Well, good morning. If you would open your Bibles with me to Luke chapter two, as you're turning, I'll make a couple of announcements. Jonathan is preaching in Danville this morning, so we want to remember him. Um, there will be no service here, uh, Wednesday evening, um, Christmas Eve. So everyone can enjoy Christmas with your families. And, um, in case I would happen to forget to tell y'all later, Merry Christmas. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas with your families.

We will have a New Year's Eve service here. We'll have a message and observe the Lord's table, have a time of fellowship afterwards, just some snacks and so forth. I hope you all can attend. There's an information sheet out there and maybe a sign-up sheet if you want to bring something. We can just bring peanut butter and crackers if you want. Just hope everybody can be here and sit and talk for a little bit. get you home and plenty of time to watch the ball drop.

And also, I'd like to welcome the McComas family. They're here from Cottageville. They normally attend at Mill Site. Mike is sick this morning, and so they came to visit with us, and I'm just delighted to see you.

All right, Luke chapter two. We'll begin reading in verse one.

And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenus was governor of Syria and all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea under the city of David, which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife being great with child.

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

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this should be a sign unto you. You should find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying,

glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things which they had heard and seen as it was told unto them."

And it's my prayer that that's what we are able to do when we leave here this morning. Leave here glorifying and praising God for all the things that we've heard. All right, let's stand together as Shawn leads us in singing our call to worship.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found. was blind, but now I see. The Lord has promised good to me. His word, my hope, secure. my shield and portion be as long as life endures. Yea, when and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, I shall possess Within the veil, a light of joy and peace. The world shall soon dissolve like snow. The sun refuse to shine. But God, who called me here below, shall be forever mine. When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise. than when we'd first begun.

If you would, turn now in your hymnal to song number 84. Song number 84, Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus. Come thou, let me start that over again. I've lost it. Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free. From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel, strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art. of every nation, joy of every longing heart. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king. Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone. By thy all-sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

All right, if you would turn your Bibles to Matthew chapter 1. Matthew chapter 1. Pastors ask us to read verses 18 through 25.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, Thy son of God, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is from 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. For all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord, the prophet saying, behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which be interpreted is God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him and took unto him his wife and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son. and he called his name Jesus.

Let's pray.

Our most precious and gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you this morning, Lord. What a blessing it is to read this passage, this passage of scripture you have set before us and left for us, Lord. It's a blessing to read about this miraculous birth, about this Miraculous way in which this birth was conceived. All these things we know Lord has been done by you and it is a blessing for us.

To know and truly understand the true mercies of thy grace in Christ. All these things has been done because of him that one whom has been born. To save us from our sins, all of our sins and iniquities has been. Put away by him as we have had preached to us this morning.

Lord bless us in your word this Bless our pastor as he preaches to us, Lord, from this passage. Bless these words to us that they would be made effectual to us, Lord. Let us hear him in an effectual way, a way in which only can and will be sent in the way of the Spirit, the power of the Spirit.

And that's what we pray this morning, Lord, that that Spirit would be with us. That is our only means in which we can know him, truly know him, know he is the one to whom hath died. And we know, Lord, that it's His dying, His death, and His burial and resurrection we have eternal life.

And there is but by no other means can we live forever, never to die that second death, die that sin of death, but live forever from everlasting to everlasting through and by the precious blood of your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now it's in His precious name we pray and give you thanks

Leave your Bibles open there, Matthew chapter 1, that will serve as our text this morning. I'd like to bring a message I've entitled The Manner of Christ's Birth. I'd like for us to be taught from scripture the manner of Christ's birth, definitely in contrast to much of the error that we hear from the world at this time of year.

So I'd like to begin by telling you this. I'm not bringing an anti-Christmas message by any stretch of the imagination. I love Christmas. I'm not anti-Christmas. It's the most wonderful time of the year. Anytime family can get together, we can give gifts and folks get days off work. You hear great, great hymns, praise of our God on the radio and in stores. I mean, I love it. People that don't know the name of Christ are at least forced to hear his name. And for those of us who know him, you hear these songs, you have this time, it's wonderful to us. And all that being said, I love Christmas.

