His Perfect Love

Guest (Male): We're celebrating the greatest gift of all this Christmas Eve on His Perfect Love. Many exchange gifts, as has been done for thousands of years now. Each year in the celebration of Christmas, again a reminder to all of humanity that Jesus Christ gave us the greatest gift.

We worship Him and being especially conscientious of the poor and the less fortunate, so the true meaning of Christmas is love. God loved His creation, and He provided a way, the only way, for us to spend eternity with Him.

Guest (Male): On this beautiful Christmas Eve, it is my pleasure to welcome you again to His Perfect Love with Pastor Matt VanderVen. Today we continue our Christmas series with a visit to Matthew Chapter 1 and Luke Chapter 2.

We've titled this radio program His Perfect Love, as that's what we want to emphasize to you each and every day. But did you also realize Christmas is also a celebration of God's perfect love? God's love really is the true meaning of Christmas. Here's Pastor Matt to explain.

Matt VanderVen: Well, Merry Christmas, beloved. It's such a privilege to gather here with you all on the eve of Christmas as we open up the word of God together. We're here to celebrate the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. And as many of you know, Christmas by definition is a celebration of perfect love.

John 3:16 and 3:17, and no, it's not just for football games, says for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, and that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of this incredible act of love. God becoming a human person, a human being in the person of Jesus Christ.

You may be here this evening and wondering why. Our children did such a beautiful job reminding us the reason for Christmas. But why did God do such a thing? And it's really simple: because He loves us. Why was Christmas necessary? Because we needed a Savior. Why does God love us so much? Because He is love. First John 4:8. And why do we celebrate Christmas each year? Out of the gratitude for what God did for us. We remember His birth, the ultimate gift.

Many exchange gifts, as has been done for thousands of years now, each year in the celebration of Christmas, again a reminder to all of humanity that Jesus Christ gave us the greatest gift. We worship Him and being especially conscientious of the poor and the less fortunate. So the true meaning of Christmas is love. God loved His creation and He provided a way, the only way, for us to spend eternity with him.

He gave His Son, His only begotten Son, to take our punishment for our sins. He paid the price in full, and we are free from condemnation when we accept that free gift of love. Romans Chapter 5, verse 8 tells us: but God demonstrated His own love for us in this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Please open your Bibles to the book of Matthew. If you have a Bible with you, Matthew Chapter 1, I'd invite you to turn to verse 18. As a fellowship, we've been reading through the book of Psalms and we've been reading through the book of First Peter. And in our readings together, God has been making it very, very clear that Christmas was not a coincidence or accident.

It says very clearly in First Peter, as in other scriptures, that God before the very foundations of the world planned salvation. You and I were not an afterthought, nor was humanity and salvation. Matthew Chapter 1, verse 18 describes to us just exactly what God did, God the Father, to orchestrate the most beautiful celebration, Christmas as we know it. I mean, just even thinking back 2,000 years ago, there was no thing or nothing known as Christmas as we know it today.

Matthew Chapter 1, verse 18, if you'll read along with me in your Bibles: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, please notice with me, of the Holy Spirit. Even the very miraculous act in which Jesus Christ was brought forth on this earth, outside of creation into creation, began with a miraculous act of the Holy Spirit.

God could have done it any ordinary way, couldn't He have? There's nothing that stops God, but He chose the miraculous so that we would be just marveling in awe of what God can do and will do to reach every single human being with His perfect love. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take you Mary, your wife, for that which she's conceived is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel," which is translated everyone, "God with us."

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn son and called His name Jesus. So we clearly see here that Jesus Christ was born of Mary, the supernatural, the Holy Spirit, born through miraculous means without any human intervention—the miraculous, as I like to call it.

Turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke, please, Luke Chapter 2. We heard the children go through the gospel, the Christmas account, and it was beautiful—the birth account—and all of heaven worshipping God here. I'd like to draw our attention to Chapter 2. I think it's fitting that we read this account. I know in our home, I like to read this account each Christmas with our family as we gather under the word of God, and I thought, why not together as a family of God here, we'll read the account.

