Joseph Prince - His One Mission: Die For Your Sins (01/26/2026)
This sermon explains the true purpose of Christmas: God's love gift of Jesus, who was born to die for our sins. Using Luke 2:6-7, the preacher highlights Jesus' sinless birth through a virgin, His role as the Lamb of God who takes away sin, and His victory over death. The conclusion invites listeners to believe and receive God's benefits: forgiveness, healing, redemption, favor, and renewed life.
The True Purpose of Christmas
I wish you that you experience the best that God has this Christmas and the best that He has is the Lord Jesus Christ. Let Jesus happen to you. That's the reason for Christmas. It is not all this, you know, bright lights and shopping and getting presents. You know, in some countries that I go to for holidays during the Christmas season, they really celebrate Christmas with lights and even the Christmas Carols. But the purpose of Christmas has been forgotten. For most people, it's a time to make money. It's a time to, you know, take advantage of the season so that people will spend more. But friend, we need to remember that the whole purpose of Christmas is that God is loving you by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, who came as a baby on that Christmas night.
So, let's start off by reading from our Christmas portion of Scripture from the Bible. So, Luke chapter 2, verse 6, So it was that while they were there, Joseph and Mary, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. She brought forth her son, her firstborn son, the Bible says, our Lord Jesus. Isn't that beautiful? That He was born at the right time. The Bible says, when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them who were under the law, that we might receive sonship. Adoption of sons, there is one word in Greek, sonship. The Son of God became the Son of Man, that we, the sons of man, might become the sons of God. Hallelujah. That's what Christmas is all about.
He wasn't born, alright, for the purpose of just being born into this world. He was born to die. That was the purpose that God had for His love plan for man. Ever since man sinned, for the very first sin, when Adam sinned, he brought sin into humanity. And sin has been transferred down to the generations in the bloodstream. But Jesus was born of a virgin. And now, it wasn't too long ago, we understand scientifically that the fetus does not receive the mother's blood through the placenta. The fetus only receives nourishment from the mother, but not the blood. Not a single drop of the blood of the mother goes into the fetus.
The Sinless Blood of the Savior
This is amazing because Mary is sinful, just like any other person. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. She is a wonderful lady, but nonetheless, she has sinned in the blood. And she cannot transfer that into the baby she is carrying. Therefore, the Bible says that Jesus was born of a virgin. Amen. The Father put Jesus in the virgin's womb. Hallelujah. And there, He received the supply from the mother, but not the blood. The blood in Jesus' veins, in Emmanuel's veins, is all from God the Father. Amen. And that blood was in Him to be shed at the cross. Why? Because the Bible says for the life of the flesh is in the blood. And God has given the blood to make an atonement for your souls. Only the blood can wash away our sins. And it cannot be sinful blood, washing away sinful blood. My blood cannot wash away your sinful blood. Amen. It must be the royal, sinless blood of God Himself incarnate in human flesh.
The reason He became a baby, alright, is because He had to take on human form to die on the cross. To shed His blood. So, His death wasn't an accident. It wasn't the murder of Jesus, like some people call it. No, Jesus came to die. In fact, before the time, you know, no one could arrest Him. No one could stop Him. No one could stand in His way. You know, no one could kill Him, in fact. In fact, there was more than one instance where the people tried to kill Him. At one time, in His hometown, Nazareth, they tried to push Him off the cliff. The Bible says He walked right through the midst of them. Another time, they pick up rocks. In those days, the Jewish capital punishment is stoning. And they threw up rocks to stone Him. They claimed that He was blasphemous. But He walked right in the midst of them.