But December the 25th is not the birthday of Jesus of Nazareth. I have read writers who I highly esteem. And all four of them have written things that could absolutely, utterly convince you that the Savior was born in all four different seasons. Nobody knows when the Savior was born. So it's good for us to be aware of how the religious world has made an idol out of December the 25th. You know, scripture never tells the church to commemorate the birth of Jesus. Not one time ever. We're told to commemorate and to remember and to celebrate his death, his burial and his resurrection, but not his birth. And while there is no religious significance to December the 25th, this is what I want us to know. There is great significance in the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Great significance. It's so significant, there can be no salvation without the birth, without the incarnation of Jesus Christ. No salvation without it. And this is such a great miracle. The birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the birth of the son of God. The only miracle greater than that is the death of Christ. How can God die? That miracle is only rivaled by how could God be born in the flesh? Two great, great miracles. But without them, without both of them together, there can be no salvation.

So I want us to see the manner of the Lord's birth and what it is that He came to do, to accomplish. We learn that in the manner of His birth. I took my title from verse 18 of Matthew chapter one. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. That word wise, means the manner. The manner of the Lord's birth tells us why did he come incarnate and what did he come to do.

So number one, the manner of the Lord's birth is he was conceived by the Holy Ghost. Verse 18 says, now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise, when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found of child of the Holy Ghost. And verse 20 says, while he, while Joseph thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Mary was pregnant. She conceived of the Holy Ghost. Now that seems absolutely, utterly impossible to us, doesn't it? And it seemed impossible to people of that day, too. I mean, you know, you think about, now, we know this whole story. We're very familiar with this whole story. Mary and Joseph weren't. This was all unfolding to them. And they were real people, just like us. This was a great mystery to Mary. She's pregnant of the Holy Ghost. And this was very difficult for Joseph to believe. I mean, you just think of a young girl. She's been gone for three months. She went to visit her cousin. She's been gone for three months. And she comes back and tells her fiance, now Joseph, I've been faithful to you. I have been. I'm still a virgin. But I have to tell you, I'm three months pregnant.

Now Joseph didn't believe her. I mean, that's why he's thinking, how can I put her away privately without her getting stoned to death and being publicly humiliated because he didn't believe her. And of course he didn't believe her. Would you? No, we wouldn't believe such a thing because it's impossible. It's impossible for everybody but God. It's impossible for everybody but God. And this has to be the manner of the Lord's birth that he was conceived in the womb of the virgin by the Holy Ghost, because the virgin birth is vital to salvation.

Now, Mary herself has no saving power. She has no intercessory powers with us, with the Lord, but the virgin birth is vital to salvation. If the Lord Jesus was conceived the same way we are, by the seed of a man, he would have Adam's sin nature. And if he has Adam's sin nature, the same nature, sin nature you and I have, he can't save anyone. He would have original sin in Adam. He would have a guilt in Adam, just like we do. You and I didn't become sinners the first time we told our mama a lie. We became sinners when Adam sinned. And if our savior is gonna save anyone, he has to have no sin. He has to have sinless blood to offer on the altar before his father. He's got to have no sin nature, so there's no sin in him. That's why he was conceived by the Holy Ghost.

See, he must be conceived by the Holy Ghost because all life is just like the seed that conceived it. All life gets its nature from the seed that conceived it. You and I are sinners because the seed that conceived us is sinful. The Lord Jesus Christ is sinless. because he was conceived by the Holy Ghost. So he had a holy nature that makes it so that he cannot sin, and that's the only way that he could save us if he has no sin, so that he can offer a sinless sacrifice to the Father to put away the sin of his people. See, this has to be the manner of the Lord's conception. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, because the only way real life, spiritual life, can come to sinful men is if the Savior is sinless. He must be born without a sin nature so that he can obey the law for his people. He can obey the law in our stead and bring in everlasting righteousness.

So this is the manner of the Lord's conception. He was conceived of the Holy Ghost so that he is sinless. People can rail on false religion, making an idol out of December the 25th all they want. I'm not wasting my time. When I read this, when Gary was reading this passage, I've read it so many times this week, and it was still such a blessing to me. It makes me thankful. Oh, I'm so thankful. This is the way the Savior was conceived of the Holy Ghost. It's the only way he can give me a holy nature.

