Christ: The Head of the Church

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-14-2026

Matthew 16:13-23
 

Introduction:

A. While preaching a series on the local church, I feel the need to deal with the Church, the Body of Christ. Many preachers deny that doctrine while defaming those of us who believe it. While they defame us, they have no answers to specific Bible verses dealing with Christ’s Church.

 

B. In the context of my message for this morning, we find the proper identification of the Christ, the “Rock” upon which the church is built. “Thou art Peter (Petros - a little piece of rock), and upon this “rock” (petra – bedrock, a massive rock) I will build my church.” The foundation of the Church is not the confession of Peter, but the Person of Christ. Peter fully understood what Christ said to him and recorded it in 1 Peter.

 

1 Peter 2:4-6 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (5) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (6) Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

 

1 Corinthians 3:9-11 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (10) According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 

C. What the Church is not. (I am speaking of the Body of Christ)

 

1. The Church is not man-made but is divinely given.

 

2. The Church is not Christendom in general. It is not universal: the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. It is the totality of the saved in this dispensation; every born-again believer makes up the entirety of the Church.

 

D. Exactly what is the Church? There is much confusion and contention concerning what the Church is or is not. God is certainly not the Author of confusion, and the Word of God is clear concerning the Church and its meaning. The word "church " in the New Testament has a dual meaning, with context differentiating between the two.

 

1. The Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into the Body, the Church. The word “Spirit” is capitalized, referring to the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 

2. A glorious church is not the local church as it contains both saved and lost at times. To name a few: Diotrephes, Hymenaeus, Alexander the Coppersmith, etc. Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

3. In the local church, we have Jew and Gentile, bond and free, male and female. In the Body of Christ, also called the Church, we are all equal. Galatians 3:26-29 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 

Church defined - ἐκκλησία ekklēsia ek-klay-see'-ah From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, relative to a specific time and place.

 

1. The Church, the “Body of Christ,” is made up of every born-again believer in this dispensation. The “Body of Christ” is not the local church! The collective body of believers, or of those who have turned to Christ in repentance and faith, makes up the Body of Christ.

 

2. The Church, the Body of Christ, will be called out at the right time to the right place. The Body of Christ belongs to Him!

 

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 

a) The right time for our assembly. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17a For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air…

 

b) The right place of our assembly. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

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.

 

c) The right reason for our assembly. Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

E. Having seen what the Church is not and what the Church is, let us return to our text and see what Christ Himself says concerning His Church.

 

1. The Church is built upon Christ. “Upon this rock” The Rock that cannot be moved!

 

1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 

1 Peter 2:6-8 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

 

2. The Church is built by Christ ("I will build"). It is Christ who died for and saves us! Salvation is an act of God that takes place when the believer comes to God in repentance and faith.

 

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

 

Acts 2:6-7 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

Psalms 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:

 

3. The Church belongs to Christ ("I will build my church"). As the Body of Christ belongs to Christ, so does the local church. The local church is not mine, nor is it yours. It is a place to be respected and cherished.

 

Mark 12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

 

Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

 

Ephesians 4:14-16 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

 

Colossians 1:17-18 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

 

4. The Church is loved by Christ (“my church”). Christ loves the Church, His Body, and also what we are doing here this morning!

 

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

 

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

 

5. The Church is not merely something Christ owns and loves; it is also something Christ uses. ("And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven..."). The dispensation of the Gospel has been given to both the believer and the local church.

 

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Our Glorious Resurrection

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-3-2026

Matthew 28:1-6; John 14:15-20

 

Introduction: 

A.  This morning, because of its importance, we once again celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, along with our glorious resurrection. 

 

1.  The Resurrection was for the Declaration of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  Romans 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

 

2.   The Resurrection was for the Salvation of the Sinner.  Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

 

3.  The Resurrection was for the Justification of the Saints of God.  Romans 4:22-25  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.  (23)  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;  (24)  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;  (25)  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

 

B.  The gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ—is the blessed hope of the Christian as well as the hope of the world. 

 

1.  It is only through the finished work of Calvary, of which the resurrection is the acceptance of sin’s price paid in full, that we find eternal life and the hope of Heaven.

 

2.  In John 14:15-20, the “Let not your heart be troubled” chapter, our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the blessed hope of both His and our resurrections.

