Sermons - Drew Boswell

“What It Means To Be Spiritual, Part Two” Galatians 6:6-18

Grace Abounds

A Sermon Series Through the Book of Galatians

“What It Means To Be Spiritual, Part Two”

Galatians 6:6-18

Introduction (Review)

Being Spiritual Involves An Accurate Understanding of Oneself (5:26)
Being Spiritual Involves Restoring and Bearing (6:1-5)

Church is a team sport not an individual event.

Expertise, Execution, Evaluation

There is mutual accountability (we hold each other accountable to sin in our lives), and we each share individual responsibility (I have my God-given job/task to do that is mine alone).

Being Spiritual Involves Staying Faithful to the Assigned Task (6:6-10)

6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

(v. 6) “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches,” – the church has the responsibility to help the brother who has fallen, then to carry their burden as needed, then to have a responsibility within the body – then together they “share all good things.” One party doesn’t do everything, there is a sharing of responsibilities, and then when things turn around all share in the good.

The heart is capable of fooling itself, “Do not be deceived,” Don’t allow yourself to be led away by the fleshly desires of your heart. Just because you want it, and don’t see a problem with it, doesn’t mean God will allow it or change His mind regarding it’s morality, “God is not mocked,” to sin and think that there are not consequences or that they are somehow immune from God’s standard of holiness is to mock the Lord and to mimic the world.

(v. 7) “whatever one sows, that will he also reap,” – Why is it that when you plant an orange seed, you don’t grow an elephant? Whatever you pursue and invest your life into, that is what is going to be produced in your life. There are rules to life, that if followed will produce certain results. Paul tells us the expectations of the sower, and answers the question, “what should I expect?” “There is a payday someday because a man reaps what he sows, You cannot outwit God; the crop you plant in the soil in the spring will inevitably sprout forth into the harvest of the fall.”[1]

(v. 8) “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, . . .” The flesh is that part of a Christian that he has not given over to the Spirit – its’ the sin that remains (Romans 7:18). When you invest and give over into that part of your being, you reap corruption. The word corruption is used of decaying food, it goes from bad to worse – moving from something beneficial to poisonous.

You are not going to sow into the flesh and reap something beneficial (sow an orange seed and get an elephant). “By obeying God out of the grateful joy that comes from knowing our status as children of God. When we do that, the idols which controlled our lives are dismembered and we are free to live for God.”[2]

“. . . but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” When the Christian sows to the Spirit they are focused on the things of God, that which is eternal, rather than the temporal things of the flesh and that focus will produce the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-23). Just as corruption goes from bad to worse, sowing to the Spirit allows the Christian to experience more and more of what it means to have eternal life. The focus is not on the time (eternity) but on the quality (free from corruption). As sin is removed from the Christian’s life, the quality of their life is better.

Ultimately, we will have to bear the responsibility for our own behavior.

(v. 9) “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” The farmer has to be patient, he doesn’t sow and reap the same day. The farmer stands and watches day after day, there doesn’t seem to be any change. But beyond what he can see, there is growth and development.

To grow weary is to become exhausted and give up – because you don’t see any change. Paul had experienced persecution, beatings, stoning, lies were told about him, etc. churches that he had planted were turning toward false teaching, but he knew beyond what he could see was a God who is on control and there is a plan to all of it – just keep pushing forward.

In agriculture you can plant a seed and within days know exactly when that plant will produce a crop. Taking out drought, insect swarms, etc., you can fairly predict with precision – not so with spiritual things. There is no Farmer’s Almanac for people. People are very hard to predict and there are just too many potential variables to say “we should be seeing a harvest by now.” In “due season” is God’s time table – so we have been givne a promise, so we must not give up.

10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

So as we wait for the harvest to come in, “as we have opportunity” does not refer to occasional opportunities that may arise in a believer’s life, but to the total opportunity of his present earthly existence.[3] We should do good as we have opportunity while we are here on earth. The season is open now, but we will not always have opportunity to do good. We are freed from sin, so that we can serve God by serving others – especially those “of the household of faith. This is Paul’s big push for the church to sow for God’s glory.

Three Reasons Not to Boast in the Flesh (6:11-18)

11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Earlier in the book, he says to the churches in Galatia referring to their original acceptance of him and the gospel, 4:13-15 “You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you wat first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.” (v. 11) “See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand,” “In the ancient world, people who used a secretary for writing their letters often added a concluding remark in their own handwriting to indicate the authenticity of the letter.”[4] The large letters indicating that he could not see well.

(reason #1) Paul now turns to the motives behind the false teachers; they “want to make a good showing in the flesh,” They were not concerned about pleasing God by inward righteousness, or helping a fellow brother grow in their relationship with God, but their focus is impressing other men by outward legalism. Circumcision was a way of hiding that you are a Christian by blending in with the Jewish people.

(reason #2) “. . . in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ,” – There was pressure in society to not appear to be anything distinct. It was acceptable to appear to be religious, especially Jewish. But to separate oneself from Roman traditions (including emperor worship which the Jews were exempt from), and then to be distinctly different from Jewish society puts you out there all alone with Jesus. They would use His name and gather in worship as long as there was no offense to the world around them.

If you are known as a Christian you were subject to public criticism, alienation, and rejection by other Jews. They would be subject to being thrown out of the synagogue, it would have been difficult to buy and sell food (hunger and starvation would result), people would have refused to do business with you.

The cross of Christ has always been offensive to the religions of works, “to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:23). These Jewish false teachers identify themselves with the church, but not the cross. If you get circumcised you will not be offensive to the Jews, and to the Gentiles thereby giving you protection from persecution. So what’s so wrong with not standing out?

There is no salvation apart from the cross.

Justification by Grace alone, by faith alone, through Christ alone.

Because in order to blend in you have do religious stuff that has no salvation value, and you are not standing for “the cross of Christ” which is what truly saves you. Matthew 10:38 says, “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

There is an eternal difference between being religious (following ceremonies, rituals, being religious, etc.) to appear righteous (which doesn’t do anything except make you feel religious) and humbly living for Christ and walking by the Spirit and standing up for the cross.

