1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,680 You're listening to Key Life Fellowships pulpit ministry 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:08,920 podcast. We thank you for tuning in as we 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,320 learn from God's Word together. If you would like more 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:15,760 information regarding Key Life or to speak with one of our 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:20,960 pastors, please visit us at keylifefellow-ship.com. 6 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:29,160 Amen. I love the song Hark the Herald 7 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:34,400 Angel Sings because unfortunately, there's probably 8 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:39,800 more theology in that one song than there is in most church 9 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,280 services going on around our country today. 10 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,760 You have your Bibles. If you would turn to the Gospel 11 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,760 of Luke this morning, you're unfamiliar with the Word of God. 12 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:55,200 Find the New Testament and go Matthew, Mark, and then you will 13 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,280 find the Gospel of Luke. On finding the Gospel of Luke, 14 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,680 if you would turn to the second chapter, we're going to read 15 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:04,440 this portion of Scripture together. 16 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:06,920 You've already seen a glimpse of it through our Scripture 17 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,520 reading, but I'm going to read this section in its entirety and 18 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:13,080 then we're going to jump into what we have today. 19 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:21,600 Luke chapter 2, verse one. I'll give you a moment to get 20 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:32,840 there. Some people think this is an 21 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,680 awkward moment. I don't think so at all. 22 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,720 There's nothing that I love more than than to see God's people 23 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:42,720 and to hear God's people turning the pages of their Bibles. 24 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,760 Not just take someone's word for it, but to actually go back to 25 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:49,280 the Scriptures. And I'm thankful for all of you 26 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,400 who are committed to doing that in your life. 27 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,040 And so let's look at the Scripture together. 28 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,720 It says in chapter 2 of Luke's Gospel verse one in those days, 29 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,840 Caesar Augustus has issued issued a decree that a census 30 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,880 should be taken of the entire Roman world. 31 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:10,240 This was the first census that took place while Carinius was 32 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:14,440 governor of Syria and everyone went to his own town to 33 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,520 register. So Joseph also went up from the 34 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:22,720 town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea to Bethlehem, the town of 35 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,080 David, because he belonged to the house in the line of David. 36 00:02:26,640 --> 00:02:29,320 And he went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be 37 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,600 married to him and was expecting a child. 38 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,560 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 39 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:41,760 and she gave birth to her first born, a son, And she wrapped him 40 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:45,920 in claws and placed him in a Manger because there was no room 41 00:02:45,920 --> 00:02:50,280 for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living 42 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,600 out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks. 43 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:57,720 At night an Angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory 44 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,840 of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified, but the 45 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,120 Angel said to them, do not be afraid. 46 00:03:05,920 --> 00:03:10,320 I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the 47 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,600 people today in the town of David. 48 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:22,920 A Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord, and this 49 00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:26,160 will be assigned to you. You will find a baby wrapped in 50 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:30,920 clothes and lying in a Manger. Suddenly a great company of the 51 00:03:30,920 --> 00:03:34,960 heavenly hosts appeared with the Angel, praising God and saying, 52 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:42,480 Glory to God in the highest Gloria, in Excelsius Deo in the 53 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:47,760 Latin, as you just sang a moment ago, And on earth peace to men 54 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:52,840 on whom his favor rest. When the angels had left them 55 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,560 and gone into heaven, the shepherd said to one another, 56 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:58,840 Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, 57 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:00,600 which the Lord has told us about. 58 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,160 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who 59 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:08,360 was lying in the Manger. And when they had seen him, they 60 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,760 spread the word concerning what had been told them about this 61 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:17,560 child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherd said 62 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,480 to them. But Mary treasured up all these 63 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:22,400 things and pondered them in her heart. 64 00:04:23,280 --> 00:04:26,600 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for 65 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:31,520 all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as 66 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:36,640 they had been told. They truly, as we sang a moment 67 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:38,800 ago, heard from the angels on high. 68 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:44,000 Verse 21 says on the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise 69 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:48,960 him, he was named Jesus, the name the Angel had given him 70 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:53,200 before he had been conceived. Let's pray together, Father, in 71 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:57,040 the name of Jesus. We thank you so much again for 72 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:01,200 the privilege and the honor of being able to open up Your word 73 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,640 in a language that we can read and understand. 74 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,800 But we thank you that you desire to speak to men so much that you 75 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,000 have provided such blessings for us. 76 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:16,160 Lord, thank you for allowing us to read it and reminding us the 77 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,880 truth surrounding the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. 78 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:25,560 Lord, as we examine his birth this morning, may we see the 79 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:30,320 greater lesson that he truly that baby there in this Manger 80 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:35,800 that we just read about. He truly lived a life and proved 81 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:44,280 to be exactly who this Angel said that he was, the Savior, 82 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:48,800 the Christ Lord. Let us examine the undeniable 83 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:53,880 evidence of His true identity to know that this baby in the 84 00:05:53,880 --> 00:06:02,600 Manger truly was God Incarnate who came to save His people from 85 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,920 their sin. But I pray for the soul who's 86 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:07,680 not yet been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. 87 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:12,760 I pray today that you give this person clear understanding, the 88 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,920 depths of their sin, but also the depths of your love. 89 00:06:18,840 --> 00:06:23,600 That you love your people so much that you sent your Son to 90 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,640 rescue them from the sin that holds them captive. 91 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:32,640 May they see that today, may they cling to Jesus Christ by 92 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:36,280 faith, repenting of sin as as their only hope for eternal 93 00:06:36,280 --> 00:06:39,320 life. Would we love you? 94 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,640 We ask that everything be done in accordance with your will 95 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,480 today, and we pray these things in Christ's name, Amen. 96 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:54,880 The Angel that we sang about a moment ago there in verse 11 of 97 00:06:54,880 --> 00:07:00,440 our text announces something very interesting about Jesus, 98 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:04,360 that baby there in that Manger. I wanted to read the full 99 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:08,760 account of this so that we kind of get an idea so that we can go 100 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:13,600 back and remember clearly this Christmas story, a story that 101 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:15,960 many of you would say. I've known this story since I 102 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:17,440 was a child. In fact, some of you had 103 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,960 traditions at one time where your family would join together 104 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:23,240 somewhere around the Christmas celebration and you would read 105 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:27,160 the story aloud for other people to hear it, for other people to 106 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,440 learn from it. You, as I've said, some of you 107 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:33,840 known it from childhood. There's a lot to this that I 108 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,760 want us to cover today that often we forget. 109 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:43,840 In verse 11, the Angel says today in the town of David, a 110 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:47,960 Savior has been born to you. And he says. 111 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:53,200 Unequivocally, he is Christ the Lord. 112 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:57,240 He doesn't say he might be or he could be, or it's looking like, 113 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,720 and giving pretty good indication that he is. 114 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:04,560 The Angel declares that he is Christ the Lord. 115 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:09,640 And so the account of the birth of Jesus and the claim that he 116 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:14,240 is Christ the Lord needs to be taken seriously. 117 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:19,720 But just like any claims, we would be fools if we just took 118 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:24,200 those claims at face value. Let's be honest, when we read 119 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,320 the Christmas story, we're reading a 2000 year old 120 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:32,720 manuscript that has been handed down and we're reading it in our 121 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:37,200 own language. Now perhaps, perhaps we could 122 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:43,320 find some error in this baby actually growing up and becoming 123 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:47,480 the Christ, the Savior of sinners. 124 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:50,240 And So what I want to do today is I want to not. 125 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,560 Take this angel's testimony at face value. 126 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:55,560 I know what you're going to say very quickly. 127 00:08:55,560 --> 00:08:58,400 Well, pastor, we should, because it's right there in the Bible. 128 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:03,120 And you're right, but even things that we see in the Bible 129 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:08,200 are better suited to understand from other things in the Bible. 