That's Christmas To Me: Part 1

That's Christmas To Me: Part 1

Luke 1:26-45
[26] In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, [27] to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. [28] The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”[29] Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. [30] But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. [31] You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” [34] “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” [35] The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. [36] Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. [37] For no word from God will ever fail.” [38] “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. [39] At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, [40] where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. [41] When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. [42] In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! [43] But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [44] As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. [45] Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

1) The Scriptural Proof

Here Are Twelve Specific Prophecies Fulfilled at Christ's Birth:

       1. He would be the offspring of a woman. (Gen. 3:15; Gal. 4:4; Luke 2:7)

       2. He would be the promised offspring of Abraham. (Gen. 12:3; Gal. 3:8; Acts 3:25; Matt. 1:1; Luke 3:34)

       3. He would be the promised offspring of Isaac. (Gen. 17:19; Matt. 1:2; Luke 3:34)

       4. He would be the promised offspring of Jacob. (Gen. 28:14; Matt. 1:2; Luke 3:34)

       5. He would descend from the tribe of Judah. (Gen. 49:10; Matt. 1:2-3; Luke 3:33)

       6. He would be the heir to the throne of David. (Isaiah 9:7; Matt. 1:1,6)

       7. He would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2; Matt. 2:1; Luke 2:4-7)

       8. The time of His birth. (Daniel 9:25; Luke 2:1-7)

       9. He would be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:18; Luke 1:26-35)

       10. He would be given the name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:23)

       11. Infants would be slaughtered. (Jeremiah 31:15; Matt. 2:16-18)

       12. He would have to flee into Egypt. (Hosea 11:1; Matt. 2:14)

2 Peter 1:20-21
[20] Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. [21] For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2) Historical Proof that Jesus is the Christ
       Tacitus - A Roman Senator and historian
       Suetonius - A Roman general and historian
       Lucian - An Assyrian writer

3) The Experiential Proof (personal experience) Jesus is the Christ

       If Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, when I follow Him, He will change my life.