The Importance of The Incarnation

The first week of December, Andy Stanley stated the following.

“If somebody can predict their own death and then their own resurrection, I’m not all that concerned about how they got into the world.”

“Christianity doesn’t hinge on the truth or even the stories around the Birth of Jesus.”

Does it matter “Who” was born that day? Why and How?

Also if people might struggle with the “incarnation story” wouldn’t they also struggle with the “resurrection story”?

1 John 4:2
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;

[1Ti 3:16 ESV] Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

Necessity that God had to provide a solution to Genesis Rebellion
The proto-evangelium — the first Gospel (e- van –gel – yum)

[Gen 3:14 NASB] The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life;
[Gen 3:15 NASB] And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."
More than a talking snake; Great Cosmic battle, where the seed of Eve will have the tactical advantage.

Long Ago, many times, many ways, God spoke to our fathers.
[Heb 1:1 ESV] Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
[Heb 1:2 ESV] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Did He? Oh Yes!
[Isa 9:6 ESV] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
[Isa 9:7 ESV] Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

[Mat 1:22 ESV] All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
[Mat 1:23 ESV] "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

[Heb 1:3 ESV] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
[Heb 1:4 ESV] having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
[Heb 1:5 ESV] For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"?
[Heb 1:6 ESV] And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him.”

Why couldn’t Jesus just step out of Heaven, go the cross and call it done?

The necessity of a God/Man!
[Heb 2:10 ESV] For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
[Heb 2:11 ESV] For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

[Heb 2:14 ESV] Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
[Heb 2:15 ESV] and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

[Heb 2:17 ESV] Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Propitiate 1.
to make favorably inclined; appease; conciliate.

[Heb 2:18 ESV] For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

[2Co 5:18 ESV] All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
[2Co 5:19 ESV] that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

[2Co 5:21 ESV] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

“Jesus does this not only by dying the death we justly deserve but by living the life we should have lived.”

Imputation: God imputes our sinful life to Jesus account and Imputes Jesus’ Sinless life to our account.

Federal Headship
First Adam, Last Adam
We are condemned with our Father Adam,
We are Redeemed, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

More Than That!
[Rom 5:11 ESV] More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

The Son of Man Must Suffer
[Mar 8:27 ESV] And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"
[Mar 8:28 ESV] And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets."
[Mar 8:29 ESV] And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ."
[Mar 8:30 ESV] And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
[Mar 8:31 ESV] And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.

The “Who” is important! The Son of Man; The Messiah! MUST SUFFER
Also, Matt 1 & Luke 3:23; Emphasis that Jesus had to be of the line of David.
Why all the work to demonstrate Who Jesus was, if it’s not important?

When Joseph heard that Mary was pregnant, Joseph was considering to call of the marriage.
[Mat 1:20 NASB] But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
[Mat 1:21 NASB] "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

It matters very much “Who” and it matters “How”!

John the Baptist,
[Jhn 1:29 NASB] The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

One more thing!
Be Thankful that God chose you to understand! Who are we?
[Luk 2:10 NASB] But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

Just like the blue collar works of Jesus’ time. God sent angels to shepherds who were working outside of town, working the night shift.

Of all the smart and popular and famous people,
[1Co 2:12 ESV] Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

God gathered you here at this church at this time, His Christmas morning, so we can celebrate!
So that you may know truths that is hidden from the “wise of this world”.

God wants you to know that a Savior is Born!
Who is Messiah! The Lord! The kü'-rē-os “cor-re-aws”

 

Christmas 2016

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