Posts
by Samuel E. Ward
December 15, 2013
View the Powerpoint Presentation at http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/the-birth-of-christ-the-birth-of-a-christian-29327357.
Other Powerpoint Sermons may be viewed at http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/
Text:
Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV2011) 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us"). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
There are many important facts that relate to the account of Christ's birth in Matthew's gospel. I will point you to just three concerning. . .
I. What We Know about the Birth of Christ
A. Jesus Was Conceived of the Holy Spirit, God was His Father, v. 20.
Because of this fact…
1. He was the Son of God, not the son of Joseph.
Jesus was made in the likeness of men without the sinful nature of man generated through Joseph. Therefore, He is qualified to be man's sinless and perfect sacrifice, Phil 2:5-11.
Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV2011) 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
2. He became the second Adam but first in the line of a the race redeemed by Christ.
The first Adam was disobedient and brought the curse of sin upon the whole human race. The second Adam, Christ, was perfectly obedient and was able to make righteous all who are born again in Him by faith, Rom 5:12,17-19.
Romans 5:12, 17-19 (NIV2011) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— . . . 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! 18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
3. He became the Savior of all who by faith believe, Rom 5:1-2.
Romans 5:1-2 (NIV2011) 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
B. Jesus Was Sent to be Humanity's Savior from Sin, v.21.
"Joshua" is the Hebrew equivalent of the name "Jesus", the name assigned to Mary's child by the angel. The name means "Jehovah saves." Jesus, Himself, stated this as His mission in life when He accepted Zacchaeus's faith coupled with his repentant heart and acts.
Luke 19:9-10 (NIV2011) 9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
C. Jesus Was God's Means of Dwelling with Humanity, Mat 1:23.
1. Jesus became the visible expression of God's grace and truth to mankind, John 1:14.
John 1:14 (NIV2011) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
2. Jesus became the visible, tangible, and auditory expression of God's gospel of salvation to mankind; and provided the content for our own proclamation of the gospel, 1 John 1:1-4.
1 John 1:1-4 (NIV2011) 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
Just as Jesus had to be born in the flesh to become the Savior of mankind, so we must be born again by the Spirit in order to gain salvation.
II. The New Birth of the Christian
John 3:1-21 (NIV2011) 1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him."
Nicodemus was obviously aware of all that Jesus was doing in His public ministry. He had also probably heard John the Baptist identify Jesus as the "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29) and "God's Chosen One," meaning the Messiah.
Nicodemus wanted to know more about Jesus and he wanted to hear it straight from Jesus' own mouth. God had sent Jesus to Israel for some purpose and Nicodemus wanted to know what that purpose was.
A. The Key to Entering God's Kingdom, John 3:3
If you want to enter the kingdom of God, You must be "born again."
John 3:3 (NIV2011) Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."
B. The "Impossibility" of This Condition, John 3:4
John 3:4 (NIV2011) "How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!"
C. The Logic Which Demands This Condition, John 3:5-6.
1. The truth is that man needs to be born twice, physically and spiritually, John 3:5-6.
John 3:5-6 (NIV2011) 5 Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
2. This truth should be self-evident to Nicodemus, John 3:7.
John 3:7 (NIV2011) You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'
3. This truth is no more mysterious than the effects of the wind you cannot see, John 3:8.
John 3:8 (NIV2011) The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
The evidence of being "born again" will be in the effects it produces in the life of the one who has been "born again."
And yet, Nicodemus asks in John 3:9 "How can this be?"
To which Jesus responds incredulously in John 3:10 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?
4. This truth is known only by revelation, not discovery.
John 3:11-13 (NIV2011) 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
a. People disbelieved Christ even when He gave testimony about earthly things they could understand, John3:11-12.
Though Jesus did not give any examples except perhaps with the wind analogy, we can offer our own. For instance, the belief in creationism is no less plausible (perhaps more so) than evolution when both arguments are reduced back to the "uncaused cause." Everything effect we have observed in terms of testing and observation leads us to a cause. Yet, many still take issue with the idea is the uncaused cause is a Person rather than "nothing" or an "uncaused something."
b. People should listen to One Who had been in the heavenly realm and entered into the earthly realm to explain the spiritual realities that cannot be discovered by physical means, John3:13.
That One is Jesus Christ. His signs and wonders are not a "sideshow" but evidence of Who He is and where He has come from.
D. The Means by Which One Enters the Kingdom of God.
One must exercise faith in Christ's provision of salvation, John 3:14-15.
John 3:14-15 (NIV2011) 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him."
1. The Old Testament illustration of man's problem and God's solution, Numbers 21:4-9.
Numbers 21:4-9 (NIV2011) 4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" 6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
Notice the progression from sin to deliverance:
a. They rebelled against their beneficent God, attributing malice to His plan for them, "They spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?"
b. They were sentenced to death for their rebellion and contempt for God, "Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died."
c. They were given an opportunity to live only if they "looked upon the bronze snake." To do so would be placing faith in God's means of deliverance from the sentence of death due to their sin.
2. Jesus' application of the Old Testament illustration to humanity's sin problem and God's solution.
a. The problem stated: John 3:19-20.
John 3:19-20 (NIV2011) Jn 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
Humanity has rebelled against the God Who loves them and has shown them His grace and mercy in multitudinous ways.
b. The condemnation declared, John 3:18b
John 3:18b (NIV2011) …whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
c. The pardon offered, John 3:16-18a.
John 3:16-18a (NIV2011) 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18a Whoever believes in him is not condemned.
Conclusion: No More Running
John 3:21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
One of the main characteristics of someone out of fellowship with God is that they avoid Him—even run from him. Jesus says that this changes when we come to Him with sincere hearts. We keep coming to Him, "Stepping in the Light" as the old song goes. "Hasten to Him" even, as the lyrics to another says. When we expose ourselves to Jesus, the Light of the World, two things happen. Our good deeds shine for His glory and the not so good deeds are revealed so that we can gain forgiveness and immediate restoration.
1 John 1:9 (NIV2011) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
James 4:8 (NIV2011) Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Hebrews 7:25 (NIV2011) … he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
And because the Light is in you. . .
Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NIV2011)
