And Jesus' name we pray, amen.
All right, we're in first chapter number three this morning and
This morning we actually conclude our miniseries entitled
miraculous nativity is a survey through unlikely births in the Bible and of course nativity simply means birth and really is
strongly associated with the birth of Christ and the last two weeks we covered the miraculous births of Isaac Samson and
John the Baptist and we covered why these births were miraculous and how they pictured the most extraordinary birth in the Bible
which is the birth of Jesus Christ and
We want to talk about that this morning
As far as why is this a miraculous birth now before I get into the core of the sermon
Let me make some introductory statements about our church. Well, let's read first Timothy 3 16 first and foremost it says and without controversy
Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh
Justified in the spirit scene of angels preached into the Gentiles and believed on in the world received up into glory
Now keep in mind that we are a independent fundamental Baptist Church, right?
And if you look at the sign outside of the church, it says first works Baptist Church and it says independent fundamental now
I didn't put that there because I think it just sounds cool. Although it sounds cool. Okay?
We
Are independent because of the fact that we are an autonomous church and what that means is that we're self-governing
We don't answer to a convention. We don't answer to a mother church. We're solely independent
I'm the pastor of this church and the person who's over me is Jesus Christ
This is how churches are supposed to operate there. There should be independent autonomous churches, but not only that we are fundamental
Baptists okay, and what that means is that we believe in the fundamentals of the faith now if you're to look that up
You know various people will tell you there's five fundamentals or six fundamentals
Well anything that the Bible teaches that is basic and foundation is a fundamental of the faith, right?
Now obviously if we were to break that down into a category of five fundamentals, we would say okay the inerrancy of Scripture
Which is the fact that we believe that the King James Bible is the inspired and preserved Word of God
Jesus Christ's blood atonement is a fundamental of the faith the resurrection or the rapture right is a fundamental of the faith
Someone say the authenticity of miracles is a fundamental of the faith
but for sure the fifth one that they mention is the virgin birth of Jesus Christ and this is a
Fundamental of the faith. This is a very important doctrine. Okay, and
In fact the Bible tells us in Ephesians you don't have to turn to stay there in 1st Timothy chapter 3
Ephesians 2 verse 19 says now therefore you're no more strangers and foreigners
But fellow fellow citizens 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 Psalms 11 verse 3 says if the foundations be destroyed
What can the righteous do isn't it interesting that when false prophets arise when false churches arise? What do they do?
What kind of doctrines do they attack the fundamentals the fundamentals of salvation the fundamentals of the virgin birth
The fundamentals of the Word of God why because if the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do?
Everything that we believe relies on
These foundational teachings, okay
So we need to make sure that we have the foundational teachings
Right, and if now we're gonna be off on a lot of other areas now
The Bible teaches us that the virgin birth is a fundamental of the faith
And in fact, look at 1st Timothy chapter 3 in verse 14
It says here these things write on to you hoping to come into these shortly
But if I tarry long that thou mayest know how to the oddest to behave thyself in the house of God
Which is the church of the Living God look what it says the pillar and ground of truth
So what is the Bible telling us here that the church the local New Testament Church is the pillar and ground of truth
In other words, it is the place where truth should be expounded
It's a place where people can come and listen to the truth of God's Word. It is the ground of truth
Why well because the pastor who's preaching the Word of God should be giving that foundational truth, right?
So the church by the way, not Fox News
not social media
Not Facebook not Instagram not some YouTube channel some kook and you know who's in you know in the middle of the woods somewhere
In a cabin making videos trying to tell you what the Word of God says. No, the church is the pillar and ground of truth
Okay
We need to be reminded of the importance of the local New Testament Church
now
Here's the thing look what it goes on to say
verse 16 and without controversy
Great is the mystery of godliness. God was made was manifest in the flesh. So what is he telling us?
This is a foundational teaching
The fact that God was manifest in the flesh shows us that this is a foundational teaching
That is the pillar and ground of truth, which is the virgin birth of Jesus Christ
Very important the Bible says in 1st Peter 1 in verse number 9
receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls of
Which salvation the prophets have it inquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you
Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify
When it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow
So what do we see throughout the Bible?
