The Purpose of Christmas 聖誕節的目的 路加 Luke 2:8-14; 4:16-21

路加 Luke 2:8-14 NIV 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” 8 在伯利恆之野地裡有牧羊的人，夜間按著更次看守羊群‧9 有主的使者站在他們旁邊，主的榮光四面照著他們‧牧羊的人就甚懼怕‧10 那天使對他們說，不要懼怕，我報給你們大喜的信息，是關乎萬民的‧11 因今天在大衛的城裡，為你們生了救主，就是主基督‧12 你們要看見一個嬰孩，包著布，臥在馬槽裡，那就是記號了‧13 忽然有一大隊天兵，同那天使讚美 神說，14 在至高之處榮耀歸與 神，在地上平安歸與他所喜悅的人‧

路加 Luke 4:18–21 (NIV) 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 18『主的靈在我身上，因為他用膏膏我，叫我傳福音給貧窮的人‧差遣我報告被擄的得釋放，瞎眼的得看見，叫那受壓制的得自由，19報告 神悅納人的禧年‧』20於是把書捲起來，交還執事，就坐下‧會堂裡的人都定睛看他‧21耶穌對他們說，今天這經應驗在你們耳中了‧

From superficial knowledge to Owning It! 從知識化為生命 This is our purpose of celebrating Christmas. 這就是我們慶祝聖誕節的目的.

那天使對他們說，不要懼怕，我報給你們大喜的信息，是關乎萬民的‧ I. Christmas is a time for celebration. 聖誕是慶祝的時刻. (路 Luke 2:10) (詩 Psalm 13:5; 賽 Isaiah 25:9; 61:10) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (路 Luke 2:10) 那天使對他們說，不要懼怕，我報給你們大喜的信息，是關乎萬民的‧

A. God loves you. 神愛你. (約 John 3:16; 提前 1Tim 6:17; 弗 Eph 3:17-19) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (約 John 3:16, NIV) 神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生‧

B. God is with you. 神与你同在. (太 Matt 1:23; 來 Heb 13:5; 赛 Isaiah 43:2) “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” (太 Matt 1:23, NIV) 必有童女，懷孕生子，人要稱他的名為以馬內利‧（以馬內利繙出來，就是 神 與我們同在.)

賽 Isaiah 43:2 你從水中經過，我必與你同在‧你逿過江河，水必不漫過你‧你從火中行過，必不被燒，火焰也不著在你身上‧ When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 你從水中經過，我必與你同在‧你逿過江河，水必不漫過你‧你從火中行過，必不被燒，火焰也不著在你身上‧

C. God is for you. 神要幫助你. (路 Luke 4:19; 罗 Rom 8:31; 耶 Jer 29:11; 約壹 1 John 4:18) If God is for us, who can be against us? (罗 Rom 8:31b) 神若幫助我們,誰能敵擋我們呢?

II. Christmas is a time for salvation. 聖誕是拯救的時刻 II. Christmas is a time for salvation. 聖誕是拯救的時刻. (路 Luke 2:11; 加 Gal 4:4; 約 John 3:16) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. (路 Luke 2:11) 因今天在大衛的城裡，為你們生了救主，就是主基督‧

A. Saved from sin. 從罪裡救出. (太 Matt 1:21; 路 Luke 4:18-19) She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. (太 Matt 1:21) 他將要生一個兒子‧你要給他起名叫耶穌‧因他要將自己的百姓從罪惡裡救出來‧

B. Saved from our pitiful condition. 從我們可憐的景况救出 B. Saved from our pitiful condition. 從我們可憐的景况救出. (路 Luke 4:18-19; 啓 Rev 3:17-18) Poverty (貧窮) Captivity (被擄,牢禁) Blindness (瞎眼) Nakedness (赤身露体) Oppression (受压制) Hopelessness (無望)

路加 Luke 4:18-20 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 18『主的靈在我身上，因為他用膏膏我，叫我傳福音給貧窮的人‧差遣我報告被擄的得釋放，瞎眼的得看見，叫那受壓制的得自由，19報告 神悅納人的禧年‧』20於是把書捲起來，交還執事，就坐下‧會堂裡的人都定睛看他‧21耶穌對他們說，今天這經應驗在你們耳中了‧

啓示錄 Rev 3:17 你說，我是富足，已經發了財，一樣都不缺‧卻不知道你是那困苦，可憐，貧窮，瞎眼，赤身的‧ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 你說，我是富足，已經發了財，一樣都不缺‧卻不知道你是那困苦，可憐，貧窮，瞎眼，赤身的‧

C. Saved by Grace. 靠神的恩典得救. (弗 Eph 2:8-9; 罗 Rom 3:23-24; 路 Luke 4:19) 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (罗 Rom 3:23-24) 23 因為世人都犯了罪，虧缺了神的榮耀‧24 如今卻蒙神的恩典，因基督耶穌的救贖，就白白的稱義‧

