Key Texts: Luke 2:10–11; John 1:14; Matthew 1:23
Focus: God’s greatest gift began with His presence, Emmanuel, God with us.
1. Opening Prayer (2 min)
Ask God to open hearts to understand the meaning of Christ’s coming, His presence among us.
2. Scripture Reading (3 min)
Read: Luke 2:10–11; John 1:14.
"But the angel said to them, 'Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord."Luke 2:10-11 (CSB)
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14 (CSB)
Reflect on the good news: God Himself came near.
3. Teaching Points (15 min)
God’s Presence Restored:
In the very beginning, back in the Garden of Eden, humanity enjoyed something so pure and beautiful as a close and personal relationship with God Himself. Adam and Eve didn’t have to perform rituals or keep a long list of rules to be accepted. They walked and talked with God freely, surrounded by His presence and peace. But when sin entered the picture, that fellowship was broken. Humanity became separated from the very source of life and love. The world became dark and distant from its Creator, and even though people still longed for God, sin created a wall that no human effort could break down.
Later, when God gave His Law through Moses, it served as a mirror showing people what holiness looks like and how far they had fallen from it. As Romans 3:20 reminds us, “through the law comes the knowledge of sin.” The Law was never meant to heal the separation or remove the guilt; it could only reveal our desperate need for a Savior. Imagine standing before a mirror that shows all the dirt on your face. The mirror tells you the truth, but it cannot clean you. In the same way, the Law reflected our condition but could not restore the relationship.
But this is where the story of Christmas shines so brightly. God did not leave us lost in separation. Out of His love, He chose to come near again, not through commandments written on stone, but through His Son born in a manger. Jesus came as “Emmanuel,” which means God with us. Through Him, the presence of God was no longer distant or hidden behind temple curtains. It was walking among us again, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). In Christ, God’s presence is restored not through our striving, but through His coming.
The Incarnation: God Came Down to Be With Us
When we talk about the Incarnation, we are talking about one of the most amazing truths in all of Scripture, the moment when God Himself chose to take on human flesh and live among us. Think about that for a moment: the Creator of the universe, who spoke galaxies into being, humbled Himself to become a helpless baby, born not in a palace but in a manger. That’s what John 1:14 means when it says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The word “dwelt” here literally means “tabernacled” to pitch His tent among His people. In other words, just as God’s presence once filled the tabernacle in the Old Testament, now His fullness was living and breathing in the person of Jesus Christ.
The Incarnation shows us that God did not wait for humanity to climb up to Him through obedience or religious effort. Instead, He came down to us. He entered our brokenness, our weakness, and even our pain not as a distant lawgiver, but as a loving Savior. Where the Law pointed out our failures, Jesus came to fulfill it perfectly and to offer grace in its place. Under the Law, people were always trying to reach up to God through works; under grace, God reached down to us through Christ.
For those of us who came from a background where the emphasis was often on keeping commandments and proving our faithfulness, this truth is so freeing. It reminds us that salvation is not about us going up to God, but about God coming down to us. Jesus didn’t come to make us better rule-keepers. He came to make us alive. He didn’t come to add more burdens, but to lift them off. He didn’t come to give us another law, but to give us life.
When we gaze upon the baby in the manger, we are gazing at more than a Christmas story; we are gazing at the heart of God. Every breath Jesus took, every word He spoke, every step He walked, all revealed the Father’s desire to be with His people once again. Through Christ, the gap that sin created is forever closed. The God who once walked with Adam now walks with us again, not just beside us, but within us, through His Spirit. That is the miracle of the Incarnation: God’s love made visible, His presence made personal.
Contrast to SDA Emphasis: God’s Presence With Us vs. Our Presence With God
For many of us who grew up in the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) tradition, the concept of “God’s presence” was often tied to our performance, specifically how faithfully we observed the Sabbath, how well we adhered to the health message, or how obediently we lived according to the commandments. We were taught, sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly, that experiencing God’s presence depended on how close we could stay to His standards. The focus, therefore, was mostly on our presence with God, what we must do, how we must behave, and how we must prove our faith through works.
