Friday, December 16, 2011

Knowing what you believe and why you believe it. Part 2

In my last message to you, we showed you from the genealogy of Jesus Christ how that He was both a descendant of Abraham, the father and progenitor of the chosen nation, and King David--Israel's quintessential king and ruler in the Old Testament. To be the Messiah He had to be a descendant of Abraham in order to fulfill Genesis 12:3 (the One through Whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed). And He also had to be from King Daivd's line in order to fulfill God's promise to continue David's Messianic line and family forever(II Samuel 7:12-28; Psalm 89:3;132:11). This truth is seen in Matthew 1:1-2 and Luke 3:31,34. As Messiah, He would be the only One who could fulfill Genesis 3:15, the first and foundational prophecy of the Old Testament. In that prophecy was God's promise to defeat the serpent, Satan, and so redeem fallen man and restore him back to Himself. As we said in our last blog, the entire Old Testament is the unfolding story of that prophecy. Hence, the announcement to Mary in Nazareth Israel from the angel Gabriel was not made in a vacuum. Rather this announcement was delivered from the entire context of the Old Testament story. (See Luke 1:26-35 for Gabriel's announcement to Mary)

Today, I want to further show you from the Word of God how that Jesus Christ completely fulfills all the requirements of being the One true Messiah of Israel and the world. First, in Isaiah 7:14, the Holy Spirit makes it clear through the prophet that the Promised Seed of Genesis 3:15 would be born of a virgin, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign, Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and call His name Immanuel." (Immanuel means "God with us.") Luke 1:26-27 shows how that prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a VIRGIN espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the HOUSE OF DAVID; and the VIRGIN'S name was Mary."

Secondly, also from Isaiah, the Lord makes it clear that the Messiah would be divine or would be God in human form. Listen to these prophetic words concerning the Messiah from Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall rest upon His shoulders; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, the Prince of Peace." Now Luke 1:32 "He(Yeshua/Jesus, Messiah) shall be called the SON OF THE HIGHEST (Deity/Divine); and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David." The Promised Seed of Genesis 3:15 had to be born of a virgin according to Isaiah 7:14, and He had to be God according to Isaiah 9:6. Jesus' birth fulfilled both of these important prophecies. Now let me conclude today with one more Old Testament prophecy and how it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ the Messiah.

In the book of Micah, chapter 5 and verse 2 we read this amazing prophecy of where the Messiah would be born. "But you Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are the smallest among the tribes of Judah; out of you shall he come forth unto me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting." Now, if the mother and stepfather of Jesus were from Nazareth, how could He possibly fulfill this prophecy that said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem? In Luke 2:1-7 the answer is given. "And it came to pass in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called BETHLEHEM; BECUSE 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(or give birth). And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Another stunning prophecy from the Old Testament fulfilled in Jesus Christ proving that He was and is the Messiah!

He was from the lineage of Abraham and David; He was born of a virgin; He was born as the Divine Son of God(Deity); and He was born in the city of Bethlehem! Dear friends and believers in Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah, your faith is built on the sure and strong Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. This Christmas season let us rejoice in the more sure Word of prophecy that has been beautifully fulfilled in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. "O holy night, when Christ the Savior was born."

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