130 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,560 So I don't want to just take this one isolated incident 131 00:09:11,560 --> 00:09:14,840 alone, bank everything on it. I want to know, and I pray that 132 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,640 you want to know that that baby, that we're all. 133 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:22,600 Celebrating this time of year actually is exactly who that 134 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,880 Angel said that he is. Because if he's not, you're not 135 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,920 only in trouble in this life, but you are in trouble for all 136 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:34,560 eternity. But if he is, we can declare 137 00:09:34,560 --> 00:09:38,120 with great confidence. That we know the identity of 138 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:42,280 that baby in the Manger, and that he proved to be exactly who 139 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,480 he said that he was. And he came and he did exactly 140 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:50,200 what he came to do. And that in that we have hope, 141 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:53,080 not only in this life, but in the life to come. 142 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:58,640 So I want us to do our homework. If you would and uncover the 143 00:09:58,680 --> 00:10:04,920 evidence of the identity of this baby that this Angel has 144 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:11,200 declared to be. Christ the Lord, what an amazing 145 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:15,880 claim. For years people had waited for 146 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:19,520 the Messiah, They had yearned for the Messiah, they had longed 147 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:22,640 for the Messiah, they had spoke of the Messiah and prophesied of 148 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:28,040 the Messiah. And this Angel says this is he. 149 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:35,640 But let's ask ourself, is he? Is this really him? 150 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:41,480 Or was this just another baby who happened to be born in a 151 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:45,640 Manger who grew up to really do nothing extraordinary? 152 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,840 I think that you will find today, as we uncover the 153 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:54,760 evidence that we can say in regard to what the Angel 154 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:59,880 proclaimed, that yes, overwhelmingly yes, this is 155 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,200 Jesus. The Christ, the Savior of 156 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:06,240 sinners. But I don't want you to then 157 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:10,920 just take my word for it, because I said I agree with the 158 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:14,840 Angel who said he's the Christ. I want us to take the word of 159 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,760 God today. And I want to do what many 160 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:22,400 people won't take the time to do, haven't taken the time to do 161 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,520 in the midst of all of the craziness of the season, I want 162 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:35,240 us to see, did this baby grow up to be exactly who this Angel 163 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:37,160 said? That He was. 164 00:11:38,680 --> 00:11:42,240 Let's consider the season that is upon us. 165 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:45,400 Let's see Christ for who He really is. 166 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,880 I think it's seeing Christ for who he really is. 167 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,040 We will worship Him like we never have before. 168 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:59,800 We look today at. This scene, this drama that is 169 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:05,400 unfolding here in Luke chapter 2, a baby being born in a 170 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:06,840 Manger. What does that prove? 171 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:08,680 Nothing. I'm sure there were other babies 172 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:13,360 born on that same night. But as we. 173 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,360 Already know, or at least I hope you know. 174 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:17,440 And if you don't know, you'll know by the end of this. 175 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:23,400 This was no ordinary baby. There's something special about 176 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:28,560 this particular event. This baby was truly the Savior, 177 00:12:28,560 --> 00:12:30,880 and I'll tell you why. First, I know this. 178 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:35,600 This baby was truly the Savior because of the nature of His 179 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:39,920 person. He was more than just a baby, 180 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:44,840 more than the other babies who were born that same evening. 181 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:53,080 Christ the Lord Jesus there in that Manger is truly and 182 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:59,080 literally God Incarnate. Matthew chapter one verse 22 183 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:02,080 says this. All this took place to fulfill 184 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:03,840 what the Lord had said through the prophet. 185 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:06,440 I'm talking about the prophecy surrounding the birth of Christ. 186 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:09,440 Verse 23 the virgin will conceive and give birth to his 187 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:16,080 son and they will call him Emmanuel, which means God with 188 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:18,200 us. Matthew because of his Jewish 189 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:21,560 heritage going back and he grabs Isaiah and he grabs the prophecy 190 00:13:21,680 --> 00:13:25,840 of the Messiah from Isaiah and he says this Messiah will be 191 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:30,680 born of a virgin and he will be called Emmanuel. 192 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:36,120 Matthew says, which means so that we understand God with us 193 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:39,440 that. Jesus Christ truly is God 194 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:44,680 Incarnate who came to this earth, the image of the 195 00:13:44,680 --> 00:13:48,680 invisible God, just as Paul has stated in his writings. 196 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:55,960 He came to this earth born of a virgin, born in a Manger, John 197 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:57,680 MacArthur, the late John MacArthur, he said. 198 00:13:57,680 --> 00:14:00,160 This, he said, if we could. Condense all the truths of 199 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:06,280 Christmas into only three words. These would be the words God 200 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:11,680 with us. That is the very nature of 201 00:14:11,680 --> 00:14:16,800 Christ spoken by Isaiah, confirmed by Matthew in his 202 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:22,120 account that this baby truly is God Incarnate. 203 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:29,120 We see his divine nature on display his entire life, his 204 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:33,880 entire ministry. We see the nature of His person 205 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:40,400 that yes, He was fully and truly man, but you make no mistake, He 206 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:44,640 was also fully and truly God all at the same time. 207 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:46,680 The theological word for that is there. 208 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:52,000 There is this hypostatic union and we can't get around that and 209 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,920 we can't get past the evidence that that Jesus proved that he 210 00:14:55,920 --> 00:15:01,160 is exactly who this Angel in Luke chapter 2 verse 11 said 211 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:04,120 that he is. He's the exact person that in 212 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:10,560 Matthew chapter 1 verses 22 and 23 that Matthew testifies that 213 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:16,200 he and Isaiah recognized him as. God Incarnate, Emmanuel, God 214 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:18,640 with us. What's the evidence? 215 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:22,360 I think the evidence of the nature of His person is first of 216 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:26,880 all displayed by His works. Displayed by His works. 217 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:28,840 You think about the life of Christ. 218 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:33,800 He lived a perfectly sinless life. 219 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,080 It's when we think about His works. 220 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,840 Before we get to the great miracles that He did while He 221 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:42,440 was on this earth, let's talk about the miracle of the fact 222 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:46,760 that He never sinned. That he was perfect in all of 223 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,080 his ways. Did you know this? 224 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:55,280 It is impossible for mere man to be perfect in all of his. 225 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:57,000 Ways. How do I know this? 226 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:02,120 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 227 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:07,720 He is speaking in that text of all men, all men who were born 228 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:11,440 in their sin. But Jesus the Christ was not 229 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:15,640 born in His sin. He was born from the seed of God 230 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,560 that was placed there in the Virgin named Mary. 231 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:23,560 It led to His perfect and sinless life. 232 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:26,920 First Peter chapter 2, verse 22. Peter confirms this. 233 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:31,560 He says in verse 22 he talking about Jesus committed no sin and 234 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:33,520 no deceit was found in his mouth. 235 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,680 There was nothing wicked in him. There was nothing vile in him. 236 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:41,160 He was truly perfect and sinless displaying. 237 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:46,120 That work in every area of his life, what he did, and as 238 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:50,520 declared there by Peter, even what he said, there was no 239 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:53,960 wickedness, not even in his mouth. 240 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:57,160 None of us could ever make that claim because perhaps you live a 241 00:16:57,160 --> 00:16:59,560 pretty good life. But though you know you might 242 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:03,200 live a pretty good life, you know what your mouth reveals, 243 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,000 oftentimes the truth, doesn't it? 244 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:09,960 And you can't make the claim, as has been made about Christ, that 245 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:14,680 there was no wickedness or deceit found in your mouth, 246 00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:20,440 because you know the truth. But Christ proves He's sinless 247 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,119 by those things. First John chapter 3 verse 5. 248 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:27,040 John says this, but you know that He appeared so that He 249 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:32,360 might take away our sins, and in Him is no sin. 250 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:34,240 Now we just think about that for a. 251 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:38,280 Second, there's no sin nature handed down to him from Adam. 252 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:44,320 He came from the Father on high, and He came to this earth as God 253 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:51,080 Incarnate, sinless and perfect. Living that perfectly sinless 254 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:57,040 life to prove it, displaying that by His words He truly was 255 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:03,840 Emmanuel, God with us, the sinless, holy, perfect and 256 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:06,200 righteous. 1 Hebrews chapter 4, verse 15. 257 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:08,520 The writer of Hebrews says, for we do not have a high priest who 258 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:12,760 is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who 259 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:18,800 has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet He did not 260 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:21,720 sin. Oh, there's something special 261 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,960 about this baby that we see there in Luke chapter 2 that the 262 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:28,600 Angel says is the Messiah. What is special about him is 263 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:30,800 this. He is the only man because He 264 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,720 was truly the God man. He is the only man who has ever 265 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:38,880 walked through this earth in sinless perfection and in doing 266 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:43,240 so He reveals His very nature of holy. 267 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:50,000 Secondly, we see this looking at the nature of His person that 268 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,720 was displayed by His words. He's perfectly sinless. 269 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,320 We also see His powerful and His supernatural miracles. 270 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:00,080 I know that the Americans and the American church are 271 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:04,880 fascinated with these things, but I began with His sinless 272 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:07,320 perfection because I I believe this 100%. 