Well in the Old Testament one of the major themes of the Old Testament is the prophesying of the coming Christ
right the prophesying in the birth of Jesus Christ God was going to visit his people and
This is the moment that everyone basically anticipated which is the coming of Jesus Christ the virgin birth, okay
Now I'm going to give you some of the elements of the birth of Christ from first Timothy chapter number three
We'll get into his birth and why it's important number one
Let me say let me start off by saying this is that the virgin birth or God be made manifest in the flesh is without controversy
Look what it says and without controversy
Controversy greater the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. What does that mean? It's not up for debate
It's not up for debate the fact that Jesus Christ came was born of a virgin that the Word of God was made flesh and
Dwelled among us that Jesus Christ came to this earth 2,000 years ago. That is not controversial at all
amongst Christians
Now obviously the unsaved world they come up with some weird teachings
Obviously they don't believe the Bible and they have the wisdom of this world and it's foolishness with God and it's nonsense and we shouldn't
Adhere to that type of teaching but amongst churches Bible believing churches people who claim to be Christians. This should be not controversial, right?
Not up for debate not up for dispute. This is something that is foundational
We believe that God was made flesh 2,000 years ago that he came to this world
Was born of a virgin lived a perfect life died on the cross was buried and resurrected the third day
This is not controversial at all. At least it shouldn't be right, okay
So it's not up for debate the Bible tells us say there in first Timothy says in Genesis 3 15 and I will put enmity
Between thee and the woman between thy seed and her seed and it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his healed
Isaiah 7 14 says therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign
Behold the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name
Emmanuel that is later reiterated in Matthew 1 23 where it says behold a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth the son
And they shall call his name Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us now
There is no dispute in the fact that these prophecies of old who are foretold by these prophets
was true
everyone in the Bible believed these things who were studying the Word of God and
You even have some of the Pharisees who were not wicked people. These people were sincere in their worship
They got saved because they understood what the Word of God said now go with me
If you would to hold your place on first Timothy go to Matthew chapter 2 Matthew chapter number 2
You see this was not only believed in those days amongst prophets and
Believers and the wise men, but it was also even believed amongst the secular people as well
Look what it says in Matthew 2 verse 1 now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea and the days of Herod the king
Behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem
Saying where is he that is born king of the Jews for we have seen a star in the east and are come to worship
Him when Herod the king had heard these things he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him now
Why would he be troubled if he didn't believe it?
Right. He understood that the scriptures were true. King Herod was not a Bible believer and a sense of he wasn't a Christian
He wasn't saved right this person
In fact didn't like the fact that Jesus Christ was gonna come because he didn't want to be replaced
But yet when he hears of this prophecy, what did he do?
He was troubled the Bible says why because it was without controversy that he knew this thing was gonna take place
Verse 4 says and when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together
He demanded of them where Christ should be born. He's not saying hey validate if this is even true
If God is even gonna visit his people if he's gonna be made manifest in the flesh
No, he said find out where he's gonna be born
And they said unto him in Bethlehem of Judea for thus it is written by the prophet and thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah
Are not that are not the least among the princes of Judah for out of thee shall come a governor
That shall rule my people Israel
Then Herod when he had privately called the wise men and inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared
I mean he's searching diligently now
He's a wicked individual
But even this guy understood this is not controversial and he sent them to Bethlehem and said go and search
Diligently for the young child and when yet when ye have found him bring me word again that I may come and worship him
Also now obviously he's lying. What does he want to do? He wants to kill Jesus
He wants to kill Jesus because he doesn't want Jesus to replace him as king so he has guile
He's guile some and he's saying well
I want to worship him also what he really wants to do is put him to death verse 9 when they had heard the king
They departed and lo the star which they saw in the east
Went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding
Great joy so on and so forth. So this is not a controversial subject, right?
And in fact, it is a controversial subject amongst Pentecostals
one is Pentecostals
They will claim that well, you know, Jesus Christ is not the eternal Son of God
He became the Son of God when he was born. No, he's the eternal Son of God. God was made manifest in the flesh folks
and
Look when he was born
He was a hundred percent man and a hundred percent God
Now it's almost ridiculous that I have to say something like that as though there's people out there that don't believe that
You know, they don't believe that but it's true people out there want to attack the deity of Jesus Christ
They want to make this thing a controversial subject and say well
Jesus Christ is human part or his physical part was the human part and then his spirit is the is the God part
You know, he's just 50 50. He's 50% God 50% man folks
That's blasphemy
It's a blasphemous teaching to say. Oh, well, his flesh was not
Divine his flesh was not godly
It was a spirit then really explained to me why the Bible says that God was made manifest in the flesh
Only says that God was manifest in the spirit. He was manifest in the flesh
and
This is without controversy with us
You see when we got saved someone thought that taught this doctrine to us we received it readily
It's not controversial to us. I was like, yeah, that makes sense
The word was made flesh and dwelt among us. It wasn't sinful
He was a human being but he was a perfect human being
Because he was 100% God 100% man
1 Timothy 3 16, let's read it again without controversy great is the mystery of godliness
God was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit scene of angels preached unto the Gentiles
believed on in the world received up into glory now
We think to ourselves. Well, you know in those days. They should have known that also
Was this controversial back then? Well, let's look at chapter 4 verse number 1 because the clock continues
Now the spirit speaketh expressly
That in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils
so what does God consider to be a seducing spirit or departing from the faith when you depart from the fact that
God was made manifest in the flesh
So when you start teaching things that are opposite to that and say God was 50 50
When you start teaching things that are opposite to that and say well God did not die
At that point you're giving heat to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils you've departed from the faith
Okay, where these pastors want to come up with these hypothetical scenarios?
