2. Matthew 1:18-25 It’s Christmas

3. Only a few verses devoted to the birth of Jesus No mention of the visit to Mary of Gabriel (cf. Lk. 1:26- 38) Only the basic facts are stated Why would Joseph want a divorce? Custom for marriage = 3 parts (1)Engagement - No involvement of the young couple (2)Betrothal - Legal commitment between the couple (3)Marriage - Followed by 7 days of celebration

4. Jesus was conceived during the legal betrothal period This involved no sexual relations Joseph assumed that Mary had been unfaithful It took an angelic message to reveal the truth (Ch. 1:20) Angel spoke of 2 aspects of the baby: 1.His nature: “from the Holy Spirit” 2.His Name: “Jesus”

5. His Nature! Ch. 1:16 = detached biologically from Adam Isa. 7:14 = from the Lord Qu. Why was it important to be born to a virgin? Because He was born to die! All born of man are already dead in Adam (1Cor. 15:22) Why? - The wages of sin IS death (Rom.6:23)

6. We will not die for our sin BUT in our sin The wages were paid out in the Garden of Eden Gen. 2:17 = the payment Eph. 4:18 = dead spiritually but alive physically We can live in this alienated state eternally That’s our choice! Do you want life?

7. The only pre-requisite for death is......LIFE Only two men have ever been born alive (1 Cor. 15:47) Only these two men have been qualified to die for sin “It is this that enabled him to accomplish as our substitute for our sin, what Adam did in his own right for his own sin—to die.” - Charles Price 2 Cor. 5:21 - “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Matt. 27:46 - “About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).”

8. His Name! Immanuel (vs. 23) = Who He is: God with us Jesus (vs. 21) = What He will do: He will save his people from their sins” He does what He does because He is who He is! The Beginning & The End