Merry Christmas!
"Therefore
the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and
bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." -- Isaiah 7:14
As believers in the gospel
age, we do not esteem one day above another. We observe no holy days, new
moons, or sabbath days. To us, every day is alike. But still, as this season of
the year suggest thoughts about the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, we
will joyfully remember our blessed Redeemer's birth. I want us to go down to
Bethlehem today, and, in company with the wondering shepherds and adoring Magi,
let us see him who is born King of kings and Lord of lords. I hope that you can
by faith claim an interest in him, and can sing, "Unto us a child is born;
unto us a Son is given" (Isa. 9:6)
WHO IS THIS BABE OF BETHLEHEM? Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God,
and yet our brother and friend, Let us adore him. His name is, Immanuel, God
with us, God in our nature. That one who was carried in Mary's womb for nine
Months is Mary's Cod. That one who came forth from Mary's womb is Mary's
Creator. It is true that his human body was miraculously conceived in the womb
of the virgin by the overshadowing power of God the Holy Spirit. As to his
human nature, our Lord was born as the seed of woman. "Unto us a child is
born." But do not ever think that Mary is the mother of God. That notion
of the papists is blasphemy. As to his Divine nature, the prophet does not say
that he was born, but rather, "Unto us a Son is given". The Lord
Jesus Christ is himself, God the eternal Son. In the incarnation, God joined
himself to and assumed our nature. He is as truly God as though he were not
man, and as truly man as though he were not God. Our Redeemer is the God-man
Mediator, Immanuel. The sweetest word in all the English language is that
golden name, Immanuel. God has come in human flesh to redeem fallen man!
WHY DID THE LORD JESUS CHRIST COME TO THIS EARTH? Our Lord did not assume our
nature to establish an earthly kingdom in which the Jewish nation might rule
the world. We are expressly told that he came to save his people from their
sins, according to the will of God. "Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for
he shall save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). "This is a
faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" (I Tim. 1:15). Immanuel is God
come to save. The Son of God assumed human nature at Bethlehem for the express
purpose of redeeming his people at Calvary, dying in our place under the wrath
of God, as our Substitute.
WHAT HAS THE LORD JESUS DONE? Why, he has done what he came to do. He has
redeemed his people. As a real man the Son of God lived in this world for
thirty-three years, perfectly fulfilling the righteous requirements of God's
holy law. He established a perfect righteousness as the Representative of his
people, bringing in an everlasting righteousness, such as God is pleased to
accept. Then, at the appointed time he laid down his life as our Substitute at
Calvary, satisfying the wrath and justice of God against his people. By his
righteous obedience to the law and his sin-atoning sacrifice, the God-man,
Immanuel, has accomplished his Father's will and redeemed unto himself a
people.
WHERE IS IMMANUEL TODAY? That very Babe who was born at Bethlehem, lived in
in the regions of Judea for thirty-three years, and died at Calvary to redeem
his people, is now seated upon the throne of universal dominion. He is the King
of Glory! With sovereign, universal power, he is ruling this world to
accomplish the salvation of those very people whom he has redeemed. God has
"given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life unto as
many as his Father has given him" (John 17:2). "O come, let us adore
him!" Immanuel, the God-man, is our Savior and our King!
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #755
2734 Old Stanford Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net