"God Dwelling Among Us"

Matthew 1:18–23 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”

Introduction:

Our focus this morning is on Immanuel. It is a wonderful name, packed full of meaning. But at its basic level Immanuel means God is with us. Not simply in the mystical sense where we can sense a spiritual presences, or that God is with us in fighting our battles and helping us over come difficulties.

But rather in the sense that God has come to his people, so as to dwell among them.

Exodus 25:8 “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.”

Ezekiel 37:27 “My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

Colossians 1:27 “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

It was along appointed by God that He would dwell among his creation, not to be a far off overlord who observes the activities of his creatures, but does nothing for them. Instead, to be the one who walks among the people and is intimately involved in the affairs of life.

We see the idea of God being among his creation throughout the first 3 chapters of Genesis, culminating in the beautiful and haunting words of Genesis 3:8 “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”

It’s beautiful because it means God is accessible and present to those who are his. But it’s haunting, because those in a state of sin are unable to face up to his presences and bear the guilt of their sin.

So what see in Immanuel, is God fulfilling his promise in Ezekiel 37:27 “My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” He dwells with us, by sending the Son.

The Preexistent Son:

The message of the Son is joyous because of who He is. It is important for us to grasp the reality of the Son, for he is not a created being, like an angel or a better version of a human. Nor is he simply a good teacher or a great prophet. Rather he is the eternally existing Son of God, the Second person of the Trinity.

The Word of God provides us with great hope and encouragement here, as it teaches us the realities of the Christ.

John 1:1–3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Colossians 1:16–17“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Jesus in his own words says in John 8:58 “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”” Indicating that he believes himself to be eternal.

Hebrews 1:1–3 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

It is through the preexisting Son then, that God the Father, desiring to dwell with his creation, reconciles humanity to himself, revealing and restoring fellowship between God and man. For it is not through good works that fellowship with God is obtained, but through the Advent of the Son of God, who took on flesh, being truly God and truly man opening access to the Father. Our good deeds then are the product of a transformed life.

Many of you need to put down your good works as a means of gaining peace with God and understand that your good deeds can never make God happy with you. Instead, you need to place your trust and faith in the Son, Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Life has been extended to us because the preexisting Son became incarnate so that he might go before us in obedience to the Father, so as to obtain a righteousness for us that was forever out of our reach. We have great hope and confidence, because the God-man Jesus Christ has saved those who are his, completely, leaving nothing to be desired or left undone.

The Method of His Coming From the Holy Spirit:

And according to the scriptures at the right time the Son of was sent. Galatians 4:4–5 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

We read in our passage this morning, Matthew 1:18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.”

And in Matthew 1:20 “But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

This is what we celebrate on Christmas, the truth that the eternally existing Son has come by women, from the Holy Spirit. This should induce great joy in us as God 700 years before the birth of this child, promised his advent. Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

The idea that we have here is that the advent of Jesus Christ, is brought about by the will of God. Meaning that it was not by the will of Mary, nor of her husband Joseph. Matthew is clear that before Mary and Joseph had consummated their marriage, Mary was found to be with a child already.

This teaches us that God is the originator of the plan of salvation and he is also the only one upon whom it depends. This is the reality of grace, as it is getting the good benefits for something that you did not earn. And in a very important sense with salvation, could not earn. The whole birth of Jesus was so extraordinary that according to the Word of God, it was outside the bounds of human involvement, so that God would be displayed as the author of salvation.

2 Timothy 1:9 “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”

Not only is God the author of salvation, but he is also intimately involved our lives. Joseph though he was righteous, and in his mind had every right to terminate his marriage with Mary, God steps in and directs him on what to do. God is intimately involved with the working of creation, he is not some distant being unconcerned with the daily lives of his creature. We see the character of God the Father on display, as he brings about the miracle of grace starting with Mary and Joseph.

Furthermore, the child being conceived from the Holy Spirit, indicates for us that this child though born of a human mother, thus inheriting all the traits and weakness of humanity, will possess the divine nature of God the Son. Thus being truly human and truly God, he will be able to deal with the affects and reality of sin once for all.

For being man who is born under the law, he is able to obtain life through his obedience, and being fully God he is able to make a complete and perfect atonement for sin and propitiate the wrath of God, thus making peace between God the Father and humanity.

Conclusion -To Save His people from their Sins:

The stated purpose of his advent is according to Matthew 1:21 “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Jesus Christ, born to a human mother, conceived from the Holy Spirit enters into the realm of humanity, born under the law so that He can make atonement for the sins of humanity. Making it possible then for humanity to survive the presence of God.

In speaking of enter the presences of God the Father, Revelation 21:27 states, “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

This is what we are celebrating, and why we take the time come to church on a regular basis. Because we know that apart from the work of Jesus Christ, we will remain eternally separated from God the Father, never able to participate in the benefits of redemption and life.

1 Timothy 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

This is what the King of glory has done, this is why God the Father sent the Son, this is why in all its oddity and incomprehensibility the power of Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, so that God the Son would come into the world to save us from ourselves and the wrath of God.

Jesus Christ is the greatest gift, it is because of Him, leaving his riches and glory behind for a time, so that he might by the work of his perfect life, his death on the cross, and the resurrection from the dead, make it possible for us to walk in the light as He is in the light. Embracing his presences and enjoying fellowship with him. Therefore, today this Christmas Eve, is the day of salvation, come to the King!