Introduction:      

I.                   AT THIS TIME OF YEAR MOST AMERICANS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE APPROACHING HOLIDAY.

A.      In selecting a sermon for this Sunday morning, I took the following matters into consideration:

1.      I did not want anyone to believe that I was recognizing December 25^th as a religious holiday (or, more precise: holy day).

2.      But I did want to use this occasion of emphasizing the significance of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ coming into the world. 

B.      The virgin birth of the Son of God is a cardinal (or major) teaching in the Scripture.

1.      There was not any earthly father involved in the begettal of the Son of God being born of the virgin Mary. 

Matt. 1:18-23, (Either read or refer to this passage). 

2.      Although the virgin birth of Jesus the Christ is taught in the Bible, there is no biblical authority to set aside a specific day as a holy day as a memorial of that fact.

3.      But the Bible definitely teaches us to commemorate His death upon the cross.   

Matt. 26:26-29, (Either read or refer to this passage). 

4.  First century Christians did so on the first day of the week. 

Acts 20:7, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” 

C.      Our primary emphasis in this sermon will be to consider the topic:  “What if Christ has not come into the world?” 

John 10:10, “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” 

John 12:46, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” 

Discussion: 

I.                   WE WOULD NOT HAVE A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

A.     Of those who have reached the age of accountability, Jesus was the only person who never sinned. 

1 Pet. 2:21-22, “For even hereunto were ye called:  because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” 

Rom. 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” 

B.     But if He had not come into the world we would not have a perfect example. 

II.                WE WOULD NOT HAVE AN INCOMPARABLE TEACHER.

A.     There are many fine teachers, but none of them compare to Jesus Christ.

1.      Those taught by Jesus marveled at His words of wisdom. 

John 7:46, “The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.” 

Matt. 7:28-29, “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

2.      The Jewish leaders could not confute His teaching. 

Matt. 22:46, “And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.” 

B.   His incomparable teaching is seen in the Sermon on the Mount. 

III.             WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE RIGHT ESTIMATE OF HUMANITY.

A.     Our Lord revealed that one soul is worth more than the entire physical universe. 

Matt. 16:26, “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” 

B.     We were created in God’s image. 

Gen. 1:26-28, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:  and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them.  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:  and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fouls of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” 

IV.              WE WOULD BE WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE ATONEMENT FOR SIN.

A.     By way of the sacrificial death of Jesus the Christ every obedient believer can be brought back into covenant relationship with God. 

John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” 

2 Cor. 5:17-19, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” 

B.     Even the blood of animal sacrifice under the Old Testament could not atone for the sins of lost humanity. 

Heb. 10:1-4, (Either read, quote, or elaborate upon this passage). 

V.                 WE WOULD BE WITHOUT THE PROMISE OF REMISSION OF SINS.

A.     We learn at Heb. 9:22, “without shedding of blood is no remission.”

1.      The sacrifice of the blood of animals under Judaism looked forward to the only blood that could take away sin (Lev. 16:7-22).

2.      Such sacrifices could not take away sin (Heb. 10:4). 

B.  It is only through the shedding of the blood of God’s only Begotten Son that we could have remission of sins. 

Col. 1:13-14, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” 

VI.              WE WOULD NOT HAVE A SAVIOR.

A.     Humanity needs a Savior.

1.      This is true because we are unable to save ourselves. 

Rom. 7:24-25, “O wretched man that I am!  Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” 

2.      This is also true because every accountable person has sinned. 

Rom. 3:10, 23, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”   

B.     Who, then, could become man’s Savior?

1.      No saint upon earth could be man’s savior because all saints have sinned.

2.      No angel in heaven could be man’s savior because they are spirit beings.

a.       Angels could represent God to man for certainly they are acquainted with God’s goodness, love and mercy; but they could not represent man to God.  This is true because they have not lived in the flesh.

3.  Consequently it was necessary to have one who was both God and man, who could properly and righteously represent both heaven and earth.  Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Immanuel), was the only one qualified to serve as man’s Savior. 

VII.           THE CHRISTIAN WOULD NOT HAVE A MEDIATOR. 

1 Tim. 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 

A.     There is but one Mediator between God and man.

1.      He is our Mediator because He is both God and man. 

John 1:1-3, 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” 

2.   He is our Mediator because He was without sin. 

Heb. 4:14-16, (Either read, quote, or elaborate upon this passage).                

B.     He is able to be always available for our every need. 

Heb. 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” 

VIII.        WE WOULD BE WITHOUT A RIGHTEOUS JUDGE.

A.     We can be assured that His judgments will be just and righteous. 

John 5:30, “I can of mine own self do nothing as I hear, I judge:  and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” 

1.      Frequently in the judgments and courts of this earth there is more or less partiality and respect of persons, but not so with the Great Judge of all man.

2.      He will show no partiality and there will be no alibi accepted from anyone. 

2 Cor. 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 

IX.              WE WOULD HAVE NO DOOR OF HOPE BEYOND THE GRAVE.

A.     Before Christ came into the world men was asking, “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14). 

B.     Jesus came with comfort for the brokenhearted. 

John 11:25-26, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:  he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.  Believest thou this?”  

C.     The three greatest matters which concern all mankind are life, death and eternity.

1.      Christ alone has the only definite, authoritative and satisfying word concerning all three. 

Rev. 1:18, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” 

Closing: 

I.                   JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY HOPE OF THE WORLD. 

A.     But if the Son of God had not come into the world we would be hopelessly lost forever. 

--Dub Mowery

(Adapted from a sermon by the late Melvin Wise).