Sermon Born in Bethlehem Matt 1:18-2:6 Introduction

What is the “mystery of history?” What is the story of the “crowning’ glory?”

[18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. [19] And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

[20] But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. [21] She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

[22] All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: [23] “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, [2] saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” [3] When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

[4] and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. [5] They told him,

“In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: [6] “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (Matthew 1:18- 2:6 ESV)

"The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation.... They say that God became Man. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this.... It was the central event in the history of the Earth—the very thing that the whole story has been about" ( Miracles, chapter 14) C.S. Lewis

He comes down; down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity… But He goes down to come up again and bring the ruined world up with Him. C.S. Lewis

The Incarnation is a doctrine that corrects two false “isms” Docetism Humanitarianism Both views are ways in which Jesus is reduced to some sort of an example.

Glory be to God on high, And peace on earth descend; Now God comes down, He bows the sky, And shows Himself our friend! God the invisible appears, God the blest, the great I AM, He sojourns in this vale of tears, and Jesus is His name. - Charles Wesley

See the eternal Son of God A mortal Son of Man, Now dwelling in an earthly clod Whom Heaven cannot contain! Stand amazed, ye heavens, look at this! See the Lord of earth and skies Low humbled to the dust He is, And in a manger lies!

JESUS WASN’T JUST BORN IN BETHLEHEM; HE IS BORN IN YOU AND ME.

When the baby born in Bethlehem becomes a Savior born in your heart, then things happen: - You become a child of God – Jn 1:12 - You are born again to a “living hope” – 1 Peter 1:3 - Those who are born of God overcome the world and don’t practicing sin. 1 John 3:9, 5:18

We know that John is NOT saying that we have no more involvement with sin. 1 Jn 1:9-2:2 [8] If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

[10] If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2:[1] My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 1:8-2:1 ESV)

We have this new relationship to God, to Jesus and to sin because being born anew means that we have the “seed” of God in us – 1 John 3:9 The fruit of this new nature is that we would love God and one another.

[7] Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. [8] Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9] In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

[10] In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:7-11 ESV)

At the Table hear the Spirit bear witness to your spirit that you are a Beloved Child of God.