273 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,440 He couldn't have done the things that He is going to do and that 274 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:13,880 we're going to see Him do if He wasn't who Scripture says that 275 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:19,600 He is, perfect God in flesh. What did He do while He was here 276 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:22,200 on this earth? He proved himself by 277 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:26,240 supernatural miracles. In fact, in John chapter 20, the 278 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:29,760 apostle John says this. In verse 30, he begins to wind 279 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:31,800 up his gospel. He says the purpose of John's 280 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:36,480 gospel here as he writes this, that Jesus performed many other 281 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,560 signs in the presence of his disciples which are not. 282 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:43,760 Recorded in this book, but these are written that you may believe 283 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:48,480 that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by 284 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:51,560 believing you may have life in his name. 285 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:54,080 What was John saying? He said, I'm writing all these 286 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:57,600 things, these signs, these miracles, these works that Jesus 287 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:01,120 did to prove to you who he really is. 288 00:20:01,120 --> 00:20:03,920 He is Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. 289 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:08,680 He is Emmanuel, God with us, who was born in that Manger that the 290 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:14,560 Angel announced would live and be God among us on this earth. 291 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:17,280 And he did. He proved it by those powerful 292 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:21,560 miracle miracles, didn't he? Jesus turning the water into 293 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:25,640 wine in John chapter 2? How about his miraculous catch a 294 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:28,040 fish there in Luke chapter 5? How about the fact that He 295 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:30,920 calmed the storm in Matthew chapter 8, showing his 296 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:33,480 sovereignty over even the forces of nature? 297 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:35,840 How about the fact that he walked on water in Matthew 298 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,520 chapter 14? Defying the law of gravity. 299 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:41,000 Defying all. Physics and reasoning. 300 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,680 How about when he fed the multitudes in Matthew chapter 14 301 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,760 and Mark chapter 8? One time 4000 Another time 5000. 302 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:52,800 How about his healing power when he healed a leopard Matthew 303 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:56,080 chapter 8 and then the centurions servant there in Luke 304 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:59,360 Chapter 7. How about this he even healed 305 00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:01,920 Peter's mother-in-law and Mark chapter 1. 306 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,600 Now you have to be God if you heal a mother-in-law. 307 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:11,680 How about the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 308 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,200 Chapter 9? Everyone laughed except my 309 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:17,960 mother-in-law. How about the woman with an 310 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:19,800 issue of blood in Matthew Chapter 9? 311 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:23,680 He healed her. How about the two men in Matthew 312 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:25,360 Chapter 9 that were blind and he healed them? 313 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:27,480 How about the mute man in Matthew 9 that he healed? 314 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:34,040 How about a crippled woman in Luke chapter 13 or the man with 315 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:38,000 dropsy in Luke chapter 14? How about the 10 lepers in Luke 316 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:42,720 17? How about a man who was blind 317 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:47,720 from birth in John Chapter 9 that he gave his sight to? 318 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:51,800 How about the blind beggar Artimaeus that we see in Matthew 319 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:56,320 chapter 20? How about when Jesus picked up 320 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,640 Malchus ear and put it back on his face after Peter got a 321 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:04,280 little bit sword happy? Thereupon Jesus arrest Luke 322 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:08,320 chapter 22. Not to mention casting out 323 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:15,320 demons, raising the dead, and walking out of the tomb after 324 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:18,120 the third day that he had been placed in after he died for the 325 00:22:18,120 --> 00:22:22,160 sin of the world upon the cross. Jesus has truly revealed the 326 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:27,000 nature of His person by displaying who He really is 327 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,320 through His works. The fact that He was perfectly 328 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:32,960 sinless in His life. The fact that He performed 329 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:37,360 powerful and supernatural miracles that only God Himself 330 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,680 could do. So these things were displayed 331 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,760 by His works. But did you notice the nature of 332 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,840 His person wasn't only displayed by His works, it was also 333 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:50,720 declared by words. There were others. 334 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:54,960 Who confirmed these things? Now, in the Old Testament times, 335 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:57,320 the prophet would speak a word, and then they would have to 336 00:22:57,520 --> 00:23:00,280 actually give authority to that word by a sign. 337 00:23:00,360 --> 00:23:04,280 Jesus, as I've already shown you, has given us plenty of 338 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:08,000 signs by the miracles so that we can understand we might be 339 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:11,800 dealing with the Savior of the world, this one named Jesus, who 340 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:14,240 was born in a Manger outside of Bethlehem. 341 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:18,360 But what did others say about him? 342 00:23:18,360 --> 00:23:20,480 What did he say first about himself? 343 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:25,120 Because we can look at the words of Jesus by his own words, as 344 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:30,920 the prophet of all prophets, He declares his very nature. 345 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:37,560 And in declaring his nature he confirms that he truly is and 346 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:41,320 was God Incarnate. John chapter 8, verse 58. 347 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:44,080 He said this very truly, I tell you. 348 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:51,640 Before Abraham was born, I am now that sent the religious 349 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:57,040 world reeling because he used the Greek term ego I me. 350 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:02,360 What he was saying in that term was this I am Yahweh. 351 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:06,400 Any way you break that down. I am the one who spoke from the 352 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,040 burning Bush to Moses. They all knew about this 353 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:11,560 encounter. They knew that when Moses said 354 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,680 when I tell them who sent me, tell me your name. 355 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:18,240 I can give them a name, he said. You tell them I am that I am. 356 00:24:18,360 --> 00:24:24,040 I am Yahweh. Jesus here in his own life and 357 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:27,360 ministry in John chapter 8 declaring the same thing that 358 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:33,000 before Abraham was, I am. In fact, we can stay confidently 359 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:37,160 that before Abraham was. He was because he is eternal. 360 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:39,800 He has no beginning and he has no end. 361 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:44,640 He always has been and He always will be the second person of the 362 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:50,600 Triune God had the Lord the Son of God by His own words. 363 00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:56,520 He declares in John chapter 10 verse 30 the truth about the 364 00:24:56,520 --> 00:25:01,240 nature of His person. John 1030 Speaking of the 365 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:04,280 eternal and divine essence of the Father and the Son. 366 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:08,400 He puts them on the same plane. Watch what he says here in 367 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:12,440 John's Gospel, the 30th verse of that 10th chapter, he says I and 368 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:16,600 the Father are one. What was he saying with that 369 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:20,880 bold statement? He was saying that we are of the 370 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:27,960 same essence. Equally and eternally and fully 371 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:33,120 God the Father, the first person of the triune Godhead, the Son, 372 00:25:33,120 --> 00:25:37,960 the second person of the triune Godhead, equally and eternally 373 00:25:38,120 --> 00:25:40,440 God. He said we are 1. 374 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,520 He is Speaking of their eternal essence. 375 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:48,240 We always have been one, we are one, we always will be 1. 376 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,880 Jesus revealing to us the nature of His. 377 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:59,520 Person Mark chapter 2 Jesus continuing to reveal that in an 378 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:02,280 often missed verse that people don't think is proof of his 379 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:06,600 deity but he says this verse 5 of chapter 2 when Jesus saw 380 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:11,280 their faith, he said to the paralyzed man son your sins are 381 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:14,520 forgiven. Now this bothered the religious 382 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:17,040 people around. Jesus, they even said this. 383 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:19,960 Who does he think that he is? Only God has the power to 384 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:21,600 forgive sin. And isn't that true? 385 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:23,640 They were right in what they said. 386 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:26,240 They were wrong in the fact that they hadn't identified His 387 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:30,400 nature yet. Jesus forgives this man of sin. 388 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:36,120 They all knew what Isaiah said in Isaiah 43 verse five. 389 00:26:36,120 --> 00:26:39,960 I even I, am he who blots out your transgressions. 390 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:45,160 They knew that the power to forgive existed only in God. 391 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:49,600 And here is Jesus to this one, that he is healed. 392 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:54,640 And he says instead of you're healed, go away, he says your 393 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:57,920 sins are forgiven. Now many people would say, you 394 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:02,720 know, Jesus never really claimed to be God while he was on this 395 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:04,320 earth. That is the farthest thing from 396 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:07,720 the truth. In fact, if we look back at the 397 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:11,720 historical account, do you know what he was tried and convicted 398 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:16,040 for claiming to be God. That's the charge that they 399 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:18,960 brought against him. And over and over and over 400 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:24,400 again, He confirmed the nature of his person that I truly am 401 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:28,560 Emmanuel, God with us. The one that the Angel said in 402 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:34,040 Luke chapter 2 is the Savior. I'm Him, I'm the Christ, and He 403 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:38,560 proves it by the nature of His person, displayed by His works, 404 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:42,160 now declared by His own words. But He's not the only one who 405 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:44,880 spoke in regard to who He truly is. 406 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:48,400 Peter. In Matthew chapter 16 verse 16, 407 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:52,360 Jesus asked Peter the simple question, Who do you say that I 408 00:27:52,360 --> 00:27:53,360 am? Because there was all these 409 00:27:53,360 --> 00:27:54,720 rumors. About who he might be. 410 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:59,520 He looked at Peter, he said. Who do you say that I am, Peter? 