The grandest mystery that has
been set forth in the earth before men and angels is the incarnation
of Jesus Christ. The eternal God taking on human
flesh, condescending to be born into this world in the same fashion
as every other human being, does in both its scope and its meaning
eclipse the comprehension of mortal men. This is not an event
which can be received in its fullest by any but those who
are given the gift of faith to behold its glory. Religious men
can latch on to it as the basis for their celebrations and holy
days, but apart from the grace of God opening their eyes to
behold its majestic glory, they can have no appreciation for
its import, nor find a place of true worship in its proper
consideration. For apart from being given an
understanding of the purpose of it, it is but another wonder
which feeds the natural religiosity of fallen men and gives them
occasion to incorporate it into their religious traditions. This
is an event which was heralded by angels as they announced it
to those shepherds. Yet it is an event which those
very angels cannot grasp, nor can they have any understanding
of the transaction that was begun in the unfolding of this event.
This is reserved for those mortals who were given faith to embrace
the Savior of sinners who came forth from Mary's womb that day.
The veracity and verbal inspiration of the scriptures found in the
Bible is proven over and over again by the details that are
recorded in them, which are in many cases hidden from plain
view and only revealed as the purpose of God in the redemption
of His people is set forth. The human lineage of this one
who was born in Bethlehem holds many wonders and could most certainly
not have been designed by religious men intent upon establishing
their own righteousness. If men had concocted this story,
they surely would not have designed the ancestry of the Lord Jesus
Christ to have come through such a convoluted and checkered parentage. There are five women directly
spoken of in his lineage recorded in Matthew's Gospel. The first
to be mentioned is Tamar, who was the widow of two of Judah's
sons whom the Lord killed. Tamar seduced her father-in-law
with hopes of being impregnated with his child. She was successful
in her quest in exact keeping with the predestined purpose
of God. Two sons were born out of this incestuous union, with
Phares being the progenitor of the Lord's earthly family. The
next to be mentioned is Rahab, who is spoken of in the book
of Joshua as a harlot. She was the mother of Boaz, who
was eventually married to Ruth, producing Obed, who was the grandfather
of David. Ruth was a Moabite. The origin
of the Moabites came about as the result of an incestuous union
between Lot and one of his daughters. Once again, we see the predestinating
hand of God causing all things to occur according to his purpose.
Next, we read of Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, who was involved
in an adulterous relationship with David, which ultimately
led to the murder of her husband Uriah by the scheming of David,
according, again, to the predestined purpose of God. Finally, we read
of Mary, the wife of Joseph, and the mother of the Lord Jesus.
In contrast to some of her ancestors, she was a pure young maiden,
having never been with a man in a carnal relationship. when
the Holy Ghost overshadowed her and she became with child by
Him, according to the predestined purpose of God. Thus Christ was
born of a virgin, and not having been sired by the seed of one
of the sinful sons of Adam, was without the imputation of Adam's
sin by natural conception. So we read of him, we have not
an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin. Thus, according to the determinate
counsel of God, he was perfectly fit and suited to fulfill the
purpose for which he came into the world, which was to magnify
the glory of his grace and the redemption of his people. offering
himself as a proper substitute, as a lamb without blemish or
spot, to make atonement for their sin. Well did Paul confess, as
do all of God's children. 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. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at 4the4 at windstream.net.