Lesson 1 of 26 in a series of New Testament Vistas. This sermon on the Birth of Christ was presented October 30, 2011, at Palm Desert Church of Christ by Dale Wells.
2. OT makes some amazing promises
Adam and
Eve
Genesis 3:15 NIV 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."
3. OT makes some amazing promises
Adam and 1,800 BC
Eve Abraham
Genesis 12:3 NIV I will bless those
who bless you, and whoever curses
you I will curse; and all peoples on
earth will be blessed through you."
4. OT makes some amazing promises
Adam and 1,800 BC 1,000 BC
Eve Abraham David
2 Samuel 7:12-14 NIV When your days are over
and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up
your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and
blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the
one who will build a house for my Name, and I
will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I
will be his father, and he will be my son. …
5. OT makes some amazing promises
Adam and 1,800 BC 1,000 BC 700 BC
Eve Abraham David Micah
Micah 5:2 NIV "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."
6. OT makes some amazing promises
Adam and 1,800 BC 1,000 BC 700 BC 700 BC
Eve Abraham David Micah Isaiah
Isaiah 7:14 NIV Therefore the
Lord himself will give you a
sign: The virgin will conceive
and give birth to a son, and will
call him Immanuel.
7. 700 Years Later, God Keeps His Promises
Luke 1:26-28 NIV God sent the angel
Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a
virgin pledged to be married to a man
named Joseph, a descendant of David. The
virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to
her and said, "Greetings, you who are
highly favored! The Lord is with you."
8. Note Promises God is Keeping
Adam and 1,800 BC 1,000 BC 700 BC 700 BC
Eve Abraham David Micah Isaiah
Matthew 1:22-23 NIV All this took place to
fulfill what the Lord had said through the Virgin
prophet: "The virgin will conceive and give
birth to a son, and they will call him
Immanuel" (which means "God with us").
9. Note Promises God is Keeping
Adam and 1,800 BC 1,000 BC 700 BC 700 BC
Eve Abraham David Micah Isaiah
Son of
Virgin
David
Luke 1:32-33 NIV He will be great and will be
called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God
will give him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over Jacob's descendants
forever; his kingdom will never end."
10. Note Promises God is Keeping
Adam and 1,800 BC 1,000 BC 700 BC 700 BC
Eve Abraham David Micah Isaiah
“Jesus” –
Son of
Yahweh Virgin
David
Saves!
Matthew 1:21 NIV …you are to give
him the name Jesus, because he will
save his people from their sins."
11. Note Promises God is Keeping
Adam and 1,800 BC 1,000 BC 700 BC 700 BC
Eve Abraham David Micah Isaiah
“Jesus” – Ruler of
Son of
Yahweh God’s Virgin
David
Saves! kingdom
Matthew 2:3-5 NIV When King Herod heard this he was
disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called
together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the
law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. "In
Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the
prophet has written:
12. Note Promises God is Keeping
Adam and 1,800 BC 1,000 BC 700 BC 700 BC
Eve Abraham David Micah Isaiah
“Jesus” – Ruler of
Blessing to Son of
Yahweh God’s Virgin
all David
Saves! kingdom
Galatians 3:8 NIV Scripture foresaw that God would
justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel
in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed
through you."
13. Mary becomes pregnant, as God promised
Luke 1:46-55 NIV And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the
Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has
been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From
now on all generations will call me blessed, for the
Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his
name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from
generation to generation. He has performed mighty
deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud
in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers
from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has
filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich
away empty. He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his
descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors."
14. Distinction in Luke 1:50
• Acts 3:25 NIV And you are heirs of the prophets and of the
covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham,
Blessing to 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.'
all
15. Distinction in Luke 1:50
• Acts 3:25 NIV And you are heirs of the prophets and of the
covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham,
Blessing to 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.'
all
• Luke 1:50 NIV His mercy extends to those who fear him, from
Mercy only generation to generation.
to some
16. Jesus is Born
Luke 2:1-7 NIV In those days Caesar Augustus issued a
decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman
world. (This was the first census that took place while
Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to
their own town to register. 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. He went there to register with Mary, who was
pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be
born, 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.
17. The Birth Announcement
Luke 2:8-14 NIV And there were shepherds living out in the
fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An
angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the
Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the
angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good
news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in
the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the
Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a
baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a
great company of the heavenly host appeared with the
angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the
highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his
favor rests."