13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

(reason # 3) “that they may boast in your flesh,” – This group of false teachers are not true Jews, they are claiming to be followers of Jesus, yet they are not true followers of Christ because they believe in a false gospel. They are trying to be religious by whatever comes along. Their religion was a sham – they were a bunce of hypocrites.

They did the circumcision part, but they did not keep the rest of the law. And if they could get these Galatian churches to follow their lead, then they could boast about winning them to God. They are using God’s name to cover their not keeping the law, and not submitting to the Holy Spirit. They are religious acting self-righteous hypocrites.

There are people who are very active in the church, who cover their sin with religious activity. They are not being changed day-by-day because they self-righteous, and they desire to move people to their way of being religious because of how it proves them to be right (in their own mind). You can appear to be religious at church and still be morally and spiritually bankrupt.

This was Jesus’ complaint against the religious leaders of His day (the Scribes, Pharisees, and the Sadducees), They were only concerned about how they appeared in market places, and wanted all the seats of honor, they placed heavy religious loads on others, but they did not keep the law themselves. Jesus again and again called them hypocrites.

Three Reasons To Boast in the Cross of Christ (vv. 14-18)

14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

(reason #1) It is only through the cross that we are able to separate ourselves from the sin of the world, to put to death that which once held us captive. The world says give over to immorality and self-gratification – which we have already discovered will reap destruction. But to be separated from these things brings eternal life, purpose, we experience joy etc. We boast in the cross because it alone allows us to have a true relationship with God. When Paul says, “and I to the world,” he is saying that the world is losing its’ alure to Him as He loves for Christ.

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life — is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

Paul recognizes that his boast which can also mean obsession – is the cross. He will not become obsessed with anything else except the cross. Which by the way to the Roman people was humiliating, disgusting, foul. The cross was designed to torture and slowly kill its victim. It was so heinous that a Roman citizen could not be killed by crucifixion by law. It was not mentioned in good All that blood, horror, nakedness, humiliation, and torturous dying was undignified. Nothing else would hold Paul’s obsession but the wretchedness of the cross.

“Boasting in the cross means more than simply believing that Jesus died for your sins; it also means living a crucified life.” When we place our faith in him, we are joined with him on the cross — we are crucified with Christ. Earlier Paul said, Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” When we place our faith in Christ, He then lives through us.

15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

(reason #2) As a Jewish leader, Paul had done everything within his own strength to live a life pleasing to God (see Philippians 3:5-6). He even discovered that as he was seeking live out in all his strength to please God, he was actually persecuting God’s own Son (Acts 9:5). We should boast in the cross of Christ because it has the power to do what we cannot do on our own. The power of the cross makes the believer a new creation. What counts for everything is a transformed life – that only comes through the power of the cross. The world is slowly losing its power over us, as we become more and more like Christ.

16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

(reason #3) The power of the cross has power to bring salvation “as for all who walk by this rule,” The rule of Christ is that salvation is available to anyone/all who places their faith in Him. Salvation is by God’s grace through faith. You cannot change to terms or the rules – but you can either accept the offer or refuse it.

“peace and mercy be upon them,” was a traditional Jewish benediction. Paul is saying that the blessing of peace and mercy that comes through the cross of Jesus was for all those who have placed their faith in Him. So when he goes on to add, “and upon the Israel of God.” “it is a way of saying that the church is the new Israel. There is continuity between the old covenant and the new, between the OT and the NT. The promises that God made to Israel are fulfilled in the true spiritual Israel, which are those who are followers of Jesus.

17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Closing, Poland 1984.

The government of Polish Prime Minister Jaruzelski had ordered crucifixes removed from classroom walls, just as they had been banned in factories, hospitals, and other public institutions. Catholic bishops attacked the ban that had stirred waves of anger and resentment all across Poland. Ultimately the government relented, insisting that the law remain on the books, but agreeing not to press for removal of the crucifixes, particularly in the schoolrooms.

But one zealous Communist school administrator in Garwolin decided that the law was the law. So one evening he had seven large crucifixes removed from lecture halls where they had hung since the school’s founding in the twenties. Days later, a group of parents entered the school and hung more crosses. The administrator promptly had these taken down as well.

The next day two-thirds of the school’s six hundred students staged a sit-in. When heavily armed riot police arrived, the students were forced into the streets. Then they marched, crucifixes held high, to a nearby church where they were joined by twenty-five hundred other students from nearby schools for a morning of prayer in support of the protest. Soldiers surrounded the church. But the pictures from inside of students holding crosses high above their heads flashed around the world. So did the words of the priest who delivered the message to the weeping congregation that morning. “There is no Poland without a cross.”

____________________

[1] Timothy George, The New American Commentary, Galatians (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman and Holman Publishing, 1994) 423.

[2] Keller, 177.

[3] MacArthur, 191.

[4] Borchert, 334. See also 2 Thessalonians 2:2.

“What It Means To Be Spiritual” Galatians 5:26-6:5

Grace Abounds

A Sermon Series Through the Book of Galatians

“What It Means To Be Spiritual”

Galatians 5:26-6:5

Introduction

Paul upon hearing that the churches in Galatia were being “bewitched” by false teachers into believing that salvation is by Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and keeping the law, he wrote the churches this letter where his focus has been on reminding them that salvation is by faith, and has given five chapters of arguments for grace.

Now in his closing remarks he turns to how members of the church are to live out that grace within the normal gathering and living as a church. How we understand grace directly affects how we live our lives, especially within the church.

Jesus told a parable in Luke 18:11-14, “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed1 thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Being Spiritual Involves An Accurate Understanding of Oneself (5:26)

26 Let us not become conceited[1], provoking one another, envying one another.

To be conceited is to have a deep insecurity; you don’t think you have honor or glory – so you have to prove it to other people. Conceited people are constantly comparing themselves to other people. They determine that they are better than other people, so they look down on others. Then these people provoke people into a competitive contest (to call people into battle).

