restoration
December 15, 2019
All I Want For Christmas: Restoration
The angel told Joseph that Jesus would “Save the people from their sins.” Sin meant separation from God and in their culture the only way to be restored was to offer the right sacrifices and live the right laws. But it was only temporary, as more sacrifices would be needed for sins committed. In the coming of the Messiah we have two great gifts…one is freedom from the penalty of our sins and the other is strength beyond ourselves to overcome the lure of sin and grow in our obedience and love for God.
Matthew 1:18-25
Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.