But the gospel tells us something completely different, and far more beautiful. The message of Christmas and, really, the message of the entire Bible, is not about humanity climbing up to reach God, but about God coming down to reach us. From Genesis to Revelation, the story of redemption is one of divine pursuit. Even when Adam and Eve hid in shame, God was the one who called out, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). He took the first step. And in the fullness of time, He took the greatest step, sending His own Son to bridge the gap that sin created.
You see, the Law could only show people what was required, but it could never make them righteous. It could expose sin, but it could not erase it. So, instead of waiting for us to fix ourselves, God entered our world Himself through Jesus Christ. That’s grace undeserved, unearned, and unconditional. While the Adventist system often teaches that obedience is the pathway to God’s favor, the gospel teaches that God’s favor is the pathway to obedience. In Christ, God’s presence is no longer something we chase; it’s something we already have.
When we believe in Jesus, we don’t have to “invite” God to be with us through good behavior; He is already Emmanuel, “God with us.” His Spirit lives in us, not because we keep the law perfectly, but because Christ has already fulfilled it perfectly on our behalf. This changes everything. Instead of constantly fearing that we might fall short and lose God’s presence, we can now live in peace, knowing that His presence is permanent, not conditional.
So now, when we worship, we do not approach God as trembling servants trying to earn His attention. We come as beloved children who already have His heart. We rest, not in our performance, but in His promise. We live holy lives, not to gain His presence, but because His presence already fills us. That’s the heart of the gospel: God with us, not us striving to be with God.
And that is what makes Christmas so powerful. The baby in the manger is not a reminder of what we must do to reach heaven; He is the proof that heaven has already reached down to us.
The Ultimate Nearness: Peace, Not Fear
When we understand that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us, something inside us begins to change. We no longer see God as a distant ruler waiting for us to fail, but as a loving Father who draws near, even when we fall. This is what makes the presence of Christ so different from what the Law could ever give. The Law made people aware of their distance from God; it showed His holiness, but reminded them how unworthy they were to approach Him. People stood outside the veil, separated, fearful. But when Jesus came, He tore that veil from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). The barrier that kept humanity away from God’s presence was forever removed.
Through Christ, we no longer need to approach God in fear or guilt. Instead, we come with confidence and peace. Hebrews 4:16 invites us, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” This is not arrogance, it’s assurance. We are not coming as criminals begging for mercy; we are coming as children returning home.
In many of our past religious experiences, we were taught to be afraid of judgment, afraid of not keeping the Sabbath perfectly, afraid of not meeting the church’s standards, and afraid that one mistake could remove us from God’s favor. But the gospel replaces fear with peace. Romans 8:1 declares, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” That means that God’s presence is not something we lose when we stumble; it’s something that sustains us when we do.
This peace is not the absence of problems, but the assurance of God’s presence in the midst of them. When the angels announced Jesus’ birth, they said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14). Notice that peace is not a reward for good behavior; it’s a gift that comes with God’s presence. It’s a peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7), the kind that keeps your heart steady even when life feels uncertain.
So, when you think of Christmas, don’t just think of lights, songs, or gifts under the tree. Think of this truth: God Himself came near not to condemn, but to comfort; not to test you, but to transform you; not to demand more laws, but to deliver more grace. In Jesus, the presence of God has come to stay. You don’t have to earn it, maintain it, or prove it; you simply receive it, because it’s all by grace.
When you wake up tomorrow, remember: you are not alone. The same presence that walked in Eden, that filled the tabernacle, that entered the manger, now lives inside you through the Holy Spirit. Wherever you go, He is there. Whatever you face, He is near. And because of that, you can live in peace, not fear.
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” — Matthew 28:20
Summary Thought
Christmas reminds us that God’s greatest gift was not a law to follow, but a Savior to know. In Christ, God’s presence has been restored, His peace has been given, and His promise is forever.
4. Discussion (7 min)
● What does it mean to you that God came near?
● How does this change how we see the Law and Sabbath?
● How can we reflect God’s presence to others this Christmas?
5. Summary & Closing Prayer (3 min)
Summarize: Christmas is about God coming close, not us climbing up. Pray for awareness of His daily presence in our lives.
Former Adventists Philippines
“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”
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