Well, you know if God is eternal and God, you know, if God the Father is eternal we understand that, you know
He's he's the beginning in the end. How is it that Jesus Christ died if he's God, so obviously the answer is he didn't die
That's nonsense folks
Jesus said I am he that liveth and was dead
He was dead. He said well, I thought hell though is like eternal death
Yeah, except for Jesus
He's the only exception to that rule I
Don't know about that. How can that be exception to the rule? Well, you tell me who else has the keys of hell and of death
Except for Jesus he's the exception to that rule why because he's God
100% man
100% God this should be something that is not controversial to us
It wasn't controversial to the Apostle Paul to the churches at the church at Ephesus to the churches that are found in the region of Galatia
He says without controversy
Great is the mystery of godliness
Now turn with me you stay right there in 1st Timothy go to Judges chapter 13 hold your place there in 1st Timothy
What is he going to go on to say he says
without controversy
great is the mystery of
godliness you see in this verse there's a lot of
Phrases that are being used that can sometimes confuse people for example
It goes on to say that he was justified in the spirit
Some people wonder what does that mean to be justified in the spirit?
I'm explaining to what that means in just a bit. But here it says that he that great is the mystery of
Godliness what does it mean by the mystery of godliness? Well a
Mystery obviously is any truth that is unknowable
except by divine revelation
and you see
Jesus Christ the Son of God in the Old Testament
Manifested himself, right? It's what people will refer to as a pre-incarnate Christ, but he never revealed himself to be Jesus Christ
People in the Old Testament got saved the same way people today get safe
Salvation has never changed. They just believe on the Lord and they're justified by faith. They believed on the Christ
The only thing that wasn't revealed the only thing that was a mystery was what his name?
Jesus the name Jesus was a mystery to those in the Old Testament
There's a mystery
The Bible tells us you're in there and judges look at I'm sorry. I'm gonna read to you from Ephesians stay there in Judges
Ephesians 6 18 says praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and
watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all the Saints and
For me that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel
So what is the mystery that he is pronouncing to the world that you should believe on Jesus Christ?
And in fact, we're studying through the book of Acts on Thursday nights
And one thing that we see is that the apostles are constantly or Paul is going to these different regions and synagogues and
Telling them that Jesus is this Christ. He's telling them. Hey, we have found the Christ and his name is Jesus
believe on Jesus Christ
but to further prove that look what judges 13 says I think we need to turn up the
AC brother Elisa
It's getting kind of warming here
Where's brother Elise is that?
To further prove this look what it says in Judges 13 again if you remember
Jesus Christ manifested himself many times in the Old Testament as a pre-incarnate Christ
this was often referred to as the angel of the Lord right the messenger of God and
Here's one
Scenario where he did where he appeared himself to Manoah, which is the father of Samson
We talked about him last week look what it says in verse 17 and Manoah
7 to the angel of the Lord. What is thy name?
That when thy sayings come to pass we may do they honor
Verse 18 and the angel of the Lord said unto him why askest thou thus after my name seen it is a secret
What is the same it's a mystery and the mystery was not yet to be revealed in the Old Testament
So he's like why you guys gonna aim for?
That's a mystery right now, it's a secret and you can't know of that secret you can't know of that name until he's born
Until Jesus Christ is born and then his name shall be proclaimed throughout all nations. See a lot of people get confused and
Much of the reason why is because of dispensation lists
Because obviously the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed and
So people think well if they didn't have the information that we have today in the New Testament if it's further expanded
How is it that they have the same salvation? Well, because the Bible tells us that all you have to do is believe on the Lord
It's the same God
The difference now the New Testament is that his name Jesus Christ Jesus is revealed
And by the way, Christ is not his last name
Because everyone believed in the Christ in the Old Testament Christ means anointed one the Messiah the Savior
So if we were to say, you know, Jesus Christ we're saying Jesus the Savior Jesus the anointed one
Jesus the Messiah that's what we're talking about there
And so throughout the Old Testament people believed on the Lord
They believed on the Christ
To him give all the prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins
But
That mystery was revealed by divine revelation when he was born
Because at that point they placed the name upon that child that child being Jesus. Okay, and
Look, there's people throughout that period of time when he was born that were saved that did not know of his name
And this is one of the reasons why?