Because after all, God wanted us to know just how deeply He loves us and His plan for us. Luke Chapter 2, verse 1, if you will, please. And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing of Syria. So all went out to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee out of city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And behold, the angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God, saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and goodwill towards men."

So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see the thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made it widely known saying that this was told them concerning the child.

And all of those who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds, but Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things which they had heard and seen, as it was told to them. It's a beautiful account. It's a beautiful account of history, again of the miraculous of God.

And what I love about this account is where it peaks. If you listen and think back to Luke Chapter 2:14, it says that the heavenly hosts, millions upon billions of angels, God all in concert together worshipping, saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace." That's what "God with us" means and brings to us: a joy and a perfect peace. And He said goodwill towards men.

You might be thinking, why was this declared? John 1:14 tells us the reality of this moment: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. For a thousand years, the prophets and humanity was waiting for this moment. You know what they were waiting for, friends? They were waiting for Christmas.

Proverbs Chapter 13, verse 12 tells us: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. What did Jesus say? He is the vine and we are the branches. Did He not give us this illustration? We've been given eternal hope, clothed in the love of Messiah Jesus. Before the first Christmas, just thinking back to this, Ephesians 2:12 draws our attention to that: During that time, you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

But again, friends, now we have Christmas. We all have hope: hope in our salvation and eternal life with Jesus to come. You see, our hope is based on Jesus's promise, the truth in an eternal heavenly hope that doesn't fade with time. And that's exactly what we just read in First Peter today. This hope provides victory through the most difficult and darkest times in our lives and in this world.

We are the riches of glory, the hope of glory. Colossians Chapter 1, verse 27 says: To them, God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of the mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Please turn your Bibles to Psalm 27, please. Psalm 27, that's in your Old Testament.

The book of Psalms is a collection of inspired songs used in the worship of God. It was the Hebrew hymnal, if you will. Many of them foretell of the coming Messiah and predict events that were fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ. In total, there are 25 different Psalms, one out of every six Psalms to be specific, that includes at least one Messianic prophecy. Messianic Psalms are quoted 11 times in the New Testament, especially in the gospels and the book of Acts.

If you look at Psalm 27 with me: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked come against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and my foes, they stumbled and they fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice; have mercy also upon me and answer me. When you said, "Seek my face," my heart said to you, "Your face, Lord, I will seek." Do not hide your face from me; do not turn your servant away in anger.

You have been my help. Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me and such as breathe out violence.

I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see, friends, here it is, the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, not the land of the dead, in the land of the living. And what does He tell us and what did He tell the Old Testament saints? Wait on the Lord. They had to wait for Christmas. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord.

You know, Messiah's birth was to bring salvation and to kindle hope for those that would place their faith and trust in Him. To those awaiting Jesus's return, Christmas celebrates Emmanuel, God with us. It's such a special time of year because we reflect on God's gift to humanity, sending His only begotten Son Jesus, beginning as a babe in a crèche.

This was not an afterthought, but all a part of God's plan, prophesied throughout all of the scriptures. As we just read this morning as a fellowship in First Peter Chapter 1:20, He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you. For each and every one of you, that you would know Jesus, that you would come to Christ, that you would fall deeply and madly in love with Him.

That He would be your all in all. That your life would be more than sufficient; it would be perfect in Him. Jesus's birth is recorded in several Psalms. The Messiah will come from the lineage of David. We read about that in Psalm 89, verse 3 and 4. Why am I bringing this up? Because it's a big deal. Christmas is a big deal in the heavens.

All of heaven is rejoicing right now. Every time we celebrate Christmas, the heavens are rejoicing because we look to the God-man Jesus Christ. We see it in Psalm 49, verses 29 through 36, Psalm 132, verses 11 through 17, Matthew Chapter 1, verse 1. We read that Messiah will come for all the people, not some of the people. Not the good people, not the bad people, but all people, because everyone's in need of a Savior.

