The Theology of Christmas, part 1
The Incarnation of Christmas

John 1:14 (HCSB) The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

1. God the Son, Who Always Was,…

“The Word”

John 1:1-3 (HCSB) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.

John 6:38 (HCSB) For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 8:58-59 (HCSB) 58 Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.” 59 At that, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple complex.

2. Took On Flesh and Lived Among Us…

“became flesh”

Philippians 2:5-8 (HCSB)

Hebrews 2:14-15 (HCSB) 14 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, He also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the Devil— 15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.

3. To Glorify God and Redeem Us.

“We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Hebrews 1:3 (HCSB) He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

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The Theology of Christmas, Part 2:
The Kenosis

1. Relinquishing of Position

“Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.”

Although Jesus still had the possession, he limited the expression, of certain divine attributes:

Omniscient

Matthew 24:36 (HCSB) “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son—except the Father only.

Omnipresent

Luke 11:14, 15, 21 (HCSB) “So Jesus then told them plainly, "Lazarus has died. I'm glad for you that I wasn't there so that you may believe. But let's go to him." Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn't have died.

Omnipotent

Mark 6:5 (HCSB) “So He was not able to do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.”

2. Emptying of Self

“Instead, He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men.”

God the Son took on the likeness of man when men are tempted to take on the likeness of God:

Genesis 3:5 (HCSB) “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

“He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave”

John 13:5 (HCSB) “He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.”

3. Humbling of Obedience

“And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient”

2 Corinthians 8:9 (HCSB) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: although He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.

4. Remembering of the Cross

“to the point of death—even to death on a cross.”

Matthew 26:53-54 (HCSB) “Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than legions of angels? How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?"

Romans 9:3-4 (HCSB) “For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel.”

Joy to the world…the Lord is come… Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing,

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The Theology of Christmas, Part 3
The Glory of God at Christmas

1. God sent prophets, but they were never enough...

Hebrews 1:1

“Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways.”

2. Then He sent His Son...

Hebrews 1:2

“In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe.”

John 1:1-3 (HCSB) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.”

3. The One and Only

Hebrews 1:3

“He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word.”

Philippians 2:5-8 (HCSB) “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.”

4. Who Redeemed Us…

Hebrews 1:3

“After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 (HCSB) Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

5. Then Returned to His Rightful Place.

Hebrews 1:4

“So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs.”

Philippians 2:9-11 (HCSB)
For this reason God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow—of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth —and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

John 17:4-5 (HCSB) “I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.”

John 1:14 (HCSB) “The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 (HCSB) We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.