Envy means you want something that rightfully belongs to another person. When you think about yourself you think you are lacking in some area, you want what others have, so you are looking up to other people.

If you are conceited “looking down on some” because you feel better than them, or you envious “Looking up to someone” because you want what they have – you are focusing on how another person makes you feel. Both want to gain an identity by beating and surpassing others. Your value as a human being is not based on how other people make you feel (either puffed up or emptied out) – but on how we relate to Christ.

When we walk with the Spirit, He helps us apply the gospel to our lives, and our self-worth is not found in comparing ourselves to other people. We will find a balance where we don’t hate other people or self-loath ourselves. We are bold in who we are, a child of the king, and we are humble in that we know God’s grace has been extended to us time and time again.

Earlier in the chapter, Paul is discussing walking in the Spirit and what that means. Conceit, provoking, and envying “are characteristics of believers who are not walking by the Spirit but who are in the flesh and are therefore disrupting the body fellowship by producing the deeds of the flesh rather than the fruit of the Spirit (vv. 16-25).”[2]

Being Spiritual Involves Restoring and Bearing (6:1-5)

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

(v. 1) “if anyone is caught in any transgression,” – the transgression is an act of the flesh (instead of walking with the Spirit) and Paul gives us the picture of slipping into a hole, they have fallen down. “This indicates that the sinful behavior is a pattern, and a particular sin has, gotten the upper hand with this person. It is a habit of sinful behavior that the person will not be able to overcome without help and outside intervention.”[3] It is then the responsibility of the spiritual to retore him.

Growing up there was a tv show that was very popular called the Jerry Springer Show. A person would be brought out and introduced, and they would share an outlandish story that would shock the crowd. Then the other party would be brought out, which usually resulted in fighting on the stage. This would go on for a while, large men would separate the parties, and make then sit down. And then Jerry Springer would allow the audience to ask them questions and make comments on what they had shared. It was a spectacle, a way for people to be shocked at another’s behavior, all the while laughing and pointing, and feeling superior to those on the stage.

In 1 Corinthians 3:1 Paul is concerned that the church is not spiritually mature and he can’t go further in his teaching because they won’t understand it, “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh.” So, when Paul refers to the Galatians as you “who are spiritual” he is referring to those who are walking by the Spirit, they are manifesting the fruit of the Spirit, and not controlled by the flesh (the church). They are the spiritual experts in mending men’s souls. How do you restore a fallen brother?

Matthew 4:21 when Jesus encounters James and John, uses this same word, restore – “And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, . . .” Fishermen would sit around gather the nets and restore and mend the nets. The fallen brother’s soul is broken and needs someone to come along and gently put it back into its’ functional state (you help them get rid of the sinful behavior). The assistance was to be given in gentleness. Restore – “It was also used in medicine, for example, to describe the setting of a broken or dislocated joint. In much the same way, a sinner (brother) needs to be put back in order.”[4] The goal is restoration not condemnation.

But there is a danger when you go to help “mend another’s net” is that you would be tempted yourself and fall into a transgression, “Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” In 2 Corinthians 4:18 ff., Paul is talking about where our focus should be, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

As you seek to help a brother fix his net, you must keep looking to the eternal, walking by the Spirit – or you may fall into the same trap as your brother who is focusing on the wrong thing. If you doing spiritual surgery and helping to restore another – the sin Paul is specifically warning against is pride. It is hard not feel self-righteous when you are correcting someone else’s sin.

The reason the wayward brother’s life must be mended and put right is because as long as there is a hole, they can’t accomplish what God intends for them to accomplish.

Church is a team sport not an individual event.

(v. 2) “Bear one another’s burdens,” – In the original language it is keep on bearing, the same word bear is used when Jesus bore the cross (John 19:17)[5] It is when the load we carry is about to press us down – someone steps in and bears the load, they help to carry it (or a portion of it).

In the bearing one another’s burdens the spiritual person will fulfill the law of Christ. What is the law of Christ? If you were to take all of Jesus’ teachings and boil them down to one thing – what would it be? Matthew 22:35-38 “And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Instead of trying to keep over 600 laws, instead focus on two things, loving God and loving your neighbor. Loving God is to keep his Word, and love your neighbor is to help them mend the net of their soul, and to carry their load when needed.

(v. 3) “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” – This is an unrealistic view of yourself and your capabilities. Instead, Paul says to have an accurate understanding of who you are, where you are spiritually, and what you are capable of doing – then go to work. “One of the chief reasons many Christians do not bother to help fellow Christians is that they feel superior to sinners and wrongly consider themselves to be spiritually something when the truth is they are really nothing.”[6]

The conceited Christian has deceived themselves into thinking they are more spiritual than they truly are – and therefore can’t help restore another believer (get the beam out of your own eye, before pointing out the speck in another’s eye), and they can’t actually do what they think they can do for God, because they over estimate their ability.

(v. 4) “But let each one test his own work,” – Paul goes back to the idea of comparing. We are not to look at other’s work and claim ownership in it, (conceit would be thinking that your job is more important than others’) and envy would be wanting to do what other’s are called to do.

We are not to jump on the coat tails of others work when you have done nothing to help. Instead based on a Holy Spirit guided understanding of who you are, then carrying your cargo from one place to the next, doing your job. Then (you) evaluate and test your own work. “Am I doing a good job?”

Expertise, Execution, Evaluation

How do we measure success? “his reason to boast will be in himself alone,”—

“God has done in him and through him, it is the basis of his faithfulness and obedience, not on the basis of what he may have accomplished in regard to, or compared to, another.”

(v. 5) “For each will have to bear his own load.” – There are two words used here for load, The word for load that we are to share is baros, it was used of cargo and is a large load. We share in the larger loads. Another word for load phortion, is given for the individual load (like a backpack) which is smaller. Each believer has a small weight that they carry – their responsibility.[7]

Jesus’ load that he asks us to carry is “light.” The religious leaders for the Jewish people, their load was heavy (Matt. 23:4). The trip from one place to another (2025 to 2026) carrying the load (either that of others that we are helping to carry, or our own load we have responsibility for) – this past year, was it successful or was it a failure? You will have to bear the consequences either way.