Why Death Could Not Touch Him
So, death cannot touch Him. Why? Because death came because of sin. But because Jesus had no sin. Hallelujah. There's no sin in His blood. There's no sin in Him. The Bible says He knew no sin. He did no sin. In Him is no sin. And yet, He died on the cross like He's the worst sinner. Why? No, He's there in your place. He's there in my place. So that His blood can be shed to wash away our sins. Hallelujah. For God has given the blood to make an atonement for souls. Amen. And that's why when Jesus appeared at the age of 30 at the River Jordan, John the Baptist said, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away... I love that. Not cover. You see, the blood of the lambs that were shed in the Old Testament would cover sins for another year. It would cover sins for another year. But it is not the real payment. Until the true Lamb of God came, and John the Baptist was used by God to point Him out. What a privilege. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away... This time it's not covered, people. It's taking away. Covered is the word atone. Atoning for sins. But this time the blood of Jesus Christ will take away sins. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Hallelujah. And that's why He came. In human flesh.
Notice the Bible says that when He was born, the mother wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger. Now a lot of people have this idea that, you know, the Christmas scenes that we see, the manger, you know, with our Western perspective, you know, it's like a barn, you know, wooden barn. But actually it was more of a cave. And He wasn't born in a manger. He was laid in a manger. The manger is not the barn. It's not the cave during Jesus' time. It is actually a rock-hewn kind of feeding trowel carved from the rock. We have a picture here from Israel. And this is ancient feeding trowel. This is the manger where Jesus was laid. It's a rocky manger. And they'll put, you know, hay and dried grass there so that the animals can feed from the manger.
The Manger and the Tomb: A Picture of His Mission
So the very fact that Jesus was laid here is a picture that He came to die. Because if you look at the picture of this manger, this stone manger, you will see that if you visit the tomb of Jesus in Israel, there you'll find it's emptied. Hallelujah. And notice the similarity. Amen. It's also like a manger. He was born and He was wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger. That's where He was laid. And folks, it's a picture that this baby has come to die. This is the Lamb of God, the true Lamb of God who will take away our sins. You see, friends, all the troubles in your life, all the depression that you feel, all the heartache, the feelings of, you know, anger and resentment, and all this selfishness that you see in the world is a result of sin. And sin brings forth that fear of death. So one of the reasons that Jesus died is to conquer death. His death destroyed death. Hallelujah. And He Rose from the dead on the third day. Jesus conquered death for you and me. So this fear of death has brought man into slavery, into bondage, through fear of death. All their lifetime, they are afraid of doing certain things because of the fear of death.
Friend, the Bible tells us very clearly that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. And love always gives. And the greatest gift that God gave us is His Son. So during this Christmas time, amen, as we remember our Lord Jesus, we think of that babe lying in the manger and we remember that the purpose for Him in coming to this earth is to die for our sins. Why? Because God loved you. God loved me. In fact, the Bible, I love that little word that speaks of intensity. Jesus Himself spoke these words. John 3. 16, For God so loved the world, so, that speaks of intensity. God so loved you that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him, if you will believe in Him, you will not perish, but you will have everlasting life. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. But ever since Adam sinned, Adam believed the devil talk compared to God talk. Amen. And obeyed the devil instead of God. You see, God said, the day that you sin, in the Hebrew, it says like this, dying, you shall die. You die spiritually, cut off from God, and then you will die in the future physically. Dying, you shall die. So that's how death came in. And the Bible says, the wages of sin is death. But I thank God, it goes on to say, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Praise the Lord.