Number two, the manner of our Lord's birth was that when Mary gave birth to her firstborn son, her firstborn child, He was a real baby boy. Verse 21, this angel had come to Joseph while he had thought on these things. Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived of her is of the Holy Ghost. And even though he's conceived of the Holy Ghost, she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. That name Jesus is the Old Testament name for Joshua, the one who brought the children of Israel into the promised land. It's the name Savior. The Savior.

Now he must be conceived of the Holy Ghost so that he is God. That's what verse 23 says. Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son. She brought forth a real baby boy, but you call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted, is God with us. Mary's firstborn son was God. He was conceived of the Holy Ghost and he is God. Jesus Christ is God. He's one with the Father so that he is God. And just like we covered a minute ago, he's got to be God. He's got to be God so he's holy. He's got to be God so that he's righteous. He must be God so that he has the power to save. He must be God so that he has the power to forgive.

But he also has to be a man, so he can be our representative. So he can be our substitute. If we're gonna have a substitute, he's got to be in our nature. He's got to be like us. Well, God's not like us. God doesn't have our nature, but a man does. So that son that was conceived of the Holy Ghost, he was a real boy. He was a real baby boy, a real man in our flesh, with our nature so that he can be the second Adam. He has come, this man has come to undo everything the first man did. To undo everything that the first Adam did to God's elect.

But if he's gonna be the second Adam, he's gonna be the second representative man. God only sees the human race in one of two representative men. He doesn't look at us individually, he sees us in Adam as sinners. or in Christ as righteous. And if Christ is gonna be the second Adam, he's gonna be the representative of his people and make them righteous, he's got to be a man. He's gotta be a man just like us, and he became a real man. And Mary's baby boy grew. He grew to a toddler, to a boy, to a young man, to a full-grown man, just like we do. But he never sinned. He never sinned.

You talk about, I mean, I just, this might be silly, but this is the way I think. I think, what about Mary's second and third and fourth children? They sinned. And Mary, what's going on? My first one didn't do this. He never sinned. He never wanted to sin. He never thought about sin. He was perfect. And here's why that's so vital. When he obeyed the law, all of his people obeyed it in him. When he established perfect righteousness, his people were made perfectly righteous too, because he's their representative. Just like all of us broke the law in Adam, in the first Adam, in our father Adam. When Adam sinned, all of us became sinners. When Adam sinned, We received a sin nature, and all it can do is sin, and that's why these bodies die. That explains why everybody does what they do, is because we were made sinners in Adam, so that all we can do is sin. It's because of our representative. No one can deny that they're a sinner. I mean, if they are, we probably need to put them someplace where they can't harm themselves. We can't deny that we're sinners. We were made that way in Adam.

Do you know God's people can't deny that they're righteous? Now, when I look at myself, I see no righteousness in me. All I see in me is sin and filth and rebellion. But God's elect are made righteous the very same way we are made sinners, by representation, by the second Adam. And when he obeyed the law, everybody that believes him did too. All of God's elected to and they're made righteous so they can never die.

Let me show you that in Romans chapter five. This gospel of salvation in Christ is so wise and so majestic. This is why you see this can't be a man. This is God's salvation. This is God's way of salvation through representation.

Romans five verse 12. Wherefore, as by one man, Adam, sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. And literally translated, that is, in whom all have sinned. All sinned, all the human race, and Adam represented sin in Adam. Now, verse 13 starts a parenthetical phrase. Let's leave that out for the moment. And skip over to the end, verse 18, where the parenthetical phrase ends.

Therefore, as by the offense of one, by Adam's offense, judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men, everyone he represented, 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. Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness, through the righteousness of Christ that he gives to his people, because he's their representative, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mary's baby boy was born as a real man, so he can be the representative of a sinful man like me. And I'm thankful. Let people do what they want with December the 25th. I'm not going to rail on it. When I hear about the birth of Christ, this makes me thankful. Here was born the representative who in his life is going to make me righteous. I'm thankful.

Number three is this, this is the manner of our Lord's birth. Mary gave birth, she conceived of the Holy Ghost, she gave birth to a real baby boy, and thirdly, she gave birth to the Savior of sinners. Verse 21 back in our text says, she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sin. Now this is the manner of Christ's birth, this is why he came, this is the reason that he came, to save his people from sin, to save them from sin, to pay for their sin, to pay that debt and to blot that sin out so that it no longer exists, so that the Father will accept them. Christ did not come to be a reformer, to make people change their habits. He didn't come to make this world a better place. He didn't, you know, joy to the world, the Lord has come, peace on earth, goodwill toward men. If he came to make men have peace among themselves, he's an utter failure, isn't he? That's not why he came. He didn't come to make this world a better place. That would just make him a reformer, like Gandhi or somebody.

