Luke 1:26-38

Nothing is Impossible with God

How can a fish live in the land?

How can a lion live under the sea?

How can a sinful human gain entrance to heaven?

What is the common answer to these questions?

Really, it cannot be! that is impossible!!!

Christmas is a reminder that nothing is impossible with God!

What is hard and impossible for man, can be done by God.

Salvation and entrance to heaven is impossible by man to achieve, God did it by becoming human (Incarnation). Indeed, nothing is impossible with God

Humans can’t become God, but God can add human nature to himself. Again, nothing is impossible with God. That is what we called the Incarnation - God becoming man, God taking adding human nature.

Just be clear, the Human Nature that Jesus took is not the kind of human nature that Adam and Eve had when God created. It was good, not hint of sin, no sinful nature. It is not kind of human nature that we have right now.

I. God Initiated the Plan of Incarnation (vv. 26-28)

Luke 1:26–28 NASB95

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

a. God sent the angel Gabriel to make the announcement about the Birth of the God-man.

b. God planned the salvation of humanity before the Creation (Eph. 1:4)

Ephesians 1:4 NASB95

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

God sent Prophets to prophecy about the Savior (some 700+ years) before this announcement of the Birth- and the Israelites are anticipating for that prophecy to be fulfilled.

Isaiah 9:6 NASB95

6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 7:14 NASB95

14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

II. God gave humans the honor to participate in the plan of Incarnation (vv. 29-31)

Luke 1:29–31 NASB95

29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

Mary’s reaction is understandable. She was perplexed (confused / troubled).

The Honor to participate in the plan of redemption:

a. Mary will conceive a son and nurture him.

b. Joseph will take care of the baby Jesus as his earthly Father.

c. The honor extend to the followers of Christ

Matthew 28:19–20 NASB95

19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Acts 1:8 NASB95

8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

III. The Identify of the Incarnate God (vv.32-33)

Luke 1:31 NASB95

31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

Jesus - Joshua (in the OT), Hebrew word (yāšaʿ) which means “The Lord saves”

Matthew 1:21–23 NASB95

21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

Quotation from Isaiah 7:14.

He will save his people from their sins.

From their sins - not from the Roman oppression, not from their life’s problems, not from sickness…but from sin...

The very purpose of Christ coming to Earth is to rescue people from Sin and the punishment of Sin.

So that people will not be slaved to sin anymore.

Luke 1:32–33 NASB95

32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

a. Great

b. called the Son of the Most High - Divine Sonship

c. He will have the authority over David’s Kingdom - Messianic Affirmation

d. He is the Eternal King

e. called the Son of God (v.35)

IV. The Trinitarian involvement in the Incarnation and Redemption (v34-37)

Luke 1:34–37 NASB95

34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36 “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

a. Holy Spirit will come upon you

b. the power of the Most High will overshadow you

c. The holy (pure) child (a person with a flesh) will be called the Son of God

d. Nothing is impossible with God - Incarnation and Trinity

“For nothing is impossible with God” (v.37) - one of the most reassuring statements in all Scripture.

V. The Humble Response to the Impossible act of God (v.38)

Luke 1:38 NASB95

38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

a. Mary called herself a bondservant of the Lord.

She showed genuine humility and submission to the one who is gracious and sovereign - God.

Conclusion:

In the sovereignty of God, the impossible became possible. The work of Salvation is a Trinitarian Work and God gave man the honor to participate in the plan of redemption.

Proper Response:

Rejoice in the fact that nothing is Impossible for God!

Rest in the promise of salvation through faith in Christ!

Receive the honor of partnering with God in the work of redemption.