Sermon Tone Analysis

the birth of a baby is a cause for great rejoicing

if Jesus was no different than any other baby he would long have been forgotten

when we remember people who have died we remember them not for their births but for their life accomplishments both negatively and positively

examples: Judas, King David, Abraham

why is Jesus’ birth remembered above all others?

Jesus’ birth is remembered because he was God.

At Christmas we celebrate not just the birth of a baby in a manger in Bethlehem but God taking on flesh.

if that sounds odd to you, you are not alone

how could God be born if he is the eternal God?

how could God become something he was not?

why would God take upon himself the nature of one of his creatures?

to answer these questions must understand that God is Father, God is Son and God is Holy Spirit

this is the biblical doctrine of the Trinity

The word “trinity” is not found in the bible the triune nature of God permeates the scriptures.

(Gen 1:26; Mt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14)

we find it at the very the beginning of the bible in Genesis 1:26

let us make man

God is a plurality of persons

we find it in the first book of the New Testament

when a believer is baptized they are immersed into the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

as a result they are indwelt by all 3 persons of the Godhead (see my message on Jn 15:1-11, Oct 7, 2018)

as Christmas approaches we will focus on the names given to Jesus, the 2nd person of the Trinity

today: Jesus & Immanuel

next Sunday: Saviour (Lk 2:11) , Lord (Lk 1:43), Christ (Mt 1:16, 18; Lk 2:26)

Dec 23: Son of Abraham (MT 1:1), Son of David (Mt 1:1), Son of God (Lk 1:35), Son of the Most High (Lk 1:32)

Definition of the Trinity from Chapter 2 of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.

https://reasonabletheology.org/an-orthodox-definition-of-god-and-of-the-holy-trinity/

Jesus

the angel Gabriel said to Mary

The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew “Yehoshua” later shortened to “Yeshua”.

“Yehoshua” = Joshua = Yahweh is salvation

Jesus the English rendering of the Greek

The meaning of Jesus’ name is, “to deliver; to rescue”.

“Jesus” occurs 966x in the NT!

often used in connection with his other names:

Jesus Christ & Christ Jesus (most common)

Lord Jesus Christ

Lord Jesus

Jesus = to deliver; to rescue

Q: from what?

the angel of the Lord to Joseph

Jesus was born to save his people from their sins.

(Mt 1:21)

the sin problem:

Adam and Eve designated by God the representatives of the whole human race which would come from them

When Adam sinned and fell under the sentence of death all fell with him.

(1 Cor 15:22; Eph 2:1)

1 Cor 15:22 “… in Adam all die”

this is our natural state

the problem of God’s justice:

how does a perfectly holy God acquit guilty sinners?

through a perfectly holy substitute

substitutionary atonement

Read Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12

for whom did Jesus do this?

who are the beneficiaries of this atonement?

“he will save his people from their sins”

before a believer is saved they are “his people”

Speaking to believers Paul told them they had been chosen by God before the creation of the world.

(Eph 1:4-6; 2 Tim 1:9-10)

on what basis? on the basis of their choice?

on the basis of anything they did?

believer, if you are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ give God all the praise and glory and honour

unbeliever, though you are dead in your trespasses and sins God commands you to believe on His Son the Lord Jesus Christ

if you will humble yourself before God he will give you his grace to believe and be saved

Jesus will save his people from their sins

Immanuel

Immanuel, God with us

When Jesus saves his people from their sins he is with them forever!

(Mt 1:23)

Mt 1:23 is a quote from Isa 7:14

Isaiah commissioned to preach to God’s people who had closed their eyes and ears to his warnings of judgment

two kings joined their armies to attack Jerusalem

King Ahaz and his people were terrified

God sent Isaiah to tell King Ahaz not to be afraid because he was going to bring their plan to nothing (Isa 7:7-9)

God told Ahaz to ask for a sign a proof he would do this for them

pretending to be righteous and feigning a desire not to test God, Ahaz refused to obey

in anger God gave him a sign anyway

birth and maturing of Immanuel was both a blessing and a warning

the land of the kings they dreaded would be deserted because the King of Assyria would come against them and destroy them

if Israel did not repent Assyria would come and conquer them as well!

Immanuel a sign of deliverance but also a warning of judgment if they continued in their sinful rebellion

Immanuel = God with us

Jesus who is our Saviour is also Immanuel , God with us.

Immanuel = God with us

why was it necessary for Jesus to take upon himself human flesh and come and be with us?

the reason is hinted at in v.8, “obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”

Immanuel’s other name Jesus is even more obvious: he will save his people from their sins

how is Immanuel with us?

Jesus, Immanuel, is in those who obey him through his Holy Spirit.

the result:

“led by the Spirit of God”

A true child of God is led by the Spirit of God.

(Rom 8:14-17)

if the HS is in you, he will lead you

As the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit’s purpose is to lead God’s children into all truth.

(Jn 16:13)

“you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons”

we are God’s own dear children