God Keeps His Promises Christmas 2012 God Keeps

God Keeps His Promises Christmas 2012

God Keeps His Promises

God Keeps His Promises • Matthew 1: 1 is the first verse of the New Testament. • Those of us who have read the New Testament may have wondered why this genealogy is important. • Why start a book of the Bible, particularly the first book of the New Testament this way?

God Keeps His Promises • Matthew 1: 1 is the first verse of the New Testament. • Those of us who have read the New Testament may have wondered why this genealogy is important. • Why start a book of the Bible, particularly the first book of the New Testament this way? • Because God always keeps His promises.

God Keeps His Promises • The initial promise to Abraham came about 2000 years before Christ. • We can read about it in Genesis 12: 1 -3, 7. • God promised Abraham that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him. • This blessing would come to all through Abraham’s “offspring” or “seed. ” • That word is a “collective singular, ” meaning it can stand for one or many.

God Keeps His Promises • The initial promise to David came about 1000 years before Christ. • We can read about it in 2 Samuel 7. • God promised David that his descendant would rule an eternal kingdom and be seated on an eternal throne. • The dynasty of David was to last forever.

God Keeps His Promises • So that brings us back to Matthew 1: 1. • The initial promise to Abraham was fulfilled when his son Isaac was born. • But all the families of the earth were not blessed through Isaac. • They are being blessed through Jesus Christ, the descendant or offspring of Abraham.

God Keeps His Promises • While we are still in Matthew 1: 1, • The initial promise to David was fulfilled through his son Solomon. • But Solomon was not given an eternal kingdom or an eternal throne. • That kingdom and throne are being given to Jesus Christ, the descendant or offspring of David.

God Keeps His Promises • Let’s turn now to Luke 1: 26 -33. • God keeps His promises and the promise to David is fulfilled in Jesus.

God Keeps His Promises • Let’s go now to Galatians 3, • and read 3: 5 -9, 16 & 26 -29 • God keeps His promises and the promise to Abraham is fulfilled in Jesus. • The “collective singular” of “seed” or “offspring” means that we get to share in the blessing of Abraham. • We become sons of God and sons of Abraham through our faith in Jesus Christ.

God Keeps His Promises • By faith we share in the promises that are fulfilled in Jesus. • He is the descendant of Abraham and the descendant of David. • God kept His promises to both of them. • They were promised a descendant who would bring blessing to the nations and would rule an eternal kingdom.

God Keeps His Promises • Therefore Jesus had to be born. • We live in a time when the fulfillment of the promises is real, but partial. • All the families of the earth have not yet heard about Jesus, nor is His kingdom complete. • That’s why we still pray “Thy kingdom come. ” • And the promises of God still stand. – 2 Corinthians 1: 20 – 1 John 2: 25

God Keeps His Promises • This Christmas, consider Jesus and all that He has done for us, by taking our sins and nailing them to the cross. • And remember that His birth gives us evidence that God is faithful. • He always keeps His promises. • And let’s pray for those who have not yet heard, so that all the families of the earth will be blessed in Him.

God Keeps His Promises • To someone who doesn’t quite understand its significance, the life of Jesus may appear tragic. • The baby laid in a manger, while still in His 30 s, died a heartbreaking, violent death. • The sinless Son of God died as a criminal. • But through that death He conquered sin and offers us complete forgiveness.

God Keeps His Promises • Through His resurrection, He conquered death, allowing us to see that His promise of eternal life is real for all who will trust Him. • In our closing prayer please take this opportunity to express your faith in Jesus Christ.

God Keeps His Promises • Lord Jesus, I thank you for coming to this earth as the Son of David and Son of Abraham, and living a human life on earth beset by human weakness. • I thank you for taking my sins upon yourself when you died upon the cross. • I thank you for Your resurrection from the dead and the promise of eternal life. • Lord, please forgive me, and grant me the eternal life you have promised to all who believe. • Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to live for You. Amen.

God Keeps His Promises Merry Christmas 2012