411 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:04,120 Peter answers. You are the Messiah, the Son of 412 00:28:04,120 --> 00:28:06,640 the living God. Peter testifying that this Angel 413 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:09,480 was correct. He identified this Jesus who had 414 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:12,840 grown up and now at this point in his life, somewhere around 33 415 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:16,560 years of age or so, and he says this is who you are. 416 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,600 Everything about you reveals your nature. 417 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:24,240 Peter identified that he spoke that by his own words. 418 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:26,680 What about John? John, Chapter 1. 419 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,960 John doesn't pull any punches here about the deity of Christ. 420 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:34,600 He says in one, one in the beginning was the Word and the 421 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:38,640 Word was with God and the Word was God. 422 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:40,320 You say, well Kirk, what does that prove? 423 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:44,040 The word could be anyone. Drop down to verse 14 as John 424 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:47,040 gives a commentary on this and you realize that it's not just 425 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:49,480 anyone. It is the same baby that was 426 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:53,600 born outside of Bethlehem in that Manger, the same baby that 427 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:56,240 the Angel said he is the Messiah. 428 00:28:57,280 --> 00:29:00,760 Because in verse 14 John says the Word became flesh, God 429 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:05,920 Incarnate, Emmanuel, God with us, and made His dwelling among 430 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:08,160 us. We have seen His glory, the 431 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:15,240 glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father, full 432 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:20,680 of grace and truth. The words of others confirm the 433 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:24,840 nature of His person. And the nature of his person 434 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:29,960 tells us that this baby was exactly who this Angel said that 435 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:35,320 he is. Thomas, after doubting for some 436 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:39,440 time, finally he has his head screwed on straight and he comes 437 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:43,720 to a good conclusion. John records that in John 438 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:47,600 chapter 20 verse 28, when Thomas encounters the Lord after he's 439 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:51,640 been resurrected, the Lord goes specifically to Thomas. 440 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:54,600 And what a loving and kind Savior. 441 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:56,880 He wanted to take all of Thomas's doubt away. 442 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:00,960 He goes to Thomas and they have this encounter. 443 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:09,080 And after the encounter, Thomas said to him, My Lord and my God. 444 00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:11,120 Now, if Jesus wasn't God, he would have stopped right there 445 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:13,480 and said, Thomas, don't speak blasphemy. 446 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:17,520 You know what he did? He accepted Thomas's worship 447 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:22,080 because he saw the true nature of Christ after he had put his 448 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:26,520 fingers and his hands in those nail scars, and he knew that 449 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:33,000 this was the resurrected Savior, God Incarnate, Emmanuel, God 450 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:36,000 with us. He declares that He is his Lord 451 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:41,960 and His God and so others give testimony as to the nature of 452 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:44,840 His person. How about Paul in Philippians 453 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:46,680 chapter 2? You remember Philippians chapter 454 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:49,960 2 a few years back we had a theological Christmas where we 455 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:53,240 actually grabbed the text from Philippians chapter 2, which is 456 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:56,760 unheard of, and we walked through that to see Christ who 457 00:30:56,760 --> 00:31:00,160 He really is. Paul says this about the Lord 458 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:04,120 Jesus in verse 6 of chapter 2. He says being in very nature 459 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:09,160 God. Again, agreeing with what Jesus 460 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:13,520 has said by his own words, which Peter has said by his own words, 461 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:16,040 John by his own words, Thomas by his own words. 462 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:18,960 You say those guys are all just Christians. 463 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:22,120 They're supposed to say those things because all you 464 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:24,680 Christians get together and you compare your notes and you just 465 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:26,520 know all the right. Things to say. 466 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:35,760 Let's consult a Roman centurion who at best was probably raised 467 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:39,920 Pagan, who worshipped many different gods and goddesses his 468 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:42,400 entire life. Watch what he says in Mark 469 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:48,320 chapter 15 verse 39. And when the centurion who stood 470 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:55,000 there in front of Jesus saw how he died, he said surely this man 471 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:58,360 was the Son. Of God. 472 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:03,560 Surely this is Emmanuel, God with us. 473 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:07,960 Surely he is the Savior. Surely he is the same one that 474 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:11,880 the Angel testified about outside of Bethlehem at that 475 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:13,640 Manger. Surely this is Him. 476 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:17,280 Even a Roman centurion gave testimony of that by his own 477 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:20,080 word. He said, well, maybe he was a 478 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:21,840 believing Roman. Maybe he was. 479 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:27,200 What about this testimony? The demons in Mark chapter 1, 480 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:34,200 The demons in Mark chapter 1, when Jesus arrived, they came to 481 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:37,240 him and they said this What do you want with us? 482 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:40,480 Verse 24? What do you want with us, Jesus 483 00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:43,640 of Nazareth? They identified Jesus of 484 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:46,120 Nazareth. Jesus of Nazareth was the baby 485 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:49,200 born to Mary and Joseph from Nazareth who came to Bethlehem 486 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:53,120 because there was a census that they had to go and pay taxes 487 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:57,640 because of. The demons properly identify His 488 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:00,520 humanity. See, the demons understand the 489 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:04,640 hypostatic union more than most Christians as you'd rather have 490 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:08,600 a candlelight service. The demons recognized his 491 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:11,480 humanity. They said, what do you want with 492 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:14,480 us? Jesus of Nazareth, have you come 493 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:17,880 to destroy us? Watch what they say next. 494 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:27,160 I know who you are, the Holy One of God even. 495 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:33,560 The demons know who he is, how he created them. 496 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:38,200 He was there at the Fall, He has been there since eternity passed 497 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:41,600 before they were ever created. And the demons who were once 498 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:45,840 angels dwelling in his presence were booted from Heaven along 499 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:47,800 with Lucifer because of the sin of. 500 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:54,960 Pride And here are these demons recognizing the nature of this 501 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:58,920 Jesus who was born in a Manger, born to Mary and Joseph outside 502 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:01,840 of Bethlehem, and they declare it by their own words. 503 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:06,600 So we've seen that his own words, the words of others from 504 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:10,280 apostles to demons, have confirmed the nature of his 505 00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:12,760 person. But what about the Father 506 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:16,440 himself? What about the Father, the first 507 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:19,000 person of the Triune Godhead? What does he say when Matthew 508 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,440 chapter 3, verse 17? It's very clear what he says, 509 00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:24,000 isn't it? They're at the baptism of Jesus. 510 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:26,320 This is for all the people who don't believe in the Trinity. 511 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:29,159 I believe that there are different parts working at 512 00:34:29,199 --> 00:34:31,040 separate times. Here's the entire Trinity 513 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:34,440 working at the same time, right Does this and a voice from 514 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:37,320 heaven said, this is my Son. That is the voice of the Father, 515 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:39,760 whom I love with him. I am well pleased. 516 00:34:39,760 --> 00:34:42,639 We know at that point that the Spirit descended upon him like a 517 00:34:42,639 --> 00:34:44,120 dove. You see the Father, the Son and 518 00:34:44,120 --> 00:34:45,520 the Spirit working as one. Why? 519 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:47,080 Because they are all equally God. 520 00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:50,120 They always work as one because they are the one true God. 521 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:55,560 We see the Father testifying that this is His Son and whom He 522 00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:59,920 is well pleased. And the Father could not be well 523 00:34:59,920 --> 00:35:05,440 pleased with a Sinner, just as he was at one time not pleased 524 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:08,800 with me because of my sin. The only thing that He is ever 525 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:12,960 pleased with about me is Christ in me and what Christ has done 526 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,840 for me. So we see the Father's words. 527 00:35:17,240 --> 00:35:19,160 What about the Father's words in Hebrews chapter 1? 528 00:35:19,720 --> 00:35:22,080 Again, this is one we often look over, but we need to revisit. 529 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:25,760 He says in verse 8. But about the Son, he says he's 530 00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:27,520 going back and he's quoting the psalmist. 531 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:30,520 He says Your throne, O God, will last. 532 00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:33,240 Forever. So about the Son he says, who is 533 00:35:33,240 --> 00:35:37,880 the heat God in his word? And about the Son, the Father 534 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:40,280 even calls the Son God. Why? 535 00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:43,920 They are equally Co, equally and eternally God. 536 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:48,960 And still this Jesus born in the Manger is truly God Incarnate. 537 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:51,680 It is revealed by the nature of His person. 538 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:54,840 Now for many of you this is just theological stuff. 539 00:35:54,840 --> 00:35:58,000 Why do we need to know this? I'll tell you why you need to 540 00:35:58,000 --> 00:35:59,840 know this. Because there is heresy that is 541 00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:03,760 dragging many a man and many a woman away from the true and 542 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:07,440 living God, away from the 1 Lord Jesus Christ by teaching that 543 00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:09,560 Jesus is something less than God. 544 00:36:10,840 --> 00:36:14,560 He is God. He's proven by the nature of His 545 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:19,680 Person, displayed by His works, declared by His own words, 546 00:36:19,680 --> 00:36:23,360 declared by the Word, words of others declared by the words of 547 00:36:23,360 --> 00:36:28,200 the Father, confirming the divine nature of the person of 548 00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:31,000 Jesus Christ. That very nature. 