He didn't come to be an example, to show us how to live. We all know how to live already. You already, God put that conscience in you. We already know how to live. That's not why Christ came. He didn't come to be an example.

He didn't come to be a healer, to heal people of physical diseases. I know he did that. He healed people of physical diseases. But he always did it as a picture of spiritual healing, of healing his people from their sins. But he didn't come just to be a physical healer. I mean, if he did, He's a failure, because all the people he healed ended up dying anyway. None of them are still around. That's not why he came.

Christ came to save his people from their sin. From their sin. Joy to the world. The Lord has come. He's come to save his people from sin. And he didn't come to try to do it. The angel said he shall. He shall save his people from their sin. There's no room for doubt here. He shall save his people from their sin.

He didn't come to make his people saveable. He came to save them. He didn't come to offer salvation to as many people as will accepting. He came to save them and he's gonna do it. He's gonna do it against their will with their full consent. Now take it home, think about that for a while. I believe it'll be a blessing to you. He came to save his people against their will, with their full consent. He shall save them.

Christ came to fully and completely save his people from their sin. He came to save his people from the condemnation of sin. If Christ died for you, you cannot be condemned. You can't be. because Christ was already condemned for you. God cannot punish his son for your sin and then punish you for it too, because that would be unjust. And everything God does is just and right. He delivered his people from the condemnation of sin.

And he also came to deliver his people from the ruling power of sin. Now don't be confused about what that is. I used to think, I heard people and preachers talk about that. And here's how I knew in my mind at that time when I was a little boy, well, I'm not saved because the ruling power of sin rules me. I mean, it's all I do is sin and I think of ways to sin and think of, you know, the ruling power of sin does not mean when God saves you, you're going to quit sinning. You're gonna sin less and you're gonna be able to fight it. You're gonna have a desire to sin and you won't do it. More likely, everything that you want to do that's sinful, you're gonna go ahead and do it. That's not the ruling power of sin.

The ruling power of sin is this, that ruling power that used to stop you from hearing the gospel of Christ and believing it. You used to hear, every believer will tell you this. There was a time I heard the gospel Maybe they'll tell you, I hated it. I hated it. That is not what I wanted to hear. That is not the way I want to be saved. Maybe they'll tell you, I mean, I was sitting there and heard it, but my mind was a million miles away. I really didn't hear it, you know? And maybe I heard something about Jesus, and I would like to believe him. I'd like to be saved by him, but I couldn't believe him. That's the ruling power of sin. And when God saves you, and you're born again, All you do is still sin. But that sin can't rule you anymore because now you believe Christ. Now you believe Him. Now there's a new sheriff in town. God sits on the throne. God the Holy Spirit dwells in your heart and He sits on the throne and you believe Christ and try as you might. You can't quit believing. The old man tries to make you quit believing Christ. Every second of every day, and you know why you don't do it? Christ has delivered you from the ruling power of sin. He's made you his, and he'll never leave you, and he's made it so you'll never leave him either. You believe him. And one day, he's gonna deliver all of his people from the very presence of sin.

These bodies of sin are gonna die, and that new man who's been born in the image of Christ is gonna go straight into heaven itself and join that heavenly choir singing the praises of our Savior without sin, without a sin nature, without any thought of sin, just praising the Savior, the very presence of sin. That's what Christ came to do. And I want to tell you, he got the job done. The angel said he shall save his people, and that's exactly what he did. And of course he did. His obedience is perfect. If his obedience is perfect, everybody he represented is perfect too. Of course he saved them. Of course he made them righteous. He's perfect. Of course his sacrifice put away the sin of his people. His blood is the only sinless blood that's ever flowed on this planet. And that's the blood that he took behind the veil and offered before his father. And the father said, it's enough.