 

John 14:15-20  If ye love me, keep my commandments.  (16)  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  (17)  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  (18)  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.  (19)  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.  (20)  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

 

3.  In Romans chapter 6, we find the two resurrections of the believer. 

 

a)  The resurrection of temporal life.  “newness of life.”  The present change of the saved.  Romans 6:3-5  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  (4)  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

 

b)  The resurrection of eternal life.  Romans 6:6   For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

 

C.  Often, we sing the song “Because He Lives!”  Because He lives, I can face tomorrow; because He lives, all fear is gone.  The “Capstone of Christianity” is that there is life beyond this life and that life is eternal.

 

1.  It gives hope to the hopeless.

 

2.  It gives encouragement to the discouraged.

 

3.  It gives light and life to the spiritually blinded.

 

4.  It gives joy unspeakable and full of glory to the downtrodden.

 

5.  It gives peace and joy to the bereaved.

 

6.  It gives comfort to the sick unto death.

 

7.  It gives courage to the oppressed.

 

8.  It gives strength to the weary.

 

9.  It gives victory to the defeated.

 

10.  It gives expectancy to the watcher.

 

D.  One day soon, He is coming back as He said, and we will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

 

1 Corinthians 15:51-52  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  (52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 

Revelation 22:20-21  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  (21)  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

“One day He’s coming; Oh glorious day!”

 

E.  The importance of the Resurrection:

 

1.  The Resurrection Gives Us Boldness In Death.

 

Psalms 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  (18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

Philippians 1:21-23  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  (22)  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  (23)  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

 

2.  The Resurrection Gives Us Confidence In Preaching.

 

Romans 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

 

1 Corinthians 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

 

3.  The Resurrection Gives Us Comfort In Loss.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  (14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

 

2 Corinthians 5:6-8  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:  (7)  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)  (8)  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

 

4.  The Resurrection Gives Us Assurance In Salvation.

 

John 11:25-26  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  (26)  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

 

1 John 5:10-13  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.  (11)  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  (12)  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  (13)  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

 

5.  The Resurrection Gives Us Hope in Heaven.

 

John 14:1-3  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  (2)  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  (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.

 

1 Peter 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  (4)  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,  (5)  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 

Conclusion:  The greatest day in the life of the believer will be when he sees Christ.  This is a wicked, troublesome world, and the longer I live, the more I pray with the Apostle John:

 

Revelation 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

The Person of the Seed of the Woman - Emmanuel: God with Us

Temple Baptist Church - 12-21-2025

Matthew 1:18-25 (vs. 23)

 

Introduction:  We have looked at the Purpose, Prophecy, and Performance of the Incarnation as we saw that Jesus Christ came into the world, born of a virgin, to save sinners and, in doing so, fulfilled every prophecy in the Bible concerning His coming!  Christ came at the right time and came the right way!

 

A.  This morning, I want to look at the Person of the Seed of the Woman.  Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

 

1.  The greatest miracle found in the Bible is that of the incarnation of the Word of God,  Jehovah!  No miracle can rival the greatness of the virgin birth of God’s only begotten Son, the Seed of the Woman!

 

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

Galatians 4:4-5  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  (5)  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

 

Philippians 2:6-7  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  (7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

 

1 Timothy 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

 

Hebrews 10:4-5  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.  (5)  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

 

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;)

 

2.  That God would so love the world that He would give heaven’s best for earth’s worst, “I AM THAT I AM” would be born in the flesh that we can be born in the Spirit.

 

3.  The magnitude of this miracle is beyond human comprehension.  Matthew chapter one uses two names that express the greatness of the miracle: JESUS, Jehovah Saves, and Emmanuel, God With Us.

 

B.  In Matthew 16:13-16, Jesus asked his disciples a question concerning His Person, and Peter gave one of the most quoted statements in the Bible. 

 

Matthew 16:13  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

Christ – “The Anointed One”  The Christ, not a Christ!  There were many anointed in both the Old and New Testaments, but this verse is in reference to “The Anointed One,” the very Son of God!

 

C.  Who was that Babe that was born in a manger so long ago?  The world is certainly confused concerning His Person. 

 

2 Corinthians 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 

 

D.  The world is blinded to the “glorious gospel of Christ,” which deals with the incarnation, life, death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

 

1.  Islam pictures Him as merely a prophet.

 

2.  Jehovah’s Witnesses picture Him as merely a “son of God.”

 

3.  Mormons picture Him as Satan’s brother, a mere angel who came to die for sin.

 

4.  Pictures portray Him as some long-haired, Anglo-Saxon effeminate.

 

5.  Most “isms” and “Schisms” ignore Him and worship idols.

 

6.  Many Baptists portray Him as a non-judgmental Savior who is not Lord.

 

7.  BUT, the Scriptures portray Him in a full and wonderful light as the God of all ages!

 

1.  The Bible declares that He is God!  He is not an angel; He is not a son of God; He is Almighty Jehovah God!

 

John 1:1-4  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

 

John 10:30  I and my Father are one.

