Sermon Central
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The Promise Of Christmas: Salvation Series
Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 31, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: During a time of great pressure during Ahaz reign over Judah God promised a sign of deliverance. That sign has its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Christmas promise. Immanuel, God with us.
Intro: God has a promise for every pain, pressure, and problem we face. Ahaz and the southern nation of Judah was in a very pressing situation in this passage. The northern kingdom of Israel (
Ephraim) and the kingdom of Syria (Aram) had formed an alliance to resist Assyria to the northeast. They invited Ahaz and Judah to join and he refused. The alliance came against Judah and king Ahaz but never could overcome the Southern capital of Jerusalem.
During this time God gives a promise to Ahaz. The ultimate fulfillment of that promise will be the virgin birth of Jesus the Messiah.
Historically there have been many arguments against Jesus’ virgin birth from this passage. The arguments focus on the Hebrew word translated virgin. It is Almah. The arguments focus on whether it should be translated maiden a woman of marriageable age or virgin. Its ability to be either fit perfectly into the nature of the prophesy. In the context of the passage a promise is given to Ahaz and it must be fulfilled in the time that it was given 734 BC. The promise is also future and is found in Matthew to be the result of a child being born of a virgin.
I. Jesus reveals (Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign”)
A) God reveals the nature of Ahaz
God was promising Ahaz that Ephraim and Syria would not conquer them if he would not make an alliance with Assyria and trust God. Ahaz would not trust God. So God gave him and us a sign the virgin birth of the Messiah. He was willing to trust in the hand of Tiglath-Pilezer the king of Assyria instead of the King of the universe.
B) God reveals the nature of all people
The same message comes to you and me. Will you trust me? He gave us a sign the virgin birth of Jesus. When it is impractical to trust me will you? Ahaz had his northern brothers and another nation attacking them. God said trust me and they will be no more. But it was not practical. Ahaz did as many of the ungodly kings and looked to what alliance he could make to protect himself and his people.
What sign reveals that we can trust God? Jesus, the entrance of God into the world. If you believe God raised Jesus from the dead you shall be saved. If you take God at His word.
Why the virgin birth? To reveal our need for a perfect savior that entered our world to die in our place.
II. Jesus relates
7.15 “He will eat butter and honey,”
He is the source of all our strength, he longs to share our sorrows, and increase our joy.
Jesus was born of the flesh so that he could identify with us and we with Him.
Jesus relates to being abandoned.
Jesus relates to being forgotten
Jesus relates to being tempted
Jesus relates to being hungry
Jesus relates to being emotional
Jesus relates to all the weaknesses of our flesh because on that night in a cave with the stink of animals, the silence of humanity, the ignorance of royalty, God became flesh and dwelt among us.
Christmas is about God with us. He was never overwhelmed by His feelings, confused by theology, or concerned with popularity. He came to serve and fulfill the will of His father. He wanted to show us that if we trust God we can live every moment in His presence encouraged and strengthened by His promises.
Why the virgin birth? To show that God is with us and can relate to whatever we are facing. We can trust God and his ability to provide for whatever seems to be more than we can handle.
III. Jesus relieves
Isaiah 7:14 “The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.”
One of the hardest truths or principles to learn as a Christian is that relief comes from God’s presence not the absences of problems.
True relief comes as we recognize and respond to God with Us. His principles in the word of God are not meant to limit us but to free us.
God is with us to love our neighbor. God is with us to strengthen our brother or sister. God is with us to forgive. God is with us to give. God is with us to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
If there is no belief there will be no relief. If you believe God raised Jesus from the dead you shall be saved.
Why the virgin birth? So that God can relieve our fears and strengthen our faith and trust in Him.
Conclusion: How will the promise of God with us found in the virgin birth help us as Christians?
