Christmas and the Gospel - Scot McKnight

Here is a blog post from last December on the connection between Christmas and the gospel by Scot McKnight:

A friend of mine, John Frye, sent me these notes on how the gospel emerges in the Christmas story of Luke 2 (and he tied it to Acts 2).

LUKE 2
As the events unfold regarding Jesus’ birth in Luke 1 and 2, the angels appear to the shepherds with a declaration of the King Jesus Gospel. The angels report to the shepherds:

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12).

Good news: The term is ευαγγελιζομαι, the proclamation of joyful, historical news, that is, welcomed events.

For all people: The good news is not restricted to the 1st century plight of Israel, but a proclamation for all people including the Gentiles. This aspect has deep roots in the covenant with Abram (Genesis 12).

Town of David: The good news is indebted to Old Testament promises around King David and his heir.

Savior: In contrast to other political “saviors,” a child is born who will be the embodiment of God’s salvation.

Christ the Lord: Again, two terms pregnant with Old Testament meaning. The child will be God’s “anointed one”–the Christ, and with the term “the Lord” there is a hint that the Old Testament God himself is entering into the 1st century political and religious fray.

In a manger: God’s grand, climatic entrance into history turns the tables on the concept of power to change people, cultures, the cosmos itself. The Lord was placed in a stable manger (verse 12). God’s first earthly bed was a feeding trough.


Related Links

• The Christmas Mission (2:32)
• The Story of Christmas - An Animation (12:57)
• O Come All Ye Faithless (1:28)
• New Graphic Quoting C. S. Lewis - English and Romanian
• Christmas Graphic - Luke 2:11 - English & Romanian
• It's About the Cross - E Vorba Despre Cruce (4:07)
• Christmas Creed
• The Christmas Gospel | Scot McKnight
• The Unique Gift of Christmas | Tim Keller
• Christmas Spirit (The Right Way) 2:07
• The Christmas Story (3:53)
• Christmas in a Nutshell (2:00)
• Presence (2:16)
• 'Tis the Season (2:07)
• Christmas is About a Tree (4:10)
• A True Christmas Story (5:13)
• Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (3:07)
• The Christmas Scale (2:41)
• The Paradox of Christmas (2:28)
• The Innkeeper - John Piper (11:58)
• Rejoice! It's Christmas Time! (3:25)

Gospel Math - It's Very Simple

Gospel math is very simple, only Jesus can rescue you and bring reconciliation between you and God the Father. 

To a lot of people today Christians seem pretty narrow-minded but actually the same thing was thought about Christians since the beginning. In fact, because Christians only worshipped one God they were considered atheists by many of the cultures they found themselves in because most cultures worshipped many gods.  Weird I know, but true. 

Jesus himself said He was the only option in John 14:6 (HCSB):

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

In Greek, the original language that the New Testament was written in, "no one" was written with a double negative. In the English language that is bad grammar but in Greek two negatives were used to make something emphatic. You could translate it "absolutely no one!". Jesus could not have made it more clearer that He is the only way.

Like C. S. Lewis said Jesus never gave us the option to call Him a great moral teacher. Either He was who He said He was or He was a liar/con man or delusional/crazy. 

Why is Jesus the only way? Because He is the only one who dealt with your rebellion, your sin against God. The bad things you do prove that you have a rebellious heart and there is no way for you to pay the price yourself in order to be reconciled. God knew this, that is why He sent HIs Son to deal with your sin. When you recognize your rebellion against God and turn back to Him confessing your sin and placing your trust in Jesus and all that He did to deal with your sin the Bible says your sin is take care of and the Holy Spirt comes into you making you a child of God.

It amazes me how many people think they can pick and choose what they want to believe about God and/or how they can be reconciled to Him. They remind me of people going through a buffet at a restaurant picking and choosing what food they want to eat. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY WITH GOD!

God is who He said He is. You don't decide what kind of god you want! When you create a god in the image you want him to be that is called idolatry. If you do this you are really no different from those who use to make wooden or stone idols and worship them. Now instead of wood or stone your god is an image in your head and heart.

People will even look to the stars for answers or worship angels but never once consider looking to the One who created the stars and the angels. 

In the beginning God created man in His own image but ever since man has been trying to return the favor. Why do people do this? Because of their rebellious hearts. In reality they want to be their own gods, to be in control, so they create gods they can control for their own purposes. 

They even call the God of the Bible evil in order to dismiss Him and feel good about themselves. But deep in their hearts they know He is God because God have given all of us knowledge of Himself (Ecclesiastes 3:11). But many decide to surpress this truth (Romans 1:18-25). That is why some people get angry when you talk about Jesus.

Do you read horoscopes but not the Bible? Are you fascinated by angels but have no interest in God? Have you created a god in the image you want him to be and consider the God of the Bible to be evil? If you can yes to any of these questions I urge you to reconsider your ways and recognize your rebellion against your Creator. Turn from your rebellion back to God and place your trust in Jesus and all that He did to deal with your rebellion.

Do this quickly I beg you! It looks like Jesus will be returning soon to establish His reign and rule over the universe. You have one of two possible destinies to choose. Life forever with God or life forever apart from God. Choose Jesus and you will live forever with God. Choose anything else or don't believe in God and you will live forever apart from Him. The choice is yours.

How Does One Live a Life Worthy of the Gospel?

When I read Philippians 1:27 (HCSB) "Just one thing: Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ..." the question that comes to my mind is, "How does one live a life worthy of the gospel?" I really like Scot McKnight's answer to this question:

In some ways, Paul explained what a life worthy of the gospel is in verse 21: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." A life worthy of the gospel is a life lived for Christ. What does that look like? He says it in v. 27: it means striving together, in fellowship, in extending the gospel and preaching the gospel to others. A life worthy of the gospel is a life dedicated to that gospel -- to living it and preaching it.

I wholeheartedly agree! There is no agenda, no cause, absolutely nothing greater than the gospel to live for. The gospel is the greatest message of all time, without it none of history would have happened because God would have had to judge Adam and Eve immediately for their sin. It is such an amazing message that even angels long to look into it!

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things. 1 Peter 1:12 (HCSB)

Can you imagine that! Angels want to know the gospel! Why? I think it is because they see God in His majesty and holiness. They know Him in ways we can't even begin to comprehend and then they see how we reject God to be our owns gods and how we choose to find life, security, and love in created things rather than the Creator. Yet, in spite of this, God in His love, mercy and grace dealt with our sin, having His Son take the punishment Himself, in order to make reconciliation and restoration possible for us with Him.

So, knowing all of this they stand in awe of God and they want to know the gospel better because in doing so they get to know God better. It is sad that so few, who call themselves "Christian", can say the same. If you are in Christ open your hearts and your minds and make the effort to know the gospel better and better.

Then, like Scot McKnight said, dedicate your life to the gospel- living it and preaching it in the context of life with other disciples of Jesus. Do you want your life to count? Do you want your life to have the greatest possible impact and significance? Then die to yourself and live for Jesus and live like He did, trusting the Father, depending on the Holy Spirit, knowing the Word of God and then doing what Jesus said to do. Share the gospel and make disciples of all those who believe it. Now that is a life worth living for!