Luke 1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 "For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Our Lord and Savior has several names and many titles, each has significance in and of themselves. Combine all those names and titles along with the context of their meaning, and you have a beautiful picture of this One, the second person of the Trinity, Who "wore" many "hats" in order to carry out God’s great plan of the ages.

This passage of Luke 1 and others dealing with the birth of our Savior are so familiar that we often skip through them without even seeing what is said. It would do all of us a great deal of good to take this passage and apply to it the things learned in the Tuesday Night Class.

By the way, for those attending the Tuesday Night Class, and for those not the teaching and information given in that class exceeds any that I received at Moody Bible Institute on the subject of Bible study and interpretation. I haven’t been to all the Bible schools in the nation, but I have listened in on many as I traveled, and the Tue Night teaching exceeds anything I’ve heard in those schools. We are most favored of God to have this opportunity!! Thank you, Pastor Eric!

This lesson is not intended to "tear" this passage apart word by word or phrase by phrase. We do want to pick out a few major facts, see how they relate to other Scriptures and how they apply to our everyday lives.

Even before we look at those facts, I want to remind you of a truth that really should not need to be examined again.... ESPECIALLY in this church. This passage and others are the God given, God ordained, Holy Spirit inspired account of the birth of the "SON of GOD"!

If those fact do not make you sit up straight in your Spiritual posture, then you need to examine the reality of your Spiritual posture. As I said, there should be no need to mention this truth, EXCEPT in so many subtle ways, and some very overt ways this account has been grouped with the many myths, untruths and mutated truths surrounding the season of Christmas.

Therefore, the Biblical account becomes only one of many cute stories that make this.... "the season to be jolly". It makes very little difference WHY the Biblical accounts are grouped with other accounts of secular Christmas traditions, BUT it is very important to see that often the Biblical account is considered only one of the many traditions.

When these Biblical truths are linked to, or held only in slightly higher esteem than the rest, that brings into question the validity of this Biblical account, and therefore ANY other account found in the Scriptures on any subject. Because of that fact, this special time set aside to worship Christ in this unique way, becomes a "corruption" and "degrading" of deity and all that constitutes Christianity, instead of a worship of Christ and a reaffirmation of the incarnation of the eternal God into a body like sinful mankind.

At the outset of this series I want to state that, for the most part, the secular traditions of Christmas are not Spiritually harmful, UNLESS we place those traditions on a level with or above the Biblical accounts. However, there are some traditions that have a tendency to, and do lead away from the truths of Scripture. Therefore, we need to be careful and participate in those traditions with appropriate caution.

Plus, we must remember that the secular traditions are just that, secular traditions. They can bring enjoyment in like manner to the tradition of football on Thanksgiving and other holidays. For some that football tradition is a blessing..., and to others a curse.

However, those secular Christmas traditions must be held in proper regard, and never confused with the "real" meaning of Christmas. Plus, we MUST realize that the Biblical account is not a "tradition" in the truest sense, BUT an irrefutable account, by God, of the events surrounding the coming of the Son of God.

Recently a film was produced on the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and aired on TV (It might have been in the theater, I’m not sure). I listened to several accounts and interviews concerning this film, so the information referred to here may be a combination of what I heard, rather than simply one interview.

In those accounts of the film and its making, it was stated that the writers and producer found the Biblical account of the life of Mary to be autobiographical. Therefore, the account may be a reflection of what she thought she should have been and said, rather than what she actually said and did.

The producer of the film said that the "role" and concept of Mary changed over the course of the first century and is still changing even to this day. That changing "role" of Mary took place and is taking place according to the changing needs of women at any given time.

In one interview with the producer of this film on Mary, the interviewer stated and ask something like.., "You (the producer) have always been a very religious person. When did Mary (the mother of Jesus) become such a fascination to you?"

The producer replied with something like.., "My interest in Mary did not come from religion, but the ‘Women’s Movement’. Mary is a symbol of the independence and self-reliance that all women should have."

Sad to say, similar concepts of Mary and the accounts of the Birth of Christ are reflected in some so called theologians’ statements, also. Some so called theologians, who claim to be ministers of the Word of God, suggest that the account of the Birth of Christ, and Mary’s role in that Birth may not be as accurate as stated in the text.

After all, the writing of the account took place years after the fact. THEREFORE, Mary, they infer, would have had time and opportunity to rearrange the facts and attitudes in such a way as to show herself as a mature woman, rather than the naive teenager she was at the time. Some, in the name of theology, have made even more blasphemous statements not worthy of mention or consideration.

Even worse, than the making of such God rejecting statements, 
is that many have accepted 
the basic tenets of such statements 
as the foundation on which to build their Biblical concepts.

If the Luke account is a "doctored" or "altered" account of the birth of Christ, either by Mary or Dr. Luke, that account must be rejected as a horrible hoax that renders as false 2,000 years of Christian beliefs and actions!!

NO!!!! This is not a filtered or doctored account given by Mary to Luke. It is the accurate account of the Birth of the Son of God given by God, Himself, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. If it is anything less, then there is not one page of the Bible that is trustworthy.

