Covenant 12/6/2020
amen Thank You choir
everybody having a good morning. That dude loud for you. It is just get over it.
Wonderful thing to be in the house of the Lord has wonderful thing to be able to Worship in Freedom and peace and then the love the Holy Spirit.
You know, we've been going through this series the birth of Christ. This is Jesus that we all know and love and who is who is called us to himself to become part of his family.
And it's a it's a great thing to know that that we have a savior that we have a Lord that that genuinely loves us all the way to Calvary and Beyond. And he's giving his life freely laid down freely his life for us. The day I'll be preaching on the Virgin birth of Jesus.
a miraculous
something that happened thousands of years ago that has never happened before we will never happen again.
I can't think of anything and present time door in history. That can compare to the miraculous virgin birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It just there's nothing that fills my my my mind they can even compare to it. Order a real day. In real history in a real City in a real-world God himself came to take away. all our guilt To fulfill all our hopes and to defeat all our enemies and make us safe and satisfied forever. UCI relationship with him is eternal. not just today and then gone its eternal. If Jesus was born to a virgin of a virgin, this is a glory unique to only the one and true Living God.
All of the people born who have lived in history only one person entered this world in this way, and that was Jesus Christ.
There's only one that mediator between God and man 1st Timothy verse chapter 2 verse 5 and there is only one person who was born of a virgin in that was him Jesus Christ. Jesus is distinctive birth is no myth nor is it a random fact from the gospel? It is a special honor bestowed. only on the son of God
inkarnate
and it is full of significance for knowing the presents in the person of Jesus and the God who is revealed himself in Jesus Christ.
This birth was Supernatural. not methodical. Mystic Matthew and Luke wrote of the accounts of this birth. We have no reason to think either of these men were gullible at least to think that they were gullible Matthew was a former tax collector and less likely to be deceived than most any of us.
and Luke being a doctor and is very true that medicine has changed over the thousands of years.
But has no recent discovery. That virgins cannot have babies.
Throwing a real day and real history. in a real City in the real world God himself God himself came to take away all the guilt and sin.
and fulfill our hopes and to defeat all our enemies and make us safe and satisfied forever. How to spray for the reading of the word father God I thank you today Lord for your word. Thank you Lord. It is true. It's factual. There's nothing about it that is made up or or needs any correction. So father I pray that you just help us today Lord preached help us to convey your word and the way that you see fit and God will give you the glory for it all. Amen, if you have your Bibles turn with me to Luke's gospel chapter 1 verse 26 through 38 not also be reading from Matthew 1:1 Verse 18 through 25 lot of versus we're going to try to get through this thing in the next 2 hours.
Luke Wright says he said in the 6-month Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth. Divergent Patrol to a man whose name was Joseph of the House of David and The Virgins name was Mary. and he came to her and said
greetings favored one the Lord is with you, but she was greatly troubled at the saying and try to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her do not be afraid.
For you have found favor with God and behold you will receive you will conceive in your room and Barry son. And you should call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the most high and the Lord. God will give to him the Throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and other his kingdom. There will be no in. First 34 and Mary said to the angels. How will this be since I'm a virgin? And the angel answered her the holy spirit will come upon you the power of the most high will overshadow you there for child there for the child to be born will be called. Holy the Son of God and behold your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived her son. And this is the 6-month with her who was called Barren but nothing will be impossible with God and Mary said behold. I am the servant of the Lord let it be to me according to your word and the angel departed from her. Didn't Matthew's account and verse 2 chapter 1 verse 18 through 25 Matthew Wright says he said now. The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When is Mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph before they became before they came together? She was found to be with a child on the Holy Spirit and her husband Joseph being a just man. And willing to put her two willing not to put her to shame. Resolved to divorce her quietly and he's he considered these things behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream Saint Joseph son of David do not fear to take Mary as your wife. Well 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 sin and all this took place to fulfill what the Lord has spoken by the prophets Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they should call his name Emmanuel. Which means god with us when Jesus woke. I mean, I'm sorry when Joseph woke from sleep. He did as the angels of the Lord commanded him. He took his wife but knew her not until she had given birth to a son and he called his name Jesus. There's something old theologians. And I our culture today and they have stressed that the main significance in virginity in conception not worth. And so often the more precise term is Virgin conception. This might be helpful in capturing the key influences, but we but here will likely are in no need of a new term because of what Matthew says and his. Verses 24 through 25 in chapter 1 when he said Joseph woke from sleep. He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. He took his wife but knew her not until she had given birth to a son and he called his name Jesus.