“On the one hand, Paul exhorts the Galatians to assist those who were weighed down by the burdens and cares of life; on the other hand, he exhorted them to evaluate their own work honestly and to accept the burden or responsibility for their own actions.”[8] There is mutual accountability (we hold each other accountable to sin in our lives), and we each share individual responsibility (I have my God-given job/task to do that is mine alone).

______________________

[1] Literally, “vainglorious”

[2] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Galatians (Chicago Illinois; Moody Press, 1987) 175.

[3] Timothy Keller, Galatians For You (United States, The Good Book Company, 1013) 166.

[4] Philip Graham Ryken, Reformed Expository Commentary, Galatians (Philipsburg, New Jersey; P&R Publishing, 2005) 245.

[5] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures In The New Testament, Volume IV (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1931) 315.

[6] MacArthur, 181.

[7] Frederick Rendall, The Expositor’s Greek Testament, Volume III (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967) 189.

[8] Gerald L. Borchert, Cornerstone Bible Commentary, Galatians (Carol Stream, Illinois; Tyndale House Publishers, 2007) 330.

The Shepherd’s Tell Their Story Luke 2:8-20

Go Tell It

Sermon Series

The Shepherd’s Tell Their Story

Luke 2:8-20

Introduction

In his 2014 Wall Street Journal bestseller, Talk Like Ted, Carmine Gallo discusses why Ted Talks are so popular, and why some in particular go viral and others do not. And if I were to give you the cliff notes version, it essentially says, when you present information to an audience tell stories, and how presenters should “master the art of storytelling.” Jesus was a master story teller, and he told stories often (the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, The Sower, etc.)

Today the Shepherds will tell us their story from Luke 2, and how God did something amazing in their presence, and used them for something wonderful. We are also going to discover, that like the shepherds and their story, God desires to show you something amazing today and use you and your story to change the world.

God’s Favor Given to Shepherds (vv. 8-14)

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The word “And” signifies for us that there was something that came before this passage. In the preceding verses we see that a census was issued by the Roman emperor, so Mary and Joseph have to travel to their ancestral home, Bethlehem. And upon arriving can find no place to stay except a barn, Jesus was born and laid in a manger.

While Christ’s birth is drawing to a close, angels are dispatched to tell a group of people about this very special child’s birth. This is the most important event that had ever or will ever take place on this planet. The very first people to hear of Christ’s birth were shepherds.

Shepherds did not live in luxurious homes, they did not carry many possessions, and as we find them here often have the few things they can carry and devote themselves to the care of their sheep. On this night, they are awake, and are living outside, and watching their sheep at night against predators, they were “keeping watch over their flock by night.”[1]

What was it about these shepherds that made them worthy of such honor? The answer is found in verse 14, there will be “peace among those with whom he is pleased” God did some awesome things that night just because he wanted to favor some shepherds who were sleeping in a field, watching their sheep. God had it in His heart to favor these men.

There is nothing that indicates they were super-shepherds, or that they had in any way earned or deserved this outpouring of God’s favor – but let’s look at how God favored them.

God Sends A Heavenly Messenger

First God sends them a heavenly messenger, and when they see this messenger Luke tells us that they were very afraid. It says an “an angel of the Lord appeared to them.” In just about every instance where an angel appears before a person, they are struck with fear.

God Gives A Heavenly Appearing

“and the glory of the Lord shone around them” We see the glory of the Lord in Exodus 16:7,10 where in a cloud the people could look upon His glory and God provided manna and quail for the Israelites to eat after they had complained.

In Exodus 24:17 God fills the top of Mt. Sinai with smoke and blasts of thunder. It appeared “as a devouring fire.” In Exodus 40:34 the Israelites had completed the Tabernacle and God’s presence entered it and appeared as a cloud, and as pillars of smoke and fire.

If you combine an angel and God’s glory shining around them, what you get is some very scared shepherds – why are they afraid? Because when sinful mankind comes into the presence of a holy God or even His messengers, our sinfulness stands in stark contrast to God’s holiness.

All of our misgivings, flaws, evil deeds – everything is exposed, all of who we truly are is seen by God’s eye, and man’s natural response is to try and hide as best they can, we fall to our face before a consuming fire and close our eyes to try and shut out God’s glory. But there is no place to go.

The shepherds are scared because they know that they are sinful the fear of a holy God causes them to shutter. At this moment, when they are scared to death, the messenger speaks.

God Gives A Heavenly Message (vv. 10b-12)

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

He begins by saying don’t be afraid – I bring you some good news. The good news of the gospel, a way is given to them for them to be forgiven of their sin and a way for them to be able to stand before God, not in fear, but in worship and love. The messenger was giving these shepherds the most important news that has ever been told. Not only was this good news for them, the good news is “for all the people.”

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior” – In the book of 2 Samuel when the prophet Samuel went to anoint a new king for his people God told him to go to Jesse’s house, and it was his youngest son David whose head would be anointed.

David had to be brought in from watching the sheep. Later when appealing to king Saul to allow him to fight Goliath, David gives examples where he had defended his sheep from bear and lion. Not only does Jesus being born in Bethlehem fulfill prophecy, but it also describes to his people what this Christ will be like. John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

The Savior would be just like them, except without sin. They were sleeping out in field, Jesus was lying in manger. They were shepherds of sheep, Jesus was the Good Shepherd. They had a humble lifestyle, Jesus emptied himself of glory and became a man, a suffering savior, and was described as having “no place to lay his head.”

Bethlehem was a tiny town, the Savior’s lineage would come through a little shepherd boy named David, and the eventual good news would be given first to a group of unknown shepherds. God delights in pouring His favor on the young, the little, the weak, and the unknown.

“a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” What is a Savior? What are they being saved from? Jesus who would grow in wisdom and stature, would teach as one who had authority, he would perform miracles to prove what He said was true. He would die on a Roman cross and He would rise again three days later – he did all these things as a Savior.

