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If Jesus Never Came

13 Dec 2008, Dr Barry Wright

(Barry is Thornleigh's Church Pastor)

Special Christmas Service

If Jesus Never Came

 
A number of years ago a little girl put together some thoughts in a poem expressing her concerns about her life if Jesus never came. This is what she had to say.

How would I live, how would I know
If Jesus never came
How could I love
And praise His name, without His birth?
He came to set us free from sin
And take us all to be with Him.
How would I know
If Jesus never came?

Could I survive in this dark world
If Jesus never came?
He gives me strength
To walk the path He chose for me.
The Father made a way for me
To be with Him eternally.
How would I live
If Jesus never came?

Praise God He sent His Son to be
A Savior just for me!
He walks with me
And holds me in His loving arms.
I praise His holy name on high
And thank Him that He came and died.
What would I do
If Jesus never came?

How could I run from His deep love
And think to go MY way?
He brings me home, in love forgives,
And sets me free.
Oh! Thank you Lord for loving me.
Despite all that I've yet to be.
What would I be
If Jesus never came?

© 2000, Rosie's Place - Rosie Beth

There are many today who would have us believe that none of the miraculous events surrounding the birth of Jesus have any real significance for you and I in this modern and post modern world. In fact, there are many who would go so far as to suggest that God is dead.

Frederick William Nietzsche, the well known German Philosopher of the nineteenth century, believed that recent developments in modern science and the increasing secularization of European society had effectively 'killed' the Christian God, who had served as the basis for meaning and value in the West for more than a thousand years.  It is interesting to note that mental health problems would plague Nietzsche for most of his life and he was to live out his remaining years in the care of his mother and sister until his death in 1900.

However it was Nietzsche who coined the infamous phrase that 'God is dead' and it was this extreme view that was to sum up the philosophy of many who would stand against Biblical truth, as we understand it today. 

In more recent times, the story is told of a young man who had noticed some graffiti written on a wall in one of our major cities that read 'God is dead', signed Nietzsche. His response was to write below this sign the words that said, Nietzsche is dead, signed God. Had Jesus not come that night in Bethlehem, we might be living in Nietzsche's world.

Had Jesus not come as a little babe in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago, we would have no New Testament, no gospel, no church, no repentance, no forgiveness of sins, no changed and transformed born-again hearts, no hope of His eternal presence.

What would it be like if Jesus were never born? Never died on a cross? Never rose again? Never conquered sin and death on our behalf?

If Jesus had not come, this world would have remained, in essence, a dark and dreary place.

Thank God Jesus came and, as result, our lives could never be the same again. It is beyond all argument that the events surrounding His birth, death and resurrection were to provide not only repentance and forgiveness of sins, but through God's marvelous plan, the opportunity for life eternal.

It is believed by many Bible scholars today that Jesus' greatest contribution in this life was His victory over death by His resurrection. Jesus made it clear in John 11: 25-26 where He says that: 'He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.'

If Jesus' had never been born, death would never have been conquered. None of us would have a future.

History shows that Jesus, who is referred to as the most influential man this world has ever seen, was to totally transform Western Civilization. He was believed to be the force that was to create the modern world.

Jesus' words in John 10: 10 confirm this view where He says: 'I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.'

So much of the greatness of the Western World has been seen in its forms of government, the sciences, music and the arts. Most of the best we have in all these areas of life have come from those who have been influenced by the life of Jesus. Most of all we see lives that have been changed and transformed by the power of the gospel. Even time itself was to be divided between BC and AD as a result of His birth.

It would be hard to imagine the depth of depravity of a world not exposed to the beliefs and influence of our Lord and King if Jesus did not come

Thankfully, Jesus, our Saviour, did come. He died, rose again, and is seated at the right hand of God.

This morning, we have been reminded again of the wonders of God's amazing grace for a sin sick world. As we sing the words of our final hymn, let us never forget the great sacrifice He made on our behalf.

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