A Savior for What Ails Us - Christmas Day 2025
- Rev. Christopher Brademeyer
- Dec 25, 2025
- 5 min read
A Savior for What Ails Us
The Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Dawn – 12/25/2025
Titus 3:4-7
Rev. Dr. Christopher W. Brademeyer
That portion from God’s holy Word for consideration this morning is our Epistle lesson from St. Paul’s Epistle to Titus chapter three which reads as follows:
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”[1]
Thus far the Scriptures.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
St. Luke tells us that on the night of Jesus’s birth, the shepherds were keeping watch over their flock. Nothing about that night appeared extraordinary. The world went on as it always had. The promised land was under Roman rule, subject to census decrees, weighed down by ordinary labor and ordinary fear. And yet into that unremarkable night the glory of the Lord shone around them.
Christmas does not begin with human expectation but with divine intervention. As Micah foretold, the ruler of Israel would come from Bethlehem, a town too small to matter by the world’s standards, yet was chosen by God to be the place where peace would enter the world. What the shepherds saw that night was not merely a child, but the arrival of God’s salvation in the flesh.
Today we confess not simply that Christ was born, but why He has come, how He has come, and how He continues to deliver that salvation to us here and now.
Why Christ Has Come
The angels announce to the shepherds, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.” The announcement of a Savior assumes a problem, indeed, several problems that humanity cannot solve for itself.
Firstly, we must say that Christ has come because of sin. Sin is not merely moral failure or poor decision-making; it is the condition of rebellion inherited from Adam. It alienates us from God, corrupts our desires, and condemns us under God’s law. Titus reminds us that we were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures. Christmas only makes sense when we are honest about this reality. The child in the manger comes because sinners need saving.
Secondly, Christ has also come because of death. Death is not natural in the sense of being good or intended; it is the wages of sin. Every cradle is overshadowed by the grave, unless God Himself intervenes. The shepherds would one day die. Even Mary would bury her Son. And yet Micah proclaims that this child would be “their peace.” Only one who can conquer death can bring true peace.
Finally, Christ has come because of the devil. Satan is not a metaphor for evil but a real adversary who accuses, deceives, and enslaves. Humanity lies under his tyranny, unable to free itself. Christmas is the beginning of God’s decisive invasion into enemy territory. The birth of Christ is the first step toward the crushing of the serpent’s head.
How He Has Come
God does not save in abstraction. He saves concretely, in history, in flesh and blood. First, Christ has come by incarnation. The eternal Son of God takes on human flesh, born of the Virgin Mary. He does not appear as a heavenly vision but lies wrapped in swaddling cloths. God places Himself into human vulnerability. This is not symbolism; it is reality. The Word becomes flesh to redeem all flesh.
Second, Christ has come by death. The child in the manger is born to die. His mission is not merely to teach or inspire but to give His life as a ransom for many. Christmas already points toward Good Friday. The shepherds see a Lamb who will be sacrificed for the sins of the world.
Third, Christ has come by resurrection. Death does not have the final word. God raises Jesus from the dead, declaring that sin is forgiven, death is defeated, and the devil is overcome. The resurrection is God’s public vindication of Christ’s saving work.
Fourth, Christ has come by ascension. He reigns at the right hand of the Father, governing all things for the sake of His Church. The child born in Bethlehem is now the King who shepherds His flock, just as Micah promised.
How He Delivers Us Himself
Christ’s saving work is complete, but it must be delivered. God does not leave salvation floating in history; He places it into His Church through concrete means. First, Christ delivers salvation through Holy Baptism. As Titus teaches, God saves us “by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” Baptism is not our work but God’s. Here Christ joins us to His death and resurrection, rescuing us from sin, death, and the devil.
Second, Christ delivers salvation through His Word. In particular, He delivers forgiveness through absolution. When the pastor speaks Christ’s forgiveness, it is Christ Himself who speaks. The shepherds heard good news proclaimed; so do we. “Fear not,” the angel said. That same word is spoken to sinners today.
Third, Christ delivers salvation through His Supper. The same body born of Mary, the same blood shed on the cross, is given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Christmas leads us to the altar, where God continues to give His Son to His people.
All of this is for the sake of faith. Faith does not create salvation; it receives it. Like the shepherds, we are invited to come and see, to hear and believe, to receive and rejoice.
Conclusion
After seeing the child, the shepherds return to their fields, glorifying and praising God. Nothing outwardly has changed, the sheep still need tending, the world remains under Roman rule, but truly everything has changed. God has entered the world. Peace has come. Salvation has arrived. So it is for us. Christ has come because of sin, death, and the devil. He has come in flesh, in death, in resurrection, and in glory. And He still comes, through water, Word, and His Supper, for you.
This is why Christmas endures as a holiday and celebration. Not because of sentiment, tradition, or nostalgia, but because God has kept His promise. As Micah foretold, this child is our peace.
In the Holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.
The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
[1] Titus 3:4-7
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