549 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:37,440 It confirms to us that what that Angel declared, it's true. 550 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:46,240 That he truly is. The Savior, Christ, the Lord. 551 00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:51,040 Secondly, we see this, the baby was truly a savior because the 552 00:36:51,040 --> 00:36:54,520 fulfillment of prophecy. Not only can we say that we have 553 00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:57,400 evidence and undeniable evidence that this baby was truly the 554 00:36:57,400 --> 00:37:00,560 Savior because of the nature of this person, we also have to 555 00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:03,440 back up our claim, the claim that the Angel was making here, 556 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:06,720 the fulfillment of prophecy. I'm going to go through this as 557 00:37:06,720 --> 00:37:08,640 fast as I can. I'm going to just be honest with 558 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:10,360 you. I don't have time to go through 559 00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:13,520 the hundreds upon hundreds of prophecies that are made in the 560 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:18,200 Old Testament about Christ. I would encourage all of you 561 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:22,160 when you have time, just search those things out. 562 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:27,040 See how many prophecies were made concerning the Christ. 563 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:30,240 You will be astounded at how many. 564 00:37:30,360 --> 00:37:33,560 In fact, some of the greatest Bible scholars I know are 565 00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:36,160 astounded by. They can't even agree on how 566 00:37:36,160 --> 00:37:38,920 many hundreds of them there really are. 567 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:44,720 But let's just look at the ones surrounding His. 568 00:37:44,720 --> 00:37:47,200 Birth. And I think it looking at the 569 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:50,520 ones surrounding his birth, we can realize very quickly that 570 00:37:50,520 --> 00:37:55,880 that baby in that Manger there in Luke chapter 2 truly is. 571 00:37:55,880 --> 00:37:58,920 Christ's Savior. Let's look at this. 572 00:37:58,920 --> 00:38:01,080 How about the place of Jesus birth? 573 00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:04,720 The place of Jesus word did you know this Micah chapter 5 verse 574 00:38:04,720 --> 00:38:09,800 2 it says but you Bethlehem of a path Papartha, though you are 575 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:13,880 small among the clans of Judah out of you will come for me one 576 00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:18,920 who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old 577 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:22,360 from ancient times. Micah making that. 578 00:38:22,360 --> 00:38:25,840 Prophecy concerning Bethlehem. Now we see this. 579 00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:27,640 That's fulfilled, isn't it? Luke chapter 2. 580 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:33,400 In the account that we just read, Joseph and Mary from the 581 00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:36,920 town of Nazareth in Galilee go to Bethlehem, the city of David, 582 00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:41,480 because it just so happens that there was a census this year. 583 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,760 No gods sobbingly orchestrated all of this because Christ was 584 00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:49,640 born at the exact time on God's prophetic timetable. 585 00:38:53,520 --> 00:38:55,280 That prophecy is fulfilled in Luke chapter 2. 586 00:38:57,120 --> 00:38:59,640 There in verse 6. While they were there where 587 00:38:59,640 --> 00:39:02,600 Bethlehem, the time came for the baby to be born. 588 00:39:03,440 --> 00:39:05,720 Oh, isn't that just coincidental? 589 00:39:06,640 --> 00:39:08,920 Just while they're in Bethlehem, You know what? 590 00:39:08,920 --> 00:39:11,120 She started having contractions. Here we go. 591 00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:16,160 Oh, it was perfect. It was orchestrated just like 592 00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:20,720 everything and God's realms perfectly orchestrated by his 593 00:39:20,720 --> 00:39:24,560 sovereign power. It was decreed to be this way 594 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:27,800 and the prophet Micah said it would be, so just confirmed 595 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:29,200 there. In Luke chapter 2, Matthew 596 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:31,040 chapter 2, we see the same thing. 597 00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:35,960 They ask the Magi about the birth of Christ. 598 00:39:35,960 --> 00:39:36,800 Herod does. Why? 599 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:38,560 Because he's seeking to destroy the Christ. 600 00:39:38,560 --> 00:39:41,200 So he asked about who did the prophet say and where did the 601 00:39:41,200 --> 00:39:44,000 prophet say that this Messiah would be born? 602 00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:46,560 They let him know Bethlehem of Judea. 603 00:39:48,160 --> 00:39:50,400 How do they know this? Because prophets like Micah 604 00:39:50,880 --> 00:39:55,400 confirm this and it was fulfilled in scripture that that 605 00:39:55,400 --> 00:40:00,200 is where he was truly born. We see the place of Jesus birth 606 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:03,640 confirming that yes a prophet made this claim and yes that 607 00:40:03,640 --> 00:40:06,080 claim was fulfilled. How about the path of Jesus 608 00:40:06,080 --> 00:40:08,560 birth? The fact that he was born of a 609 00:40:08,560 --> 00:40:15,080 woman. You say, well, Kirk, could he be 610 00:40:15,080 --> 00:40:17,120 born any other way? He could have. 611 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:20,760 He could have just. Descended from heaven as he 612 00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:24,800 ascended back to heaven. But that's not what he said he 613 00:40:24,800 --> 00:40:27,000 was going to do. That was not the plan. 614 00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:31,600 All the while, and in Genesis chapter 3 and you say Genesis 615 00:40:31,600 --> 00:40:34,520 chapter 3, Why are we going to go back to Genesis chapter 3 616 00:40:34,520 --> 00:40:36,000 talking about the birth of Christ? 617 00:40:36,560 --> 00:40:40,400 I think you'll understand very clearly when we read this, after 618 00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:45,200 man fell into sin, God is issuing this decree and He tells 619 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:47,360 him what will be the consequences of their sin. 620 00:40:47,520 --> 00:40:49,080 And then He says this in verse 15. 621 00:40:49,080 --> 00:40:52,680 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between 622 00:40:52,680 --> 00:40:55,440 your offspring, that Greek. Word. 623 00:40:55,440 --> 00:40:59,800 There is seed between your seed and hers. 624 00:41:00,760 --> 00:41:03,520 Now I don't know a whole lot about biology, but I remember in 625 00:41:03,520 --> 00:41:07,560 biology class women had egg, men had seed. 626 00:41:08,280 --> 00:41:13,520 This woman, Mary, gave birth to a child who was not from the 627 00:41:13,520 --> 00:41:17,400 seed of man, but was from the seed of God. 628 00:41:18,120 --> 00:41:21,000 He says he will crush your head and you will strike his heel. 629 00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:23,800 He is telling Satanist that there is going to be a head 630 00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:26,040 crusher and he is going to crush your head. 631 00:41:26,160 --> 00:41:29,680 And we know at the cross Jesus defeated Satan in the forces of 632 00:41:29,680 --> 00:41:31,520 evil by crushing. His head. 633 00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:34,800 Now we also know this. There will be the ultimate 634 00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:39,480 fulfillment of that when He returns, but I want you to not 635 00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:42,840 miss what's going on here. In this prophecy that we see in 636 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:46,960 Genesis chapter 3, the Word of God is declaring that this 637 00:41:46,960 --> 00:41:53,040 Savior will be born of a woman. That woman was the Virgin Mary. 638 00:41:53,600 --> 00:41:58,040 As Luke's account declares for us and as the New Testament 639 00:41:58,040 --> 00:42:01,840 Scriptures declare for us, He was born of a woman. 640 00:42:01,840 --> 00:42:03,600 It was fulfilled in Luke chapter 2, verse six. 641 00:42:03,600 --> 00:42:08,160 He was born right there as Mary gave birth to him, just as God 642 00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:10,520 had planned. In fact, in Galatians chapter 4 643 00:42:10,520 --> 00:42:13,520 verse 4, Paul says this. But when the set time had fully 644 00:42:13,520 --> 00:42:18,640 come, God sent his Son born of a woman born under the law. 645 00:42:18,640 --> 00:42:23,800 How is he going to come born of a woman, born under the law? 646 00:42:23,800 --> 00:42:26,840 Who is that woman? It is this woman that we see in 647 00:42:26,840 --> 00:42:31,840 Luke chapter 2 with her husband Joseph the Virgin Mary and she 648 00:42:31,840 --> 00:42:33,640 does give birth to a son fulfilling. 649 00:42:35,800 --> 00:42:39,680 What the prophet spoke about the path of Jesus birth born of a 650 00:42:39,680 --> 00:42:42,800 woman, but burn born of a specific kind of woman that 651 00:42:43,440 --> 00:42:46,480 would be born of a virgin. Now there are liberals who say 652 00:42:46,480 --> 00:42:48,920 this, that that virgin simply means a young maiden. 653 00:42:50,120 --> 00:42:53,760 That's not the facts. Virgin in this instance is 654 00:42:53,760 --> 00:42:57,200 referring to the fact that she has never had sexual relations 655 00:42:57,360 --> 00:43:01,040 with a man and Isaiah said this in Isaiah 7 verse 14. 656 00:43:01,120 --> 00:43:02,520 He said therefore the Lord himself. 657 00:43:02,520 --> 00:43:04,640 Will give you a. Sign Here's the sign that you 658 00:43:04,640 --> 00:43:07,160 need to look for when you see the Virgin. 659 00:43:07,160 --> 00:43:10,440 When you see a woman who's never had sex with a man having a 660 00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:13,360 baby, this ought to make your ears perk up. 661 00:43:13,480 --> 00:43:16,000 This ought to make your eyes really hone in on what you're 662 00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:17,800 seeing. He said the Virgin will conceive 663 00:43:17,800 --> 00:43:20,040 and give birth to a son and will call him. 664 00:43:20,120 --> 00:43:22,680 Here's that name again, Emmanuel, which we know means 665 00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:25,520 God with us. And so he was born of a virgin, 666 00:43:25,520 --> 00:43:30,640 as Isaiah foretold this. This was fulfilled in the New 667 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:32,720 Testament, Luke chapter one, verse 34. 668 00:43:34,680 --> 00:43:36,240 If you think she was just a maiden. 669 00:43:37,800 --> 00:43:41,000 Not really a virgin. It says this in verse 34 of Luke 670 00:43:41,000 --> 00:43:42,680 chapter 1. How will this be Mary? 671 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:45,080 Mary asked the Angel. When the Angel told her that 672 00:43:45,080 --> 00:43:46,200 you're going to give birth to a son. 673 00:43:46,200 --> 00:43:49,120 She says how will this be since I am a virgin? 674 00:43:49,120 --> 00:43:51,160 She would have never asked that question if she was just a young 675 00:43:51,160 --> 00:43:54,800 maiden. I'm virgin and, the Angel 676 00:43:54,800 --> 00:43:57,360 answered. The Holy Spirit will come on 677 00:43:57,360 --> 00:44:01,280 you. The seed of God supernaturally 678 00:44:01,400 --> 00:44:06,520 planted in your womb that has never been defiled by the sin of 679 00:44:06,520 --> 00:44:09,600 man. Oh, it's so important, isn't it? 680 00:44:09,600 --> 00:44:12,240 For all of the scholars you would say the virgin birth isn't 681 00:44:12,240 --> 00:44:14,280 essential. Christ could have come through 682 00:44:14,280 --> 00:44:18,640 no other vessel. That the Holy Spirit will come 683 00:44:18,640 --> 00:44:20,800 on you and the power of the Most High will over shadow you. 684 00:44:20,800 --> 00:44:24,400 So that the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. 685 00:44:24,560 --> 00:44:27,040 The Holy One will be born from you Mary. 686 00:44:27,200 --> 00:44:30,080 But I know that you have not ever had sexual relations with a 687 00:44:30,080 --> 00:44:31,600 man. But what God is going to do 688 00:44:31,600 --> 00:44:34,840 through the Holy Spirit is He is going to put the seed that 689 00:44:34,840 --> 00:44:37,840 Genesis 315 spoke about inside of you. 690 00:44:38,000 --> 00:44:41,040 And from that seed, the serpent's head will be crushed 691 00:44:41,160 --> 00:44:43,960 for all time. That's exactly what the Word of 692 00:44:43,960 --> 00:44:47,400 God proclaims. Why don't you forget the path of 693 00:44:47,520 --> 00:44:52,920 Jesus birth, Born of a woman, born of a virgin, and then born 694 00:44:52,920 --> 00:44:57,120 of God again. In Isaiah 714 he describes that 695 00:44:57,120 --> 00:44:59,280 force, how he will be born of God. 696 00:45:00,200 --> 00:45:06,920 And just as the Scriptures declare he was born of God in 697 00:45:06,920 --> 00:45:10,760 that supernatural way, we know it as the Immaculate Conception. 698 00:45:12,200 --> 00:45:14,960 Well, I just can't believe this Christian thing because how 699 00:45:14,960 --> 00:45:18,520 could a virgin ever give birth to a baby? 700 00:45:18,520 --> 00:45:22,680 She couldn't, lest God intervene. 701 00:45:24,640 --> 00:45:27,400 And the interesting thing about how God did this hundreds of 702 00:45:27,400 --> 00:45:30,600 years before it ever happened, through the prophet Isaiah, he 703 00:45:30,600 --> 00:45:35,560 said that the virgin is going to give birth and this will be your 704 00:45:35,560 --> 00:45:37,480 sign. When you look to that Manger 705 00:45:37,600 --> 00:45:41,400 there in Bethlehem, what you see is a virgin, a woman who has 706 00:45:41,400 --> 00:45:44,640 never had intercourse with a man, giving birth to a child. 707 00:45:44,760 --> 00:45:48,400 And not just some child, not an ordinary child, but the literal 708 00:45:48,560 --> 00:45:53,400 and absolute son of the living God, planted there by the Holy 709 00:45:53,400 --> 00:46:00,000 Spirit and her untouched one. It was born of a woman, born of 710 00:46:00,000 --> 00:46:02,840 a virgin, born of God. That's the path of Jesus birth. 711 00:46:02,840 --> 00:46:06,800 How can you deny that? Let's look further as this as 712 00:46:06,800 --> 00:46:08,160 we. Look at the fulfillment of 713 00:46:08,160 --> 00:46:12,160 prophecy surrounding his birth. How about the people of Jesus 714 00:46:12,160 --> 00:46:13,520 lineage? Right? 715 00:46:13,520 --> 00:46:16,000 All that genealogy that you always skip over in the Bible to 716 00:46:16,000 --> 00:46:19,520 get to the good stuff. You're missing so much good 717 00:46:19,520 --> 00:46:21,120 stuff if you don't read those things. 718 00:46:21,960 --> 00:46:23,800 How many of you believe that everything in the Bible is for 719 00:46:23,800 --> 00:46:25,680 purpose? That everything has some 720 00:46:25,680 --> 00:46:28,440 meaning, and that it all ought to be paid attention to? 721 00:46:28,560 --> 00:46:31,640 That every bit of it, even the lineage of Christ is God 722 00:46:31,640 --> 00:46:33,240 breathed and it's there for a purpose. 