Jesus Christ commanded his apostles to go out into all the world and preach Jesus
Okay to clarify and show them
Hey, this is the Christ and this Christ is Jesus Christ
if you remember Apollo's for example was saved and the Bible tells us that
The couple I'm the name is fleeing me right now. What's the couple's name?
Priscilla and Aquila that they came and they showed
Apollo's the way of the Lord more perfectly
Okay, they showed the way of the Lord more perfectly
They showed him the way of the Lord more perfectly and what did he do?
He returned to Ephesus and basically show mightily from the scriptures that Jesus Christ. He is the Christ. He is the Messiah the Savior
So he was confirming he was telling him that hey, the mystery has been revealed. His name is Jesus
Okay, and look you said well, what if there's people there who said well, we don't believe it's Jesus
It's someone else and they weren't safe
They were not safe because anybody who testifies of the Sun and
If they're really saved the spirit bears witness with our spirit where the children of God
It's gonna validate the fact that yes, that is the Christ that is Jesus, okay
Go to go to Deuteronomy chapter 30 if you would Deuteronomy chapter 30
I'm gonna read to you from Colossians 4 verse 2 continue in prayer watching the same with Thanksgiving
With all praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ
For which all I am also in bonds that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak
so two things that the apostles were doing when they're going and
preaching is they were getting people who have never heard the name of Christ getting them saved and then getting
The people who did were already say who believed on Christ helping them to understand that that Christ is his name is Jesus
Okay, that's what he was doing now people think well
That's kind of a dangerous teaching, isn't it?
Because what if what if people today say well they believe on the Lord they just don't believe in Jesus
Well, here's the thing during this transitional period when the name of Christ when the name of Jesus was being revealed
God winked at the ignorance of the fact that they didn't know his name was Jesus
You understand and I guarantee you that every single individual who believed on Christ had someone tell him that it was Jesus
God's not gonna just tell some people and not tell others you understand but today the name of Jesus has been proclaimed throughout the whole world
So people are without excuse. We have a canonized Bible
And you know this teaching of well, you know
There's parts in Southeast Asia and the 1040 window and all these areas that they've never heard the name of Jesus once
That is a fallacy. It's a farce. It's not true
Because you have Muslims there
Right, I mean I think of Cambodia for example
They have tons of Muslims there
You know what Muslims they adhere to the Quran and you know what the Quran has the name of Jesus in there
Obviously, there's a lot of false teaching within the Quran, but you can't tell me. Well, they've never heard the name of Jesus false
Because even the Quran has the name of Jesus and in fact the Quran validates the Gospels and says that it's the Word of God
believe that or not
In the Quran it says it validates the Gospels as being the Word of God that people should adhere to it
So this teaching that all these people in Southeast Asia have never heard the name of Jesus, you know, it's not true
It's false and you know people always want to come up with this hypothetical scenario of the black guy who's in the jungles in Africa
What's gonna happen to him?
You know if he dies and he's never heard the name of Jesus folks people have what's called the light
And
As they respond to the light God gives them more light and yeah, obviously when an individual is born into this world
You know, they don't know the name of Jesus, but you know, the Bible says he lied with every man that cometh into the world
So he gives him a conscience he gives him understanding that there is a God and if that individual seeks after that God
God will make himself manifest unto him through a soul winner through a preacher of the gospel
Through a missionary to come to him and preach unto him Jesus
And that guy says well, that's not the one we're looking for then. You know what God does he takes away light
It says okay that you know, you don't really want the light
It's like these truthers right these truthers online. They claim to love the truth
They want the truth, but when you give them the truth of hey don't use that stupid version of the Bible
You need to use the King James Version
Which is the Word of God and they're like, oh no, I'm sticking with this. Oh, then you don't really want the truth then
Or hey, I know you love the truth
But you know you're saying that you have to repent of your sins in order to be saved
That's false. The Bible says all you have to do is faith alone. It's by faith in Jesus
They and they say no, I don't believe that. Okay, then you don't really love the truth. They remove truth or from your bio
Because you really don't love the truth because Jesus is the way the truth and the life
He's a source of all truth and anytime someone seeks out the truth. They will end up at the feet of Christ
If they really want the truth
Deuteronomy 30 verse 11 look what it says for this command which I command thee this day is not hidden from thee neither is it
Far off
It is not in heaven that thou shouldst say who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it unto us that we may
Hear it and do it
Neither is it beyond the sea that thou shouldst say who shall go over the sea for us and bring it unto us that we
May hear it and do it for the word is nigh unto thee
Even excuse me nigh unto thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that thou mayest do it. That sounds familiar
This is later reiterated in Romans chapter 10, but what's what's revealed?