The law shows us that all of us have sinned and fall short of God’s requirement to go to heaven. We have all lied, stolen, dishonored our parents, thought lustful thoughts, been angry with someone – any one of these eternally separates us from God – He is holy and we are sinful. And we stand before God guilty of committing sin, and we have no way of getting rid of it.

Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Jesus by dying on the cross saved us by taking the punishment that we deserved.

God tells the shepherds in His grace and mercy how to find this child – who is the Savior of the world. “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” This same grace and mercy is held out to us as well, He tells us clearly that this good news is for us as well today – we, like the shepherds, are given clear instructions as to how we can be saved from our sins.

A Heavenly Host (vv. 13-14)

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

“In heaven God’s glory, on earth God’s peace.”[2] God favors these shepherds by sending a heavenly messenger, shining His glory upon them, giving them the most important message ever given, and then to top it off, a vast number of angels sing a praise and worship song and they have a worship service – right there in the pasture. Good news leads them to praise God.

Mary and Joseph had an angel appear to them on separate occasions, God spoke to Joseph in a dream. But for this unknown group of shepherds, God gives them favor, upon favor, upon favor, upon favor. Blessing, upon blessing. What do you do when God offers such grace, forgiveness, mercy and love?

They knew that they were a sinful bunch, but they had received the good news of God. This morning you too can meet the Savior of the world, he no longer can be found in a manger, because having defeated death, hell, and the Enemy – he sits at the right hand of the Father and is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Now What? (vv. 15-20)

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Go and See (v. 15b-16)

Many times we try to define faith and we make too complicated. Faith is simply taking God at His Word. The shepherds had just been given a message – There is a Savior, you can meet Him, Here’s how you will recognize Him. The step of faith for the shepherds was to go to Bethlehem. “And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.”

The step of faith that God requires us to take is not to run to a nearby barn, but Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” God offers us forgiveness and salvation as a gift – the step we take is to receive or reject this good news as a gift. (Christmas gift around the tree)

Go and Tell (v. 17-18)

There was something within this group of shepherds that told them that they simply could not go back to the pasture to watch the sheep. They knew they had to tell others the good news – they had a story to tell. The town was amazed – but what the Bible doesn’t say is how the town responded. Did they go and see the Christ child? Did anyone who went offer them a place to stay?

Treasure and Ponder (v. 19)

Mary had just given birth in a very difficult place to deliver a child. A barn is filthy. Was there clean water? Did they have blankets? Mary would have been exhausted from labor, pushing and the pain of delivery. She would have looked a mess.

Sometimes God takes us through things were all we can is just sit there and take it all in. She had just delivered the Savior of the world. He was healthy and there weren’t any complications. Animals were nearby, shepherds were arriving, soon townspeople would be getting there. Later magi from the east would be arriving.

But you know what? People weren’t coming to see her or Joseph – they were coming to see Jesus. You cannot dress up the gospel – it is what it is. Life is messy, the way God dealt with our sin was messy, ministry often times is messy, life many times is messy. But if we point people to Christ – it really doesn’t matter what we look like.

What if Mary had turned people away – “no you can’t come in right now, Mary is resting.” “no one come into the barn right now, Mary is putting on her makeup.” When people came to the door she only had to point to the manger. Jesus was the main attraction.

Many times we as Christians think it’s all about us, and how we look to the world – as though we must be perfect and put together before the lost, and lonely, and seeking can come in – all we have to do is point to Christ.

Conclusion

This morning I want to invite you to think about your story – he invites all people to enter into a relationship with him. The Bible says that “He wants none to perish.” If you would like to meet the Savior of the world, today, you can say a prayer and invite Him into your life – you can say something like this,

“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins, I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.” In Jesus’ Name.

____________________

[1] Protecting them from the lion and the bear, 1 Samuel 17:34-35.

[2] Herschel Hobbs, An Exposition of The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Books, 1972) 53.

“Go and Tell Others How God Has Changed the World” Matthew 2:13-23

Go Tell It

Sermon Series

“Go and Tell Others How God Has Changed the World”

Matthew 2:13-23

Introduction

There is a battle raging – there is a right and wrong, truth and deception, good and evil. It is a world weary from sin, disease, darkness, and despair. Christmas is remembering when God stepping in to change the world, Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

This gives us insight into another realm beyond what we see and experience. When Jesus was born into this world, and He would grow in wisdom, and stature and in favor with men – at every step there was a very clear and present danger an enemy seeking to stop the change that was to come. Light from darkness, holiness and righteousness from depravity and evil, a broken world could be healed. The sinner could be saved.

We also, whether we know it or even want to be apart of it are, are participants in sharing this great story of a God who left glory, was born into darkness and would bring salvation and hope. This story is the greatest story we could ever tell!

Jesus Will Lead His People on a New Exodus (vv. 13-15)

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

(v. 13) “when they had departed,” – The wise men had gone to Herod, seeking he who “was born king of the Jews,” had the exchange with Herod, and then leave to continue to follow the star to the Christ child. They give their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Imagine the excitement of these wise men from far away, arriving to the home, having followed a miraculous star, and then the conversations. But no sooner had they experienced their visit, they were gone (warned in a dream). There is a mixture of excitement, celebration, joy mixed with concern, urgency, and fleeing. God has come into the world but he must be kept safe.

The wise men had traveled approximately two years, a thousand miles to meet the Christ child. What were they looking for? Hope of a Savior, a restored relationship with God, an understanding of truth? They saw a miraculous star, met the promised Messiah and were able to worship Him, and they were given a dream from God that saved their lives.

Then “an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream,” – “A journey of some seventy-five miles southwest, would bring Joseph to the border, towards isthmus, and a hundred miles more would take them into the heart of the country.”[1] Alexander the Great had built the city Alexandria, and assigned a place for Jews. The historian Philo was around twenty to thirty years old at this time, and he records that at this time there were over a million Jews in Egypt. So, the family of Joseph, taking Mary and baby Jesus would have disappeared into the mass of Jewish people migrating into Egypt. Egypt was a well governed Roman province, well beyond Herod’s reach. But the gifts of the Magi would have given them the means to start over in a new country.