723 00:46:33,960 --> 00:46:37,400 You believe that and stop discarding it as if it has no 724 00:46:37,400 --> 00:46:40,760 purpose, because it is in the lineage of Christ that we see 725 00:46:40,760 --> 00:46:44,440 that He truly is who the Angel said that he was. 726 00:46:44,440 --> 00:46:48,080 He is the Christ, the Savior. We see that he comes from the 727 00:46:48,080 --> 00:46:50,960 line of Abraham. Why is this important? 728 00:46:50,960 --> 00:46:53,920 Because it was prophesied that he would in Genesis chapter 12, 729 00:46:55,640 --> 00:46:58,560 God in a conversation and promise to Abraham says this in 730 00:46:58,560 --> 00:47:00,120 verse three. I will bless those who bless you 731 00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:02,760 and whoever curses you I will curse and all peoples on earth 732 00:47:02,760 --> 00:47:05,360 will be blessed through you. This is the beginning of what he 733 00:47:05,360 --> 00:47:08,360 was going to do through Abraham. Genesis 17, seven. 734 00:47:08,360 --> 00:47:10,640 He says this to him. He said I will establish My 735 00:47:10,640 --> 00:47:14,480 covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and 736 00:47:14,480 --> 00:47:17,240 your descendants after you for the generations to come. 737 00:47:17,440 --> 00:47:20,160 To be your God and the God of your. 738 00:47:20,240 --> 00:47:24,400 The descendants after you, Jesus coming through the promise of 739 00:47:24,400 --> 00:47:28,320 Abraham. We see that this is fulfilled in 740 00:47:28,320 --> 00:47:31,440 the New Testament. Galatians, chapter 3, verse 16. 741 00:47:32,960 --> 00:47:35,760 Paul says the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his 742 00:47:35,760 --> 00:47:39,160 seed. Scripture does not say and to 743 00:47:39,440 --> 00:47:43,160 seeds, meaning many people because Abraham had many people 744 00:47:43,160 --> 00:47:48,960 from his human side, his human lineage, but he said and to your 745 00:47:48,960 --> 00:47:55,640 seed meaning one person watch this who is Christ who did the 746 00:47:55,640 --> 00:48:00,360 Angel in Luke chapter 2 verse 11 say that this baby Jesus was the 747 00:48:00,360 --> 00:48:05,200 Angel said and spoke very clearly that this is Christ. 748 00:48:05,680 --> 00:48:08,200 This is the Messiah. This is. 749 00:48:08,200 --> 00:48:13,200 The Savior who was born unto you today in the city of David in 750 00:48:13,200 --> 00:48:16,600 the town of Bethlehem, in the same manner that the prophets 751 00:48:16,600 --> 00:48:20,680 have spoken that he would be born and he comes from the line 752 00:48:21,480 --> 00:48:23,840 of Abraham just as the prophet said that he would. 753 00:48:23,840 --> 00:48:28,320 Matthew chapter 1. We see that genealogy there in 754 00:48:28,320 --> 00:48:32,800 Matthew chapter one verse one. Your subtitle above the text 755 00:48:32,800 --> 00:48:35,200 says something to the degree of the genealogy of Jesus the 756 00:48:35,200 --> 00:48:37,200 Messiah. This is the genealogy of Jesus 757 00:48:37,200 --> 00:48:42,000 the Messiah, the son of David, the son of who, Abraham, 758 00:48:43,120 --> 00:48:46,400 confirming that he stems from that promise made to Abraham 759 00:48:46,400 --> 00:48:52,560 there in Genesis 12 and Genesis 17, fulfilled by the life of 760 00:48:52,560 --> 00:48:55,280 Jesus Christ, the lineage of Jesus Christ. 761 00:48:56,480 --> 00:49:00,360 How about this prophecy in regard to his lineage? 762 00:49:01,120 --> 00:49:05,040 He was from the tribe of Judah. It was foretold all the way back 763 00:49:05,040 --> 00:49:09,000 in Genesis chapter 49. You stay with me, we'll 764 00:49:09,000 --> 00:49:13,040 appreciate this one day. Genesis chapter 49 verse 10 says 765 00:49:13,040 --> 00:49:15,840 the scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the rulers staffed 766 00:49:15,840 --> 00:49:19,520 from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come, 767 00:49:19,600 --> 00:49:22,520 talking about the birth of the Messiah, and the obedience of 768 00:49:22,520 --> 00:49:27,000 the nation shall be his. This is a prophecy about Christ 769 00:49:27,160 --> 00:49:32,000 way back in Genesis chapter 49, coming from the tribe of Judah. 770 00:49:33,080 --> 00:49:36,200 This was fulfilled. Hebrews Chapter 7 verse 14 says, 771 00:49:36,200 --> 00:49:40,240 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in 772 00:49:40,240 --> 00:49:43,120 regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 773 00:49:43,880 --> 00:49:46,520 What is happening here? He comes from the line in the 774 00:49:46,560 --> 00:49:52,600 order of Melchizedek, who was a royal priest. 775 00:49:52,600 --> 00:50:00,040 Judah is the royal lineage of Christ, and he fulfills that by 776 00:50:00,040 --> 00:50:05,360 His birth through just a little bit of study about his lineage 777 00:50:05,360 --> 00:50:08,920 and his genealogy that Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, 778 00:50:08,920 --> 00:50:11,960 just as Genesis 49 said that the Savior would. 779 00:50:13,360 --> 00:50:14,920 We also see that he's the root of Jesse. 780 00:50:17,000 --> 00:50:22,520 Isaiah says this in Isaiah 11, one confirming where Jesus would 781 00:50:22,520 --> 00:50:25,320 stem from in his humanity. He said a shoot will come up 782 00:50:25,480 --> 00:50:27,440 from the stump of Jesse, from his roots. 783 00:50:27,440 --> 00:50:32,200 A branch will bear fruit. We see that prophecy is 784 00:50:32,200 --> 00:50:35,880 fulfilled in Matthew chapter one verse 6, and Jesse, the father 785 00:50:35,960 --> 00:50:39,840 of King David, the Jesse that Jesus was going to come from, 786 00:50:39,840 --> 00:50:43,680 the Messiah is going to come from who we know now is Jesus. 787 00:50:44,520 --> 00:50:47,440 He says he'll come from the stump of Jesse. 788 00:50:48,040 --> 00:50:52,200 That shoot will arise out of the lineage of Jesse the father of 789 00:50:52,200 --> 00:50:55,400 David fulfilled as we see in Matthew chapter one verse 6 790 00:50:55,400 --> 00:50:59,200 again and that lineage that we so often decide not to read. 791 00:51:01,040 --> 00:51:04,880 He confirms it but also when we study that lineage, though there 792 00:51:04,880 --> 00:51:07,160 are many names that I would just encourage you and your time 793 00:51:07,160 --> 00:51:10,440 research those names see who all is in the lineage of Christ. 794 00:51:10,440 --> 00:51:14,160 You'll be surprised. Many of them we see a very 795 00:51:14,160 --> 00:51:18,760 important one that is that Jesus was, we're told to be a 796 00:51:18,760 --> 00:51:21,040 descendant of David. Of course, if he comes from 797 00:51:21,040 --> 00:51:23,720 Jesse, we know that Jesse was the father of David. 798 00:51:23,720 --> 00:51:25,760 He would then of course, come from David, but that's 799 00:51:25,760 --> 00:51:28,200 confirmed. But it was prophesied about in 800 00:51:28,200 --> 00:51:34,240 Jeremiah 23 and in Jeremiah 23 verse 5, the prophet Jeremiah 801 00:51:35,200 --> 00:51:41,560 says plainly and clearly that Christ would stem from the 802 00:51:41,560 --> 00:51:43,240 throne of David. The days are coming, he says in 803 00:51:43,240 --> 00:51:46,120 verse 5 declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a 804 00:51:46,160 --> 00:51:51,520 righteous branch, a king who will reign wisely and do what is 805 00:51:51,520 --> 00:51:56,480 just and right in the land. We see there in Matthew chapter 806 00:51:56,480 --> 00:52:01,320 1, looking at the beginning of the genealogy of Christ, that he 807 00:52:01,320 --> 00:52:06,840 was Jesus, the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham, 808 00:52:07,160 --> 00:52:09,880 and you can trace it all out to find this. 809 00:52:10,840 --> 00:52:15,240 That the people of Jesus lineage and the fulfillment of those 810 00:52:15,240 --> 00:52:19,880 prophecies surrounding the lineage of Jesus Christ gives us 811 00:52:20,040 --> 00:52:27,120 overwhelming evidence to believe that that baby is and was 812 00:52:27,120 --> 00:52:33,520 exactly who that Angel said. That he is so the fulfillment of 813 00:52:33,520 --> 00:52:35,560 these prophecies surrounding the birth of Christ. 814 00:52:35,560 --> 00:52:37,600 Not to mention all the other prophecies that we haven't 815 00:52:37,600 --> 00:52:43,560 mentioned today. Statistically, it could have 816 00:52:43,560 --> 00:52:46,560 never happened so accurately. Why don't you thankful that God 817 00:52:46,560 --> 00:52:48,480 doesn't work in the realm of statistics, man does. 818 00:52:49,840 --> 00:52:54,400 God has the power to call things that aren't as if they were. 819 00:52:55,120 --> 00:52:58,000 And that's what he's doing here. Fulfilling every word of 820 00:52:58,000 --> 00:53:03,320 prophecy surrounding the birth of Jesus the Christ, giving us 821 00:53:03,320 --> 00:53:07,520 evidence to believe confidently. We don't put our trust in some 822 00:53:07,520 --> 00:53:10,960 baby who grew up and did nothing, some baby who grew up 823 00:53:10,960 --> 00:53:13,720 and gave his mother and father grief and then moved off to some 824 00:53:13,720 --> 00:53:16,720 foreign land and wasted his life and righteous living. 825 00:53:19,040 --> 00:53:22,720 Of the baby that we celebrate as we look to that Manger, we look 826 00:53:22,720 --> 00:53:26,400 to that moment in Bethlehem, whenever it may have been. 827 00:53:28,600 --> 00:53:34,920 We look to to the birth of Christ, the only one true and 828 00:53:34,920 --> 00:53:38,320 living Savior. Thirdly, this baby was truly the 829 00:53:38,320 --> 00:53:42,200 Savior because of the act of his propitiation. 830 00:53:42,200 --> 00:53:47,040 Don't miss this one. Don't miss the fact that Jesus 831 00:53:47,840 --> 00:53:53,960 made propitiation to ultimately prove that this baby was the 832 00:53:53,960 --> 00:53:55,560 Christ. We have to ask this. 833 00:53:55,560 --> 00:54:02,880 Question Did Jesus complete the mission of the Messiah? 834 00:54:03,760 --> 00:54:07,160 Did he complete that mission? Did he do what it takes to save 835 00:54:07,160 --> 00:54:09,800 sinners? Because according to Matthew in 836 00:54:09,800 --> 00:54:14,160 reference to the birth of Jesus Christ, Matthew there and 837 00:54:14,160 --> 00:54:19,760 Matthew chapter one verse 21 says that he will save his 838 00:54:19,760 --> 00:54:26,360 people from their sins. And so we have to ask, did this 839 00:54:26,360 --> 00:54:31,600 baby Jesus grow to do that? Did He accomplish this? 840 00:54:31,600 --> 00:54:34,160 Let me answer it for you before any of you have any doubt. 841 00:54:34,160 --> 00:54:39,880 Yes, yes he did. But let's don't just stop at a 842 00:54:39,880 --> 00:54:42,840 simple yes. Let's talk about the act of His 843 00:54:43,000 --> 00:54:45,240 propitiation. And I know what happens, right? 844 00:54:46,440 --> 00:54:48,960 We don't know what that means. That's what my job is, to tell 845 00:54:48,960 --> 00:54:52,280 you what that means. When we talk about the 846 00:54:52,280 --> 00:54:55,040 propitiation, we are talking about the atoning work of 847 00:54:55,040 --> 00:54:58,320 Christ. And if Christ did a lot of good 848 00:54:58,320 --> 00:55:02,640 things and was a great prophet, but did not make propitiation 849 00:55:02,640 --> 00:55:06,360 for sinners, He's not that baby who was born in Bethlehem. 850 00:55:06,360 --> 00:55:09,760 But. That baby who was born in 851 00:55:09,760 --> 00:55:17,280 Bethlehem grew, and He offered Himself as a sacrifice of 852 00:55:17,280 --> 00:55:21,680 atonement on the cross for all who will believe and trust in 853 00:55:21,680 --> 00:55:24,960 Him. He did truly come to save His 854 00:55:25,080 --> 00:55:28,720 four ordained people from their sin. 855 00:55:28,800 --> 00:55:35,160 He has rescued us through His. Atoning work and how? 856 00:55:35,160 --> 00:55:37,680 How's this possible, right? We can learn a bunch of church 857 00:55:37,680 --> 00:55:40,520 words, propitiation and atonement, and you can go around 858 00:55:40,520 --> 00:55:42,720 and talk like you know what those mean, but do you know what 859 00:55:42,720 --> 00:55:46,320 that means? His propitiation was this. 860 00:55:46,320 --> 00:55:49,720 It was a pleasing sacrifice. He said those two things don't 861 00:55:49,720 --> 00:55:52,360 really even go together. What do you mean it was a 862 00:55:52,360 --> 00:55:57,440 pleasing sacrifice? Christ's propitiation, His 863 00:55:57,440 --> 00:56:02,960 sacrifice, was the first and only sacrifice that has ever or 864 00:56:03,000 --> 00:56:06,480 will ever completely please the Father. 865 00:56:08,000 --> 00:56:10,800 How do I know this? Because I read the Word of God, 866 00:56:12,720 --> 00:56:17,320 I know this, that it was impossible for the blood of 867 00:56:17,320 --> 00:56:20,120 bulls and goats to take away sin. 868 00:56:20,120 --> 00:56:24,520 According to Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 4, those sacrifices 869 00:56:24,520 --> 00:56:27,440 only pointed to the greater sacrifice. 870 00:56:27,560 --> 00:56:31,280 Who is the Christ? The one who satisfies the Father 871 00:56:31,360 --> 00:56:35,160 in His sacrifice. So Christ's propitiation 872 00:56:36,040 --> 00:56:43,120 satisfied God's requirement. This propitiation required a 873 00:56:43,120 --> 00:56:48,080 spotless sacrifice, and that's who Christ really was first 874 00:56:48,080 --> 00:56:50,560 Peter, chapter one, verse 18. For you know that it was not 875 00:56:50,560 --> 00:56:52,920 with perishable things such as silver or gold, that you were 876 00:56:52,920 --> 00:56:55,560 redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from 877 00:56:55,560 --> 00:56:58,000 your ancestors. He's talking about your sin, but 878 00:56:58,000 --> 00:57:01,720 with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish 879 00:57:01,960 --> 00:57:04,480 or defect. It's that same Peter who calls 880 00:57:04,480 --> 00:57:09,480 him our Passover lamb. So it's Jesus and his perfect 881 00:57:09,640 --> 00:57:14,120 spotless propitiation, His perfect and pure sacrifice. 882 00:57:14,360 --> 00:57:19,800 It is that satisfies God's requirement fulfilling the 883 00:57:19,800 --> 00:57:22,240 Passover picture. Will you remember the Passover? 884 00:57:22,920 --> 00:57:25,480 They were to take a lamb without spot or without blemish. 885 00:57:25,480 --> 00:57:27,160 Now, is there really any such thing? 886 00:57:28,200 --> 00:57:29,760 I'll help you. No, there's not. 887 00:57:30,520 --> 00:57:33,560 When man fell in the garden, that's why I believe in original 888 00:57:33,560 --> 00:57:35,240 sin. It didn't only affect mankind, 889 00:57:35,320 --> 00:57:38,440 it affected the whole world. And in fact, creation groans for 890 00:57:38,440 --> 00:57:44,040 redemption. It was never really a lamb or a 891 00:57:44,040 --> 00:57:48,240 calf that was unblemished. He was only unblemished to the 892 00:57:48,240 --> 00:57:50,560 sinful human eye. But God knew the true story, 893 00:57:50,560 --> 00:57:56,400 didn't he? But in Christ we see for the 894 00:57:56,400 --> 00:58:00,440 first time a true spotless sacrifice, that true spotless 895 00:58:00,440 --> 00:58:05,240 propitiation that the Passover pointed toward toward. 896 00:58:05,400 --> 00:58:08,960 We know that the Old Testament things were shadows of 897 00:58:08,960 --> 00:58:11,200 realities, and even some of those realities still yet to 898 00:58:11,200 --> 00:58:15,840 come. And what we see pictified in the 899 00:58:15,840 --> 00:58:19,680 sacrifice of the Passover was the reality of the sacrifice and 900 00:58:19,680 --> 00:58:23,640 the propitiation of Jesus on a cross, the same Jesus who was 901 00:58:23,640 --> 00:58:26,480 born in that Manger in Bethlehem. 