Jesus
It tells us in Romans chapter 10, but the righteousness which is a faith speaketh on this
Why say not in thine heart who shall ascend into heaven that is to prove to bring Christ down?
From above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead Oh from where?
from the dead
But what say that the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith
Which we preach that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus
And believe in thy heart that God has raised them from the dead thou shalt be saved
so we see that
The great mystery of godliness was the fact that God prophesied that one day he would visit his people
And we know that every any individual is born into this world has a name
They just didn't know what that name was right? Okay go back to 1st Timothy chapter 3
First Timothy chapter 3 16 says and without controversy great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in
the flesh
God was manifest in the flesh
Now
You know, I do want to encourage you to take time throughout Christmas to think about this
Obviously, this is something that we believe
It's part of our core values as part of the fundamentals of our faith
But it's good to just every once in a while take a truth like this and just meditate upon it
Because sometimes we do take things for granted, right?
Oh, yeah, he was manifest in the flesh. Well say that a little slower
And like slow down a little bit and think upon that the fact that the king of the universe the creator
Became a baby I
Mean when the wise men came to see Jesus he was about two years old
I was thinking myself my daughter's two years old
Jesus Christ at one time became a human being and had to go through all the difficulties and all of the
You know the trials that a human being goes through while they're in this world 2,000 years ago, by the way
Not 2020. Although there's some trials in 2020, you know
He was a child and he
Learned he grew in wisdom and the Bible tells us that he himself became poor that for your sakes. He might be made rich
think about that and
It kind of accentuates the love of God
Does it not it shows us how much God loved us the fact that he was willing to be made manifest in the flesh
to put on the Bible says the likeness of
simple flesh
To live for 33 years and at the end of that life be completely betrayed by those whom he came to
To die for us resurrect and to give us eternal life. Don't breeze over that
You know, obviously in our church we like to go down deep on a lot of stuff and
This isn't necessarily a deep truth, but it's good to think deeply upon them
To tenderize your heart to think upon those things to create a heart of gratitude in you over the fact that Jesus Christ was born
Okay, that's what that's what Christmas is all about
He was manifest in the flesh Galatians 4 forces
But when the fullness of the time was come God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the law
to redeem them
That were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons
What an amazing truth and look at if you're thinking to yourself. Well, yeah, I already know that, you know, nothing new
Yeah, it's like whatever, you know, I already get that teach me something else. Let's talk about something else
well
You know often it's the most basic things that are the most extraordinary things
And the virgin birth is a very basic teaching but when you really sit down and think about it's very extraordinary
Okay, and look when we talk about the virgin birth, we're not focusing on Mary
You know because Catholics want to focus on Mary oh there's a virgin birth is the Virgin Mary
She didn't remain a virgin after she had Jesus
He had brothers and sisters there after folks, right?
You know the Bible tells us that Joseph knew her not
until after Jesus was born
Okay, she did not remain a virgin
Regardless of what the Catholics say no. Yeah, when we talk about the virgin birth of Christ
We are focusing on the fact that Jesus did not have an earthly father
He had an earthly mother which made him 100% human, but he had a divine father which made him 100% God as well
So every aspect every cell in his body was divine
Okay, no God part human part. It was all
Coagulated it's all intermingled
It was all in there his DNA his the fluids in his body. Yeah, even his blood
Right
Look, this is so nonsensical about this teaching that all the physical part of Jesus was not divine
Okay, so are you saying that the blood doesn't take?
Because the blood is the physical aspect of his body
And I don't know. I think there's someone else who teaches that doc. Oh, yeah, John MacArthur
Teaches that the blood does not save us
False heresy blasphemy wicked evil
We are redeemed through his blood and look we never want to get to this point
And I don't believe safe people can where we just want to focus on one aspect of God's salvation
Well, it was only the death on the cross
That's the most important thing and notice that well, no, it's the virgin birth. That was the most important thing
Well, no, it was his resurrection. That's the most important thing. Oh, no, it's the fact that he went it's all of it
It is all of it folks
It's like saying this
You know
When we get saved
The only thing that happens is that we get eternal life
Is that the only thing that happens?
