{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"It's About The Gospel","description":"“This Is Christmas:  It’s About the Gospel”\r\nMatthew 1:1-25\r\n \r\nFamily Tree, Broken Limbs . . .\r\nMatthew wants his audience, including you, to understand the hopeful message of the gospel is the reason why Jesus came.\r\n\r\nThe reality of humanity is that sin separates us from the one true holy God, but the hope of the gospel is that Jesus has put on the flesh of humanity to reconcile us to holy God.\r\n\r\n“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him . . .” Colossians 1:21-22\r\n \r\n\r\nThe point of the gospel is not to make you feel guilty for sin, but to help you see that you areguilty of sin and in need of a Savior.\r\n\r\nGod has graciously provided the way to relationship with Him through Jesus.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nThe God Who Intervened . . .\r\nThe gospel story is one of God intervening in our lives by stepping down to where we are and initiating a relationship with us not based on what we have done or are doing, but what He has done through Jesus Christ.\r\n\r\nAn unlikely entrance into this world.\r\n\r\n“ . . . for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit . . . Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son . . .” Matthew 1:20, 23\r\n\r\nAn invitation to the most unlikely people for an unlikely event.\r\n\r\n“ . . . for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21\r\n\r\n\r\nAn ushering in of an incomparable\r\n\r\n“ . . . and they shall call His name Immanuel.”  Matthew 1:23\r\n \r\nThe Gospel of Christmas . . .\r\nThe gospel of Christmas is evidence of true love that engages and embraces the unlovely and the unlikely for no other reasons than unconditional love and amazing grace.\r\n ","author_name":"Crossgate Church Podcasts","author_url":"http:\/\/crossgate.libsyn.com","html":"