111 – Birth of Christ
BIRTH OF CHRIST
§ 111. The birth of Christ, the God-man, 1 was a truly natural birth in great poverty, 2 Christ, true God and man, 3 being thereby born at the time 4 and place 5 predicted by the prophets, the son of a virgin, 6 made under the Law, 7 in the form of a servant, 8 and in the likeness of men, 9 that men might be made children of God. 10
1. The birth of Christ, the God-man
Luke 2:5–6 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.
Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus.
Isaiah 7:14 Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Cf. Matthew 1:22–25 Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
2. was a truly natural birth in great poverty,
Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
II Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.
3. Christ, true God and man
Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law.
Isaiah 7:14 Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Luke 1:35 The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
4. being thereby born at the time
Genesis 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.
Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.
Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, etc.
Luke 2:1–2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
5. and place
Micah 5:2 Thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be Ruler in Israel.
Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king.
Matthew 2:4–6 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel.
Luke 2:4, 6 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. (6) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
6. predicted by the prophets, the son of a virgin,
Matthew 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn Son: and he called His name Jesus.
Luke 1:27, 34 And the virgin’s name was Mary. (34) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
7. made under the Law
Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law.
Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
8. in the form of a servant
Philippians 2:7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
Luke 2:7, 12, 16 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (12) Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. (16) And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
9. and in the likeness of men
Philippians 2:7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
10. that men might be made children of God
Galatians 4:4,5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, etc.
Isaiah 9:6–9 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria.