God Became Flesh to Save Us!

Thank you for joining us to learn and grow in the knowledge of the Word of God. We pray this teaching will encourage your hearts in your relationship with your Creator, the One who loves you so much, He came down from heaven and lived, to die for you. Eric

We are going to look at the most important and meaningful story ever written. We read this story in the Scriptures. The validity for it's importance is found in the fact that it is true and life changing. One of the most astounding aspects of this story is that it was prophesied or foretold approximately 700 years before it took place! Then, it happened exactly as it was foretold!

We are going to begin today, by looking at those things which were proclaimed 700 years before they came to fruition. Our story is the Christmas Story or what the Word of God reveals about the significance of and the birth of Christ.

The back story: Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." 'God' in the Hebrew is Elohim. "Elohim is the subject of every creative verb in Genesis 1. He speaks, separates, names, blesses and surveys His work establishing Himself as Sovereign over time, space, matter, and life." (Bible Hub Topical Lexicon).

God created everything that exists. "He created man in His own image to rule over the fish,, birds, livestock and the wild animals and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (Genesis 1:26). In His creation, He planted a garden and put the man there. (Genesis 2:8). God instructed the man to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, "for when you eat from it you will certainly die." (Genesis 2:17).

In Genesis 3:6 Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command and the fruit was eaten. That sin brought about physical and spiritual death which could only be nullified by a blood sacrifice. "Blood sacrifice underscores both the costliness of sin and the just nature of a holy God Who requires a payment to address sin's penalty." (Bible Hub, House Visual Study Bible).

"The Old Testament sacrificial system of the shedding of blood from perfect animal sacrifices was never intended to be permanent. It foreshadowed the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (Bible Hub Study Bible). Jesus was the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29).

God knew that the only hope for true reconciliation between Himself and sinful man was the blood sacrifice of a perfect man. Thus - we will now tell the beautiful story of that perfect sacrifice's birth.

Our Christmas Story:

PROPHECIES OF THE COMING MESSIAH (the Anointed or Chosen One, The promised Deliverer, King, Priest and Prophet of God).

Genesis 3:15,"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

Isaiah 7:11, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us)."

Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." The phrase 'child is born' highlights the humanity of the Messiah.

Micah 5:2, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Insight: The son will be born of a virgin. The son given (Jesus), is the Son of God or God with us. God spoke His plan for the salvation of His people to the serpent in the garden. 'Enmity' is hostility which exists between 'the woman' (humanity) and 'you' (the serpent, satan and evil). Recognizing the constant battle that exists between good and evil, we see evidence of that hostility every day. 'Crush your head' was a prophetic word concerning Christs' ultimate victory over satan.

Approximately 700 years later:

THE ANGEL GABRIEL VISITS MARY

Luke 1:26-35. God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth to a virgin engaged to Joseph of the House of David. The angel told her: she would conceive, have a son, name Him Jesus, that He would be called 'the Son of the Most High,' the Lord God would give Him the throne of His father, David, and that He would reign forever. Then, the angel told her the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the Holy One born would be called the Son of God.

AN ANGEL APPEARS TO JOSEPH

Matthew 1:18-23, "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").

Insight: By law, an unfaithful woman could be stoned.(Deuteronomy 22:23.24). God intervened and gave Joseph specific instructions so that His plan and purpose would be fulfilled.

JOSEPH AND MARY TRAVEL TO BETHELEM

Luke 2:1-5, "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."

JESUS IS BORN IN A MANGER

Luke 2:6,7, "While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them."

Insight: The Messiah Who was of the lineage of David and conceived through the Holy Spirit, was born in Bethelem. His birth marked the incarnation of God as a human being.

ANGELS DECLARE HIS BIRTH TO SHEPHERDS

LUKE 2:8-14, "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

Insight: "The fields were only five miles from the temple and many of the sheep there were used for sacrificial lambs in the temple. The shepherds charged with taking care of the 'perfect' sacrificial lambs had to stay outside year-round, protecting them from predators and thieves. Doing their duty as shepherds, they could allow no blemish to come to the lambs destined to be used as sacrifices." (Bible Hub Topical Lexicon). "The 'sign' or miraculous event in verse 13 of the heavenly host appearing and praising God, was given to confirm or authenticate the Lord and His eternal purpose. It was a sign that no man could duplicate or take credit for." (HELPS Word-studies). It is interesting that the birth of the incarnate Son was announced to guardians of sacrificial lambs since Jesus would become the perfect Lamb of God who's death paid for man's sins 'once for all.' When the angel told the shepherds, "I bring you good news" - this was the first proclamation of the Gospel, the telling of the birth of Christ, the Savior!

SHEPHERDS TRAVEL TO SEE JESUS

LUKE 2:15-20, "When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

THE WISE MEN SEEK HIM

Matthew 2:1,2,9-12, " After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."...9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."

Insight: "The first worshipers in Matthew are Gentile scholars: the first opponent in Acts is a Jewish sorcerer reversing expected roles. This highlights that acceptance or rejection hinges on heart response, not ethnicity." (Bible Hub Topical Lexicon). Note that the word 'worship' which the Magi used means, to prostrate oneself in homage. The Magi recognized Him as the King of the Jews and thus as the Messiah.

Have you done the same? Have you realized that Jesus was God come in the flesh so that each one of us could be saved from the death penalty required for our sins? You see, the Christmas Story goes on. The Father Who gave the gift of His Son desires that every man will be saved. If you have not accepted the gift of God, I pray that you will not delay, for today is the day of salvation. Acknowledge that Jesus took your place on the cross for you and accept the sacrifice He made for you today. The reward is eternal life lived in the presence of God!

We thank You Lord for the beautiful gift of Your Son which You gave!

All Scriptures are taken from the New International Version.