902 00:58:27,680 --> 00:58:36,240 He would grow wisdom and stature as the God man, the only 903 00:58:36,240 --> 00:58:41,880 acceptable and spotless sacrifice that would satisfy 904 00:58:41,880 --> 00:58:47,520 God's requirement. He satisfied the Father's 905 00:58:47,520 --> 00:58:52,160 requirement by his spotless sacrifice and by His sufficient 906 00:58:52,160 --> 00:58:54,720 sacrifice. I want you to understand this 907 00:58:54,720 --> 00:58:58,480 today, that Christ sacrifice is sufficient. 908 00:58:58,680 --> 00:59:02,200 You don't have to sacrifice anything so that you can be 909 00:59:02,200 --> 00:59:03,880 saved. You don't have to sacrifice 910 00:59:03,880 --> 00:59:07,680 lambs or goats or time or effort. 911 00:59:08,600 --> 00:59:12,320 All of that has been taken care of in Christ. 912 00:59:13,520 --> 00:59:21,560 He is this perfect Passover lamb, spotless, satisfying God's 913 00:59:21,560 --> 00:59:25,800 requirement, sufficient in His propitiation. 914 00:59:25,800 --> 00:59:27,320 Hebrews 912. If you want to see the 915 00:59:27,320 --> 00:59:30,240 sufficiency of His sacrifice, it says this. 916 00:59:30,240 --> 00:59:32,840 He did not enter by the means of blood and goats and calves, but 917 00:59:32,840 --> 00:59:36,440 He entered the most holy place once for all by His own blood, 918 00:59:36,440 --> 00:59:39,360 thus obtaining eternal redemption. 919 00:59:39,440 --> 00:59:43,480 Why is that term eternal redemption a sound that ought to 920 00:59:43,480 --> 00:59:46,400 cause us to rejoice? Because prior to this. 921 00:59:46,400 --> 00:59:49,640 The lambs that were sacrificed on the Day of Atonement were 922 00:59:49,640 --> 00:59:53,240 only good for one year, and every year the priest would have 923 00:59:53,240 --> 00:59:55,960 to come back again, and he would have to make sacrifice first for 924 00:59:55,960 --> 00:59:58,520 himself, and then he would have to have to make sacrifice for 925 00:59:58,520 --> 01:00:01,040 everyone else. And those sacrifices were only 926 01:00:01,040 --> 01:00:03,680 pictures pointing us to an acceptable sacrifice. 927 01:00:03,840 --> 01:00:07,000 And here the author of Hebrews says this, that in the sacrifice 928 01:00:07,000 --> 01:00:12,320 of Christ this was made once for all who believe and trust in Him 929 01:00:12,320 --> 01:00:17,880 by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 930 01:00:18,760 --> 01:00:23,680 Any other sacrifice is not eternal, but the propitiation of 931 01:00:23,760 --> 01:00:25,920 Jesus Christ is an eternal sacrifice. 932 01:00:26,040 --> 01:00:28,360 I have people who don't want to believe in the doctrine of 933 01:00:28,360 --> 01:00:31,080 eternal security. Now I will tell you this. 934 01:00:31,200 --> 01:00:33,760 I believe in the doctrine of eternal security because I 935 01:00:33,760 --> 01:00:36,000 believe in the eternal propitiation. 936 01:00:36,080 --> 01:00:38,480 Of the sacrifice of Christ. And there's nothing that anyone 937 01:00:38,480 --> 01:00:42,720 can do to take that away. If you were in Christ, you 938 01:00:42,720 --> 01:00:46,760 recovered in His eternal sacrifice, sacrifice that he 939 01:00:46,760 --> 01:00:51,440 made once for all, satisfying God's requirement of a 940 01:00:51,440 --> 01:00:54,320 sufficient sacrifice. Hebrews chapter 10 it. 941 01:00:54,320 --> 01:00:57,800 Doesn't by that will verse 10, we have been made holy through 942 01:00:57,800 --> 01:01:02,120 the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 943 01:01:02,280 --> 01:01:04,400 Why are any of us in this room holy? 944 01:01:05,280 --> 01:01:09,440 Not because you're holy in and of yourself, but because that 945 01:01:09,440 --> 01:01:14,080 baby that was born in the Manger who grew up truly and perfectly, 946 01:01:14,080 --> 01:01:16,240 God and man, all at the same time. 947 01:01:17,240 --> 01:01:20,480 He died on a cross, and He offered himself in your place as 948 01:01:22,240 --> 01:01:27,560 your Passover lamb as a sufficient sacrifice and met the 949 01:01:27,560 --> 01:01:31,720 requirements of God. Hebrews 10/14 For by 1 sacrifice 950 01:01:31,720 --> 01:01:34,880 He is made perfect forever. Those who are being made holy. 951 01:01:34,880 --> 01:01:35,880 You know what he's talking about there. 952 01:01:35,880 --> 01:01:37,360 He's talking about our justification and our 953 01:01:37,360 --> 01:01:39,120 sanctification. He's saying you are being made 954 01:01:39,120 --> 01:01:41,520 holy, that sanctification. But you are already perfect. 955 01:01:41,640 --> 01:01:43,440 And why am I perfect? Because I'm perfect? 956 01:01:43,440 --> 01:01:47,160 No, not at all. Spend some time with me, you'll 957 01:01:47,160 --> 01:01:50,640 find out. No, I'm perfect because the 958 01:01:50,640 --> 01:01:52,360 propitiation of Christ is perfect. 959 01:01:52,640 --> 01:01:55,640 Because Christ is perfect, and He offered His perfection on my 960 01:01:55,640 --> 01:01:57,240 behalf. That's why I'm perfect. 961 01:01:57,360 --> 01:01:59,520 And because I'm perfect, I'm being made holy. 962 01:01:59,600 --> 01:02:01,920 Why? Because those He foreknew, He 963 01:02:01,920 --> 01:02:04,000 did also predestined. Those He predestined He called. 964 01:02:04,120 --> 01:02:08,080 Those He called, He justified, declared me as righteous. 965 01:02:09,200 --> 01:02:10,080 Those He. Justified. 966 01:02:10,080 --> 01:02:12,960 He did also glorify. One day He's going to perfect 967 01:02:12,960 --> 01:02:13,240 me. Why? 968 01:02:13,240 --> 01:02:15,080 Because He's the author and the perfector of my faith. 969 01:02:15,080 --> 01:02:17,840 And in the meanwhile, He is making me holy through the 970 01:02:17,840 --> 01:02:20,920 process of sanctification. But all of that happens because 971 01:02:20,920 --> 01:02:23,200 of what? The perfect propitiation of 972 01:02:23,280 --> 01:02:26,760 Jesus Christ, that pleasing sacrifice that was made once and 973 01:02:26,760 --> 01:02:29,720 for all. Satisfied God's requirement 974 01:02:30,320 --> 01:02:36,280 could have just been anyone that would die as an acceptable 975 01:02:36,280 --> 01:02:39,720 sacrifice to a thrice holy God. No, it must be. 976 01:02:40,640 --> 01:02:46,720 Emmanuel, the God man, God in flesh, dying, sacrificing 977 01:02:46,720 --> 01:02:53,200 himself to satisfy the requirements of the Father. 978 01:02:53,800 --> 01:02:58,040 But what about also to satisfy not only God's requirement, 979 01:02:58,040 --> 01:03:02,200 God's wrath? I know, Kurt, don't ruin the 980 01:03:02,200 --> 01:03:04,800 joyous time of Christmas. We just sing joy to the world. 981 01:03:04,920 --> 01:03:06,320 You're going to talk about the wrath of God? 982 01:03:06,440 --> 01:03:09,880 Yes, because I have been freed from the wrath of God through 983 01:03:09,880 --> 01:03:12,560 the propitiation of Christ, I can now have joy. 984 01:03:13,640 --> 01:03:16,240 I'm going to talk to you about that because some of you, like I 985 01:03:16,240 --> 01:03:20,040 once was, are still under the wrath of God and all you are 986 01:03:20,040 --> 01:03:24,680 doing with your sinful life is storing up more wrath for all 987 01:03:24,680 --> 01:03:27,320 eternity. I want you to hear the truth 988 01:03:27,320 --> 01:03:31,000 about this One who was declared by this Angel in Luke chapter 2 989 01:03:31,160 --> 01:03:33,320 to be the Savior. I want you to hear that truth, 990 01:03:33,480 --> 01:03:35,880 and I want you to bow to that Savior so that He can forgive 991 01:03:35,880 --> 01:03:38,480 you of your sin before it is everlastingly too late. 992 01:03:40,160 --> 01:03:41,440 So let's talk about that for a moment. 993 01:03:42,720 --> 01:03:44,920 The propitiation of Christ satisfied God's wrath. 994 01:03:45,760 --> 01:03:49,440 How? He took our punishment upon 995 01:03:49,440 --> 01:03:52,120 himself. Yes, the same one that I told 996 01:03:52,120 --> 01:03:55,000 you a moment ago was completely perfect and completely sinless. 997 01:03:55,080 --> 01:03:58,320 Why did he die for someone else's sin? 998 01:03:58,440 --> 01:04:00,680 Because it was the will of the Father. 999 01:04:01,960 --> 01:04:10,880 And to please the Father, Isaiah said to crush him because he was 1000 01:04:10,880 --> 01:04:16,760 and will ever be the only sacrifice that will ever satisfy 1001 01:04:16,760 --> 01:04:21,680 God's wrath. Jesus did that on behalf of 1002 01:04:21,680 --> 01:04:24,120 those who will believe and trust in Him. 1003 01:04:24,320 --> 01:04:28,640 Oh, in Isaiah chapter 53. We see this, don't we, in the 1004 01:04:28,640 --> 01:04:31,480 Word of God? Verse 5 But He was pierced for 1005 01:04:31,480 --> 01:04:33,240 our transgressions. He was crushed for our 1006 01:04:33,240 --> 01:04:35,120 iniquities. The punishment that brought us 1007 01:04:35,120 --> 01:04:38,680 peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. 1008 01:04:39,040 --> 01:04:40,560 We all, like sheep, have gone astray. 1009 01:04:40,560 --> 01:04:44,280 Each of us has turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on 1010 01:04:44,440 --> 01:04:49,440 him Christ. The Lord has laid on him the 1011 01:04:49,440 --> 01:04:56,640 iniquity of us. All it's Christ who took the 1012 01:04:56,640 --> 01:04:59,640 punishment of Irish sin upon himself. 1013 01:05:01,040 --> 01:05:08,120 He did it there at the cross, making propitiation that not 1014 01:05:08,120 --> 01:05:10,920 only satisfied God's requirements, but satisfied 1015 01:05:10,920 --> 01:05:13,600 God's wrath. He said, well, who does God 1016 01:05:13,600 --> 01:05:15,560 think that He is to be wrathful towards sin? 1017 01:05:15,560 --> 01:05:18,920 He's the holy God, thrice holy. He has every right to be 1018 01:05:18,920 --> 01:05:22,560 indignant toward sin. And you know what God doesn't 1019 01:05:22,560 --> 01:05:23,680 do? This is what modern 1020 01:05:23,760 --> 01:05:25,600 evangelicalism thinks. Here's what they think. 1021 01:05:25,600 --> 01:05:29,760 Some of you think this, that because Christ came and because 1022 01:05:29,760 --> 01:05:31,880 Christ lived a perfect life and because Christ died on the 1023 01:05:31,880 --> 01:05:33,640 cross, God just overlooks your sin. 1024 01:05:36,400 --> 01:05:38,920 That is the Americanized gospel, and it's a farce. 1025 01:05:38,920 --> 01:05:44,000 It's heresy. God never overlooks sin. 1026 01:05:45,960 --> 01:05:50,280 He took the punishment of. Your sin if you were in Christ, 1027 01:05:50,280 --> 01:05:53,600 and all who are in Christ. And he took the wrath and the 1028 01:05:53,600 --> 01:05:56,320 punishment that belonged to you and belonged to me. 1029 01:05:56,480 --> 01:06:00,760 And he laid that wrath upon the back of His only begotten Son on 1030 01:06:00,760 --> 01:06:05,520 a cross outside of Calvary. And in that He made propitiation 1031 01:06:05,520 --> 01:06:11,720 for our sin, taking our punishment on his own back. 1032 01:06:13,440 --> 01:06:17,080 Peter says in first Peter chapter 2 verse 24, He himself 1033 01:06:17,080 --> 01:06:20,720 bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to 1034 01:06:20,720 --> 01:06:23,800 sins and live for righteousness. He then quotes Isaiah. 1035 01:06:23,800 --> 01:06:26,440 By his wounds you have been healed. 1036 01:06:26,440 --> 01:06:33,840 It is Christ himself, sinless and perfect Messiah, who was 1037 01:06:33,840 --> 01:06:38,800 born your sin, taking your punishment upon Himself, 1038 01:06:41,280 --> 01:06:43,680 satisfying God's wrath by taking that punishment. 1039 01:06:44,440 --> 01:06:46,640 There had to be wrath, there had to be justice. 1040 01:06:48,560 --> 01:06:52,360 Christ bore that wrath, and you're set by taking it upon 1041 01:06:52,360 --> 01:06:54,800 Himself. By paying our penalty of death, 1042 01:06:54,800 --> 01:06:58,800 didn't we owe death? That not what God told Adam and 1043 01:06:58,800 --> 01:07:00,480 Eve was going to happen. You eat of it, you'll die. 1044 01:07:01,240 --> 01:07:02,840 That not the truth that's appointed on demand. 1045 01:07:02,840 --> 01:07:05,640 Who wants to die? That's the penalty of sin. 1046 01:07:05,800 --> 01:07:09,400 Jesus Christ died on that cross. So don't think for a second 1047 01:07:09,400 --> 01:07:10,440 listen to these liberal scholars. 1048 01:07:10,440 --> 01:07:12,640 They maybe he didn't really die. It's not that essential that he 1049 01:07:12,640 --> 01:07:13,520 really died. Died. 1050 01:07:13,520 --> 01:07:17,600 No, he died died. He was dead, dead, completely 1051 01:07:17,600 --> 01:07:19,960 dead. That's why when we talk about 1052 01:07:19,960 --> 01:07:21,800 the Gospel, we talk about his death, his burial, because you 1053 01:07:21,800 --> 01:07:24,200 don't bury live people. You take them to the hospital. 1054 01:07:25,480 --> 01:07:29,720 He died and he was buried. He was executed by professional 1055 01:07:29,800 --> 01:07:31,960 murderers. They know when somebody's dead. 1056 01:07:32,080 --> 01:07:34,600 In fact, they were artists at bringing someone to the point of 1057 01:07:34,600 --> 01:07:38,000 death and then letting them have some relief so that they can 1058 01:07:38,120 --> 01:07:41,240 make the torture last longer. He was dead. 1059 01:07:42,160 --> 01:07:44,360 Why? Because the sin is death. 1060 01:07:46,640 --> 01:07:50,320 But the wrath of God, our death, those of us who are in Christ, 1061 01:07:50,320 --> 01:07:53,080 was satisfied. Romans 623 For the wage of sin 1062 01:07:53,080 --> 01:07:56,560 is death. But the gift of God is eternal 1063 01:07:56,560 --> 01:07:58,080 life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1064 01:07:58,080 --> 01:07:59,320 Does that mean just praying a little prayer? 1065 01:07:59,320 --> 01:08:03,800 No, that means honestly trusting in every single element of the 1066 01:08:03,800 --> 01:08:06,680 propitiation of Christ for the only hope that you have of 1067 01:08:06,680 --> 01:08:08,160 salvation. That's what that means. 1068 01:08:08,520 --> 01:08:10,600 That word not for Christ and His sacrifice. 1069 01:08:10,800 --> 01:08:14,280 I would split hell wide open and rightfully so. 1070 01:08:16,479 --> 01:08:18,040 Not offended Holy God by my sin he. 1071 01:08:19,640 --> 01:08:23,800 Has every right to be wrathful toward me instead of executing 1072 01:08:23,800 --> 01:08:29,120 His wrath on me, and why I will never know other than the grace 1073 01:08:29,120 --> 01:08:31,960 and the mercy of God. Instead of exercising His wrath 1074 01:08:31,960 --> 01:08:37,680 upon me, He exercised His wrath upon that baby in Luke chapter 1075 01:08:37,680 --> 01:08:45,319 2, who grew to be the grown man, the God man who offered himself 1076 01:08:45,319 --> 01:08:47,760 on a cross on behalf of all who would trust in Him. 1077 01:08:48,040 --> 01:08:53,000 He bore my punishment. Oh, the cross becomes real when 1078 01:08:53,000 --> 01:08:55,560 we understand that it's not just another event. 1079 01:08:55,720 --> 01:08:57,920 It's not just a little charm on your necklace that you say, oh, 1080 01:08:57,920 --> 01:08:59,880 that's a cute cross. It's not cute at all. 1081 01:09:01,319 --> 01:09:07,240 Emmanuel gave himself as a propitiation because I'm a 1082 01:09:07,240 --> 01:09:12,359 Sinner satisfying the very wrath of God. 1083 01:09:13,000 --> 01:09:14,120 How doesn't that stand to reason? 1084 01:09:14,120 --> 01:09:18,880 Propitiation is really not made unless the offended party is 1085 01:09:18,880 --> 01:09:21,479 satisfied or pleased. It wouldn't be propitiation. 