What Is So Special About a Little Baby Named Jesus?
Matthew 1:18-23
I. Introduction - Matthew 1:23
A. There are few things in this life that are precious (valuable, dear, special): and one of the most precious is that of the birth of a child. Precious and special because it is always a miracle, and always a joy!
B. In Matthew 1:23 we find God, taking on the form of man. He did not come as an angel, or a meteor, or an alien, but as a baby. God had become LIKE US, and more importantly, he had come to be WITH US, Emmanuel!
C. Why? Why did God become a man? Why was He born a baby in a manger? Let’s take the time this morning to see how important the birth of this baby is to you and I. Let’s see what really happened that Christmas morning so long ago:
II.
Message - The Special Birth of Jesus Christ (Matt 1:18-23)
A. There is something special about the Particulars of His Birth (1:18-23)
1. It was a Pure Birth (1:18-21)
a. The discovery by Joseph - Mary is with child
1) She and Joseph were engaged to be married
2) They had kept themselves pure for each other
3) Mary now announces proudly that she is going to have a baby - and of all things, the baby is conceived of the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:26-35). “And I am still a virgin!”
b. The decision of Joseph
1) He just can’t believe it - a virgin birth. Had to be some other man
2) But he loves her, and decides to put her away privately and rent her a house out of the way, and protect her because the law stated that adultery was worthy of death!
c. The declaration of the angel - It is all true!
1) Something great is about to happen Joseph. This baby is a pure life - without sin - perfect!
2) This baby is the promised Messiah named JESUS
2. It was a Promised Birth (1:22,23) God was coming through on the most important promise He had ever made! And all Israel looked for the birth of the Messiah because they knew the Scriptures
a. Gen 3:15 4,000 years earlier
b. Isa 7:14 750 years earlier
B. There is something special about the Purpose of His Birth (1:21)
1. To reveal our condition - sinners in need of a Saviour. We forget this! Not good enough to get to heaven on our own merits. Our condition is:
a. Separated from God
b. Under the wrath of God (John 3:16-18) - God still hates sin!
2. To save us FROM our sins - He came to BE our Saviour
a. From the power of our sins (Rom 6)
b. From the penalty for our sins (Rom 6:23) - death and hell
All this is not pie-in-the-sky religious stuff - it is REAL. Jesus is the Saviour. The question is: Has He saved YOU?
3. To be our substitute - How would He save us? He came to take our place in death. He did not come to be served, but to serve. He did not come to live it up in this life, but to DIE!
1 Pet 3:18 For
Christ also hath suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might
bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the
Spirit.
a. You see, He had to suffer. Why? Because it was because of OUR sins That’s hard to swallow! We made Him suffer!
b. He had to be rejected. Rejected both by man and God! Why? In order to make US acceptable to God!
c. He had to die. Why? To finally put away our sins!
d. Thank God, He had to rise again, to show He had victory over sin, death, and even hell!
4. To reveal God (John 1:18) - personally. People had always spoken FOR God, and now God was here speaking for Himself. People back then had decided to just believe anything that the religious leaders said instead of looking at what God said, so God came to set everything straight. The same problem exists today!
C. There is something special about the Power in His Birth (John 1:14,11-13) - It Works! This birth affects people for eternity! It transforms them inside out!
1. It produced the Christmas birth - It happened almost 2,000 years ago and made God into the form of man. The eternal One entered history and dwelt among us! Whew!
2. It produces the New Birth - It happens instantly when a sinner gets saved! It makes sinful man into the form of a son of God. It allows sinners to enter eternity and dwell with God forever! How?
a. By simply trusting HIM (faith) that He is who He claimed to be - Saviour
b. By simply receiving HIM (salvation) , not the sacraments, catechism, or rituals (all that, is nothing but religion)!
D. But there are some things that this special birth cannot do:
1. It cannot work without child-like faith in your heart - not religious faith, but surrendered faith, in what God says in His word as sufficient!
2. It cannot MAKE you believe on Christ - It cannot force you to be saved, be born again. You have to choose to believe this Book
3. It cannot make an exception for you - this is where most people miss it - you have to come to Christ for salvation just like everyone other sinner who has ever been saved. Just because you come to church, or say your prayers, and give to all the charities won’t buy you one day in heaven!
III.
Conclusion
A. There truly is something special about the Particulars of His Birth
1. It was a Pure Birth
2. It was a Promised Birth. God was coming through on the most important promise He had ever made!
B. There is something special about the Purpose of His Birth (1:21)
1. To reveal our condition - sinners in need of a Saviour.
2. To save us FROM our sins - He came to be our Saviour
3. To be our substitute
4. To reveal God (John 1:18) - personally.
C. There is something special about the Power in His Birth (John 1:14,11-13) - It Works! This birth affects people for eternity!
1. It Produced the Christmas birth - It happened almost 2,000 years ago and made God into the form of man. The eternal One entered history and dwelt among us! Whew!
2. It Produces the New Birth - It happens instantly when a sinner gets saved! It makes sinful man into the form of a son of God. It allows sinners to enter eternity and dwell with God forever! How?
a. By simply trusting HIM (faith) that He is who He claimed to be - Saviour
b. By simply receiving HIM (salvation) , not the sacraments, catechism, or rituals (all that, is nothing but religion)!
Will you not trust Him with your sins now, and accept from Him His complete forgiveness and finally know Him as your Saviour?