Matthew 1:18-21
“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is
conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall
call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
In my reading
on Christ for this Christmas season, I came across a commentary from Matthew
Henry on the above Bible passage. I remember reading and using my wife’s
Matthew Henry Commentary ages ago for my research for a Bible Study at church
on the book of John, and find his expounding of the Scriptures amazing for
understanding the truth that never goes out of date and can be used in daily
application; this one for Christmas. He
writes that, in its exposition of the gospel, the Heidelburg Catechism turns to
the second major section of the ancient Apostle’s Creed: “I believe in Jesus
Christ, His only Son, our Lord.” The true “One Way” is Jesus Christ!
Romans 4:25 -5:2
“He (Jesus) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for
our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, though whom we have gained
access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the
hope of the glory of God.”
Matthew Henry
points out that this gospel passage (above) focuses on Christ’s role as Savior,
looking to the name of Jesus and its significance. This passage is one of the
proof texts for seeing Jesus’ role as Savior revealed in the name given at His
birth. The angel of the Lord told Joseph to name the child Jesus, explaining
that it was the proper name for the boy because “he will save his people from
their sins”. Iesous, the Greek name for “Jesus”, is actually a transliteration
of the Hebrew mane Yehoshus, or “Joshus”, which means “Yahweh is salvation”. In that child, the name “Yahweh is salvation”
reached its fulfillment because it was given to the incarnation of Yahweh
Himself. This is the real meaning of Christmas … Immanuel: God with us; God among us in the flesh; the day of our Lord’s visitation; the promised Messiah
has arrived.
John 3:14-16
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in
the desert, so the Son of Man (the Savior) must be lifted up, that everyone who
believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave
his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal
life.”
The angel was
speaking of two aspects of salvation. First, Jesus saves his people from the
penalty of their sins in their Justification, where those who by faith believe,
repent and accept the blessed Redeemer’s atoning sacrifice on the cross in
their place to die for our personal sins, are covered by Christ’s blood and
exchange their sin (past, present and future) for His perfect righteousness
forever. Bearing the wrath of God against sinners on the cross, Jesus took the
condemnation we deserved so that by faith alone His righteousness might be
imputed to us, granting us eternal life. Second, Jesus saves His people from
the power of sin in their sanctification, the process of godly improving and
growing into the likeness of Christ. Having been exalted to the Father’s right
hand, Christ pours out the Holy spirit on His people (brethren) that they might
receive new hearts, empowering them to stare down sin and live in holiness.
Romans 8:1-4
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because
through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of
sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by
the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man
to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteousness
requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to
the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”
Finally, the
angel used the phrase “his people”, which is one of the key texts on the intent
and extent of atonement. Meaning, Jesus died for a particular people, not to
atone for every person who ever lived. There are many who believe that everybody
goes to heaven when we die because Jesus died for all sin, whether or not they repent
of their sins and believe by faith that Jesus is the Son of God sent to die as
their personal Savior and accept Christ as the Lord of their life. Sin is a
willful violation of God loving Commandments, laws and statutes and requires judgment
and punishment of the guilty. We do not like to think that we sin against God
or that we must pay for our sins in eternal damnation and take it far so
lightly. Yet, it’s the truth and the reason that God, out of mercy and grace
sent Jesus. If Jesus had atoned for every person, believers and unbelievers,
then all people would be forgiven and God could not justly send anyone to hell.
Either Jesus the Savior pays of our sins or we pay for them.
Galatians 6:7-8
“Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one
who sows to please this sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction;
the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Matthew Henry
comments that Jesus saves His people from the guilt of sin by the merit of his
death, from the dominion of sin by the Spirit of Grace – amazing grace! In the
saving the believer from sin, He saves them from wrath of God against sin, from
the curse of “Original Sin” at the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, and all misery
here and hereafter. Jesus truly is the Savior of the world because He saves his
people from their sins, and that is something to celebrate and be merry about
at Christmas. Halleluiah!
Romans 3:21-26
“No one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather,
through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God,
apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets
testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ
to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the
redemption hat came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of
atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate His
justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand
unpunished – He did it to demonstrated His justice at the present time, so as
to be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
Merry
Christmas, Brian
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