We know WHERE Jesus came to earth. Bethlehem. We know WHEN He came. 5/6 BC. And HOW He came? Virgin born. But the real question is: WHY did He come?
#1 - Jesus came “to call sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32).
When Jesus burst on the scene preaching the gospel, he did not come with positive self-talk or an invitation to admit our brokenness. He called the world to repent and believe (Mark 1:15). And Jesus never begged a sinner to repent and believe, he commanded it. Yet, in today’s age, it seems the church is offended that Jesus calls sinners. The world is offended Jesus calls for repentance. “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus” (Acts 3:19-20).
#2 - Jesus came because the law could guide and restrain us—but it could not rescue, reconcile or transform us (Gal. 2:21).
We fought the Law, and Jesus won.
“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (James 2:10).
If we could keep the law, Jesus wouldn't have had to keep it for us. If we could be sinless, Jesus wouldn't have had to die for our sins.
Yes, God demands perfection. Hence the need for Christ!
“The law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).
Christians have been given eternal, spiritual life by the Holy Spirit because of union with Christ. Hopeless law-keeping is not our master or our quest for life.
#3 -Jesus came to live a perfect life in an imperfect world to give life to those who were not only imperfect but dead in sin (Eph. 2:1-4; 1 Pet. 2:21-24).
The gospel underscores our dire condition (we're dead in sin) and reveals God's scandalous provision (life by Jesus' cross). Greater than when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11) is when He raises those spiritually dead from the grave of sin to new life in Himself. It takes the same power that raised Jesus from the dead to turn your heart from sin toward God. Stop, be amazed and celebrate God's grace.
#4 - Jesus came full of grace and truth (John 1:17).
The world is dark, but Jesus is the Light of the World. Truth, justice, peace, hope and grace are found in him. Only Jesus, full of grace and truth, can save hard-hearted, hard-headed sinners and empower them for a life of grace and truth.
There is one sent from the Father, full of grace and truth, who faced what we deserve, who bore on his back the woes that should have been upon us, who offers us now grace upon grace. We can then show that same grace to others, even if they deserve judgment.
#5 - Jesus came to suffer so that one day our suffering would end forever (Isaiah 53:3-5; 1 Pet. 3:18).
Unlike us, God stays fully and joyfully aware of everything Jesus accomplished for us. We suffer from gospel amnesia
The Scripture is clear: Jesus suffered for us so that one day we might never suffer again. The violence of Herod we study this time of year is a horrific reminder of the sin that required that Jesus to be born, suffer, live righteously, die and rise again.
Jesus' rescue of you from eternal suffering can make your choice to suffer for His purposes sane. So, nothing I suffer will come close to Jesus' suffering for me. Woe to me for grumbling!
#6 - Jesus came to do what you couldn’t do, so you could receive what you wouldn’t have been able to earn (Rom 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:21).
If we could be saved by our good works, then Christ died needlessly.
Or, said another way: We'll sooner sneeze a Mercedes into existence than our good works will make God love us more than he already does in Jesus.
Think about it. Each of us is a “real piece of work.” “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph.2:10). Both us, and our works, shout, “Salvation is of the Lord!” (Jonah 2:9)—one humongous grace-work.
#7 - Jesus came in order to make possible what is impossible for every sinner; eternal, unbreakable acceptance with God (1 John 3:1; Gal. 4:1-6).
There is no peace with God outside of Jesus Christ. All acceptance with Him is found in Christ.
The radical thing Jesus did he did because there was no other way for sinners to gain complete and eternal acceptance with God. Jesus not only bore your punishment, but he also became your righteousness; both establishing your acceptance with the Father.
“This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ — and I am the worst of them.” (1 Timothy 1:15).
#8 - Jesus came to satisfy the demands of God’s justice and to be the vehicle of his saving grace (Rom. 5:8-9; 1 John 2:2, 4:10; 1 Thess. 1:10).
I sometimes hear Christians say, "I'm in debt to God." On the contrary. We're not in debt—Jesus bore God's wrath and paid our debt fully.
Jesus didn't suffer so that we won't have to suffer. Jesus suffered so we will not suffer the judgment of God. Upon the cross, Jesus Christ bore the sins and suffered the wrath of God for all who will call upon Him. The grace of God is free, but it is not cheap. It cost Jesus His life unto death, suffering the Father’s wrath as He bore our sins.
In short, we can sleep well knowing Jesus fulfilled the law for us, exhausted the judgment we deserve, defeated the devil on our behalf, has comprehensively forgiven us, gave us his righteousness, always prays for us, works in all things for our good, and is returning with joy as our Bridegroom.
All because he came!