Let me state again, this matter of the accuracy and inspiration of Scripture should be such a solid fact of our belief system that it need not be reestablished as an eternal truth. BUT we are so human, and so easily pushed into the mold and philosophy of the world by the many "winds of doctrine" presented by some as "gospel truth". This was a common problem in the early church, and it will be a problem in the church until the Rapture.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

If Satan can bring into question the inspiration and accuracy of Scripture, he has won a BIG battle in this conflict of the ages, BUT he has not won the "war"!! Satan’s first communication with mankind was an attack on the validity of the Word of God.., AND it will ever be so. BUT may we NEVER be guilty of being a "tool" in Satan’s hand to discredit God’s holy Word by the things we say and do!!

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God. If we assert that some portions were simply stories of a confused and diluted mother trying to put the best "spin" on a politically sensitive situation.., then we MUST reject that account as Scripture.

IF we reject that account as God breathed.., THEN we must reject most if not all of the New Testament as Scripture. You may "pick" and "choose" if you like, BUT as for me and my house, we accept ALL as God breathed!!!!! AND I rest my eternal destiny on that fact!!!

2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Praise God! We have the "sure Word", that came to us by the will and direct intervention of God. We can trust our lives and eternity to the truths and promises of that Word, BECAUSE it did not come by the "will of man", nor is any part of that Word cunningly devised fables.

Not only are these accounts of the virgin birth of Christ true to the smallest detail, the fact of the virgin birth is absolutely necessary for our eternal destiny with God. Without this event, we would still be in our sin and condemned to a Christless eternity in the Lake of Fire.

IT  IS  IMPORTANT  WHAT  YOU  BELIEVE  
AND  HOW  YOU  BELIEVE  
WHAT  YOU  BELIEVE!!!!   

Let’s look again at this divinely given and accurate to the smallest detail account of the announcement and birth of Christ.

Luke 1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

It is important to see that this whole event was directed by God in all aspects.

1. v 26 the angel was sent "by God"
2. v 28 "the Lord" was with Mary
3. v 30 Mary had found favor "with God"
4. v 32 "The Lord God will give" Mary’s baby boy the throne of David
5. v 35 "The Holy Spirit" was to be the empowering agent of the conception
6. v 37 "With God nothing will be impossible"

Luke 1:28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 "For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

In this whole account, there is NOTHING of human purpose or planning. Only the willingness of Mary to be the "servant of God", and Joseph to submit to the will of God.

For our continuing study, let’s look at one very important phrase in this portion. That phrase is found in v 35 "The Son of God". Never this side of eternity will we fully comprehend what it means to be "The Son of God". But let’s look at some of the facts surrounding this truth that might help us to a better comprehension of this subject.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

This "Word", or the very thought and expression of God and all that God is, has reference to Christ in His eternal preexistence, as we see from vs 14 and the rest of the context of this passage.

This One Who was to be "called the Son of God":

1. Was in existence in or "before" the beginning.
2. Was with God in or "before" the beginning.
3. Was God in or "before" the beginning.
4. Was the maker or creator of all things in or "before" the beginning.
5. Was life in or "before" the beginning.
6. Was the light of men in or "before" the beginning.

THEN

(a) That eternal "Light" shone in the darkness of humanity long after the beginning.

BUT

(b) Humanity did not comprehend that light which was in or "before" the beginning, but now shown in time.

Comprehend [John 1:5] = (Greek) To receive or admit that light existed.

This One, Who was to become the "Son of God", was all of those six things and MORE!!

Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

As Paul tells us in Phil 2, Christ, the "Son of God", did not have to reach for or achieve the status of being God. Paul goes on to tell us that there was nothing improper or illegal for Christ to consider Himself EQUAL with God.

In becoming "The Son of God", the second person of the Trinity did not become LESS than He was before time began. His relationship to the first and third persons of the Trinity became different in His role as God the Redeemer.

The second person of the Trinity laid aside His "right" of equality of status and glory with the first and third persons of the Trinity. The second person of the Trinity accepted the "role" of the Savior of mankind, and the Messiah of God or the Christ.

To accomplish these tasks, He had to take the form of humanity and become even lower that the angels as to status and glory. In His roles as Savior and Messiah, the second person of the Trinity became the "Son of God". He was the "Son of God" both through His conception by means of the Holy Spirit, AND because He demonstrated sonship in all of His deportment.

John 6:38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

True sonship is twofold, both relational and reactive. A baby boy is born a son, therefore there is a relationship with the father. For the son to know the blessed fellowship of the father, there must be proper reactions and actions known as obedience. Sad to say, many children in this matter of maturing and growth stay only in the area of the reactive. Many children only comply when they have to react to a threat by the parent.

This one born to Mary so long ago, was the "Son of God" in both areas of relationship and fellowship. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit (relationship).., and He willingly and eagerly sought to do the will of the Father (fellowship).