Folks there the Bible talks about things that accompany salvation
There's many things that take place when we get saved now obviously eternal life is the most important thing
But along with that we become sons of God
the Spirit
Comes within us and he lives within us. We're sealed unto the day of redemption
You know, there's a list of things that happens when we get saved. We can't say one is more important than the other
We just say it's all encompassing. It's all important and in like manner, you know when Jesus Christ died
Was buried and resurrected it's all important. In fact, even previous to that his perfect life was necessary for our salvation
Him keeping the law and the commandments was necessary for our salvation
To say was only his death. Well, it's only you know, his death on the cross
That's the only thing false because Romans chapter 4 tells us that he was raised again for our justification
It's all important, okay
But his blood saves us
The Bible says in Romans chapter 8 verse 3 for what the law could not do and that I was weak through the flesh
God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin
Condemned sin in the flesh Philippians 2 6 says who being in the form of God thought in our robbery to be equal with God
But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men
Now think about this
You know any religious leader who wants to claim that Jesus Christ
Was
Not divine or there's an aspect about about him that was not divine is a false teacher
And let me prove that to you the Pharisees. What did they say of Jesus? We'd be not born of
fornication
What's the insinuation you are?
So the Pharisees were insinuating that Jesus Christ was not his God. His father was not God, but rather that Mary
fornicated with Joseph and
Therefore that's why he was born, you know, because there's a whole controversy in the very beginning where Joseph thought
Oh, man, she you know, she might have fornicated therefore
I'm gonna put her away privately because he didn't know that basically she was she had God in her womb
understand and
Then of course the angel came to him and explained to him like that's not the case. She's still a virgin
You know, she has God in her. Okay
But what are the Pharisees say? Well, we be not born of fornication. What is he saying? What are they saying?
He's not divine
Only wicked people teach that folks
Only evil wicked people unsaved people teach such a damnable heresy
God was made manifest in the flesh go back to 1st Timothy chapter 3
So we see that this is without controversy
The greater the mystery was the mystery of godliness, which is the fact that his name was revealed to us in the New Testament
He was manifest in the flesh
2,000 years ago
Look what it goes on to say it says without controversy greatest the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh
justified in
the spirit
Justified in the spirit now
This can confuse a lot of people because of the fact that the connotation that we have with
Justified in the spirit or to be justified as what?
Salvation, right? We automatically think well that's referring to salvation and
And
Rightly, so, you know, that's a term that's commonly used in the Bible to to describe salvation
But you know what? There's times in the Bible where a word is used
Generally to mean one thing but there's other portions of Scripture where in different contexts
It means something completely different right like for example salvation is a great example of that
Salvation we have the association that that's referring to eternal life
But there's times in the Bible when salvation has nothing to do with eternal life
It has to do with the the rescuing of someone's flesh
delivering someone right
Well to justify simply means to declare something is right or just
So what happened when Jesus Christ was born? He was justified of the spirit
The spirit bore witness that this is the Son of God
Right, and in fact, what did John the Baptist say?
I saw the Spirit descending upon him as a dove and God told him upon whom you see the Spirit descended upon
This is him
So the Spirit
Justified Jesus by declaring who Jesus was
Go to John chapter 15 if you would John chapter 15
I'm gonna read to you from John 1 33 says that I knew him not
But he that sent me to baptize with water
The same said unto me upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit
Descending and remaining on him the same as he which baptize it with the Holy Ghost now
do you remember last week we talked about John the Baptist and
John the Baptist
Identified the Christ when he was in the womb of his mother Elizabeth
you remember that you know Jesus came and he was doing parkour and his mother's womb and he's like leaping and
Then she was filled with the spirit the Bible says right and that feeling of the Spirit caused them to be able to identify
This is the Christ
Well the same thing with John the Baptist later on in his ministry because of the fact that it tells us that he knew him not
So he didn't know even though it was his cousin. He didn't know who Jesus was
Until he came out he saw the Spirit descending and then he was able to identify
This is the Christ now people wonder like well, how is it that he didn't know if they're cousins? Well folks
Cousins back in those days were not like your cousins who live around the corner who come out
Every Saturday to come eat with you and play with you and stuff
You understand
Cousins in those days they you know family sometimes lived very far and Moses, you know, he gave a great example
He asked me he's like, what about like your family Guatemala? When's the last time you saw your family Guatemala's like?