 

John 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

 

2.  The Bible declares that He is the eternal God!  He did not begin at the creation (for He was the Creator); He did not begin in the womb of Mary (for He created both Mary and the womb that bore Him); He always was and always will be God!

 

Psalms 90:2  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art 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.

 

Revelation 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

 

3.  The Bible declares that He is the unchanging God!  He does not change in His Person; He does not change in His Performance; He does not change in His Purpose; He does not change in His Promises; He is and forever will be the same, for He is immutable!

 

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

 

Psalms 102:27  But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

 

Malachi 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

 

4.  The Bible declares that He is the Only Saviour!  He is not a Saviour, He is THE Saviour; He is not a Way, He is THE Way; He is not a way to Heaven, He is THE only Way to Heaven!

 

Isaiah 43:11  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

 

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

5.  The Bible declares that He is the sovereign LORD!  He does as He wills and asks counsel of no man!  He knows the end from the beginning and, therefore, needs no advice or guidance!  His purposes and promises are always fulfilled because He is a sovereign LORD!

 

Romans 11:33-36  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

 

6.  The Bible declares that He is One of a kind!  There has never been a God before Him; there is no God with Him; there will never be a God after Him because He is both self-existing and eternal!

 

Isaiah 45:5-6  I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:  That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

 

Isaiah 45:18  For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

 

7.  The Bible declares that He is everything that this world needs!  For without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5); but with Him, we can do all things (Philippians 4:13)!

 

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

a.  He is the Reason of my Praise – “Wonderful”

 

b.  He is the Remedy of my Problems – “Counselor”

 

c.  He is the Resource of my Power – “The Mighty God”

 

d.  He is the Righteousness of my Permanence – “The Everlasting Father”

 

e.  He is the Reality of my Peace – “The Prince Of Peace”

The Performance of the Seed of the Woman - The Virgin Birth of Christ

Temple Baptist Church - 12-14-2025

Matthew 1:18-25

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  At least once a year, especially around the Christmas Season, I preach on the precious doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Christ. 

 

1.  The Virgin Birth of Christ is often called “The Doctrine of Holy Ground!”  “The Pearl of The Ages!”  So, this morning, let us spiritually “remove our shoes” as we approach God as Moses did at the Burning Bush and Joshua did before the Captain of the Lord’s Host!

 

2.  The virgin birth of Christ is the pivotal point between Promise or Prophecy and the Performance of the “Seed of the Woman.”  It is the Centerpiece of Time as the event marks our calendar.  “A day that will live in infamy!”

 

3.  Both the Julian and Gregorian (the calendar that we now use) Calendars mark the Birth of Christ: BC means Before Christ, while AD (Anno Domini) means The Year of Our Lord.

 

a)  The Prophecy of Israel’s Messiah looked forward to His First Advent.  The coming of Israel’s Messiah and our Saviour. 

 

1)  While Israel missed their Messiah, “HE CAME UNTO HIS OWN, AND HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT,”

 

2)  Thank God, “AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM” speaks to us, trusting Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

 

b)  The Performance of the birth of Israel’s Messiah was the Fulfillment of that Prophecy.

 

B.  The Book of Matthew portrays the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the coming of the King of Israel. 

 

1.  Matthew 1:1-17 shows the lineage of Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.  In these verses, we find the names of men who “begat” sons divided into three time periods. 

 

2.  From Abraham to David, from David to the Babylonish Captivity, from the Babylonish Captivity to Christ.

 

C.  In Matthew 1:18, we find the words: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise.” 

 

1.  Showing a deviation from, a differentiation of the natural births of the last 42 generations mentioned, where the seed of men begat men. 

 

2.  The bible is very detailed concerning the virgin birth so that there is no confusion.  Yet, many religions continue to confuse their congregations on the matter.

 

“Espoused wife” and “before they came together” declare a birth like none that preceded it and none that would come after it. 

 

D.  The word “espoused” in Matthew 1:18 speaks of Mary’s relationship to Joseph and is also found in Luke 1:27 and Luke 2:5.  Espoused means betrothed or engaged to. 