Psalm Chapter 18, verse 49, Ephesians Chapter 3, verse 4 and 6. The Messiah will know His Father from childhood. The Holy Spirit proclaims Jesus, Jesus proclaims the Godhead, the Father. Isn't that amazing? Psalm 22:9, Luke Chapter 2, verse 40. And the Messiah will be called by God while still in the womb. He's going to be called by God. Psalm 22:10, Luke 1:30.

The Old Testament prophets, they looked forward to Emmanuel. We now look in both directions. We look back celebrating the birth that began His work of salvation and peace for an unreconciled world, but we also look forward to Jesus coming again to bring us home. Much like Communion looks back towards Christ's death and resurrection, but it also looks forward to Christ soon coming again. Likewise, Christmas should cause us to be mindful of both as well.

Jesus and His word encourages us to walk in the peace and hope now, presently, as we wait for Christ's return. Please turn in your Bibles to Psalm 62. It's a Psalm of David. Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation. David was saying this forward-thinking to a time when he knew a near fulfillment of God specifically delivering David and bringing him into salvation, but also a far aspect or far-reaching aspect of prophetic ministry in which David was crying out Messianically, saying the day that Jesus Christ would come, Emmanuel, God with us.

And then even 2,000 years as you and I gather today, we wait for Jesus to come again. Truly my soul silently waits for God; for Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain of you, like a leaning wall and a tottering fence.

They only consult to cast him down from his high position. They delight in lies; they bless with their mouth because they curse inwardly. Selah. David was referring to the surrounding nations as we would refer to the world today. My soul waits silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation.

He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory, the rock of my strength, and my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us. Selah. That means think about it in the Hebrew. Surely men of low degree are a vapor, men of high degree are a lie.

If they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor. Vapor is steam; it's a mist, here one moment gone the next. Do not trust in oppression or vainly hope in robbery. If riches increase, do not set your heart on them. God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that the power belongs to God. Also to you, O Lord, belongs mercy, for you render to each one according to his works.

What were they waiting for, friends? What was David waiting for? Christmas. We celebrate Christmas, and you know what we are awaiting? Our homecoming. It's our homecoming. That's what we're waiting for: Christ to come and bring us home. Ephesians Chapter 2, verses 14 and 15, and again declaring another celebration, or the celebration of Christmas I should say, declares our hope and our peace in Christ.

I'll read: For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from two, thus making peace. And as I read in Psalm 13:6, a Psalm of David: I will sing to the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Is everyone here in full acknowledgment tonight that God has dealt bountifully with us all? It's with that, it's with that reflection, that we can look to one another, we can look to God, and we can say Merry Christmas. Happy Christmas. And thanks be to God for the love that Jesus has given us. He is the gift of Christmas.

Guest (Male): Pastor Matt VanderVen reflecting on God's gift to humanity, reminding us that Christmas really is a celebration of Emmanuel, God with us. And this is His Perfect Love. We're in the middle of a Christmas series right now. You can hear the study again when you visit hisperfectlove.org. That's hisperfectlove.org. Listen to us wherever you get your podcasts and at oneplace.com as well.

Download the Calvary Chapel Harrisburg mobile app to start listening to Pastor Matt's messages shortly after they're delivered. We can help you get started when you visit hisperfectlove.org. If you'd like to support this radio ministry with a year-end gift, there is a place to do that at hisperfectlove.org.

Pastor Matt loves to hear back from his listeners, so shoot him an email today. Let him know what God is up to in your life and how we can pray for you and what stood out to you in today's message. Email us there at the website hisperfectlove.org.

And whether you live in or around Mechanicsburg, PA, or will be visiting the area soon, we'd love to have you join us for a service during the Christmas season at Calvary Chapel Harrisburg West Shore. Sunday morning services begin at 8:30 and 10:30. We have a midweek service too, Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.

You'll find us at 28 North Locust Point Road in Mechanicsburg, PA. Go to ccharrisburg.org for more information. Join us Christmas Day as we again celebrate God's perfect love here on His Perfect Love with Pastor Matt.