When God calls for obedience, He give you the means to do so.

“Matthew is quoting Hosea 11:1 to show that this is fulfilment of God’s purpose to call his Son out of Egypt.”[2] But, this passage is not really a prediction that looks forward, Hosea look backwards, (Hosea 11:1-2) “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. . .”

In the past when God called His people out of Egypt and rescued them, instead of obedience, there was rebellion and rejection. Now God is calling his son, out of Egypt, he is remain faithful the Father. Israel failed in accomplishing its’ purpose (Genesis 12:3, to bless the nations) and worshipped idols, Jesus would succeed in his mission as the Savior. Jesus is reliving the history of God’s people[3].

Joseph and his brothers, and their father all escape to Egypt for safety (from the famine). Matthew is showing us that Jesus is the second Israel.[4] Why did Jesus choose 12 disciples?[5] He is reestablishing the 12 tribes who are faithful to him. Why was he tempted for 40 days? He was reliving the 40 years of God’s people being tempted in the wilderness (with food being their temptation). They grumbled and complained, and did not trust God. Jesus was determined to trust God and so He passed the test.

Why did Jesus need to be baptized, since he was sinless? He needed to identify with His people completely as their representative – passing through the waters of the Red Sea. God the Father declared that Jesus would take on Israel’s mission. Matthew 3:17 “This is my beloved Son,4 with whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus Will turn His People’s Mourning Into Joy (vv. 16-18)

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

The Magi were instructed earlier by Herod to bring information back to him about where the Christ child was located (so that he could also worship him). When the wise men did not return, (because they were warned in a dream) Herod felt tricked and was furious. Herod then orders the execution of all male children in Bethlehem and the surrounding region – to ensure that his throne would not be threatened.

Earlier in Matthew 2:4 he, “assembles all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.” He knew that he was looking for the Christ, the promised Messiah, the true king of the Jews, and in his pride thought he could stop God’s plan. Those same chief priests and scribes show no interest in going to find him or worship him.

Matthew quotes Jeremiah 31:15. It was a time in Israelite history when God’s people were being carried off into captivity by Babylon’s Nebuchadnezzar and his conquest of Judah. The captives had to wait seventy years before God would restore them to the land God promised to their forefathers (Jer. 29:4-14). “God punished Israel and Judah for their apostacy, but he would restore them to himself and to the Davidic dynasty (Jer. 30:8-9; 33”14-15, 17).”[6] Ramah was a city where the Babylonians gathered the Jewish people before taking them all, and was really geographically close to Bethlehem.

In the Jeremiah passage, there is a promise of restoration and they are given assurance that there is hope for the future (for the nation). Rachel is often called the mother of Israel and poetically from her grave she is weeping as God’s people walk past her as they go into exile.

How does this prophecy of promise in Jeremiah 31, that God’s people who are being carried off into captivity and a promise of their restoration connect to this massacre of these children by Herod? As horrific as mother’s weeping over the death of their children, they are given a promise by God that there is some kind of meaning behind their tragedy.

(v. 17) “Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah,” – in both instances there is the threat of destroying the nation’s The exiles being carried off (but they returned), and the threat on Jesus’ life (he escaped and was safe). When there seems to be no hope of a future, God will restore – He will save. God does not cause this horrific act, but in His omniscience he prophesied that it would happen and he will redeem it for some good.

But when the enemy of God knew that the promised Christ child was in the world, he killed the children of an entire village and surrounding area to try and stop it. When the gospel moves into new areas, when the name of Jesus is proclaimed, there is a very real enemy who will fight against its’ expansion. “Those innocent and precious babies of Bethlehem were the first casualties in the now-intensifying warfare between the kingdoms of this world and kingdom of God’s Christ, God’s Anointed.”[7] Their death was the beginning of a terrifying conflict.

Jesus even warns us of this pain when He said in Matthew 10:21, “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake.”

These are not just ideas and beliefs that people disagree over. Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” This passage goes on to say that you better put your armor on. But when Jesus comes on to the scene, and His name is mentioned, we should anticipate a reaction from these authorities who rule over this present darkness, the spiritual forces of evil.

So do we remain quiet? If we know all hell breaks loose when we say the name of Jesus do we remain quiet? Why cause trouble? Why potentially endure pain? Acts 4:12 “. . . there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Romans 10:14 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”

Bellevue Baptist Church Exists to Make Disciples of Jesus Christ

Therefore We Cannot and We Will Not Remain Silent.

But also see, Joseph is warned multiple times by angels of a danger and what to do to avoid the danger. When Jesus endured the temptations in the wilderness angels came and tended to him (Matt. 4:11). At Jesus’ arrest Jesus said to Peter who had drawn a sword, Matthew 26:53, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” We are not left alone to do God’s work, He is with us every step of the way.

Jesus’ entrance into the world will cause conflict and pain – Yet We Must Tell the World.

Jesus Will Rule Over and Restore God’s People (vv. 19-23)

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

The angel of the Lord appears again, and warns Joseph again in a dream, giving him instructions on how to keep Jesus safe. God gives Joseph the information as he needs it, he does not get it all at once – only as he needs it.

God has a plan for our lives.

(v. 20) “for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” – The language indicates that the search for Jesus continued until Herod died. So the whole time they were in Egypt, Herod was sending out assassins trying to find the promised king and to kill him.

(v. 23) “so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene,” – that he would be called a Nazarene is not in the OT. We can’t locate the source that Matthew is quoting here. But, “far from an accident, Jesus’ association with Nazareth was planned by God in order that Jesus would be called a Nazarene, a confirmation of his identity as the prophesied and messianic Davidic branch of Isaiah 11:1.

The root meaning of Nazarene is the word for branch, So the promised branch of David (the messiah) would grow up in Branchtown or BranchMeade, or Branchville. There is also some indication that Branchtown was a despised area, “Jesus of Nazareth” was said with contempt. The Messiah was prophesied to be despised and rejected by His own people.