 

1.  The virgin birth is well explained within Matthew’s context:

 

Matthew 1:18 - “before they came together”

 

Matthew 1:23 “a virgin shall be with child”

 

Matthew 1:25 - “and knew her not till”

 

2.  The Virgin Birth is further explained in Luke’s Gospel.  Luke 1:34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

 

E.  The Virgin Birth of Christ is a doctrine both sweetly adored by God’s children and severely attacked by the unbelievers. Loved by God’s people and hated by Satan’s people. 

 

A birth like none other.  There has never been nor will there ever be another virgin birth. No man or woman, since Adam and Eve, except for Jesus Christ, came into the world through a virgin birth or without the seed of man involved. 

 

F.  The Virgin Birth of Christ is:

 

1.  The mystery of mysteries, the jewel of all ages, the hope of mankind, and the love of God manifested for the sinner.  The love, compassion, mercy, and grace of God extended as an Olive Branch to humanity.

 

2.  It was a miraculous event.  A miracle is a phenomenon that cannot be explained outside the realm of supernatural intervention. It is an event that supersedes natural law.

 

1 Timothy 6:16  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.

 

3.  The immortal became mortal that the mortal may become immortal.

 

a)  Immortality and eternality are attributes of God.  1 Timothy 6:16a “Who only hath immortality” 

 

b)  Mortal became Immortal in Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

 

4.  The Unapproachable became approachable, The Untouchable became touchable.

 

a)  The Unapproachable God – 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.

 

b)  Became the Touchable Saviour – Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

1 John 1:1  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;.

 

G.  The Virgin Birth was necessary because:

 

1.  The Child born was to be the God-Man.  100% man on His mother’s side and 100% God on His Father’s side.  As three distinct Persons represent the Trinity, Jesus Christ is represented by two distinct persons.  Uniting the fullness of humanity with the fullness of Deity. 

 

2.  The Child was born to be the sinless Son of God.  Sin came through Adam’s seed, but Christ went through the Woman’s Seed without Adamic sin.  Sin came through Adam’s seed, not Eve’s.

 

3.  The Child was born of a virgin to guarantee that salvation would come through Christ alone and not man.  Born sinless because of the absence of the Adamic seed.

 

a)  Sin came through the seed of Adam - Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

 

b)  The Saviour came through the seed of the woman - Galatians 4:4-5  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  (5)  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

 

H.  The Virgin Birth Prophesied.  Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

 

J.  The Virgin Birth Performed.  Matthew 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.  (“On this wise” sets the birth of Christ apart from the “begats” of the first 17 verses!)

 

K.  The Virgin Birth Purposed.  Matthew 1:21-23  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 

 

a.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Sin.  Disobedience to God and God’s hatred for sin.

 

b.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Sinners.  God’s love for the sinner despite sinfulness.

 

c.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Separation.  Man hiding and God seeking.

 

d.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Substitution.  The innocent died for the guilty so that the guilty could become the innocent.

 

e.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about the Saviour.  The coming of Messiah, Christ Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

 

f.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Salvation.  Free to all who would repent and believe.

 

g.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Security—eternal restoration, eternal life, everlasting joy, through an eternal Saviour.

 

L.  Dr. Herbert Lockyer said it this way, “The incarnation is the most stupendous miracle comprehending and involving all other miracles, and because it is a theme both deep and delicate, infinite and incomprehensible, how about “finding out acceptable words”.  The ground we approach is holy calling for the putting off of our shoes.”

 

M.  G. Campbell Morgan said that in the presence of such a holy miracle “there can be no fitting attitude of the human intellect save that of acceptance of the truth without any attempt to explain the mystery.”

 

N.  Another writer expressed it this way, “I will seek to believe rather than to reason, to adore rather than to explain, to give thanks rather than to penetrate; to love rather than to know; to humble myself rather than to speak.”

 

                    The Ancient of Days became a babe at Bethlehem.

          He who thunders in the heavens, crying in a cradle.

He who gives to all their meat in due season, nursing at his Mother’s breast.

                    He who made all flesh now made of flesh.

He who could summon legions of angels, while wrapped in infant’s clothes.

                    The mighty God, now a helpless child

          God and man became one Person.

.

Conclusion:  The Virgin Birth was an event beyond human comprehension!  The Seed of the Woman: a conception and birth without man.  The God-Man, our Lord Jesus Christ.