UNWRAPPING HOPE

Series: Hope Is Alive | Pastor Daniel Norris

Text: 1 John 5:4–8 (ESV)

What are you looking forward to unwrapping this Christmas?

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 
(1 John 5:4, ESV)

John tells us, everyone who has faith in christ, overcomes the world and has victory in this life.

Here is the question, “Which Jesus?”

There are a lot of ideas and opinions about who Jesus is…

Jesus as inspiration.
Jesus as a moral teacher.
Jesus as a comforting idea when life gets hard.

John writes that there are three truths that let us know who Jesus really is.

“This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.” (1 John 5:6–8, ESV)

  1. CHRISTMAS IS A REMINDER OUR KING CAME TO US.

“This is he who came by water…” (1 John 5:6, ESV)

Incarnation—That God the Son became fully man without ceasing to be fully God.

Christmas reminds us that Our King came to us.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, ESV)

Christmas is about more than the birth of a good man, it is a holy reminder that our King came to us!

  1. CHRISTMAS IS A REMINDER OUR SAVIOR CAME FOR US.

“Not by the water only but by the water and the blood” (1 John 5:6, ESV)

Christmas should always point to the cross.

The blood tells us this Child was born to die for us.

Christmas reminds us our savior came for us!

  1. CHRISTMAS IS A REMINDER THAT OUR GOD IS WITH US.

“And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.” (1 John 5:6–7, ESV)

John wrote these words 50 years after the crucifixion.

He knew…

that the tomb is still empty.
that death is still defeated.
that Jesus is still on the throne.
that he lives in me.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14, ESV)

The Spirit keeps whispering truth to our hearts:

I am not alone. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5, ESV)
I am not forsaken. “Fear not, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)
I am not without hope. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27, ESV)
I am not defeated. “In all these things we are more than conquerors.” (Romans 8:37, ESV)
I am not without a future. “I know the plans I have for you.” (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

That is HOPE! And the spirit reminds us with every breath that Our God is with us!

What Are You Unwrapping This Christmas?

“This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4, ESV)

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