18. Distinction in Luke 2:14
• Acts 3:25 NLT You are the children of those prophets, and you
are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors.
For God said to Abraham, 'Through your descendants all the
Blessing to all families on earth will be blessed.'
19. Distinction in Luke 2:14
• Acts 3:25 NLT You are the children of those prophets, and you
are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors.
For God said to Abraham, 'Through your descendants all the
Blessing to all families on earth will be blessed.'
• Luke 2:14 NLT "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on
Peace to those earth to those with whom God is pleased."
who please him
20. God does not treat all people the same
God is fair to all
21. God does not treat all people the same
God is fair to all
Only some receive
his mercy and peace
22. Who then is this baby Jesus?
Jesus is fully
God
John 1:1 NIV In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 10:30 NIV I and the Father are one."
23. Who then is this baby Jesus?
Jesus is fully
God
Jesus is Fully
Human
24. Jesus is Unique
Revealer of John 1:18 NIV No one has ever seen God, but the one
God the and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest
Father relationship with the Father, has made him known.
25. Jesus is Unique
Revealer of John 1:18 NIV No one has ever seen God, but the one
God the and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest
Father relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Mediator 1 Timothy 2:5 NIV For there is one God and one
between mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ
God & Man Jesus,
26. Jesus is Unique
Revealer of John 1:18 NIV No one has ever seen God, but the one
God the and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest
Father relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Mediator 1 Timothy 2:5 NIV For there is one God and one
between mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ
God & Man Jesus,
Hebrews 7:25 NIV Therefore he is able to save
Savior completely those who come to God through him,
because he always lives to intercede for them.
27. Jesus: God’s blessing to all; Will you accept
• Luke 1:50 NIV His mercy extends to those
who fear him, from generation to
His mercy? generation.
28. Jesus: God’s blessing to all; Will you accept
• Luke 1:50 NIV His mercy extends to those
who fear him, from generation to
His mercy? generation.
• Luke 2:14 NLT "Glory to God in highest
heaven, and peace on earth to those with
His peace? whom God is pleased."
Editor's Notes
Feel the chillBeginning NT Vista series – through June 2012No place to begin but with the Birth of Christ.So, today is Christmas i
God created Adam and Eve so they could enjoy a personal relationshipDid what they were not supposed to do — broke God’s rules — “sin”Result: they and their descendants lost their relationship with GodGod promised to some day do something about their sin — 3:15Genesis 3:15 NBLH "Pondré enemistad Entre tú y la mujer, Y entre tu simiente y su simiente; él te herirá en la cabeza, Y tú lo herirás en el talón."
1,800 B.C. — Promise to Abraham (Gen 12:3b)Through Abraham he will bless all people (families)Genesis 12:3 NBLH "Bendeciré a los que te bendigan, Y al que te maldiga, maldeciré. En ti serán benditas todas las familias de la tierra."
1,000 B.C. — Promise to King David (2 Sam 7:12-14)2 Samuel 7:12-14 NBLH "Cuando tus días se cumplan y reposes con tus padres, levantaré a tu descendiente después de ti, el cual saldrá de tus entrañas, y estableceré su reino. (13) "El edificará casa a Mi nombre, y Yo estableceré el trono de su reino para siempre. (14) "Yo seré padre para él y él será hijo para Mí. Cuando cometa iniquidad, lo castigaré con vara de hombres y con azotes de hijos de hombres,Physical descendant (“your own flesh and blood”)Reign over an eternal kingdomFather/Son relationshipCame to be known as the “Messiah/Christ”
700 B.C. — Related prophecy from Micah 5:2Micah 5:2 NBLH Pero tú, Belén (Casa del Pan) Efrata, Aunque eres pequeña entre las familias de Judá, De ti Me saldrá el que ha de ser gobernante en Israel. Y sus orígenes son desde tiempos antiguos, Desde los días de la eternidad.Messiah from Bethlehem“Origins are from of old, from ancient times”: supernatural king
700 B.C. — Promise of a miraculous birth from a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)Isaiah 7:14 NBLH "Por tanto, el Señor mismo les dará esta señal: Una virgen concebirá y dará a luz un hijo, y Le pondrá por nombre Emmanuel (Dios con nosotros).“Immanuel” — “God with us”Promise is not only that there would be a miraculous conceptionSomething supernatural about the child himself
Virgin (v 27)Her Son, Jesus, fulfills God’s promise made through IsaiahConnection between Jesus’ birth and Isaiah’s prophecy explicit in Matt 1:22-23Matthew 1:22-23 NBLH Todo esto sucedió para que se cumpliera lo que el Señor había hablado por medio del profeta (Isaías), diciendo: (23) "HE AQUI, LA VIRGEN CONCEBIRA Y DARA A LUZ UN HIJO, Y LE PONDRAN POR NOMBRE EMMANUEL," que traducido significa: "DIOS CON NOSOTROS."
