There is a common phrase in the new testament: "but now." If there is a "now," there was a "then." There is a before Jesus (then), and there is after Jesus (now). So, this Christmas, we are going to look at some of things that changed from then to now when Jesus came.

Today, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how Christmas brought clarity.

Hebrews 1:1-2 NCV "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets many times and in many different ways. But now in these last days God has spoken to us through his Son..."

One of the reasons Jesus was born, was to provide clarity to humanity regarding who God is.

Jesus is God. But every time He made this claim, the Jews got really mad.

John 10:30-33 NLT

How does Christmas bring clarity?

1) Jesus shows us what God is like.

John 14:8-9

Jesus is the most recent and most accurate representation of who God is.

2) Jesus revealed the Father's will.

John 6:38

God's perfect will was perfectly expressed through God's perfect Son.

If you want to know what God desires, look at what Jesus did.

3) Jesus revealed the Father's heart.

You can't fully comprehend what someone has done until you understand why they did it.

Matthew 9:35-36 "... When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

John 3:17 "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

Psalm 103:7 "He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel."

Acts 10:38 – "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."

We won't understand the Father's will until we understand the Father's heart - and Jesus shows us the Father's heart.

4) Jesus provided access to the Father.

a. Jesus is our gate.

John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

b. Jesus is our guide.

Luke 16:16 "Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in."

5. Jesus fulfilled the job description of the Messiah.

In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus read the messiah's job description from Isaiah 61:1-2.

Jesus stops short of "and the day of vengeance of our God." Why? Because we are now in a window of grace to respond to Jesus.

Are you looking to Jesus for clarity about who God is?