All those rivers of animal blood, bulls and goats and calves and turtle doves and every other animal you can think of being sacrificed, never put away one sin, never pleased God, but by one sacrifice, Christ hath perfected forever them that believe. Because his blood was perfect. It was able to pay the entire sin debt of all of his people and cleanse all of his people from all of their sin. And since he's God, he has the power to draw all unto himself. And there, I forget where it is in the book of John, he said, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. If you'll look that up this afternoon, you'll find that word men is in italics. It's been added by the translators, and they shouldn't have added that. That was an error on their part. What the Savior said was exactly right, I'll draw all unto me. Who's the all? All the Father gave me to save. All the Father chose to save. All for whom I died. I'll draw all to myself.

Now, Christ died 2,000 years ago. We can't see him lifted up on a cross anymore. But you see him lifted up every Sunday and every Wednesday in the preaching of Christ. In the preaching of Christ crucified. And if you belong to Christ, Sooner or later, that preaching is gonna draw you to Him. He's God. He has the power to do it. He'll draw you to Him and you'll come running.

The manner of the Lord's birth is He's gonna save His people from their sin. Now, who are His people? It's the all. All that the Father elected to save. All that the Father gave the Son to save. All of those people, they shall be saved. They shall be. Christ came to save those people and only those people, only. Now I know the flesh does not like that, but I want to ask you a question. Now Christ came to save his people and only his people. That's who he prayed for in John 17, all that you gave me. Could you trust him otherwise? If Christ came to save every son of Adam, and he offered a sacrifice to save every son of Adam, could you trust him? If he did, if that's what he did, and it's not, but if he died to offer a sacrifice to try to save all the sons of Adam, he failed, didn't he? Because we know for sure from scripture there's people in hell right now.

Now if there's somebody in hell that Christ died for, Can you trust him to save you by his death? Huh? If Christ died for every son of Adam, and the one that makes that salvation effectual to you is you, by your accepting Jesus into your heart, by you walking the aisle, by you saying the sinner's prayer, by you doing whatever it is that somebody gives you to do, you know what? That makes you the savior. Because you're the difference, whether you're saved or lost, you're the difference. Is anything you do worth trusting? Of course not.

I know I've said this several times recently, this has just become so crystal clear in my mind recently, that the most insulting thing that anybody can say about Jesus Christ is he died for all mankind. And then he failed to say it. That's the most insulting thing you can say about him. And if Christ died for the whole human race, I'm telling you, I wouldn't waste my time. I wouldn't waste my time preaching him. I wouldn't waste my time seeking him. I wouldn't waste my time believing him. It's just a waste of time.

But thank God, Christ came. This is the manor of His birth. He came to save His people from their sin. Him I can trust. Him, by God's grace, I do trust Him. And by God's grace, He's given me the opportunity to preach Him and to tell you to believe on Him.

Here's why you can believe on Him. He shall save His people from their sin. Joy to the world. Joy to the world.

And then here's the last thing. The manner of Christ's birth fulfilled the scriptures. Verse 22 says, now all this was done that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet saying, behold, a virgin should be with child and should bring forth a son and they should call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us.

Now, just like I told you in the lesson this morning, fulfilling of the scriptures. Every, I mean, you can't say everything, but maybe if we had eyes to see it, it would be everything. But you read through the four gospels, the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus, and you see him over and over and over again, fulfilling the scriptures, fulfilling the Old Testament scriptures, those prophecies that were telling us, this is what the Messiah is going to do when he comes. Here's how you can recognize it. This is what he's going to do.

Him fulfilling all those scriptures is not just some, I don't know what you want to call it, a legal thing and I dotted all my I's and crossed all my D's and like some party trick, I fulfilled the scriptures. When Christ fulfilled those Old Testament scriptures, scriptures that were written 1,500, 1,000 years, Isaiah, this from Isaiah here was written 700 years before Christ was born. When those things were fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth, it shows us he's carrying out God's eternal will and purpose. This is not something he made up when he was born or when he grew to adulthood. He didn't just make it up now. This is God's eternal purpose. He told us about it in the Old Testament. Here's Christ fulfilling it.

You know, God, before Christ came, we have many prophecies that the Messiah is coming, don't we? And then the Lord gave the ceremonies, the priesthood, he gave the law. But the Lord never intended any of those things to save anybody by them keeping them. And particularly the law, who is foolish enough to think that they can keep the whole law of God? The Lord didn't give us the law so we could keep it and we could earn our own righteousness or we could keep it better than somebody else and make ourselves more savable and it's easier for God to save me because I kept more of the law than you did. That's not why the Lord gave the law. He gave us the law to show us how sinful we really are and how desperately we need a savior.