God's Victory Over Death
So God never meant for man to die. God considers death and disease all as an enemy. The Bible says clearly, the last enemy that will be put under Jesus' feet is death. Hallelujah. Physical death. Jesus has conquered death already and we are looking forward for His coming. And He is coming back, folks. Praise the Lord. God is saying, the whole earth is travailing and the devil is working harder in these last days because the devil knows his time is short. And the Bible says, all these are signs that Jesus is coming back. When Jesus comes back, friend, you will receive a brand new body. If you believe on Him, you believe what He did at the cross, you believe that His blood cleanses you from every sin. When Jesus comes again, you receive a brand new body. Amen. A body that is incorruptible. A body that is not subject to sin or to disease or to death ever again. Praise the Lord. You will live perpetually in that young, in that powerful, in that strong, in that immortal body. Immortality will be a reality when Jesus comes again. Praise the Lord. The Bible says, He will transform our vile bodies like His glorious body. Hallelujah! I'm looking forward to that. The Bible says, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. Amen. We shall be transformed. We won't even see death. Where was the price paid to conquer death? At the cross. At the cross. Jesus hung there for you and I. At the cross, He conquered the devil. Because He had no sin. He did no sin. In Him is no sin. Therefore, He is the only perfect substitute. The Lamb of God. The perfect Lamb of which all the other lambs in the Old Testament was pointing to. The Lamb sacrificed. He's the final and the true Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
So on that cross, He carried your sins and He bore my sins in His own body on the tree. And the Bible says, not only that, He bore our diseases and He carried our sicknesses and pains in His own body on the tree. Friend, never forget this. David, the psalmist said, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. And yet, many believers are forgetting the benefits. The Bible says, forget not all His benefits. And sometimes we remember a few benefits. But the Bible says, forget not all. We must remember it all. And there are five benefits mentioned there. Forget not all His benefits. The first one, who forgives all your sins, who forgives all your iniquities. That's the first one. That means your sins, my friend. And He's forgiven all. Where? At the cross. Who forgiveth all your iniquities, who healeth all your diseases. Hallelujah! Again, all your diseases. Not just, you know, as and when God feels like healing. No, no, friend. The Bible says, God heals all your diseases. And I believe the Word of God. And I will not forget this benefit. Because I'm not to forget any of His benefits, but to remember them all. Hallelujah! And God wants to heal your body. Amen. If you're sick in your body, God wants to heal your body. It goes on to say, who redeems your life from destruction. That's another benefit. God redeems our life from destruction.
The Five Benefits of Believing God
And friend, you know, you can be a person who is healthy. I mean, you're exercising all the time, watch your diet and all that, only to be met with an accident or things like that. This is destruction. Outside health areas. Amen. It can happen to anyone. You know, people say, when your time is up, your time is up. No, my friend. There is a devil out there and he hates you. But there is a God, praise the Lord, who loves you, who gave his son to die for your sins, who paid the price for you to be healthy. Amen. To be strong. Praise the Lord. To be forgiven. Amen. Of all your sins. And this same God, His benefit for you is also who redeems your life from destruction. Notice the word redeem. That means there was a payment made for you to be delivered or to be rescued from that destruction. You see, because of sin, because we have sinned against a holy God. Amen. Because of sin, there is a tag that comes with it. There is a penalty that comes with it, which is death, disease, destruction. But Jesus on the cross shed His blood, that precious blood that washes away our sins. And that blood is redeeming blood. That blood has redeemed you. That means the word redeem means to buy you out from that slave market of sin, of death, of destruction. Praise the Lord. He has bought you out. So the Bible says, one of the benefits of God, we confess this benefit over ourselves every day. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all my iniquities. Praise the Lord. That's what Christmas is all about, friend. It's not so much the birth of Jesus that saves us. It is His death on the cross. Amen. And His resurrection. Hallelujah. And who healeth all your diseases. All. Who redeems your life from destruction.
Now we come to the fourth benefit. It says, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies. God loves to just crown His children. Amen. With favour. The word loving kindness in the Hebrew is the word chesed. Chesed is the word grace. It's favour. God surrounds you. And the word crowns, it's not like a crown that you wear on your head. In the Hebrew, the word atar, the word crown is actually all around you. It's like you are in this pavilion. You are actually surrounded with crown, with glory and honour, all encompassing you. Praise the Lord. And it's the favour of God covering you. It's the favour of God that you are crowned with. And everywhere you go, you have favour. Praise the Lord. And compassion. Who crowns you with loving kindness. And the King James says, tender mercies or compassion. The word there is actually the compassion of a mother for a child. Amen. The word rakam in Hebrew is actually the word used for also the woman's womb. The word for womb, where she nourishes her baby. And that's the picture used there for this word for tender mercies. It's God surrounds you with favour and you are surrounded like in a cocoon, in a pavilion of His tender mercies, of His compassion. You sense the love of God. You see, that's why you don't have to go looking for love in all the wrong places. Because when God crowns you, my friend, you sense that you are the beloved. Amen. Every day is an adventure of the beloved going somewhere to happen. Amen. You are not trying to love. You are the beloved. And the more you realise you are the beloved, you will end up loving. Loving those around you. Amen. You can afford to even overlook an evil done to you. Praise the Lord. Because why? You are God's beloved.