You see these versus State something this state something very important these versus state that Jesus had no relationship with Mary until she gave birth to her son. Mary was a virgin at Jesus is conception and she was still a virgin at his birth. How can this be in what why is this concept of the Virgin birth? So important well because this this is the only way that Jesus could be descendants. Sacrifice for our sin. No other way could he have been there without being holy in every way? The atom nature that Pastor Rick talked about last week could not be in Jesus. Why because that was the sin nature of man. because of the fall in the garden So Jesus had to be holy in every way there for not taking Onsen in his life. He had to be holy in every way there for not being of the atom nature. And then the accounts of Matthew and Luke telling us about the Virgin birth. Luke says in verse 42 of chapter 1 Jesus was conceived in the womb of his mother Mary. Mary contributed to Jesus in this way. Just like any other mother does. The fruit of the womb a place to grow a place to be nurtured. Jesus was conceived in a miraculous way not in the normal way. He was conceived in a miraculous way. He was conceived by being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. You see Jesus as human. This was not created X neilio, which means out of nothing. But X Maria out of Mary. Is he has Adam was made from the dust of the ground in Genesis 2 verse 7. Jesus was made from the substance of Mary overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is call the last Adam in 1st Corinthians 15 verse 45.
Is Humanity was a new creation? might be old Waverly, New Creation In the womb of Mary Jesus was conceived without a human father.
Jesus Mary did not know a man. She hadn't known one in didn't know what at this time and didn't know until after Jesus was born.
Such a very miraculous thing that happened here. He was conceived without a human falling father therefore. He was fully man. But he was fully God because he was holy. In Luke 3:23, Jesus was thought to be the son of Joseph. Lennon Paul riding in Galatians 4:4 Paul says, but when the fullness of time had come God sent forth his son. God sent forth his son. born of a woman Then in Genesis 315 Moses write this he says I put I will put enmity between you and the woman in between your Offspring and your are and her Offspring. He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. You see this is a prophecy. This is a prophecy that sometimes called the photo events yellow. What in the world is that mean preacher? It means the First Gospel. The First Gospel the First Gospel was written then it was continued On Through the Bible. Absolutely it was you see many Christians believe the reference to her seed looks far beyond Adam and Eve. It looks to Mary and Jesus. It looks to Mary and Jesus the seed of the woman which was referred to would crush the heel of Jesus. I mean of Satan was Jesus.
On one end of Jesus's life Liza supernap natural conception on the other is Supernatural Resurrection. Our Lord Is Not Dead He's Alive.
From start to finish the Earthly life of Jesus was extraordinary and Supernatural and miraculous in every way.
The Scottish Theologian Donald McLeod wrote in his book the person of Christ. He said the Virgin birth is posted on guard at the door of the mystery of Christmas. And none of us Mustang. I'm hurrying past it. It stands at the threshold of the New Testament blatantly Supernatural Define our rationalism informing us that all that follows belongs to the same order as itself and that if we find it offencive, there's no point in proceeding any farther. He added this. If we cannot accept the Virgin birth. Then how will we accept the feeding of the 5000 or the raising of the dead of the of Lazarus from the dead or the resurrection of our Lord and savior? You can accept any of that. Because this is the beginning of the story. This is the beginning of a life of our Saviour our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Do I underline these statements that I just said is what I call a mazing Grace. It's the grace of God that came down in the flesh becoming Jesus Jesus becoming flesh and dwelling among the people. It's not. Man who became God, it's God who became man?
Then there was a prophecy in Isaiah 7 verse 14.
Which was the final fulfillment of this prophecy that Matthew wrote about in 1 22 through 23. But in Isaiah says therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and you should call his name Emmanuel, which means god with us.
Does this prophecy does this process prophecy really refer to the birth of Christ? I say yes. I say yes and Isaiah 9:6 it says this for to us a child is born to us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name Shall be Called wonderful counselor, Mighty God Everlasting father in Prince of Peace. That's who I Jesus is That's who we serve that's who called us to himself to be called his people. You see Jesus was the Fulfillment of Prophecy. He was the final fulfillment of Prophecy in Matthew 1 verse 22 through 23. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has spoken by the prophet behold the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call his name Emmanuel. Which means god with us?
You see the word for Virgin in Isaiah 7:14 in the Hebrew word Alma.
Some Skeptics argue that Alma means young unmarried woman not virgin.
but
it's not like it. because the translation
in the Hebrew I from the Hebrew Bible to the Greek translation clearly means virgin
the word sign in Isaiah 7 verse 14 is it is really a miracle.
How would the birth of a child to a young virgin woman be a sign?
Matthew under inspiration of the Holy Spirit saw the birth of Jesus as a fulfillment so Isaiah 7:14. a miracle some people argue that the Virgin birth is a myth. taken out of Mystic writings in about mythology mythology my follicle people taken from other religions in mythology their stories such as Zeus begotten Hercules and Apollo be guiding I am and Baga Baga Baga Ria's as a result some have speculated that Christians stole the Virgin birth story. from some of these Miss
the speculation must be rejected must be rejected by the church. And anybody that believes in Jesus Christ.
