Guided Question
Do I truly know Jesus and experience His presence in my life, or am I simply trying to live by Christian rules without experiencing the new birth He came to give?
Summary
This episode explores Matthew 1:18–25 and the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. Dr. Robert Lewis emphasizes that Jesus’ birth is unique not simply because a baby was born, but because God Himself entered humanity. Matthew presents Jesus as both the Son of David, with a legitimate claim to the throne, and the divine Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit.
The story begins with Mary and Joseph, whose response to God’s extraordinary plan demonstrates remarkable submission. Mary does not understand how God’s promise will be fulfilled, yet she responds, “Be it done to me according to thy word.” Joseph likewise obeys God despite the personal shame and potential consequences of taking Mary as his wife. Their lives demonstrate that God’s greatest works are often entrusted to people who are humble and willing to submit to His truth.
Dr. Lewis then emphasizes the importance of believing the virgin birth as a literal work of the Holy Spirit. He argues that Christianity cannot be separated from biblical revelation: religion without revelation leaves people with nothing more than subjective beliefs and human imagination.
The sermon then turns to the name Emmanuel—“God with us.” Jesus did not merely come to point people toward God or give them a better moral code. He came to make a relationship with God possible. He is not merely a teacher of truth; He is the truth, and He calls people not simply to follow His teachings but to receive Him.
Finally, Dr. Lewis explains that the birth of Jesus points toward an even greater miracle: the new birth. Jesus was born so that people could be spiritually reborn. Christianity is therefore not merely about keeping rules, attending church, or proving ourselves worthy before God. It is about receiving Christ, being forgiven of sin, and experiencing His presence within us.
The message closes with a personal invitation to respond to Christ. Just as Mary and Joseph submitted themselves to God's Word without fully understanding what He was doing, listeners are challenged to surrender themselves to Christ, receive Him, and experience the new life He came to give.
Outline
1. The Uniqueness of Jesus’ Birth
- Matthew introduces Jesus’ birth as an extraordinary beginning.
- Jesus is both the Son of David and the divine Son of God.
- His conception by the Holy Spirit makes His birth unlike any other.
2. Mary and Joseph: Submission to God
- Mary faces an impossible and potentially shameful situation.
- She responds with trust and submission to God's Word.
- Joseph obeys despite the personal cost and public consequences.
- Their humility makes them examples of responsive faith.
3. The Virgin Birth and Biblical Revelation
- Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
- The virgin birth is presented as a foundational truth of Christianity.
- Faith must be grounded in God's revelation rather than personal preference or imagination.
4. Jesus Came to Save from Sin
- Israel expected the Messiah to deliver them from Roman oppression.
- Jesus came to address the deeper problem: humanity's bondage to sin.
- True deliverance begins when we stop focusing on everyone else's problems and allow Christ to deal with our own sin.
5. Emmanuel: God With Us
- Isaiah's prophecy points forward to Jesus.
- Jesus is the greater fulfillment of “Emmanuel.”
- He does not merely point the way to God—He makes relationship with God possible.
6. The Greater Miracle: The New Birth
- Jesus' birth prepares the way for our spiritual rebirth.
- Christianity is more than morality, religious activity, or following rules.
- We must receive Christ and experience His indwelling presence.
- Jesus was born so that we might be born again.
Key Takeaways
- God works through humble people who are willing to submit to His Word.
- Faith does not require us to understand everything before we obey.
- Jesus came to deliver us from sin, not merely from difficult circumstances.
- Jesus is Emmanuel—God with us.
- Christianity is about a relationship with Christ, not merely religious rules or moral behavior.
- The miracle of Jesus' birth points to the greater miracle of the new birth.
- Receiving Christ means surrendering ourselves to Him and trusting His promise to transform our lives.
Scripture References
- Matthew 1:18–25 — Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to Mary.
- Luke 1:26–38 — Mary receives God's announcement and submits to His Word.
- Isaiah 7:10–16 — The sign of Emmanuel points to a greater future fulfillment.
- Philippians 2:5–8 — Christ humbles Himself and takes on human form.
- Hebrews 1:1–3 — God speaks fully through His Son.
- John 3:1–8 — Jesus teaches the necessity of being born again.
- Matthew 1:21 — Jesus comes to save His people from their sins.
- Matthew 1:23 — Jesus is Emmanuel, “God with us.”
Recorded 12.19.82