Joseph was a physical descendant of King David (v 27)Luke 1:32-33 NBLH "Este será grande y será llamado Hijo del Altísimo, y el Señor Dios Le dará el trono de Su padre David; (33) y reinará sobre la casa de Jacob para siempre, y Su reino no tendrá fin."Jesus fulfills God’s promise to DavidThis Jesus will reign over his eternal kingdom forever
“Jesus”“God is salvation” — Matt 1:21Matthew 1:21 NBLH "Y dará a luz un Hijo, y Le pondrás por nombre Jesús, porque El salvará a Su pueblo de sus pecados."Jesus fulfills promise to Adam & Eve, and all their descendants, to save from sins
Divine ruler of God’s Kingdom promised in Micah.Matthew 2:3-5 NBLH Cuando lo oyó el rey Herodes (el Grande), se turbó, y toda Jerusalén con él. (4) Entonces, el rey reunió a todos los principales sacerdotes y escribas del pueblo, y averiguó de ellos dónde había de nacer el Cristo (el Mesías). (5) Y ellos le dijeron: "En Belén de Judea, porque así está escrito por el profeta:They then quoted the prophecy from Micah 5:2
Jesus will be a blessing to all and thereby fulfill God’s promise to AbrahamGalatians 3:8 NBLH La Escritura, previendo que Dios justificaría a los Gentiles (las naciones) por la fe, anunció de antemano las buenas nuevas a Abraham, diciendo: "EN TI SERAN BENDITAS TODAS LAS NACIONES."Blessed with forgiveness of sin“Immanuel”: “God with us”The greatest blessing we can ever receive through Abraham/anyone is to enjoy a personal relationship with our creator — presence of God
Goes to see her friend Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)Mary’s song (“Magnificat”) – she’s been thinking about these things on the way to see ElizabethLuke 1:46-55 NBLH Entonces María dijo: "Mi alma engrandece al Señor, (47) Y mi espíritu se regocija en Dios mi Salvador. (48) "Porque ha mirado la humilde condición de esta su sierva; Pues desde ahora en adelante todas las generaciones me tendrán por bienaventurada. (49) "Porque grandes cosas me ha hecho el Poderoso; Y santo es Su nombre. (50) "Y DE GENERACION EN GENERACION ES SU MISERICORDIA PARA LOS QUE LE TEMEN. (51) "Ha hecho proezas con Su brazo; Ha esparcido a los soberbios en el pensamiento de sus corazones. (52) "Ha quitado a los poderosos de sus tronos; Y ha exaltado a los humildes; (53) A LOS HAMBRIENTOS HA COLMADO DE BIENES Y ha despedido a los ricos con las manos vacías. (54) "Ha ayudado a Israel, Su siervo, Para recuerdo de Su misericordia (55) Tal como dijo a nuestros padres, A Abraham y a su descendencia (simiente) para siempre."
A distinction in Luke 1:50Distinction: blessing to all, Acts 3:25 NBLH "Ustedes son los hijos (descendientes) de los profetas y del pacto que Dios hizo con sus padres, al decir a Abraham: 'Y EN TU SIMIENTE SERAN BENDITAS TODAS LAS FAMILIAS DE LA TIERRA.'
But mercy only on someLuke 1:50 NBLH "Y DE GENERACION EN GENERACION ES SU MISERICORDIA PARA LOS QUE LE TEMEN.Mercy to those who Fear God, i.e. approach God in reverential awe
Luke 2:1-7 NBLH Aconteció en aquellos días que salió un edicto de César Augusto, para que se hiciera un censo de todo el mundo habitado (el Imperio Romano). (2) Este fue el primer censo que se levantó cuando Cirenio era gobernador de Siria. (3) Todos se dirigían a inscribirse en el censo, cada uno a su ciudad. (4) También José subió de Galilea, de la ciudad de Nazaret, a Judea, a la ciudad de David que se llama Belén (Casa del Pan), por ser él de la casa y de la familia de David, (5) para inscribirse junto con María, comprometida para casarse con él, la cual estaba encinta. (6) Sucedió que mientras estaban ellos allí, se cumplieron los días de su alumbramiento. (7) Y dio a luz a su Hijo primogénito; Lo envolvió en pañales y Lo acostó en un pesebre, porque no había lugar para ellos en el mesón.
