God With Us

Sermon delivered on December 21st, 2014

By: Pastor Greg Hocson

Text: Matthew 1:18-25

 

Amazing and Glorious Announcement

This is an amazing and glorious announcement given by the angel. Seven hundred years before this announcement, the Prophet Isaiah prophesied that, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, the son shall be called Emmanuel.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

 

This is what exactly took place, as we read in our text in ...

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

 

How did Isaiah know this will take place?

2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

For true Biblical prophecy was never a product of man's imagination, or the will of man, but the prophets, holy men of God, spoke as they were moved, carried along by the Holy Spirit.

 

Just a reminder this morning that the Bible we hold in our hands is a very reliable document, for it is the Word of God. And that the Christmas story that we just read and we all love, is not a myth but a true reliable story.

 

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

 

This verse reveals two great truths ...

1. It tells us that Christ's birth was miraculous

He was conceived and born without a human father, which means He was not born in sin. He had no sin nature that was passed down to Him through Adam.

 

Scripture teaches that our sin nature passed down to us through Adam.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21: For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

 

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

 

Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous

 

But Christ was born of a virgin, which means He had no sin nature that was passed down to Him through Adam.

Hebrews 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.

 

He is exactly the kind of high priest that we need, for He is holy, pure, set apart from sinners, has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.

 

2. It tells us who Christ is

Long before Christ was born, God has already given Him a name. Every name given to Him speaks of who He is and what He is able to do.

 

What's in a Name?

The name Emmanuel speaks of ...

I - Christ's Deity

Matthew 1:23 ... God with us.

 

Emmanuel is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew word Immanuel. The word is found three times in the Bible: Isaiah 7:14, 8:8, and Matthew 1:23.

Immanu - with us

El - God

So Emmanuel literally means with us is God.

 

This name tells us that Jesus Christ is God. To be with Jesus is to be with God. There are those who tell us that Jesus Christ is not God, that He was simply a good man, or a wonderful teacher, or a prophet and nothing more. But in the very beginning of the New Testament, Jesus Christ is identified as God.

John 1:1-2

 

II -  Christ's Humanity

Matthew 1:23 ... God with us.

Not only does this name announce His deity, it also acknowledges His humanity. He is God who with us, the God who came to be with us by became man. He lived a perfect life as a man.

 

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

 

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

Veil'd in flesh the Godhead see

Hail the incarnate Deity! 

Pleased as man with men to appear, 

Jesus our Emmanuel.

 

Christ is God veiled in flesh who was pleased to appear and to dwell with men. Jesus our Emmanuel.

 

III - Christ's Immanence

Matthew 1:23 ... God with us.

He is not only God and the God who became man but also He is God with us. 

 

This name also assures that God is with us. He is near. He is here with us. He transcendent yet immanent. He is not a God who is far away, distant and unconcerned, detached and remote from us. No, He is with us. Isn't that comforting? Again and again in the Bible, you will find this promise I am with you.

 

Jeremiah 23:23 Am I a God at hand (nearby), saith the LORD, and not a God afar off (far away)? 24: Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

 

1. He is God with us in salvation 

He is a holy God and being a holy God He really should be against us because we are sinful people but He is with us in salvation.

 

Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

 

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

 

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

 

We were born sinful, we were born lost, but Christ has come to seek and to save that which was lost; that's why Jesus Christ came, He came to be our Emmanuel.

 

With us in the sense of on our side. The law shows us God as against us, because we have made ourselves His enemies; but the Gospel shows us God is with us, to defend and to deliver us from the penalty and power of sin.

 

2. He is God with us in suffering and in sorrow 

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

 

No matter what circumstances we are called to go through, Jesus Christ is with us.

 

He "ever liveth to make intercession" for us; and His parting word to His Church is, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

 

Hebrews 13: 5: Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 8: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 

 

3. He is God with us in death 

Even when we take our last breath Jesus Christ is with us. It is good to know that our loved ones, our friends, our minister will be there at our death bed but nothing can comfort us more, than to know that God is with us when we take our last breath.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.

 

Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

 

4. He is going to be with us throughout eternity 

Jesus Christ is God with us. He is God with us in salvation, in suffering, in sorrow, in death and for eternity.

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

The name Emmanuel, which means "God with us" is the embodiment of all of God's promises to His people and to all who will trust in Him. It speaks of God's plan, promise, desire, longing for man is to be with us ....

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2: And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3: And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

 

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this theme, both in His identification with humanity by becoming a man and by His death on the cross for sin. In this sense, the word "Emmanuel" truly does embody the meaning of Christmas. The birth of Jesus, the Holy One of Israel, the Messiah and Savior of all men, has made a way for God to be "with us."

 

O holy Child of Bethlehem, 

Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in, 

Be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels 

The great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us, 

Our Lord Emmanuel!

 

These blessings are only for those who know Jesus Christ as their Emmanuel. 

Is He your Emmanuel? Do you know Christ to be the God with you? Has He been "born in you?"

 

Confess your sins before Him; humble yourself before Him, acknowledge your own sinfulness. Ask Him to forgive you for trusting everything else but Him for your salvation. Tell Him that you will stop trusting your own righteousness, your own religion, your own good works to take you to heaven and that you are placing your complete trust in Him alone to take you to Heaven when you die.

 

If Jesus Christ becomes your Emmanuel — all these blessings will be yours.

 

John 3:16 

Believe in Him you shall be saved; reject Him you shall perish.