Christmas 2021...Luke 2:1-1


 by Mark Rater

Luke 2:1-14

Christ is Born In The Flesh 


We’ve attempted this year, as with every year, to focus on the real meaning of Christmas, Jesus Christ.  We attempt that every week, in fact. But we’ve made a conscious effort to fight the tendency for a lot of other things to “busy up” our minds and our time and our focus around Christmas. Even good things like family, fellowship, giving gifts, generosity, good will toward others, and all the other things that often come along with the Christmas season so often take center stage this time of year.   We’ve attempted to put before ourselves The Savior, Jesus Christ. To focus our minds and our attention on Him. 


  • God promised a Savior 

  • The Faithful Waited In Anticipation 

  • Then It Happened…The Birth Account 

    • Luke 2:1-14 1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

      8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

      14 “Glory to God in the highest,

      And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”


vv1-7

  1. The Prophecy of God Fulfilled

    1. Prophecy:  A foretelling; prediction; a declaration of something to come…a message from God.

      1. 2 Peter 1:16-21

    2. Prophecy in this instance-the birth of the Savior 

Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:22


  1. The Providence of God is Evident 

    1. Providence- the means by which God directs all things

    2. Providence in this instance-God directing the location, timing, and circumstances  of the birth of Jesus 

  2. The Humility of God Is Clear (The Humble Estate of our Savior)

a.    born in a manger, an animal feeding trough
b.  not born in a king's palace or a religious temple or a prominent and important city, not visited by dignitaries 

vv8-14

  1. The Approval of God is Given “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

    1. An angel of the Lord 

    2. The Glory of the Lord 

    3. A sign from the Lord

    4. The Heavenly Host of the Lord



The rest of the NT: 

  1. Christ’s earthly ministry of preaching, teaching and healing…Matthew 4-9


  1. Christ’s bodily death and resurrection for the atonement of sin…2 Corinthians 5:21


  1. Christ’s ascension to God’s right hand and His current ministry

    1. Mediator: 1 Tim 2:5

    2. Advocate:1 John 2:1

    3. Intercessor: Romans 8:33-34 

  2. Christ’s return (Revelation 1:6-7, 3:11; 20:1-22:13)


God the Son-NBF Statement of Faith 

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the second person the Trinity. He is coequal in His essence and being and coeternal with the Father (John 10:30, 14:9) Conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23, He came to earth both fully human and fully God (Philipians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9), revealing and living in perfect obedience to the will of the Father (1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15). By His sinless life and substitutionary death on the cross, He became the once-for-all sacrifice for the sins of man, reconciling to God all who place their trust in His full and finished work on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). He was raised from the dead and appeared to His disciples and to many others in a glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). He ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:9-11) and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:20-23). He is the one Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), interceding on behalf of man (Romans 8:34). He is the head of the body of believers (the Church) (Colossians 1:18) and His Spirit lives inside every believer (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16). In power and glory He will one day return to judge the world and to bring to complete fulfillment His mission of redemption (Revelation 1:6-7, 3:11; 20:1-22:13).


Not just a servant of God,  prophet, teacher, miracle worker, but Lord. Savior. 


How Can I Be Saved? 




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