15
20 years ago or something
It's been a while so if I saw a lot of them today, I probably wouldn't recognize them because they live very far right
Well in like manner he probably didn't see Jesus for a really long time because they live in different regions
Therefore he knew him not but that's okay because the Spirit justified him the Spirit identified him
He identified him when he was in the womb
He identified him when he was here as well
Look what it says in John 15 verse 26 one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit says
But when the comforters come whom I was sent unto you from the Father even the Spirit of truth which proceeded from the Father
He shall testify of me
What does that mean? He's gonna justify Jesus
He's gonna say this is the one he's not gonna he's not gonna speak of himself
He's gonna speak of Jesus Christ go to Luke chapter 2 if you would Luke chapter number 2
Look at verse 25 of Luke chapter 2 it says and behold
There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and the same man was just and devout
Waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Ghost was upon him. So it didn't say they he was waiting for Jesus
He said he was waiting for the consolation of Israel because he didn't know
His name, right?
One of his names or one of his titles would be the consolation of Israel
It says in verse 26 and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost
that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ and he came by the Spirit into the temple and when the
Parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law
Then took he him up into his arms and blessed God and said Lord now let us thou thy servant depart in peace
According to thy word from mine eyes have seen thy salvation
Which thou has prepared before the face of all people
Alight to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel folks
You know what we do when we go out there so many we're justifying Jesus in the spirit
We're testifying of the Sun
We are justifying in the fact that yes, Jesus Christ is the way the truth in the life. He's the only manner of salvation
He's the only one you have to believe on to be saved that's exactly what we're doing
And so really what first Timothy 3 is it's just a summary of the life of Jesus Christ
Before he was born
Because he was you know, the mystery of godliness
When he was born, which is being made manifest in the flesh
He's being justified in the spirit throughout his ministry. We see that he's also seen of angels, right?
Go to Luke chapter 2
Luke chapter 2
Verse 1 it says and it came to pass in those days that there were went out of decree from Caesar Augustus that all the
World should be taxed
This taxing came first was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria and all went to be taxed everyone into his own city and
Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea
Unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child and so was that while they were there
The days were accomplished that she should be delivered
And she brought forth her first
firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the end and
There were in that same country shepherds abiding in the field
Keeping watch over their flock by night and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord
Shown round about them and they were sore afraid now
I do want to mention this because it's pretty interesting. In fact, Brother Carey is actually the one who brought this to my attention and
When he when he told me I was just like I'll consider the of this matter
But he was telling me he said hey, I think the star of Bethlehem is actually an angel, okay
You think you are Chris Carey, you know
And he was just he kind of like briefly told me I'm just joking about that
You know, he briefly told me give me some reasons why and then he told me goes
I know somewhere in the hymns it said something like that, too
so I went back and I and I and I studied the matter further and I believe that that's the case and
The reason why is because of the fact that the star of Beth first of all
Angels in the Bible often referred to as stars
You think of Satan, you know taking the third of stars from heaven referring to angels
You know, they're wandering stars
The Bible talks about that the stars sang together right in job 38
Many many references of angels being referred to as stars, but not only that the star of Bethlehem went before
The the wise men in other words, it's mobile
So it's moving around you understand and then the the parallel passage here shows that the angel the Lord came upon them
And the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid and in fact when the angel comes, right?
To be over the child. It's accompanied by a host of heavenly angels
Understand when the stars there it's accompanied by a host of heavenly angels. They're singing unto the Lord
Etc. But you know, this isn't obviously it's not does doesn't change the price in tea in China
I feel like that's just an interesting point and I was looking through the hymns
and I found the hymn that he was referring to which is the first Noel and
whoever wrote that song believed that same doctor because it says
you know the first Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds and fields where they lay and
Then the second verse it says in the light of that same star
Referring to the angel in verse number one. So it's just an interesting thought there
Referring to the angel possibly being a star
Or the star being an angel, excuse me
Look what it goes on to say there and if you don't like that then blame Chris Carey. Okay. No, I'm just kidding. I
Thought I believe that's what it is
I think that's an interesting point there
And by the way, isn't the Star of Bethlehem supposed to show up this this Tuesday, right where the planets aligned together?
You know and then they that's that's considered the Star of Bethlehem. It comes it comes around every 800 years or so
I don't personally believe that that's actually referring to the Star of Bethlehem that we see in the Bible
Star of Bethlehem in my opinion is an actual angel who was
Leading the the wise men there verse 10 says and the angel said unto them fear not for behold
I bring you good tidings of great joy
Which shall be to all people by the way, this is awesome right here
when the angels come to
Declare Jesus Christ does he go to Kings?