When we get to chapter three of Matthew, Jesus has grown up into a young man about to be baptized by John the Baptist, go into the wilderness, endure the temptations of Satan, and begin his public ministry – but Joseph is not mentioned again. The plan for Joseph’s life was to trust God (not abandon his pregnant wife), to listen and obey God’s messengers and dreams (warnings to keep Jesus safe), and end up providing for his family until Jesus was able to begin His public ministry.

Part of that plan is listening and obeying God, and part of that plan is fading away. Our calling in this epic battle is to be faithful to what God has called us to do in our lifetime, and then someone else will take up the cause until His return.

Application Points:

Joseph was given instructions and he was expected to follow them. By following them he kept his family safe. He also fades from the scene when he has accomplished what God had intended for him.

The events surrounding Jesus’ birth were foretold many years before. God knows what is going to happen and He has a plan. (Jesus being born in Bethlehem, living in Egypt for a period of time, etc.)

Jesus’ entrance into the world will cause disruption. Brace yourself for the impact.

“When we think of the extraordinary care that God the Father took to preserve the life of His Son, assigning an angelic host to be over Him, remember that the same God and angelic host are assigned to take care of everyone who puts their trust in Christ, because we too are by grace the children of God.”[8]

_____________________

[1] John A. Broadus, An American Commentary on the New Testament, Matthew (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; The Judson Press, 1886) 22.

[2] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures In The New Testament, Volume 1 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1930) 20.

[3] A typological recapitulation

[4] Paul uses a similar idea of showing Jesus as the second Adam, 1 Cor. 15:20 ff.

[5] Andreas J. Kostenberger & Alexander E. Stewart, The Story of the Incarnation, The First Days of Jesus (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2015) 81.

[6] David L. Turner, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, The Gospel of Matthew (Carol Stream, Illinois; Tyndale House Publishers, 2006) 54.

[7] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Matthew 1-7 (Chicago, Illinois; The Moody Bible Institute, 1985) 44.

[8] R. C. Sproul, Matthew: An Expositional Commentary (Sanford, Florida, Ligonier Ministries, 2019) 22.

“The Virgin Birth” Matthew 1:18-25

Go Tell

Sermon Series

“The Virgin Birth”

Matthew 1:18-25

Introduction

The Gospel of Matthew says that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin when she gave birth to the Son of God. The world laughs at this idea and mocks it as if it were a myth. Even worse, some proclaiming Christians doubt the Virgin Birth; some don’t believe it at all.

But the truth is, there is no hope of salvation apart from the Virgin Birth. If the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ did not happen, the foundation of Christianity collapses. The Virgin Birth is not incidental: it is fundamental to our faith. This morning we will look at why the virgin birth is something that must be told to the world.

The Virgin Birth Points to Jesus as the Messiah

“18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Engagement (betrothed) in ancient Judaism was legally binding and required divorce if it were to be broken, but sexual relations and living together under one roof were not permitted until after the marriage ceremony.[1] But now Joseph discovers that she is pregnant (and he knows that it wasn’t him.)

19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Joseph could therefore be spoken of already as Mary’s husband; Matthew emphasizes this by saying “before they came together.” Joseph assumes that she has been unfaithful to him. When Joseph is referred to as “a just or righteous man” it does not mean that he perfect, only that he was law-abiding, and upright in character. Because of the character of Joseph, he wants to spare her any public disgrace or even death (Duet. 22:23-24). Jewish law required a man to divorce (or that she be stoned) an adulterous wife. She would have been marked for life as unfaithful, and an adulterous.

The angel explains in a dream that Mary has not been unfaithful and that her child has been supernaturally conceived. As he calls him “son of David” the angel is reminding him of messianic lineage. It is as if the angel is saying, “remember, there is a messiah coming through your lineage.” He commands him to go ahead and marry her thereby legally making the Christ child a son of David.

In this angelic dream there are no images of delivering the Israelites from the Roman oppression instead the angel emphasizes salvation from their sins. He is to be named Jesus which means Yahweh is salvation or “the Lord saves.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us) (Isaiah 7:14). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”

Historically, the virgin birth was an essential Christian doctrine. The amended version of the Nicene Creed in 381 says, “For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.”

The Apostle’s Creed says, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary…”

This morning I want to answer the question of, “Why is it so important that Jesus had to be born by a virgin birth?” One answer would be because God prophesied that He would be (Isa. 7:14), but God could have chosen any event or miracle to be fulfilled to show Jesus to be the Messiah – why a virgin birth?

Original Sin

Our answer begins at the beginning of time with the Doctrine of Original Sin. Original Sin is the biblical teaching that sin is not just an act but also a condition that has been handed down from Adam to all mankind. When Adam sinned in the Garden, his physical and spiritual nature was corrupted—his body was no longer eternal but would eventually die, and his soul was no longer spiritually alive but separated from God.

Separation is an essential theological theme in Scripture. In the Bible, separation is how death happens. Ecclesiastes 12:7, in speaking to physical death, Solomon writes, “and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”

Death is the separation of the body from the soul. When the soul leaves, the body dies. On the other hand, spiritual death is defined as the separation of the soul from God. Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God.”

Original Sin Results in Death

The Bible defines death as a separation: separation of the soul from the body (physical death) and separation of soul from God (eternal death).

Because God is spirit, holy, and without sin, the soul of a sinner cannot be in His presence. Therefore, sin acts as the means to detach (or separate) us from God.

Because Adam sinned and was separated from God, all who are born of Adam are also born separated from God. Consequently, when the soul is separated from God (Who is the source of spiritual life), the soul is dead.

This is why Ephesians 2:1-3describes the spiritual state of a person before Christ by saying, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

For this reason, Jesus taught that we must be spiritually resurrected (or born again) to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3-5). As we know, spiritual life (the reuniting of the soul with God) is only found in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. However, the Bible teaches that if a person remains spiritually dead by their unwillingness to repent and trust in Christ, they will experience what is called the second death. This is the eternalseparation of your soul from God (a.k.a. hell).

