Sermon #12 Luke Sermons

Title: THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR

Text: Luke 2:1-7

Subject: The Birth Of Christ

Date: Sunday Evening – September 12, 1999

Tape # V-44b

Readings: Office: Buddy Daugherty Auditorium: Gary Baker

Introduction:

I want us to read the first seven verses of Luke 2. In this passage, we have before us the story of a birth.

J. C. Ryle properly stated, “Every birth of a living child is a marvelous event. It brings into being a soul that will never die.”

But these verses do not describe just any child’s birth. What we have before us here is the birth of the incarnate Son of God (not the birth of the Son of God; but the birth of the incarnate Son of God), the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Never, since the world began, was there such a birth.

· This was the birth of him for whom and by whom the worlds were made.

· Here we see God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16).

· What we have before us in these verses is the birth of him of whom all the law and the prophets of the Old Testament spoke.

Illustration: Cinderella’s Slipper

Let’s read the Luke’s inspired narrative of our Savior’s birth – Luke 2:1-7.

1. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2. ([And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)

Proposition: The Lord Jesus Christ was born as a man at Bethlehem that he might die as a man at Calvary to redeem his people from the curse of the law.

This is exactly what our Lord Jesus himself tells us in Matthew 20:28, and what the Holy Spirit tells us in Galatians 4:4-5.

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

But when the fulness 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. (Galatians 4:4-5)

Divisions: I want us to focus our attention on four aspects of our Savior’s birth tonight.

1. Its Purpose

2. Its Time

3. Its Place

4. Its Manner

I. THE PURPOSE OF OUR SAVIOR’S BIRTH

Luke does not record the purpose of Christ’s birth in our text. But the Holy Spirit has recorded it for us in many, many places in Scripture. And it would be pointless for me to talk to you about Christ’s birth, if I did not tell you why he came into this world in human flesh. So let’s look again at the angel’s message to Joseph some nine months before this (Matt. 1:21).

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)

A. The Lord Jesus Christ was the eternal Son of God before he came into this world in human flesh.

B. The Son of God has a people in this world called “his people,” before he came here to save them.

C. Jesus Christ came into this world on an errand of mercy, as our Substitute, Representative, and Covenant Surety, to save his people from their sins.

D. He did what he came here to do (Heb. 10:5-14).

5. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

6. In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

7. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

8. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law;

9. Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

10. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all].

11. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

12. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

13. From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:5-14)

The Lord Jesus Christ saves his people from their sins by three mighty acts of grace, which he alone could perform.

· Redemption

· Regeneration

· Resurrection

II. THE TIME OF OUR SAVIOR’S BIRTH

We have before us a marvelous display of God’s wisdom. We are specifically informed that our Savior was born into this world in those days when Caesar Augustus, the first Roman emperor, made a “decree that all the world should be taxed.”

This is an important fact in the whole scheme of things. You see, the Lord God promised, through his servant Jacob, that Israel would not cease to be a civil state until Christ came to redeem and save his people (Gen. 49:10).

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him [shall] the gathering of the people [be]. (Genesis 49:10)

Our text tells us of the precise fulfilment of Jacob’s prophecy. The Jews were under the dominion of Rome. They had lost all legal, civil power as a nation. Strangers ruled over them and demanded taxes from them. The nation of Israel was without a government of its own for the first time in their history. No sooner did Augustus tax the world than Messiah came! It was the “due time” and “the fulness of time.”

Divine providence had now arranged the best time possible for Christ to come into the world.

A. When he had fully proved that the world by wisdom knew not God (1 Cor. 1:21), God stepped into the world to make himself known.

· Religious ritualism had left men and women utterly ignorant of God and morally bankrupt.

· The philosophers, poets, historians, architects, and rulers of all the Gentile world left the human race in spiritual darkness, moral corruption, and political violence that only grew worse with time.

B. Yet, at this precise time, for the first time since the tower of Babel, all the civilized world was under one government.

By the time Christ came, God had arranged the whole world in such a way as to make a path for the gospel into all the world.

C. Let us ever find solace for our souls in this fact. – All the events of this world, all history, all governments, all times are in the hands of our great God.

“My times are in thy hand” (Ps. 31:15). He always knows and always does what is best. We ought never worry and fret about the course and condition of this world, even in such dark days as these. We act like we know better than God what is best. What foolishness!

Martin Luther used to frequently say to his worrying, fretting friend, Philip Malancthon, “Philip, stop trying to govern the world.” We would be wise to heed those words. Let us ever live in this world as the loyal subjects of the all-wise King of kings and Lord of lords.

He who is our God is God indeed, God over all! He is too wise to err, too good to do wrong, and too strong to fail.

III. THE PLACE OF OUR SAVIOR’S BIRTH

Our Savior was not born in Nazareth of Galilee, where Mary and Joseph resided. Instead, he was born at Bethlehem. The prophet Micah had, long, long before this event, prophesied that the Lord Jesus must be born at Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2); and so it came to pass.

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)

Once more, we have before us a marvelous display of God’s sovereign, absolute rule of all things in providence to accomplish the good purpose of his grace toward chosen sinners.

A. He who orders all things in heaven, earth, and hell, turns the hearts of kings whithersoever he will.

The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. (Proverbs 21:1)

It was the Lord God who caused Augustus to make this decree and begin enforcing it at precisely the time when Mary’s pregnancy had come to full term.

Neither Augustus nor Cyrenius had any idea what they were doing, or why. I have no doubt at all, being typical politicians, they acted only upon the unprincipled principle of expediency. What they were actually doing was carrying forth the eternal designs of our God for the salvation of his people and the glory of his own great name. Like the king of Assyria, they meant it not so, neither did their hearts think so, but they were performing the work of the Lord (Isa. 10:5-12).

This act of the first Roman emperor was an act which laid the foundation for the kingdom of God, before which all the kingdoms of this world must soon bow and crumble.

B. Our God graciously and wisely rules and over rules all things, the good and the evil, for the accomplishment of his will.

Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. (Psalms 76:10)

· Adam’s Fall

· Lot’s Incest

· Elimelech’s Move

· David and Bathsheba

· Judas’ Betrayal

C. Our heavenly Father’s providential rule of the universe ought to quieten our hearts, while we sail through the troubled waters of this world.

If we believe God, we should never be greatly disturbed by the affairs of this world, or the conduct of earthly rulers. We ought to regard all things as the will of God. We should look upon every action of every political ruler as the oracle of God. It mattered not whither Shemei cusses David or praises David, God blessed him! Let us learn to regard all men and all devils, too, as creatures of God Almighty, created to serve his purpose, without the ability to think, wiggle, or move, except by the will of God (Eccles. 5:8).

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for [he that is] higher than the highest regardeth; and [there be] higher than they. (Ecclesiastes 5:8)

IV. THE MANNER OF OUR SAVIOR’S BIRTH

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)

Let us never forget, my brother, my sister, it was through his own great humiliation that the Son of God obtained eternal glory for us. It was through his life of holy suffering as well as his death that he obtained eternal redemption for us (2 Cor. 8:9).

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Learn this, too, and learn it well. – God is no respecter of persons; and we must not be. We must never allow ourselves to form opinions of people’s character based upon their…

· Poverty or Wealth.

· Face or Place.

· Race or Rank

Application: I can think of no better way to bring this message to a close than by asking you to read Philippians 2:1-11 with me. May God the Holy Spirit give us grace to follow our Savior’s example in dealing with one another. O Holy Spirit, give us the mind of Christ.

1. If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

2. Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind.

3. [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;

11. And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:1-11)

AMEN.