Why why should it be dismissed? Well, first of all.
Some judgments came after the prophecy was got given. After the prophecy of Isaiah 7 verse 14 and their fork and therefore could not have been the orgy or Nation or origination of the story of the Virgin birth second. The Miss speak of God's having sex with women, which is not what the Virgin account entails. And third the Miss do not involve actual people.
Human beings like Mary and Jesus, but rather fictional characters similar to our modern day comic book and movie Heroes.
Ben and Luke 1 verse 34 and 35 Luke rights and Mary said to the angel how will this be since I am a virgin and the angel answered her saying the holy spirit will come upon you in the power of the most high will overshadow you there for the child to be born will be called. Holy the son of God.
Didn't Luke 1 verse 35 he writes the holy spirit will come upon you and you will bring forth a son. UC Mary Had a normal delivery
Mary was not a Perpetual virgin.
God designed marriage to include physical unions with husbands and wives Genesis 3 verse 24
Join, Matthew 1:25. Take it talking about Joseph. It says but
he knew her not until she had given birth to a son and he called his name Jesus that wording that Matthew uses their the words until she had given birth imply that Joseph did have intimate relationship with Mary after the birth of Jesus.
Jesus is described his as the firstborn in Luke 2 verse 7 which implies that she had additional children in the New Testament plays at out repeatedly in Matthew Mark Luke John acts 1st Corinthians and Galatians.
Jesus Concepcion was the only one that was miraculous though. It was the only one that was you need. the conception of his brothers and sisters with natural
Mary was not similis.
Some denomination, some people have the belief that Mary was born without any stain or Original Sin.
However, Mary herself declared in Luke 1 verse 47 that my spirit rejoices in God my savior. Oh, wait a minute. Why you call him savior? Is he a person that doesn't have sinned doesn't be the savior.
The Mary agknowledge him as her Savior and the Lord. The Mary deserves our gratitude not our adoration. So what was the very importance of the Virgin birth to three things? The three reasons why the doctrine of the Virgin birth is most important.
It made possible. DC United the uniting of a full deity in the full human Humanity in one person Jesus Christ fully God fully man
never before and it will never be ever again. Jesus was a sinless son of God.
God know God could have created Jesus as a complete human being I suppose with without any human parents, but then he would have been very hot. It would have been very hard for us to see how Jesus could be fully human as we are nor would he be part of the human race, but he was he was fully human as we are and he was part of the The human race it probably would have been possible for God that have Jesus Come into the world with two human parents. I mean God can do anything. He wants to write. I mean last time I checked he is The Sovereign god of the universe. And so he could have done this a father and a mother and and also with with his full divine nature miraculously United in his human nature at some point early in his life. He could have done all of that. But then it would have been hard for us to understand how Jesus was fully God since he was since his origin was like iron.
So God it is. Unbelievable Infinite Wisdom ordained a combination of a human and a Divine influence. and the birth of Jesus Christ so that his full Humanity would be evident to us from the fact of his ordinary human birth from a natural mother. And his full deity. Will be evident from the fact if it's kind of his conception and mother in Mary's womb by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit.
2nd and it would make possible Christ truth Humanity without in their sin.
All human beings U&I whether we want to admit it or not. have inherited send corruption
our moral nature in our fiber is not perfect.
but the fact that Jesus did not have a human father means that the line of descendant of Adam was partially interrupted right there. Jesus did not descend from Adam in the exact in the exact way we did.
and this helps us to understand why the league the legal guilt and Malta corruption that belongs to all other human beings did not live in Jesus Christ He was perfect in every way. He was holy.
Even asked us to be holy even as I am Holy.
And as I mentioned earlier, some people think that Mary was Shin free and seamless. but scripture nowhere teaches us that
and it would not really solve the problem anyway. But why then did Mary not inherit Sin from her mother?
So better solution is this a better solution is to say that the work of the holy spirit in Mary must have prevented not only the transmission of Sin from Joseph. But also the transmission of Sin from her mother only Spirit took care of it all.
Certainly, such a miracle is not too hard for God.
Who created the universe and everything in it anyone who affirms that their virgin birth?
is impossible
You just confessed. Do the world and themselves and anybody else?
They're on belief in God.
the Run belief in God the one who actually is part of creating you and I
Who breathed the very Breath of Life into you? In your mother's womb.
Who is part of the whole Act of bringing you into this world today?
So anyone who affirms the Virgin birth?
