Christmas Eve: The Rescue Plan Put into Action

We’ve heard the threat—the destruction that sin brings, and the cause of our need for deliverance. We saw God’s early warning, given throughout history through his Word and Prophets. God showed us a preview of the rescue he has planned for us, and implored us to make final preparations for his perfect plan to come to fruition.

Now we see God put his perfect rescue plan put into full effect—we see God send his Son Jesus into the world as the child of Mary. Born into our midst. Laid in a manger. The perfect answer to the ultimate problem. Our Savior and our substitute. We see God’s perfect rescue plan, executed perfectly.

Week 4: Final Preparation

As we get ready for the Lord’s coming, we look at the final preparations that God wants us to have in place as he puts his rescue plan into full effect. We all have lists around this time of year—children making lists of everything they hope to receive, adults taking inventory of everything to be done before their Christmas celebrations. But God tells us to slide those lists off the table and focus simply on this: that we would be ready to receive in faith the gift that he brings at Christmas. That should be our final preparation.

Week 3: A Preview of the Rescue

Proceed with caution! The rescue God promised and provided at Christmas is not always the thing for which people are looking and hoping at Christmas. Sadly, at this time of the year, many have their hearts and hopes set on things far less precious than the rescue God sent in his Son. But God doesn’t want us to settle for anything less than the very best. So, through the Prophet Isaiah, God provides us with a beautiful preview of the rescue and salvation that Jesus brings. We can proceed with confidence knowing that the gift of salvation that God presents to us in the manger is the one we need most and is far more valuable than anything else for which we could hope.

Week 2: Early Warning

We heard last week that Jesus is coming—coming to bring destruction to those who are unprepared and deliverance to those who are watching and waiting in faith. So, we must be ready. And God wants us and all people to be ready!

And so, he sounds the alarm. Like the severe weather alert that scrolls across the bottom of our TV or pops up on our phone. Like the ear-splitting siren that blares at the approaching tornado. This week we’ll consider and rejoice in the Early Warning that God provides to people of every generation. The Old Testament prophets and prophecy. John the Baptist—that voice crying out in the wilderness. The New Testament Scriptures and the messengers who share them with us.

God provides all sorts of Early Warning because he doesn’t want anyone to miss the first or second coming of his Son. The question, however, is this: Are we listening?

Week 1: The Threat

Our first message in the series focuses on the story of Noah, the flood, and God's dramatic rescue of Noah and his family. Perhaps your first recollection is of God's "rainbow promise" following the flood that brings a welcome sense of security to your life. But the truth is that right now, we, too, are living in a world that is destined for destruction. At the end of all things, all who have not focused their faith and life on Jesus will be caught in God's threatened destruction of our world as we know it.

But just as that ark sheltered Noah from the pounding waves, cold wind, and driving rain, so at the cross, God put into effect His rescue plan for us, by allowing Jesus to take the pounding we deserve for our sins, safely sheltering us from the consequences of our shame and guilt. No one loves you more than Jesus—how important it is to proceed in life with caution and confidence—set apart by grace as His people of faith.