Does he go to these governors? Does he go to the you know, does he try to get the mayor involved?
Who does he go to shepherds?
Why because shepherds were the common people, right?
And you know what the Bible says that the common people hurt him gladly
You see when we are out there preaching the gospel
rarely if any
Time actually ever will we ever go to like Beverly Hills or something like that, right?
And I don't say those people don't need the gospel
But I will say this that's last priority
You know in comparison to right across the street
the ghetto
Why because in the ghetto there's common people and the common people hear him gladly the shepherds
People who work hard. They're just living a normal life and you know, and they have faith. They're rich in faith
Cuz look they told Harriet and here it's like go go look for that thing. You know, he's like trying to send other people
The shepherds on the other hand is like let's go see this site
I
Bring you good tidings a great joy
Which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior
Which is Christ the Lord and this shall be a sign unto you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth
On earth peace good will toward men and it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven
The shepherd said one to another let us now go even unto Bethlehem and
See this thing which has come to pass
Which the Lord hath made known unto us and they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger
And when they had seen it they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning
This child and all they that heard it wondered that those things which are told by them by the shepherds
I like these shepherds, you know why because when they get information they go tell someone else
If they would have told these scholars, you know, the scholars would have done and wrote a book about it
Let's write an article about let's write a book about it. Let's see how much money we can make off of this
Whereas the shepherds are like we got the info. Let's go tell another human being
about this great site and
Another principle we can learn there this is folks is is that you know, God is more interested in using
Common people
You know instead of these higher ups because of the fact that he knows that
Common people are willing to go out there put themselves out there to go preach the gospel get people saved and speak the truth. Okay
So be a common person
It says in verse number 18 all they that heard it wondered at those things which are told by them by the shepherds
But Mary kept all these things and
pondered them in her heart and the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen and
It was told unto them. So what do we see here? We see that there that he was seen of
Angels and then ultimately he was preached unto the Gentiles and believed on in the world and that's where we're here today
so the virgin birth of Christ is
An essential doctrine and it's a miracle
Because it's proof that Jesus Christ is divine
But you know what also is wonderful about that is that he because he was born of a virgin because he lived this sinless life
Because he died in the cross and because he was buried and resurrected on the third day
Therefore we're able to partake of that second birth
Right, which is a miracle in and of itself as well
You see we're not a charismatic Pentecostal church
Where people have to just see miracles and speak in tongues and
Prophesy of future events, you know, the greatest miracle that we can see every on a day-to-day basis is the salvation of a person
When they're born again
That's a miracle
It's a miracle with an individual who's on their way to hell
recognizes their condition before God
Recognizes that it's only by faith in Christ and they make that decision to get saved. They're born again
It's a miracle that that person will never die
That's a miracle I'm not interested in I'm not even interested in seeing the Star of Bethlehem so-called
Although I am gonna look at it
You know, I'm not really interested I'm not dismayed at the signs of heaven
These miraculous things and social media like the world's coming to an end. I'm not interested in those things
Now look folks when the moon is turned into blood
You know and then you have the four horsemen of the apocalypse and you have the day of the Lord coming at that point
I'm interested. You know why because I'm running from the Antichrist at that point
He's trying to kill me
So I'm looking for that sign at that point, but today not today
Today the only miraculous thing that I'm seeking after is a salvation of a lost individual
And when they get saved
It's one of the greatest of all miracles
They'll never die. Amen and look folks
Are you broke this Christmas season?
You can't buy any gifts
Don't worry. You have like the greatest gift that you can give an individual
Which is salvation
Or how about this? Do you have no one who wants to give you presents?
No one loves me no one wants to send me presents. Well if you're lost
You can receive the greatest gift that a human being could ever receive in history, which is salvation
It's priceless
You can't put a price on you can't buy it
it's the most it's the most expensive gift in
History
That no individual can ever purchase
except for Jesus Christ with his own blood
And thank God
Let's pray father. We thank you so much for this day. Thank you for the birth of Christ and Lord
I love Christmas and I pray God that Lord that you'd continue to instill within us a heart of gratitude
Regarding the the manifestation of God in the flesh
We never lose sight of that and also Lord may we defend it against wicked people who want to teach contrary to that
Teach contrary to sound doctrine and teach damnable heresy regarding our Savior
But we defend it ardently Lord and I just pray God that you bless this Christmas season Lord
I pray that we get more people saved and impart the gift of salvation unto them so they can never die
We love you so much. Lord everything