This week Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We turn our focus to the birth narratives of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke during this time of year. One of the foundational truths of Christianity is that Jesus was born of no earthly father. He did not have a biological father. The Son of God was and is indeed the only perfect son of God.

The word perfect is significant. It means that Jesus was both truly God and truly human. He was divine and human. He was born of an earthly mother and conceived of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was humanly born, but is eternally pre-existent. He was not created (which is an early Christian heresy called Arianism), but the creator. Only God is perfect, therefore Jesus is God.

Matthew’s genealogy gives us a subtle hint. Tracing Christ’s genealogy through Abraham and David, Christ’s coming is announced to the world. The texts tells us that Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers (Matthew 1:2), and so did all who came after. Until we get to verse 16, “And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.” Notice that no one “begot” Jesus.

The Incarnation

However, Matthew does not leave us hanging. In Matthew 1:18 he records, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” Two verses later the angel Gabriel confirms to Joseph, who was betrothed to Mary that indeed her child was conceived of the Holy Spirit. To Mary the angel said, “And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”

Jesus’ birth was announced by the prophets. Matthew quotes Isaiah 7:14, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel (which is translated, ‘God with us’).” God among us as one of us! Can you believe it?!

Jesus did not have to come to earth. Sin alienated us from God. But God in his great love for us sent us his son! John 3:16 tells us that God sent his son into the world in order to give us eternal life. John also writes, “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).

He is the light of the world. A world in darkness, because of sin, needed Christ to come as the light to overcome all that is evil.

Christ’s incarnation is the single most hopeful event in human history outside of the cross. John summarizes the incarnation stating, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Indeed, in Christ the glory of God is revealed!

Salvation

Christ was born for the glory of the Father; His eternal Father that is. Jesus has eternally co-existed with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. And in his sovereignty, God determined Jesus Christ to be born.

He lived a perfect sinless life, died, was buried, and raised from the dead, suffering and dying for the sins of mankind. Your sin, my sin.

The angel was clear in his announcement to Joseph concerning the purpose of Christ’s coming, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Jesus’ birth was intended for salvation. The salvation of mankind. Our salvation.

Furthermore, those who believe in his name, repent of their sin, and receive his forgiveness are given the right to be called children of God (John 1:12). Indeed, those who are in Christ’s are God’s children. Paul puts it this way, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Galatians 3:26). We even become co-heirs with Christ as his spiritual siblings! (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:16).

The truth is that the hypostatic union (the perfect union of Christ’s divinity and humanity) is the doorway to our salvation. Jesus is our salvation. In Him there is life and light. The perfect son of God, who was not conceived of a human father but of the Spirit, came to save those who believe (his brothers and sisters) in him. Joy to the world the Lord is come!

If you are not yet a believer – I pray that you will understand the true significance and meaning of Christmas = that Christ offers you salvation and a life filled with purpose! (If you’d like to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior mention it in the comments and I’ll personally reach out to you)

If you are a believer – I pray you will share the gospel truth with others, celebrate Christ’s incarnation on Christmas day, and let the gospel be evident in your life so others may know the true meaning of why we celebrate our Savior!

Merry Christmas!!

Written by Daniel Messina