D. Saved through faith. 藉着信心得救. (罗 Rom 3:22, 28; 4:5; 5:1; 弗 Eph 2:8-9) 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. (弗 Eph 2:8-9) 8 你們得救是本乎恩，也因著信，這並不是出於自己，乃是神所賜的‧9 也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇‧

III. Christmas is a time for reconciliation. 聖誕是和好的時刻 III. Christmas is a time for reconciliation. 聖誕是和好的時刻. (路 Luke 2:14; 4:19; 罗 Rom 5:11) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (路 Luke 2:14) 在至高之處榮耀歸與 神，在地上平安歸與他所喜悅的人‧

A. Peace with God 与神和好 (罗 Rom 5:10-11; 林後 2 Cor 5:19; 約壹 1 John 2:2; 4:10) 

林後 2 Cor 5:18-20 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 18一切都是出於神，他藉著基督使我們與他和好，又將勸人與他和好的職分賜給我們‧19這就是神在基督裡叫世人與自己和好，不將他們的過犯歸到他們身上‧並且將這和好的道理託付了我們‧20所以我們作基督的使者，就好像神藉我們勸你們一般‧我們替基督求你們與神和好‧

B. Peace of God 有神的平安 / 和平 (腓 Phil 4:6-7; 賽 Isaiah 26:3; 太 Matt 11:28-29) (Peace with self) 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (腓 Phil 4:6-7) 6 應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉著禱告，祈求，和感謝，將你們所要的告訴神‧7 神所賜出人意外的平安，必在基督耶穌裡，保守你們的心懷意念‧

C. Peace with others 与人和好 (林後 2 Cor 5:18-21; 6:2; 太 Matt 5:9; 6:15; 雅 James 3:18) All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. (林後 2Co 5:18, Message) 一切都是出於神，他藉著基督使我們與他和好，又將勸人與他和好的職分賜給我們‧

馬太 Matt 5:9 使人和睦的人有福了，因為他們必稱為神的兒子‧ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 使人和睦的人有福了，因為他們必稱為神的兒子‧

D. Become ambassadors of peace for Christ 成為基督的和平大使 (林後 2 Cor 5:18-21) We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (5:20, NIV) 所以我們作基督的使者，就好像神藉我們勸你們一般‧我們替基督求你們與神和好‧

IV. Christmas is a time for God’s favor. 聖誕是神恩典的時刻 IV. Christmas is a time for God’s favor. 聖誕是神恩典的時刻. (路 Luke 4:19; 提前 1 Tim 6:17; 太 Matt 5:45; 雅 James 1:17; 約 John 3:16; 賽 Isaiah 49:8; 63:4; 林前 1 Cor 2:9; 傳 Ecc 5:18-20; 耶 Jer 29:11; 罗 Rom 8:28) ” to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (路 Luke 4:19) 報告 神悅納人的禧年‧

林後 2 Corinthians 6:2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. (NIV) 因為他說，『在悅納的時候，我應允了你‧在拯救的日子，我搭救了你‧』看哪，現在正是悅納的時候，現在正是拯救的日子‧

A. Grace for forgiveness and salvation 赦罪与拯救的恩典 弗 Ephesians 2:8–9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV) 8你們得救是本乎恩，也因著信，這並不是出於自己，乃是神所賜的‧9也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇‧

B. Grace for victory 得勝的恩典 (腓 Phil 4:13) I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (NIV) 我靠著那加給我力量的，凡事都能作‧

賽 Isaiah 61:3 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (NIV) 賜華冠與錫安悲哀的人，代替灰塵，喜樂油，代替悲哀，讚美衣，代替憂傷之靈‧使他們稱為公義樹，是耶和華所栽的，叫他得榮耀‧

C. Grace for Provision 供應的恩典 雅各 James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV) 各樣美善的恩賜，和各樣全備的賞賜，都是從上頭來的‧從眾光之父那裡降下來的‧在他並沒有改變，也沒有轉動的影兒‧

你要囑咐那些今世富足的人，不要自高，也不要倚靠無定的錢財‧只要倚靠那厚賜百物給我們享受的神‧ 提前 1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. (NIV) 你要囑咐那些今世富足的人，不要自高，也不要倚靠無定的錢財‧只要倚靠那厚賜百物給我們享受的神‧

D. Grace for labor and fruit 工作与享受結果的恩典 傳 Ecc 5:18–20 (NIV) 18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. 18我所見為善為美的，就是人在神賜他一生的日子吃喝，享受日光之下勞碌得來的好處‧因為這是他的分‧19神賜人資財豐富，使他能以吃用，能取自己的分，在他勞碌中喜樂‧這乃是神的恩賜‧20他不多思念自己一生的年日‧因為神應他的心使他喜樂‧

V. Personal Response 個人回應