Five Truths About The Baby In The Manger (2)

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Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Our church family is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit, and we are missionaries.

Prayer for...

INTRODUCTION:

Review:

WHY?…

TODAY: 5 Truths of The Baby in The Manger

Opening Scripture:

Luke 2:15–20“15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

TRANSITION: What may have caused the WONDER, TREASURING, AND PONDERING?

Five Truths About The Baby In The Manger:

1. The Baby’s preexistence

John 1:1–2 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.”

“The Baby” = “The Word/Logos”, who is Jesus (the expression of the Father and the supreme Communicator)

Preexistence | “In the beginning”

Genesis 1:1 “1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

The Baby came as our kinsman redeemer (virgin birth, Immaculate conception, Son of God, Son of Man)

2. The Baby’s fellowship with God the Father

“was with God”

“was God”

Distinction between Jesus and the Father

3. The Baby’s essential deity

“was God”

Matthew 1:23 “23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”

John 1:14 “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.”

Philippians 2:6–8 “6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

OPTIONAL: The Cross in the Roman world was a symbol of DAMNATION and SHAME (sin in the Garden brought both upon humanity - Deut. 21:22-23; Gal. 3:13)

Eerdmans Bible Dictionary DAMN, DAMNATION

DAMN, DAMNATION. A term found in the KJV, but changed to “condemn (ation)” in most modern versions

4. The Baby as Creative Agent (1:3–5)

John 1:3–5 “3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

A. He is the creator of all things (v. 3)

B. He is the giver of all life (v. 4a)

Genesis 1:27 “27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

C. He is the bringer of light to all people (v. 4b)

D. He is the invader of all darkness (v. 5a)

In John “darkness” is the presence of evil (3:19; 11:9-10; 12:46)

E. He is the conqueror of all darkness (v. 5b)

The light is still shinning! (present active indicative Gk. verb)

5. The Baby, the True Light (1:9–13)

John 1:9–13 “9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own [His Birth/incarnation], and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

A. He enlightens everyone (who believes, v. 12c; v. 9a, b).

1 Timothy 2:4 “4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

B. He came into the world, his own domain (vv. 9c, 10a, b, 11a).

C. He will not be recognized or welcomed by his own people (vv. 10c, 11b).

D. He will empower those who believe in him and so are born of God, to become God’s children (vv. 12–13).

Christ’s sonship

Believers’ adoption

*Respond to the Gospel today!*

Conclusion/Reflection:

John 1:6–8 “6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.”

1) Be a witness to the Light

2) Prompt belief in the Light