Christ DIDN’T just comply with the so called "house rules". Simply keeping the rules for the sake of the rules is NOT true obedience. Actions based simply on following the rules for rules sake may be considered compliance, but not obedience. True obedience is an eagerness of the heart and mind to do that which pleases the Father.

By the way, there are some real lessons here, as to the human relationships of fathers and sons, that we would do well to heed. There are far more lessons here than we have time to mention. In true sonship there was another area in which this One born to Mary excelled.

Galatians 4:1 Now I say that the heir,as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave,though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.

The home is not FOR THE CHILDREN, nor should the children run the affairs of the home. We do our children a great disfavor when we allow them to control the schedule, the purpose and the goals of the home.

Yes, children are important!! Children will change your life!! Children are a cost in time, money, leisure hours, social life, etc. Children are a blessing and a gift from God. BUT as parents you should have a purpose and goal for your home, AND your children should fit into that purpose and goal, NOT the other way around. We don’t see much this today, BECAUSE we have allowed the pressures of the world to control our lives, motives, purpose and sometimes our destinies.

Sad to say, in modern society - for it was not always that way - the activities of the children dictate the function of the home. As a result, there is very little spiritual resolve in either the parents or the children. The home has become only a filling station, instead of incubator where spiritual stamina and purpose are fostered.

In this "rat race" of activities, the parents find their lives empty and growing apart from one another and God. Parents talk to each other more on the cell phone, as they rush from one activity to another, than they do face to face. Therefore, when the last frantic activity of their children is over..., so is their "home" life and purpose for being married.

This is a REAL practical lesson taught by this account of Christ’s birth. We need to give this aspect of the Christmas story some real close attention. To get a little closer perspective of this fact, let’s jump ahead in the story of Christ’s birth to His childhood.

Luke 2:41 His parents went toJerusalem (from Nazareth) every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

Please, see the picture. Jesus is 12 years of age. The age when Jewish boys were often declared to be adult sons, and became active in their father’s business. When the activities of the feast and possibly the dedication of the boy Jesus to adulthood were concluded, the group left Jerusalem to travel back to Nazareth. After a day on the road, Joseph and Mary discovered that Jesus was not with them. Don’t laugh too hard or shake your head in disgust. Parents often leave kids behind at church. I wouldn’t want to mention any names... now would I?? It happens in the best of regulated families.

This was probably not a case of forgetfulness or lack of attention on the part of the parents. There was obviously quite a group of friends and relatives traveling from the area of Nazareth to Jerusalem and back. This trip had become a normal routine. They had been doing this for several years.

In that day and age, when a group of this nature traveled, often the women and children under 12 traveled together, and the men and the boys over 12 traveled together. Probably on a trip of this nature, the men and older boys would be on one side of the Jordan river and the women, girls and younger boys on the other side. Seeing that there were no "rest stops", filling stations or McDonalds... this arrangement made "bathroom privileges" and bedding down more convenient.

That being the case, this would be the first trip on which Jesus would have been traveling with the men. Equally important, it would be the first trip Jesus would not have been traveling with the women.

Mary, considering the new found manhood status of her son, would have expected Jesus to be with Joseph on the other side of the river. Joseph, on the other hand, had not known the responsibility of checking on the whereabouts of his foster son for 12 years. So both probably thought the other had Jesus with them. Not having Y2K compliant cell phones, they couldn’t check on one another until the evening meal.

At the close of the first day of travel, as they were bedding down.., and I can just see the scene.... Mary calls across the Jordan to Joseph and says, "How is Jesus doing on His first day with the men?"

Now...., you men know what response Joseph gave, don’t you? Joseph opened his mouth and said, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh...!?!?!? So back the Jerusalem they went, and I’m SURE it didn’t take a days journey to get back.

Luke 2:45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, " Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. 51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

In the modern philosophy, if a parent saw such potential in their child, the father would rush home, sell his business and relocate in Jerusalem so the child could advance his vocation.

For those who have studied the adoption process with us, you will understand that Jesus had the right to be about His Father’s business. BUT instead, we see that He went back with them "and was SUBJECT to them". The results were that Jesus increased in:

1. Wisdom
2. Stature
3. favor with God
4. favor with men

My! Isn’t the story of Christmas a very practical family relationship manual!

There is more to being the "Son of God" than a relationship and fellowship. Christ willingly laid aside that which was rightly His as being equal with God, so He could be the "Son of God" through birth and obedience.

The One Who existed before time began...
willingly started an earthly life as a new born baby.

The One Who was with God in all glory in the beginning...
willingly was born in a stable with the animals.

The One Who created all things...
willingly was procreated lower than the angels
and dependent on others for all His needs.

The One Who was very life itself...
willingly came to this earth to taste of death for all mankind.

Christ didn’t do those things and many more as some divine experiment to see if God could live as a man. He did it because of His love for you and me, who were all born sinners and spiritually children of the Devil.

Christ became the "Son of God"
so He could be the first of many!

Have you received
that special Christmas Gift from Christ?

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren

Galatians 4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.