Luke 2:8-14 NBLH En la misma región había pastores que estaban en el campo, cuidando sus rebaños durante las vigilias de la noche. (9) Y un ángel del Señor se les presentó, y la gloria del Señor los rodeó de resplandor, y tuvieron gran temor. (10) Pero el ángel les dijo: "No teman, porque les traigo buenas nuevas de gran gozo que serán para todo el pueblo; (11) porque les ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, un Salvador, que es Cristo (el Mesías) el Señor. (12) "Esto les servirá de señal: hallarán a un Niño envuelto en pañales y acostado en un pesebre." (13) De repente apareció con el ángel una multitud de los ejércitos celestiales, alabando a Dios y diciendo: (14) "Gloria a Dios en las alturas, Y en la tierra paz entre los hombres (de buena voluntad) en quienes El se complace."Appropriate — very low on the social scaleBlessing of Abraham is available for all, even shepherds“Great joy for all the people” (2:10)
Blessing to all:Acts 3:25 NBLH "Ustedes son los hijos (descendientes) de los profetas y del pacto que Dios hizo con sus padres, al decir a Abraham: 'Y EN TU SIMIENTE SERAN BENDITAS TODAS LAS FAMILIAS DE LA TIERRA.'
God’s peace is only on those with whom he is pleased — those who fear him:Luke 2:14 NBLH "Gloria a Dios en las alturas, Y en la tierra paz entre los hombres (de buena voluntad) en quienes El se complace."“Peace” means that the conflict has ended and relationship restored — we all desperately need that peace
“Son of the Most High/God” His Father is God, not Joseph — Jesus fulfills God’s promise in 2 Sam 7Biblical language for being God (John 1:1; 10:30)God could have sent the messiah some other way — born of a virginbut he sent Jesus this way to make it clear that Jesus was GodNecessary, because in 33 years this baby will die on the crossOn that cross this baby will carry all the sins of all people.No human being could endure that painAnd no human being can pay the penalty for another person’s sinsOnly God could endure the pain, and only God could apply his death as the penalty for the sins of others.
Jesus is fully human - Born of a human motherJohn 1:14 NIV 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.Mystery that we call the “incarnation” — greatest miracleGod could have sent the messiah some other way, but he sent Jesus this way to make it clear that he was also fully humanNecessary, so that Jesus could pay the penalty for human sinOranges cannot pay the penalty for fig trees; Only a human can pay the penalty for human sinHebrews 2:17 NIV For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
Unique revealer of God the Father (John 1:18)John 1:18 NBLH Nadie ha visto jamás a Dios; el unigénito Dios, que está en el seno del Padre, El Lo ha dado a conocer.
Unique mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5)1 Timothy 2:5 NBLH Porque hay un solo Dios, y también un solo Mediador entre Dios y los hombres, Cristo Jesús hombre,
Unique savior (Heb 7:25)Hebrews 7:25 NBLH Por lo cual El también es poderoso para salvar para siempre a los que por medio de El se acercan a Dios, puesto que vive perpetuamente para interceder por ellos.No one else, especially no other human, can …Mystery/beauty of the incarnation — good news to the shepherds
Not enough to simply know these facts (demons)Takes more than intellectual assent to be at peace with God/mercyLike Adam and Eve, we are sinners/separated from the relationshipJesus, God-Man, died for my sin — penaltyBorn again, live out our lives as God’s childrenIt’s all about Jesus — no wonder God prepared us for his birth with so many promises.Offer of salvation from sin and relationship with God is offered freely to all — “good news to all people”Invite you to receive God’s blessing — To be saved by his mercyLuke 1:50 NBLH "Y DE GENERACION EN GENERACION ES SU MISERICORDIA PARA LOS QUE LE TEMEN.
Walk in relationship with him, to finally be at peace.Luke 2:14 NBLH "Gloria a Dios en las alturas, Y en la tierra paz entre los hombres (de buena voluntad) en quienes El se complace."