Carol Swenson
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INTRODUCTION
Approximately 6,000 years ago God prophesied in these words to Satan:
"... I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15)
This was the first prophecy of the coming Saviour. It was fulfilled in the virgin birth and crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ:
"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne." (Revelation 12:5)
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Timothy 3:16)
"Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:5-13)
There is only one way to overcome Satan's world system that is dragging the majority of mankind to Hell (1 John 5:18-19, cf. 1 John 3:8-9). It is through faith in Christ's broken body, shed blood for our sins, and resurrection from the dead. It is faith in these truths that gives us the victory (1 John 5:4-5; Rev 12:11). The overcomer has received the Truth and has this witness in himself! God promises, "... He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." (Rev 2:11)
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Rev 21:7-8)
There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. This is the Triune God. It is He who bears witness through His Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost witnesses on earth through the Bible.
The word "water" in 1 John 5:8 is symbolic for the Bible. Note the following passages that prove this:
Isaiah 55:10-11: "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
John 15:3: "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you."
John 17:17: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
Ephesians 5:25-27: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
It is by this "washing of water by the Word" that one receives "the washing of regeneration" or new birth.
Titus 3:5: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."
John 3:5: "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
Again our above passage says in part: "This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. ... And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." (1 John 5:6, 8)
The Holy Spirit bears witness by His written Word (water) to the Christ's bodily incarnation and holy blood. Jesus came by water, by the Word of God, as the fulfillment of prophecy. The Lord Jesus did not come only spiritually, but He "was made flesh, and dwelt among us" "being found in fashion as a man" (John 1:14; Phil 2:8). "Wherefore when He [Christ] cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou [the Father] wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me" (Heb 10:5). He came by blood. Prior to his birth Christ did not have flesh and blood, but at his incarnation he took all the physical attributes of a man including blood.
The Holy Spirit bears witness both to the fact of Christ's virgin birth, and his shedding of his holy blood as a sacrifice for our sins. God says, "... without shedding of blood is no remission." (Heb 9:22) "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." (Lev 17:11)
Now on to Biblical facts concerning Jesus Christ's birth, why he was born, and the gift of God.
JESUS CHRIST'S BIRTH
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh ..." (1 Timothy 3:16)
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. ... And the Word was made 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. ... No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." (John 1:1-4, 14, 18)
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." (1 John 5:7)
"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)
"But ... that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. " (Matthew 1:20-23)
"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)
"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)
"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. ... By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:4-7, 10)
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (1 Peter 1:18-21)
WHY WAS CHRIST BORN?
1. Christ Came To Fulfill Prophecy And The Law:
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:17-18)
2. Christ Came To Destroy The Works Of The Devil:
"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)
3. Christ Came To Call Sinners To Repentance:
"... They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:31-32)
4. Christ Came To Bring Division:
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law." (Matthew 10:34-35)
"... For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind." (John 9:39)
5. Christ Came To Give His Life In Exchange For Others To Keep Them Out Of Hell:
"For ... the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45)
"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:13-15)
6. Christ Came To Take Away Sin and Save Sinners:
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." (1 John 3:4-5)
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." (1 Timothy 1:15)
"For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. ..." (Luke 9:56)
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:17-19)
7. Christ Came To Do His Father's Will Which Is To Guarantee Eternal Life And Resurrection To Believers:
"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:38-40)
8. Christ Came To Give Spiritual Light To Believers:
"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." (John 12:46)
9. Christ Came To Give Abundant Life To Believers:
"... I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
10. Christ Came To Be King:
"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne." (Revelation 12:5)
"Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." (John 18:37)
THE GIFT OF GOD
"... If thou knewest the gift of God ... thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." (John 4:10)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:12-19)
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. ... Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. " (James 1:17-18, 21)
"He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:11-13)
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10)
CONCLUSION
"... I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." (John 11:27)
"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." (1 Timothy 1:15)
So now we have seen that:
1) God gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2) Christ came to fulfill the law and the prophets.
3) Jesus Christ was born to bear witness unto the Truth.
4) God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.
5) He came to call sinners to repentance.
6) He came to give his life a ransom for many.
7) He was manifested to take away our sins.
8) He was born to be our King.
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Timothy 3:16)
"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." (2 Corinthians 9:15)
"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)
Compiled By John Henry
http://doctrine.landmarkbiblebaptist.net/JesusBirth.html
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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