And then he gave us all these scriptures to show us, here's how you recognize him when he comes. And oh, I'm thankful. To see our sin and our need of Christ, and then to read about him coming, oh, that makes me so thankful. He came to save sinners. I interpret that as this, he came to save me, because I'm a sinner. Oh, I'm so thankful. And he came to save his people by his grace. By his grace. Fulfilling all those Old Testament scriptures. He came and he fulfilled God's promise to Adam and Eve in the garden. He crushed the serpent's head. By his death, he crushed the serpent's head. He took away his power. If you take away sin, you take away Satan's power to accuse you and to make any accusations stick. Christ put him out of business because he took the sin of his people away.

Christ fulfilled that great picture of Noah's Ark. Everyone, without exception, no matter where they come from, everyone who is in Christ lives and will not be destroyed when God's judgment falls, because Christ our Ark bore that punishment for us, and not a drop of it fell on those folks inside the Ark. Christ came as the Passover lamb. He fulfilled that prophecy. At the very time that they were in Jerusalem killing that Passover lamb, Christ, our Passover, cried, it's finished. You think about that Passover lamb. There's substitution, isn't there? And there's election. Who did the Passover lamb die for? The firstborn. And that Passover lamb died. His blood was shed and applied to that doorpost, and that daddy closed the door, and they went and ate that Passover lamb. The firstborn lived because of the blood, the blood that had been shed and applied to the door. Christ, our Passover, has been slain, and all of his people live.

Christ came as the scapegoat. On that day of atonement, the high priest put his head on that scapegoat, confessed the sins of Israel, symbolically transferring the sin of Israel to that goat. And that goat, they put a leash around its neck, and a fit man took that scapegoat out in the wilderness. And he walked, and he walked, and he walked, and nobody could see him anymore. And he left that scapegoat out in the wilderness, and the fit man came back without the goat. Sin was taken away where it can't be seen anymore. When Christ, our sacrifice, died, The father said, I've cast the sins of my people behind my back. Now where's the back of God? God's everywhere. He's everywhere. He sees everything. You can't go anywhere that God is not. So when God said he cast the sins of his people behind his back, he means he made them not to exist anymore. They're gone. Christ fulfilled that scapegoat.

Christ came as the peace offering. By his sacrifice, he made peace with God. It's through the blood of his cross. The father saw that blood and he was satisfied. It took away the sin that made him angry. And there's peace. There's peace with God. The son of righteousness has risen with healing in his wings. And I'm here to tell you, if you believe on him, you're healed. You're healed of every spiritual wound and bruise and putrefying sores that men can't heal, that men can't bound up with ointment and bandages and heal you, but Christ has with his precious blood. He's that son of righteousness with healing in his wings. That's the manner of Christ coming. That's what he came to do, and that's what he did. He did everything that he came to do.

And the best thing I can think of to say to that, in closing, is the song of the angels, glory to God in the highest. Thank God for that salvation that's in Christ. That's why he came, and that's what he did. All right, I hope that'll be a blessing to you. Let's bow together.

Our Father, how we thank you for your word, and how we thank you that in your wisdom and your mercy and your grace to your people that you sent your son incarnate to become a man, to be born of a virgin so that he shall save his people from their sins. Father, how thankful we are. Father, I beg that you'd be pleased to have mercy on us here today, this morning. Father, be merciful to us. for Christ's sake, because of his righteousness. Be merciful to us because of his blood that he shed for the sin of his people. Be merciful, Father, I pray. We thank you that because you sent your son to be the sacrifice for the sin of your people, we can beg for mercy. We can beg for grace. We can beg for forgiveness. We can beg that you be pleased to save us because of him, because of Christ, our Great High Priest, because of Christ our Savior, because of Christ our representative. Father, I pray you'd be pleased to bless us for Christ's sake. It's in his blessed name, for his sake and his glory we pray, amen.

All right, Sean. If you would, turn in your hymnals to song number 87. and stand as we sing joy to the world.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart Prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns.
Let men their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy.
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow.
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace
and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders, wonders of His love.