It's impossible.
as impossible
does not believe
in the god of the Bible
The god of the Bible I'm talking about the Sovereign God of all creation The Sovereign god of the universe the most powerful. God of all things
So without all of this in place. the miraculous birth
overshadowed by the Holy Spirit The Prophecy of the Messiah the prophecy of Immanuel God With Us
all the Virgin birth comes down to one thing. salvation without the sinless Lamb of God salvation is impossible. There's no way for you and I to save ourselves. There's no way for you and I to bring ourselves to any way shape form or fashion to be perfect in the eyes of God. The Bible says no one is perfect. No not one, but Jesus Christ and him crucified.
So in no way can we save our self so we had to have a mediator between us and God? And that mediator is Jesus Christ at mediator is the one who was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit and he came for and became. our salvation
he was born to die videos Born to Live.
He freely latest life on Calvary. So you and I didn't know this salvation.
Do the birds and bird shows that salvation must come from God and God Alone.
The Virgin birth of Christ is an unmistakable reminder that salvation could not come through human efforts. Okay, how much money you got? I don't care how much Prestige you have. I don't care what kind of clothes you wear the car you drive where you live in town. You have got to have a savior in order makeup in your home.
Our Salvation only comes through the supernatural work of God the supernatural work of the holy spirit that gives us new life in Jesus Christ acts 4 verse 11 and 12 rights and he says is Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you the builders, which has become the Cornerstone and there is salvation in no one else. But there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved. And that precious name of G.
so the birth brought us wife. A bird brought us not just life, but eternal life. the birth of Jesus Christ is the only way it will make Heaven our home. father God Once again, I thank you Lord for this opportunity. the stand before your people Lord and do preacher word God I just thank you today Lord.
The bird virgin birth. I thank you Lord for the life of Jesus. Thank you Lord for the life of Jesus that lives in his people. I pray that we would just be receptive to that everyday of my life. I will call on you Lord and not on man. Directions to lead us into all truth and God will give you the glory for it all Jesus name we pray. Amen.
He figured you'd rather see us change microphones than hear static throughout Lord's Supper.
Is Gordon shared with us today? We celebrate the birth, which is miraculous unequal duplicated. And while we are focused on the manger and all the sweets and set a metal feelings that come with that. The real message is that innocent then free child was brought into the World by the miraculous power of God or one reason.
So that at the end of his mission he could lay down his life for us. It was on the occasion when he was having that last supper that Passover meal with his disciples.
When his heart was breaking at the thought of leaving those who he loved in this world. Even so he gave new purpose to that meal remind them of the sacrifice that he was getting ready to make. becoming for the table of the Lord receive the end of America of the world the emission of Christ. Even as we have heard in the start of this morning, the beginning of God's miraculous work the spray.
Almighty, God our heavenly father. We thank you so much for the gift of Jesus Christ. foreign to the direct intervention of your Holy Spirit for us And we give you thanks we come to this table. About life that was lived endlessly sacrificially even unto death. Rana salvation and we asked for this we come to this holy table that you would take these elements. Amazon sample the power of your Holy Spirit make them living symbols for us of the body and blood of Jesus Christ those we partake of them. We would partake of him and being nourished and spirit drawn together and fellowship and unity is a family of God. Above all we give you. Thanks for the gift of life. Jesus Christ Our Lord man
life is betrayed our lord Jesus Took the bread haven't given thanks. He blessed it and broke it and gave his disciples and said this bread is my body which is given for you take and eat in remembrance of me.
And after supper was ended in like manner he took the cup. Haven't given thanks. He blessed to give his disciples and said behold.
This cup is the New Covenant in my blood which will be shed for the remission of sins of many all of you drink of it in remembrance of me. Where's office when you eat this bread and drink this cup we proclaim the death of Our Lord until he come again even so come Lord Jesus. the whole the body of Christ Given for you and for me take it easy in remembrance of him.
a hold of love our lord Jesus or doubt that our sin might be washed away. Remind me to order the purse of death. Hey can drink in remembrance of him?
Almighty God I have my father. We thank you for this. Holy Sacramento meal. the through the mystery of your Holy Spirit Angel something an ass bring them to us.
We are reminded that we are one in Christ. Do we belong to him as we have partaken of his very body and blood but we have also taking part together. That makes those blood relatives. children of God redeem by Christ if I was me come to the close of our worship. We ask that you would send us forth with a fresh Mission strengthened by your presence that we would be the herald voices of the truth of the birth of Christ for the transforming power the gospel. Is it gather? We would be the Hands of Christ reaching out to those in need and we be used heart of Christ weeping for those who are hurting. That we would be the messenger for Christ bringing the promise of life for the gospel if he proclaimed and all these things we commit ourselves to service to our Lord and our savior and His holy name.