Revelation 21:8 says, “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Ultimately, we learn two important truths in this doctrine of Original Sin. First, Adam’s sin was the reason Adam died (physically and spiritually). It’s also the reason why all of humanity is born spiritually dead (needing to be born again) and will experience physical death.

Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”

Original Sin and Federal Headship

The second lesson we learn in the Doctrine of Original Sin is the concept of “federal headship” or “covenant representation.”

When Paul says, “so death spread to all men because all sinned.” He’s teaching that when Adam sinned, we all sinned with him or in him. Adam was the human race’s covenant representative before God in the covenant of works that was established in the Garden of Eden. That is, God established a law for man to follow (to not eat of the forbidden tree), and Adam failed to keep his portion of the covenant.

Now, because all humanity was, in a real sense, genetically inAdam, when Adam sinned and broke that covenant, we all sinned with him or in him. Therefore, when Adam was genetically corrupted, we were genetically corrupted. When Adam died spiritually, we died spiritually. When Adam was cursed, we were cursed. Ultimately, when Adam fell, all of humanity fell with him.

This is why Scripture teaches for a person to be saved, they must go from being in Adamto being in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:22). We need to switch from Adam (who failed to keep the law) to Christ (who kept the law, perfectly). We need to go from the man who is not righteous to the only Man who is righteous—Jesus Christ.

So, because of Adam I have inherited a sin nature, you may say, “that’s not fair. I am being judged because of something Adam did?” But have you sinned? Yes, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” But if you think it is unfair to be linked with Adam “then we should also think that it is unfair for us to be represented by Christ and to have his righteousness imputed to us by God.”[2] One man brought sin into the world and one man defeated it for the world.”

Romans 5:17-19 says, “For if, because of one man’s trespass (Adam), death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass (though Adam) led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness (through Christ) leads to justification and life for all men.For as by the one man’s disobedience (Adam) the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience (Christ) the many will be made righteous.”

Jesus, the Second Adam

Jesus is a second and better Adam. In fact, God prepared His people for and pointed them to this need for a second Adam. For example, in the Old Testament, God’s covenantal mark of circumcision, while symbolic for several reasons, aims to demonstrate man’s sinfulness by marking the male’s reproductive organ.

It was a physical reminder to God’s people that sin is passed down from generation to generation. Namely, that sinful man can only reproduce sinful men. But more than that, it would remind God’s people that salvation would not be from men but by from God. Somehow God would have to break this chain of sin being passed from generation to generation.

Even in Isaiah 7:14, we see the prophet foretelling God will step in when he wrote, “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

God’s people knew to expect a Messiah that would come through a supernatural birth

—a pregnancy and birth that included a virgin woman.

This Messiah would be fully human and fully God. He would have His humanity from His mother and His divinity from God the Father. But most of all, He would not inherit the corruption, curse, or covenant representation of Adam.

He would be conceived by the Holy Spirit, free of sin, legally adopted by an earthly father of the tribe of Judah, born of the line of David, and would stand before the world as a new Adam. Namely, He would keep the Law with perfection, to give His life as a ransom for many, and to spiritually reproduce others who were not like the first Adam but like Him.

So how does this all come together? Why is the virgin birth of Jesus absolutely necessary? Because if Jesus were born of Joseph, He would have had original sin—He would have been born physically corrupted, spiritually dead, sinful, and cursed. If that were the case, Jesus could not pay for the sins of others because He would have to pay for His own sin with His own life.

Therefore, the cross would not be a moment of redemption but simply the passing away of another sinner. As a result, no justification could be given by faith. No redemption could be bought by His blood. No wrath could be satisfied by His death. And no resurrection could occur to validate His righteousness.

Without the virgin birth, all of Christianity falls apart.

Therefore, during this Christmas season, we don’t simply celebrate thatChrist was born, but we also celebrate how Christ was born. He’s the first fruits of the harvest to come, the firstborn from the dead, and for those who trust in Him, the One who reconciles them to God for eternity.

Conclusion

“Radio commentator Paul Harvey tells of a man who did not believe that God had taken human flesh in the person of Jesus. He was a kind, decent family man, but he was skeptical about the message of Christmas and couldn’t pretend otherwise. So on Christmas eve, he told his wife that he was not going to church with her and the children, because he just couldn’t believe. So they went without him.

Shortly after the family left, snow began to fall. As he sat in his fireside chair reading the paper, he was startled by a thudding sound against the house, then another, then another. At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against the living room window. But when he went to investigate, he found a flock of birds, huddled miserably in the snow. They had been caught in the storm, and in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his window.

He didn’t want to leave the poor creatures there to freeze. He thought of the barn where his children stabled their pony. He put on his coat and boots and tromped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the door wide and turned on the light. But the birds didn’t come in. He went back to the house and got some bread crumbs and sprinkled a path to the barn, but the cold creatures ignored the food and continued to flop around helplessly in the snow.

He tried catching them and shooing them into the barn, but they scattered in every direction, frightened by his well-meaning actions. As he puzzled over how he could help save these frightened creatures from sure death, the thought struck him, “If only I could become a bird and speak their language, then I could show them the way to safety in the warm barn.” At that moment, bells from the church rang out through the silent, falling snow, heralding the birth of the Savior. The message of Christmas suddenly made sense, and he dropped to his knees in the snow.

It is possible to believe in the virgin birth and incarnation of the Savior and yet not be saved. Salvation does not depend upon affirming the creeds. “The demons also believe” (James 2:19). Salvation depends upon personally receiving the free gift of eternal life which God offers to you through His eternal Son who took on human flesh through the virgin Mary on that first Christmas, who offered Himself as the substitute for sinners on the cross. If God is truly with us in Christ, then we must come to God only through Christ.”[3]

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[1] Craig Blomberg. The New American Commentary, Vol. 22. Matthew (Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman), 59.

[2] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1994) 495.

[3] https://bible.org/seriespage/christmas-1996-virgin-birth-why-believe-it-matthew-118-25-luke-126-38

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