1086 01:09:22,040 --> 01:09:24,080 It would be hey man, you still owe me something. 1087 01:09:26,720 --> 01:09:32,399 Nothing is owed. Jesus paid it all. 1088 01:09:33,439 --> 01:09:39,960 He truly pleased the Father and satisfied His wrath by His 1089 01:09:39,960 --> 01:09:44,560 propitiation, just as Isaiah said it pleased the Lord to 1090 01:09:44,560 --> 01:09:49,920 crush him, fulfilling the very will of God to redeem sinners 1091 01:09:49,920 --> 01:09:55,520 like me and like you. This was a pleasing sacrifice, 1092 01:09:55,600 --> 01:09:58,480 propitiation in the act of this propitiation, but it was also a 1093 01:09:58,480 --> 01:10:01,400 powerful sacrifice. It was powerful. 1094 01:10:02,160 --> 01:10:06,480 It powerfully redeems sinners. Did you know it was? 1095 01:10:06,480 --> 01:10:09,320 It would be an impossibility without the perfect propitiation 1096 01:10:09,320 --> 01:10:11,640 of Christ for any Sinner to be redeemed. 1097 01:10:11,640 --> 01:10:14,920 I already told you, none of our sacrifices would work. 1098 01:10:15,040 --> 01:10:16,800 None of the sacrifices of the Old Testament work. 1099 01:10:16,960 --> 01:10:19,000 No, none. None of our our penance would 1100 01:10:19,000 --> 01:10:20,400 work. None of our works would work. 1101 01:10:20,400 --> 01:10:26,880 Nothing can save us. The only one who can save us is 1102 01:10:26,880 --> 01:10:30,320 Christ through His powerful sacrifice is that powerful 1103 01:10:30,320 --> 01:10:33,440 sacrifice that redeems sinners, and that powerful sacrifice 1104 01:10:33,440 --> 01:10:37,520 alone. So please know this, if Jesus 1105 01:10:37,520 --> 01:10:40,400 didn't purchase sinners by His blood, and that's exactly what 1106 01:10:40,400 --> 01:10:46,000 He did, there would be no case for the baby in the Manger. 1107 01:10:47,560 --> 01:10:52,880 He would have saved no one. However, not only does He save 1108 01:10:53,040 --> 01:11:00,240 those who believe, He powerfully saves those who believe He did. 1109 01:11:00,240 --> 01:11:03,800 Truly. Come to save and rescue his 1110 01:11:03,800 --> 01:11:06,320 people from their sin. Ephesians chapter one, verse 7. 1111 01:11:06,320 --> 01:11:08,600 In him we have redemption through his blood. 1112 01:11:08,600 --> 01:11:10,800 That's that propitiation. In him we have redemption 1113 01:11:10,800 --> 01:11:13,040 through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. 1114 01:11:13,160 --> 01:11:15,640 And without him we would have no forgiveness. 1115 01:11:15,640 --> 01:11:19,960 Please understand that without him we would be rightfully 1116 01:11:19,960 --> 01:11:25,640 condemned to hell. But in Christ we have a powerful 1117 01:11:25,640 --> 01:11:32,600 sacrifice that I can attest to is able to save the most vile 1118 01:11:32,640 --> 01:11:37,760 and wicked of sinners. Oh, what a powerful sacrifice. 1119 01:11:37,760 --> 01:11:46,240 Powerfully redeeming sinners, but also powerfully reconciling 1120 01:11:46,240 --> 01:11:49,680 enemies. I know this is a hard concept 1121 01:11:49,680 --> 01:11:54,200 for Americans because you're brought up incorrectly that 1122 01:11:54,200 --> 01:11:56,400 because you live in a Christian nation. 1123 01:11:56,400 --> 01:11:58,520 And I don't even know how we feel right calling it that 1124 01:11:58,520 --> 01:12:02,280 anymore. But because you were raised in 1125 01:12:02,280 --> 01:12:04,920 some judeo-christian ideology, let's do that. 1126 01:12:10,640 --> 01:12:14,440 You're born a child of God. You're friend of God. 1127 01:12:15,360 --> 01:12:17,080 God's got your back when you need him. 1128 01:12:17,960 --> 01:12:21,440 All the silly Chris cliches that bad theology has taught us 1129 01:12:21,440 --> 01:12:27,960 throughout the years. But the fact is this, apart from 1130 01:12:27,960 --> 01:12:35,000 Christ, you're an enemy of God. You're an enemy because of your 1131 01:12:35,240 --> 01:12:39,040 own sin. Just the Scripture declares, 1132 01:12:41,520 --> 01:12:48,480 without the powerful sacrifice of Jesus Christ, there is no 1133 01:12:48,480 --> 01:12:50,840 reconciliation for the enemies of God. 1134 01:12:53,240 --> 01:12:57,520 The good news is this Jesus in that propitiation that we're 1135 01:12:57,520 --> 01:13:02,160 talking about, his atoning work on the cross, Jesus and that 1136 01:13:02,160 --> 01:13:09,840 atoning work in that sacrifice, He allows us to be reconciled in 1137 01:13:09,840 --> 01:13:11,400 our relationship toward God the Father. 1138 01:13:12,240 --> 01:13:18,160 Romans 510 says this For if while we were God's enemies, we 1139 01:13:18,160 --> 01:13:22,200 were reconciled to Him through the death of his Son, how much 1140 01:13:22,200 --> 01:13:26,360 more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his 1141 01:13:26,360 --> 01:13:30,720 life? Jesus powerfully reconciles 1142 01:13:30,840 --> 01:13:34,400 those who were once enemies of God because of their sin. 1143 01:13:35,160 --> 01:13:39,280 Not only does he reconcile them through His propitiation, that 1144 01:13:39,280 --> 01:13:41,440 sacrifice we know three days later. 1145 01:13:41,440 --> 01:13:43,400 He rose from the grave after that burial. 1146 01:13:44,000 --> 01:13:47,720 And we know also that some days later he ascended into heaven 1147 01:13:47,720 --> 01:13:50,400 where he had come from. And now we know that he sits at 1148 01:13:50,400 --> 01:13:52,200 the right hand of the throne of the Father. 1149 01:13:52,320 --> 01:13:55,760 And what he is now doing is he is forever making intercession. 1150 01:13:55,760 --> 01:13:59,760 In fact, He lives to intercession for us, a person 1151 01:13:59,760 --> 01:14:03,440 who was once his enemy and now I'm his son, adopted into his 1152 01:14:03,440 --> 01:14:06,960 family through his propitiation, that powerful sacrifice. 1153 01:14:07,080 --> 01:14:09,200 And now he is interceding for me. 1154 01:14:09,280 --> 01:14:12,560 He is speaking life over me. He is praying for me. 1155 01:14:13,920 --> 01:14:18,080 That is the Jesus that was born in that Manger outside of 1156 01:14:18,080 --> 01:14:22,880 Bethlehem. I pray that you see him for who 1157 01:14:22,920 --> 01:14:27,280 He really is, the one who powerfully reconciles the 1158 01:14:27,280 --> 01:14:32,240 enemies of God. When I was once that enemy, 1159 01:14:34,040 --> 01:14:44,160 Colossians chapter 1 verse 19 says this. 1160 01:14:44,160 --> 01:14:52,950 Read it with me. For God was pleased to have all 1161 01:14:52,950 --> 01:14:56,720 His fullness dwell in Him, talking about Christ, and 1162 01:14:56,720 --> 01:14:59,920 through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether 1163 01:14:59,920 --> 01:15:05,040 things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through 1164 01:15:05,040 --> 01:15:09,600 His blood shed on the cross. So we see the incarnation of 1165 01:15:09,600 --> 01:15:11,120 Emmanuel. We see the. 1166 01:15:11,120 --> 01:15:13,920 Cross of his sacrifice, that propitiation we see the peace 1167 01:15:13,920 --> 01:15:16,960 that he brings through his blood, reconciling us to God. 1168 01:15:17,040 --> 01:15:21,520 Watch what he says about US. 21 Once you were alienated from God 1169 01:15:22,280 --> 01:15:25,880 and we're enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior, 1170 01:15:25,880 --> 01:15:31,240 but now he has reconciled you by Christ physical body through 1171 01:15:31,240 --> 01:15:36,280 death, to present you wholly in his sight without blemish and 1172 01:15:36,280 --> 01:15:41,280 free from accusation. Oh, what a Savior when that 1173 01:15:41,280 --> 01:15:46,240 Angel declared in Luke's gospel the 11th verse of the 2nd 1174 01:15:46,240 --> 01:15:49,640 chapter today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to 1175 01:15:49,640 --> 01:15:51,200 you. He is. 1176 01:15:52,080 --> 01:15:55,520 Not he might. He is the Christ, the Lord. 1177 01:15:55,640 --> 01:16:00,400 He is who I declare that he is because I'm bringing a message 1178 01:16:00,440 --> 01:16:04,480 from God. Good tidings, great news, the 1179 01:16:04,480 --> 01:16:08,960 Gospel. That Emmanuel has come and that 1180 01:16:08,960 --> 01:16:14,240 He has offered himself as a propitiation, and He will save 1181 01:16:14,520 --> 01:16:18,560 all who repent of their sin and who trust in Him, calling upon 1182 01:16:18,560 --> 01:16:23,280 His name for salvation. He is with the Angel said that 1183 01:16:23,280 --> 01:16:25,480 he was. So what should we do? 1184 01:16:26,080 --> 01:16:35,880 Believer, you ought to respond joyfully, knowing that once you 1185 01:16:35,880 --> 01:16:38,160 were alienated from God, deserving of his wrath, but he 1186 01:16:38,160 --> 01:16:42,240 bore the wrath in your set spawn joyfully. 1187 01:16:43,160 --> 01:16:44,880 How about worshipfully? You notice everything you read 1188 01:16:44,880 --> 01:16:48,120 about the Christmas. Account every time someone 1189 01:16:48,120 --> 01:16:49,880 approached him, they just knew automatically. 1190 01:16:49,880 --> 01:16:52,280 Pal, worship him. He's worthy of her praise. 1191 01:16:52,400 --> 01:16:53,880 Oh, when you meet Jesus, you know this. 1192 01:16:53,880 --> 01:16:55,800 He's worthy of all of our praise. 1193 01:16:55,800 --> 01:16:57,800 You don't have to be taught that he's worthy. 1194 01:16:59,200 --> 01:17:03,040 Worship him like he's worthy. Well, this time of the year, the 1195 01:17:03,040 --> 01:17:07,000 Christmas season, when you sing carols and you sing hymns, sing 1196 01:17:07,000 --> 01:17:09,320 them like you mean them. Sing them like it's the latest 1197 01:17:09,320 --> 01:17:12,000 and greatest Christian Top 40 that you listen to on the radio 1198 01:17:12,120 --> 01:17:14,600 and you really just like the catchy beat, which has no 1199 01:17:14,600 --> 01:17:18,320 theology at all. Sing Hark the Herald Angels 1200 01:17:18,320 --> 01:17:19,840 sings. And know that when that Angel 1201 01:17:19,840 --> 01:17:25,360 spoke, that Angel spoke truth. Rejoice in that truth, 1202 01:17:26,520 --> 01:17:31,120 worshipfully. Thankfully, it was a hard time 1203 01:17:31,120 --> 01:17:32,720 of year for me. It's not a hard time of year for 1204 01:17:32,720 --> 01:17:35,600 me because of the hustle and bustle like everyone else. 1205 01:17:36,560 --> 01:17:38,800 It's a hard time for me because when I see those nativity 1206 01:17:38,800 --> 01:17:42,320 scenes, I know that baby in that Manger. 1207 01:17:42,320 --> 01:17:44,600 I know that's just a man's idea of a baby. 1208 01:17:44,600 --> 01:17:46,240 I get that. I'm not worshipping that little 1209 01:17:46,280 --> 01:17:49,320 ornament. I know the real story. 1210 01:17:50,600 --> 01:17:54,720 I know that He grew up, that He offered Himself to rescue me. 1211 01:17:56,440 --> 01:17:58,920 I know what He endured for this wretched, filthy Sinner. 1212 01:17:58,920 --> 01:18:01,560 I deserved none of it. It's all by His grace and His 1213 01:18:01,560 --> 01:18:03,080 mercy. You know what that does? 1214 01:18:03,080 --> 01:18:06,920 It causes me to be thankful. I'm generally overwhelmed. 1215 01:18:06,920 --> 01:18:08,240 I spend this time of year overwhelm. 1216 01:18:08,240 --> 01:18:11,000 I can't hardly read the scriptures that you've probably 1217 01:18:11,000 --> 01:18:14,680 seen today. I can't hardly pray without 1218 01:18:14,680 --> 01:18:20,120 thinking of a magnificent, marvelous plan that God had to 1219 01:18:20,120 --> 01:18:21,960 usher and Savior into this world. 1220 01:18:22,160 --> 01:18:26,360 God Incarnate, the Lord Jesus Christ, rescue undeserving 1221 01:18:26,360 --> 01:18:29,640 sinners. We should be thankful. 1222 01:18:30,640 --> 01:18:33,520 I pray this Christmas, you as believers would be thankful more 1223 01:18:33,520 --> 01:18:37,320 than you've ever been for the unbeliever. 1224 01:18:39,480 --> 01:18:43,440 My prayer for you this Christmas is this, that seeing Jesus for 1225 01:18:43,440 --> 01:18:45,760 the Savior as Scripture has defined him. 1226 01:18:47,200 --> 01:18:52,320 I pray that that would cause you to see your need for him to know 1227 01:18:52,320 --> 01:18:55,760 that God went to this extreme and went to this extent because 1228 01:18:55,760 --> 01:18:58,560 you needed a Savior, because you're a Sinner, for all the 1229 01:18:58,560 --> 01:19:00,080 sinning comes short of the glory of God. 1230 01:19:01,840 --> 01:19:03,560 There is none righteous, no, not one. 1231 01:19:04,680 --> 01:19:07,080 I pray you would see your need for Christ to see that He has 1232 01:19:07,080 --> 01:19:09,360 fulfilled the need for all sinners who will repent and 1233 01:19:09,360 --> 01:19:12,840 trust in Him. I pray that you would see the 1234 01:19:12,840 --> 01:19:16,240 fact that because of your sin, you have been alienated from 1235 01:19:16,240 --> 01:19:18,960 your Creator. That's the only way that you can 1236 01:19:18,960 --> 01:19:23,440 be reconciled to turn from your sin and to turn to the one who 1237 01:19:23,440 --> 01:19:26,040 brought reconciliation, that is to Christ and to believe and to 1238 01:19:26,040 --> 01:19:32,560 trust in Him. To know the God Incarnate was 1239 01:19:32,560 --> 01:19:36,040 truly born of a virgin, born in a Manger outside of Bethlehem, 1240 01:19:36,040 --> 01:19:40,080 who lived a perfect life, offered himself as a perfect 1241 01:19:40,080 --> 01:19:43,560 sacrifice to satisfy the perfect justice and wrath of God. 1242 01:19:46,040 --> 01:19:52,880 And he did this for even you, that he died, he was buried, 1243 01:19:54,160 --> 01:19:58,120 that he rose again, so that if you would just trust in him, you 1244 01:19:58,120 --> 01:20:02,840 would have new life and eternal life in Christ Jesus the Lord, 1245 01:20:03,960 --> 01:20:08,240 the Savior who came. Let's pray together. 1246 01:20:08,240 --> 01:20:15,440 Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank you so much for your Son, 1247 01:20:16,080 --> 01:20:20,480 Lord Jesus Christ. You obediently suffered and died 1248 01:20:20,480 --> 01:20:24,280 according to your will to fulfill that good, pleasing, and 1249 01:20:24,280 --> 01:20:28,320 perfect will. But I'm in awe that I was 1250 01:20:28,320 --> 01:20:33,760 included in that plan. I pray that others would be awed 1251 01:20:33,760 --> 01:20:36,960 by that today. I pray that if there be someone 1252 01:20:36,960 --> 01:20:40,240 here today who is not in Christ, they've never repented and 1253 01:20:40,240 --> 01:20:42,320 turned to Christ as Lord and Savior, that today you would 1254 01:20:42,320 --> 01:20:44,520 graciously allow them to do that, giving them the faith to 1255 01:20:44,520 --> 01:20:49,000 believe in the power to repent. May we trust in Christ today. 1256 01:20:50,680 --> 01:20:52,720 God, I also pray for everyone here under the sound of my 1257 01:20:52,720 --> 01:20:58,080 voice, that we not just go through the remembrance of the 1258 01:20:58,080 --> 01:21:04,160 birth of Christ once again with no lasting effect, but that we 1259 01:21:04,160 --> 01:21:07,760 see you for who you truly are, and we worship you rightfully. 1260 01:21:08,240 --> 01:21:10,560 It's joy in our hearts and Thanksgiving from our mouths, 1261 01:21:11,360 --> 01:21:12,800 giving you all the glory and all the praise. 1262 01:21:12,800 --> 01:21:14,120 And we pray these things in Christ. 1263 01:21:14,960 --> 01:21:17,760 Amen. You've been listening to Key 1264 01:21:17,760 --> 01:21:20,520 Life Fellowships pulpit ministry podcast. 1265 01:21:20,920 --> 01:21:24,080 Join us each week for more teaching from God's Word.