only love for the wicked men who were kneeling him there. For amidst his pain, Christ prayed, Father, forgive them. Paul puts it like this in Romans 5 and 8, that God commandeth his love toward us and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. What inconceivable empathy. Who then are the sinners Christ came to save? It couldn't possibly be me. It couldn't possibly be me and the life that I have lived and the upbringing I have had and the church background I have come from. A sinner couldn't possibly be me. Surely sinners are the really bad. The sinners are the evil. The sinners are the criminals. Yes, they are sinners. But that's not all who are sinners. Because the Bible says in Romans 3 and 23 that all have sinned. And come short of the glory of God, every one of us in this building tonight were born a sinner. We're all sinners. Meaning we each then must take and insert our own name into Paul's text. I want everybody to look at this text tonight and think about it. Christ Jesus came into the world. to save me. Take the word sinners out. Christ Jesus came into the world to save me. Oh, does that not change at all? That he was willing to come and die to save me. The Christmas story is just one part of the gospel story. And the gospel story is not just simple, but it's personal. And you know, Paul made this great universal statement personal when he added the little bit at the end when he said, Christ Jesus come into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief. You know, listen folks tonight, to ever be saved, To be sure of heaven, you too need to do the same. You've got to say, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. I feel like I'm the chiefest of all sinners. Oh, to ever be saved tonight, you've got to realize that you are a sinner. Don't deny it. To deny it, you're only deceiving yourself. Realize you're a sinner. And then you've got to recognize that Christ Jesus came into the world to save you. Forget about the person beside you or in front of you or behind you or your neighbor next door who you might feel needs salvation more. Christ Jesus came into the world to save you and your sin and my sin, took him to the cross. You've got to realize you're a sinner. You've got to recognize that Christ Jesus came into the world to save you by dying on the cross and he's the only way you can get to heaven. And then you've got to receive him as your own and personal savior. You see, it's not enough to realize you're a sinner, many do that. It's not even enough to recognize that Christ Jesus came into the world to save you by dying on the cross. There's many in hell who both realize they're a sinner and recognize that that's what Christ done for them. But they stop short at receiving him as their own and personal savior. Oh, I wonder, will you receive him tonight? Of all the gifts you will or won't get this Christmas, this is the greatest gift of them all. The free gift of everlasting life. It's yours tonight, you can have it. But you've gotta receive it. Receive it by faith. Take it from the nail-pierced hands of the Savior. Christ Jesus, who came into the world to save sinners. That's Christmas in a nutshell. Will you receive the Savior tonight? If not, why not? Oh, come and make him your own. Father, we believe that you've been speaking in this meeting tonight. Lord, we know it wasn't by chance that this text was laid upon my heart. You've promised your word will not return unto you void. And so for whoever this message was for this evening, we pray you'll wing it home to their heart. That you'll convict them so mightily that they can do nothing but simply cry, Lord, be merciful to me a sinner. We praise you that amidst all that's going on in the world at this Christmas time, we can take Christmas back to its most simple form, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, to save me. Those of us who are saved, we thank you that you ever came. And we just pray over this Christmas time you'll help us to remember what it's all about. Father, will you speak on and save to the glory of your name, we pray. Amen, and amen. Now we're going to close our meeting this evening. Ian had a few carols, and we're gonna sing another one tonight just as we close our service. Down from his glory, ever-loving, ever-living story, my God and Savior came, and Jesus was his name. ♪ The Lord is glory ♪ ♪ Everliving story ♪ ♪ My God and Savior be ♪ ♪ As Jesus was his name ♪ you ♪ We'll be there, in their hearts we'll be there ♪ ♪ At all times, we'll be there, wherever you may be ♪ ♪ Love comes in sections, reality comes in sections ♪ How I love Thee, how I adore Thee, my breath, my sunshine, my all in all. The great Creator became my Savior, ♪ With wond'ring eyes, there's nothing so sweet ♪ ♪ He took them for a bride, revealed them in a cry ♪ ♪ The glorious history, sacrifice of God and man ♪ My bread, my sunshine, my all in all. Ever greater became my Savior, and your hope still remains. Our Father, we want to thank you that for most of us here tonight, we can sing truly that He is my all in all. He is our hope. He is our Savior. We thank you that soon and very soon, we're going to see Him, that our eternity is sure and secure. Father, we pray for those tonight that still don't know you, that they would receive the great gift of your so great salvation. Lord, we thank you for this day spent in your house this morning and this evening. As we start a new week, we place our hand in yours and ask your blessing to go with us and be upon us throughout the week that lies ahead in your will. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Can I encourage those just at the front of the church to leave through the front doors and Bertie will greet you there. And those at the second half of the church, I will greet you in the foyer.