SERIES: Deck the Halls
TITLE: The Excitement of Christmas
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38
I. THE COURTSHIP
The Players: Joseph and Mary
The Town: Nazareth was (Jewish) by birthright, (Roman) by claim, and (Greek) by influence.
The Situation: Two stages of a relationship:
1. (Kiddushin)- We would call this the engagement stage. All legally binding except no sexual.
2. (Huppa)- Officially married stage.
The Problem: Mary’s pregnancy during Kiddushin stage
II. THE MIRACLE
“No other fact in the Christmas story is more important than the Virgin Birth. The VB must have happened exactly the way Scripture say. Otherwise, Christmas has no point at all. If Jesus is simply the illegitimate child of Mary’s infidelity, or even if he is the child of Joseph’s natural marital union with Mary, He is not God. If He is not God, His claims are lies. If his claims are lies, His salvation is a hoax. And if His salvation is a hoax, we are all doomed.” MacArthur in God With Us.
What does the Virgin Birth mean?
1. Jesus was born by direct action of God. Lk.1:35a
2. No man was involved in the process. Lk. 1:34
3. Jesus had a human mother and no human father. Lk.1:35b
4. Jesus is fully human and fully divine. Lk.1:31-32; Jn.1:14
5. He is without sin. He has no inherited sin from Adam. Heb.1:1-3
Through the Virgin Birth, God became (man) without ceasing to be (God).
NEXT WEEK: Series: Deck the Halls!
Title: The Highlight of Christmas- Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:35-38