And the fifth benefit is this. Who satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. Wow. Amen. Do you know, my friend, the Bible says that God wants to renew your youth. It's a benefit that He gives to His people who satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. And that's what God wants for you. Even in your advanced years, God says God can renew your youth like the eagles. I did a study of this word youth. You know, I just want to know what is God's perspective of youth for us. Amen. That He wants to renew. And I read there are different words for youth in the Hebrew. Different stages of youthfulness. Like we say, a child. Then we have the teen years. Amen. And then we have the young man in the 20s, in their 30s. Well, the word for that's used there in the Hebrew is actually the teen years. Youth. The teenage years. So God wants to satisfy, God wants to satisfy your mouth so that your teenage youth, amen, hallelujah, will be restored, will be renewed like the eagles, which is a literal renewal. Forget not even this benefit, my friend. Receive it. I believe God wants to invade your life into your household, into all the dark places of your life. You might be struggling with depression, with drug addiction. You might be struggling with a broken heart. You may see things in yourself that you don't like, you hate. But how do you change? You cannot change by your willpower. You know that. You know that very well. Amen. True change is from inside out. Only God can change you. Only Jesus can transform you. Amen. And that's the reason He died on the cross.
The Cross: God's Perfect Plan
When He hung on that tree for three hours, darkness covered the earth. It was like heaven became brass. And He hung there, suspended between heaven and earth. It's as if He took that place for you and I. Because at that time, all this was not an accident. God planned it. Because a thrice holy God, a righteous God cannot receive man that He loves into His presence if man has sinned. Anymore than a judge can allow a murderer to go free, a serial rapist to go free. You know, He must be judged. But then God loves you and God doesn't want to judge you. So how can God maintain His righteousness and holiness at the same time, make you righteous, acquitted? How can God do that? And the amazing gospel story, which the story of Christmas commenced, is when God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, for the purpose of dying for us on that cross. Because He who knew no sin, when He took our place. Amen? That means we take His place. Amen today. He took our place so that we can take His place. He took our place of rejection from God, and we take His place of acceptance and favor with God. He bore our sins and was punished to the fullest extent for all our sins, so that you and I today will receive all the blessings that He deserve, and truly enjoy it, and give praise to God for it. Hallelujah.
Encouraged by today's message? Inspire your every day and your every tomorrow with more grace-filled truths. Get this limited-time special three-book bundle today. Visit josephprince.org to request yours now. We live in a world that moves faster than ever. Headlines change by the hour. Values shift. Truth feels negotiable. What was certain yesterday is no longer clear today. But through all the noise and the shaking, there is one who is still the same. In the chaos, He is still the calm. In the panic, He is still the promise. In the bad news, worse news, and fake news, He is still the good news. From feeding the 5,000 to feeding your family, He is still the supply. From calming the Sea of Galilee to calming the storm in your mind, He is still the peace. Because when all else falters, fades, and falls, He is still Jesus above it all. So no matter what's popular today or forgotten tomorrow, this ministry will still always be all about Jesus. Still the center of our call. Still the heartbeat of our people. Still the same mission for the past 18 years. Will you still choose to make our mission your mission today? Make your best gift before December 31st. Visit josephprince.org to make your gift now.
Send to your feet, if you can. Together with your families, if you are together, you may hold hands as you receive the blessing this coming week. And this coming week is only a few days before we enter the new year. And the Lord has a team for us. Every year He has a team for us. The overriding, governing team, which means what He's going to do for us. And in particular our church and the ministry that He has given me for the people that are following this ministry. He has a governing team for you. Praise the Lord. So be expecting to hear from God. Amen. And to also govern your life according to what He wants to do in your life this coming year. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Amen. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you throughout this week. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Merry Christmas.