I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21,
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isaiah 1:18
There are a lot of songs that have become a part of our culture and Christmas celebration. Whereas there are many songs we sing at Christmas that are based in Biblical truth, there are many that have nothing to do with the real meaning of Christmas.
I think of such songs as Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells, and so on. We enjoy singing such songs but they have nothing to do with the real meaning of Christmas. Another popular song is I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas. It's no secret in my family...we love snow! Every year we look for a white Christmas, but here in North Carolina it seems we get disappointed every year. But if you are dreaming of a white Christmas like us, there is a way that we can have a white Christmas no matter what the weatherman calls for. In Matthew 1:21 and Isaiah 1:18, we find how one can really have a white Christmas.
Matthew 1:21 tell us what Christmas is all about. Christmas is about a Saviour that came to this earth to save us from our sins. Isaiah 1:18 tells us that the only way anyone will ever really have a white Christmas is to know this Saviour and be saved from his or her sins. Let's connect these 2 verses and notice how one can have a white Christmas.
I. THE PROBLEM OF EVERY PERSON
Isaiah describes a problem that every person has. It is the problem of sin. Some folks don't want to be told they are sinning and some folks don't like to hear they are a sinner, but every person has a sin problem.
The Bible is crystal clear in this matter. We read in:
Romans 3:10 ''As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.''
Romans 3:23 ''For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
A person is not a sinner because they sin. They sin because they are a sinner. It is on the inside and shows itself on the outside. It is a problem that we all have. It is kind of like the worm in the apple. It was thought that the way the worm got into the apple was by burrowing its way in from the outside. But scientists discovered that it was on the inside to begin with. An insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later, the worm hatches in the heart of the apple, then eats its way out. What they were really saying is the heart of the problem is the problem of the heart.
Notice what Isaiah says about this problem.
A. THE PENALTY OF SIN.
In verse 18 Isaiah speaks of our ''sins.'' The word that he uses speaks of ''a crime or its penalty.'' Isaiah is telling us that there is a punishment or penalty for sin. We read in Romans 6:23 what this penalty is: ''For the wages of sin is death.'' This death involves two things:. Spiritual death that consists of separation from God. Eternal death that consists of damnation by God.
B. THE POLLUTION OF SIN.
You will notice in Isaiah 1:18 that God describes our sins as being ''scarlet'' and ''crimson.'' Isaiah is reminding us of how sin stains our life. There is the fact of sin and there is the force of sin. Sin will defile, ruin, and stain a life. Sin is the problem of every person.
II. THE PROVISION FOR EVERY PERSON
There is the problem of sin but thank God there is also the provision for sin.
A. THE COMING OF THE SAVIOUR.
Matthew 1:21 tell us about the coming of the Saviour: ''And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.''
I want to say this is the best gift that has ever been given, a gift that proves God's love for us. That is the gift of God's Son, the Lord Jesus.
The real meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of a baby. It is the celebration of the coming of the Saviour. On that first Christmas night the announcement was made in Luke 2:11, ''For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.''
B. THE CLEANSING FROM OUR SIN.
Matthew 1:21 also tell us why Jesus came. He came to ''save His people from their sins.''
If our need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour.
Isaiah tells us that, ''though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.'' If you really want to have a white Christmas, then let the Lord Jesus save you and He will wash you as white as snow. Your sins may be as scarlet, but they can be as white as snow. Your sins may be as crimson, but they can be as wool. Whoever you are, whatever you have done, you can be forgiven of your sins.
III. THE PLEA TO EVERY PERSON
In Isaiah 1:18 "Come now..." we see an offer God extends to man. We see God's plea to every person.
A. THE DESIRE OF GOD
God say's, ''Come now.'' The desire of God is that everyone come to Him. God wants to save every person and forgive every person of his or her sins.
B. THE DECISION OF MAN.
In Isaiah 1:18 we see that there is something that God asks man to do. God says, ''Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD.'' The word ''reason'' is a judicial term that means to make a decision about a case, to acquit or convict. God is asking us to make a decision about what He is offering. God is saying, ''I will cleanse you of all your sins if you will come.
Even though there is only one way to be saved, only one way to get to heaven, only way to be forgiven of sin, it is a way that is offered to every person. It is yours to have.
IV. Conclusion
Even though, according to the weather channel, we have no chance of snow this Christmas, we still can have our white Christmas. And this kind of white Christmas, can be enjoyed by all people, even those who don't like the cold wet stuff that falls from heaven. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas!
