Temple Baptist Church - 12-25-2022
Luke 2:1-17; Micah 5:2
Introduction:
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a. Matthew portrays Christ as the King of Israel, and its genealogy is reckoned from Abraham.
b. Mark portrays Christ as the Servant of Man and has no recorded genealogy as servants birth was not recorded.
c. Luke portrays Christ as the Son of Man, and its genealogy is reckoned from Joseph back to Adam who was the son of God.
d. John portrays Christ as the Word and speaks of His divinity. John has no genealogy because God has none. It is in John that we see the Person and eternality of Christ.
B. Heresy concerning the birth of Christ. Some religions teach and many people believe that Christ Jesus began in a virgin’s womb some 2,000 years ago. To these, Christ Jesus is simply the offspring of Mary and had His beginning there in a stable.
C. The Bible refutes this heresy. The Bible declares that Jesus Christ was and is eternal Jehovah God. Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (This reference can only be applied to the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ thus declaring that Christ is Jehovah God, and He is eternal.)
D. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Here are a few profound verses dealing with the perpetually of Jesus Christ: Jehovah God.)
Psalms 90:1-2 Psalms 90:1 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Psalms 93:1-2 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. (2) Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
1. Who Jesus Christ Was.
a. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God!” This is the most profound statement in theology.
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
1 John 1:1-2 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (2) (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
1) Jesus Christ, as Jehovah God, has always existed! I cannot fathom His Wisdom, His Knowledge, His Power! He is beyond human comprehension. John 1:1 and 1 John 1:1 corresponds with Genesis 1:1.
2) Nowhere in the Bible is there an effort to prove the existence of God; Genesis 1:1 is a statement of fact. God is infinite in His person!
3) Eternity or infinity is a concept impossible to grasp because, in our finite minds, everything that we see or how we perceive the things that see seemingly has both a beginning and an end.
4) God has always existed and will always exist: He is eternal. In Isaiah 57:15, the Bible declares that God “inhabiteth eternity.” (The word “inhabiteth” is in a continuing sense and means to perpetually reside or to abide. To “inhabit” simply means to live. I “inhabit” Laurens, SC, but I have not always lived here. It is where I live now. God does not live in time. God exists outside of time. In the midst of eternity, God created 7,000 years of time with eternity stretching both before and after.)
b. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word.”
1) Once again, this is a declaration of fact, not one for argument or discussion. In this chapter, we find the Word was with God, the Word was God, the Word was Creator, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. (Verses 1-3)
2) The Word was and is Jesus Christ. Thus, eliminating the flawed theology of Christ deniers listed previously. (Verse 14)
c. John 8:57-58 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? (58) Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (Jesus used the words “I am”, in many instances, to reveal to Israel who He was. He not only declared Himself to be the Son of God but also Jehovah God, the Eternal One. The Jews fully understood the ramifications of this statement and took up stones to stone Him.)
2. Who He Became. Jehovah God became Jesus Christ. I cannot fathom what great Compassion, what Great Love, what Great Condescension, what Great Sacrifice that Christ made.
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
a. The Sinner’s Sacrifice - John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
b. The Saint’s Saviour - Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
c. The Church’s Hope - John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
3. Who He Is. He is Lord of all! He made it all, He owns it all, He sustains it all, it is all His.
Revelation 19:13-16 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (15) And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (16) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
a. The Word of God - John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Jesus Christ was, is, and always be the Word of God—forever settled in all of His wonderful perfection.)
b. The Propitiation of the Sinner. 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (If you are lost this morning, the payment for your sin has been paid in full and salvation is free when you repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.)
b. The Saviour of the Believer. John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (30) I and my Father are one. (He is our life, and He is our eternal life. Our Saviour and our Security!)
b. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords - 1 Timothy 6:15-16 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (16) Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. (Today, every knee should bow but, in that day, every knee WILL bow to the Lord Jesus Christ.)
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