Mat 1v21-25
“…She will bear a son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (ESV)
We see a decline in Western civilization – people turning their back on the faith of their forefathers, in rebellion against God. Looking at the decline about us, we may be tempted to despair, wondering whether God is still in control.
The incarnation of our Saviour – Immanuel – God with us – gives us hope, because He will save His people from their sins. If you have repented of your sins and put your trust in Christ alone, you will be saved. Jesus will not fail to save every single one of them whom God has chosen (Heb. 10:14).
He will save them from their sins.
Who gets to define what sin is? Do we define sin by an emotional appeal? No! Sin is to fall short of the glory of God and to disobey His Law. The Lord is not just concerned with outward obedience – He looks at the heart, e.g. looking at a woman to desire her (adultery), hating your brother (murder).
We need to call people to repentance, and they need to know what it means to repent of their sins. Murder is not the unpardonable sin – God can forgive it. If He declare us forgiven, we are forgiven.
We ought to live in hope because God is sovereign. Matthew quotes Isaiah 7:14, going back to Gen. 3:15. The serpent’s wound is fatal, whereas Jesus’ wound was not. Notice that this doesn’t come from man, but from the Lord. Predictive prophecy requires a sovereign, powerful God who is able to do His will in heaven and on earth.
A God who is not sovereign leaves us without hope. A God who is not in control – how do we know if He can save us? But God is in control and will save all His people.
Matthew writes that “Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary through which Jesus was born”, being careful to proclaim that the Child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and is Divine.
John 12:27-42 declares that Jesus is our great sovereign God, who is our hope, even though the world may fall apart. So then what must we do? We must love the brethren, serving one another. God is with us Christians – do not cower in fear. We are not left alone, we are more conquerors through Him who loves us.