INTRODUCTION: Each Gospel's record of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ and gives us a difference perspective on the life of Christ. Luke's Gospel begins with the mirage birth of John the Baptist to Elisabeth and Zacharias. (1:5-25) There is a reason the account starts with John the Baptist's birth.

          Beginning in verse 26, we are given the account of the angel Gabriel being sent to Mary to tell her that she would conceive a child of the Holy Ghost and would call His name Jesus.

It is important to note what Gabriel told Mary:

- He shall be great. (v32)
- He shall be call the Son of the Highest.
- He will be given the throne of his father David.
- He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there shall be no end..(v33)

          This young Jewish maiden fully understood the significance of what the angel was saying. Mary understood from what was said of Him that she would bear the Messiah.

          Mary did not understand how she could have a child when she was not married and did not know a man. Gabriel further explained that she would conceive by the miracle of Holy Spirit which fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

          In Luke 2:25-38 we have the account of Jesus after His birth when He was two months old being taken to the temple in Jerusalem to be presented unto the Lord. (V22-23) Mary and Joseph, offered a pair of turtle doves, or pigeons according to the Law. This showed they were poor people who could not have afforded a lamb.

          The Bible clearly presents that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah), that God had promised since man sinned in the Garden of Eden. He was the Messiah who would come and undo the work of Satan. He would conqueror sin and death that men might be restored unto fellowship with God our Creator.

          There are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament which foretold His coming. In Isaiah 53, God said that the coming Messiah would be an offering and that He would bear the iniquities of many. In the New Testament we are told in 1 John 2:2, that Jesus , the Christ, was the propitiation of the sins of all the world. Jesus said in John 3:16, speaking to the Pharisee, Nicodemus, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting."

A. Simeon and Anna were both elderly people who had all their lives been taught that the Messiah would come one day.

B. When Simeon saw Jesus he knew who He was and He worshiped Him.

1. He made an interesting statement in v29. "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word."

2. He had complete confidence in the promises of God. When God promised the Messiah would come and bear the sins of the world....even Simeon's sins...he truly believed and his belief directed his thoughts and daily activities. Simeon believed and because he trusted in God's promises, God accepted Simeon's faith, forgave his sins and gave him eternal life.

C. Simeon proclaimed also the truth that Jesus came to save all who would by faith believe. (V30-32)
1. Simeon said he had seen God's salvation when he looked into the face of the month old infant.

2. He proclaimed that this Salvation was prepared before the face of the people.

3. Jesus was "A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people. In other words Jesus was come to be the Savior of the whole world.

A. Titus 2:13, in the New Testament we are told to be "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ."

B. There is no hope apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. When He comes He will take all believers unto himself and we shall be forever with the Lord. Then will follow the terrible time of Great Tribulation such as the world has never seen. After this, He will set up His Kingdom and take the government of the world upon His shoulders. The peace for which men dream now, will then be a reality.

A. There is no hope for those who refuse to acknowledge that they are sinners, or who excuse themselves as being as good as the next fellow.

B. There is no hope for those who cling to their "religion" and "good works", nor for those who say they are willing to wait until God balances the books of good and bad behavior in order to find out whether they are saved or not.

C. But for those who know they are sinners and believe the Bible concerning their sinful condition, there is salvation hope. You can make salvation your personal experience by repenting from sin and receiving Christ as your Saviour and Lord.

1. It is not a hope that exists with a question attached to it. This hope does not say I hope that I will be good enough, do the right things, join the right church, do the same religious rituals or ceremonies....and maybe God will be pleased with me and let me go to heaven.

2. Simeon expressed what the Bible says is the Blessed Hope....which is a sure hope, an absolute hope, and hope that we know what the end will be without question.

3. God made a promise to those that believed from the Fall of man until this very hour. God promised to say all who would come by faith and receive His unmerited Grace and Mercy. God has never promised to consider the good works or righteousness of any man in granting salvation. He repeatedly in His word the Bible says salvation and forgiveness of sin is received by faith alone apart from any work of Man.

4. You see that is why Christ came! He came to make an atonement for sin, and then because He has made the sacrifice and paid the sin debt of the world....He and He alone would offer salvation to all would be believe in Him and accept His free offer of grace.

D. Listen to what the Bible, the very Word of God says about the surety of this hope of salvation:
Jesus said in John 5:24 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

John 6:40 "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

John 6:47 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."

John 11:25 "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live"

John 11:26 "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."

Romans 3:26 "To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

Romans 4:5 "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

1 John 5:1 "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him."

E. Do you see any reason or grounds for doubt in what God has said?
1. Salvation is not earned or merited and is based on the fact that we are all sinners and therefore lost our sins.

2. Why would we need salvation if we were not sinners and needed to be saved? Why would we need a Savior if would could save ourselves?

3. God knows our hearts and our condition. He knows us as the sinners we are and in spite of what we are He sent the Lord Jesus Christ to die for our sins because we could not paid our sin debts ourselves.

4. Further salvation is offered with only one condition....that is that we believe and accept it. No matter what our past, no matter who we are or what we have done.....God offers us a new life and new beginning. He offers us eternal life, that we become His children and know absolutely that we will spend eternity with Him...if we will believe and receive Him as our Savior.

1. Where are you this morning in your relationship with Jesus Christ? Are you a believer with full assurance of your salvation looking for the return of the Lord for all those who have believed. Do you know that heaven will be your home in the future and that you have eternal life....right now. Do you know that your sins are forgiven....all of them past, present and future?

2. If not then today, this very hour the Lord is reaching out to you seeking to save you, forgiven you and grant you eternal life.

3. He does not ask you if you are worthy, or that you desire it....He only asked that you believe and commit you life to Him. By simple faith say "yes" I do believe, please dear God forgive my sins and give me eternal life.

4. This is why Jesus came. He came that you and I could be forgiven our sins and go to heaven. He came and died on that cross, shedding His precious blood for you and I.....that this morning His message would be preached and those that response would be instantly saved....the moment they believe and receive Him as their Savior.

5. That is the true Christmas story, the true reason what Jesus came to earth....to save sinners from their sins.