Elements City Church
The Christmas story is an old story. But let’s see it in a new way because it’s a new year and in fact, it’s been a couple years like none other. Into the turmoil of the day, just like the turmoil of our day comes a gift like no other. A gift that will literally change everything for everyone who opens their heart to receive it. It’s not wrapped like most expected or delivered like any thought. But to those who receive it - it changes them, it anchors them, it blesses them.
One word seems to get used more than any other in this season of the year: GIFT
As we shop, look up, seek out or ask for gifts -- let's do ourselves a favor and REMEMBER the GIFT we've been given by God that first Christmas!
This verse from the Apostle Paul captures the gift of Jesus:
"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" -2 Corinthians 9:15
Luke 2:3-7 NIV
This baby Jesus comes wrapped in prophecy
How do you wrap an indescribable gift? What materials do you use?
A lot of set up, highlighting and hints…
(740 years before Jesus’ birth)
Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore Jehovah himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call his name God With Us."
The Virgin Birth is the birth of none other than God himself.
The Virgin Birth was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
The Virgin Birth is a critical piece of God's plan for salvation.
**the Apostle's Creed (341 AD) states, "I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, born of the Virgin Mary."
**the Nicene Creed (325 AD) goes to great length to make the point that Christ's birth was altogether different from anyone else's birth: ==he was begotten of God, not made. The word "begotten" means fathered by God.
QUOTE:
"When you beget something, you beget it after your own kind."
-C.S. Lewis
It is absolutely critical for our salvation that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man. Jesus alone is the mediator between God and fallen man. He is the Savior of the world, uniquely positioned to stand between God and man—which is what we needed in order for mankind to be reconciled with a holy God.
8 prophecies of Jesus:
The time of His birth (see the Daniel 8 & 9).
He would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2)
He would be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14)
He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12)
He would be mocked. (Psalm 22:7,8)
He would be crucified. (Psalm 22, John 3:14)
He would be pierced. (Psalms 22:16)
He would die with the wicked, but He would be buried with the rich. (Isaiah 53:9)
Prophecy calculations:
*Peter W. Stoner, Chairman of the Departments of Mathematics and Astronomy and his research regarding biblical prophecy and the probability of Jesus fulfilling them.
*conservative probabilities for each one being fulfilled, and then considered the likelihood of Jesus fulfilling all 8 of those prophecies.
The conclusion to his research was staggering. The prospect that anyone would satisfy those eight prophecies was just 1 in 10(17).
1 in 10 (to the 17th power) = (100,000,000,000,000,000)
if we doubled it to 16 prophecy's - it would be 1 in 10 (to the 45th power)
(1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000)
The Scriptures have well over 300+ prophecies that Jesus fulfilled...
Jesus came wrapped in prophecy that brings foundational certainty to our faith!
Friend, have you unwrapped this gift for yourself?
This is the gift that can anchor you to the HOPE OF GOD that can hold you in each and every moment and season of life!
2 Corinthians 9:15
"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
We hope you have been blessed by your time worshipping with us -- through song and through the Word!
We hope to see you back at Elements next weekend -- on-site or online -- as we continue our new series, The Gift of Christmas. We'll be walking Winterhaven together following service next Sunday December 12th. See event info within the app. Also join us for 2nd Saturday Food Distribution next Saturday. Have a blessed week all!
