2016-12-25
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Over these past few weeks, we looked at Zecherias and Elizabeth’s miraculous story in the birth of John the Baptist. We’ve talked about the Angel’s appearance to Mary, her time of personal worship after hearing of God’s plan and His faithfulness. Last week, we heard from Matt Willmington about the calling on all of our lives to point people to Christ. All of these sermons have been based out of Luke chapter 1. Today, we’ve heard from the children the amazing story of Christ’s birth, that great appearing of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in the form of a baby born in a manger.
In all these passages, the one person we haven’t discussed that much is Joseph. If anyone had the opportunity to throw his hands up in disgust and walk away from this story, putting himself first, it was Joseph. His bride to be, the love of his life, was now pregnant and he knew this baby was not his. So today, let’s look at the angel’s announcement to Joseph that changed his heart, and that today, should change all of ours as well.
Matthew 1:18-21 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
1. The Purpose of His Coming
21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Heb. Yeshua), which means Yahweh is salvation or “the Lord saves”
God’s purpose in the birth of Jesus was to fulfill all of the OT prophecies of the coming messiah
God’s purpose in the birth of Jesus was to redeem what He had created, to provide a way out and a way back for all of us
Romans 5:12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. 20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2. The Promise of His Coming
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
A fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14
A reminder that because of this “Greatest Gift”…
a. God is here with us
b. He can be known by us
c. He put on flesh and became one of us, yet without sin
d. He will never leave us
e. We can run to Him anytime (Heb 4:16)
The greatest of all gifts is that without Christ we all die, without hope, without a future…but with Christ we have eternal life, eternal hope, eternal joy…if we believe!