The story of Jesus

• Luke 2:1-7
• Matthew 2:5-6
• Matthew 1:18-25 – the birth of Jesus
• Luke 2:8-20 – Shepherds are visited by an angel and go to visit Jesus.
  • Isaiah 9:6 – Jesus would bring peace
  • Philippians 4:7
  • John 14:27
  • Colossians 1:20 – Jesus made peace between man and God.
  • Romans 5:21
  • Luke 2:17 – The word of Jesus birth spread quickly.
• Many now teach that men are born in sin.
  • If that were true, Jesus was born in sin. But Jesus knew no sin, thus the premise is false.
  • Some hold to the doctrine of the immaculate conception, which teaches that Jesu was born without sin because Mary had no sin. This, in the eyes of those who believe it, makes it possible to pray to Mary since she has no sin.
• Luke 2:21-24 – See Leviticus 12:6-8. If Mary had to make a sin offering for herself, that indicates she had sin.
• Matthew 2:1-8 – The magi evidently came a while after Jesus was born. Despite songs like “We Three Kings,” there is no evidence that the wise men were kings.
• Matthew 2:9-12 – The magi fell down and worshipped Jesus – not Mary.
• Matthew 2:13-18 – Mary and Joseph flee to Egypt with Jesus. Herod discovers that he has been tricked and kills all the children two years old and under. All of this is according to prophecy.
• Luke 2:41-54 – Twelve years later, Jesus and his family return to Nazareth.

“Fulfilling relationships”

• Luke 20:19-26
• Matthew 10:34-37 – Family relationships are not the top priority.
• I Peter 2:21

“Major accomplishments”

• Daniel 4:27-31 – Nebuchadnezzar had many major accomplishments yet God took them from him because of his pride.

“Enjoyable experiences”

• Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 – Solomon tried everything and didn’t find fulfillment.

So, what’s the answer?

• Matthew 22:36-40
• Philippians 3:8, 14
• Luke 6:40
• To lead a Biblically successful life, I need to set aside certain things.

Questions

• What am I doing with my life?
• Is this the way my life should be going?
• In 100 years (when my soul is somewhere), will I regret not adjusting the course of my life?
• Matthew 25:34

Philippians 1, continued

Philippians 1:1-11 – “I have you in my heart”

• Philippians 1:10 – The “day of Christ” is probably referring to the judgment. See Philippians 1:6; 2:16.

Philippians 1:12-20 – “Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice”

• Philippians 1:12-13 – Paul’s imprisonment gave him the opportunity to speak to the guards. It also emboldened other people to keep preaching the gospel. Paul’s positive attitude set the tone for others.
• Philippians 1:19 – The “Spirit of Jesus Christ” is probably the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 1:21-30 – “to live is Christ and to die is gain”

• Paul is not dreaming about the luxuries of life.
• Two different philosophies:

• Philippians 1:24 – If I continue to live …
  • Will sinners stand a better chance of knowing Jesus?
  • Will brethren be better off?
  • Will my spouse benefit from my companionship?
  • Will my kids be strengthened in the faith?
• Philippians 1:27 – See Ephesians 4:1
• Philippians 1:29-30 – See II Timothy 3:12.

Philippians 2

Philippians 2:1-8 – Be united, and be humble like Christ.

• Philippians 2:7 – This passage has been used for centuries to argue that Jesus did not use attributes of deity.
  • But that cannot mean He emptied Himself of the attributes of Deity.
    • Jesus was justified in accepting worship (Matthew 14:33; John 9:38)
    • Jesus forgave sins (Mark 2:3-12; Luke 7:48)
    • Jesus performed miracles by His own power (Luke 2:11; John 5:21)
  • Just as Jesus humbled Himself, if we are to be His disciples, we should humble ourselves.

Introduction

• Galatians 4:3

Pentecost was the first time the FULL gospel was preached.

• Luke 24:36-53 – Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem until they would receive power from on high.
• Deuteronomy 16:16 – The Jews were to assemble to observe the feast.
• Acts 2:9-11 – People from all nations were gathered to hear the gospel.
• Acts 2:1-13, 23
• Acts 2:38-41
• Jesus had already preached much of the good news, but on this day the full picture was finally put together.

We can all be part of this.

• Acts 2:39 – “all who are far off” may be referring to Gentiles
• Ephesians 2:11-13

It was not popular them; it is not popular now.

• Acts 2:41; 4:4 – This was a good number of people, but still just a fraction of the total number gathered.
• Acts 13:45; 14:2; 17:13; 18:6; 19:9

This is it. There’s nothing else coming. No updates needed.

• Galatians 1:6-9

Matthew 1

Matthew 1:1-17 – Genealogies

• Importance, use of genealogies
  • Ezra 2:59-63 – There were serious consequences if you could not be found in the genealogies.
  • Nehemiah 7:63-65
• Matthew’s genealogy
  • Began his gospel with
  • Began with Jesus the Messiah, the son of David (II Samuel 7) the son of Abraham (Genesis 12)
  • Matthew arranged his genealogy into three clearly defined groups of 14 each (Matthew 1:17)
    • Why?
      • Abraham to David – Patriarchs
        • Rise of nation (14 including David)
      • David to Jeconiah – Kings
        • Downfall of nation (14 beginning with Solomon and counting Jeconiah)
      • Jeconiah to Christ – Citizens
• Luke’s genealogy
  • Not until chapter 3
  • Began with, “the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi”
  • Not arranged in any particular order
• The Messiah
  • Messiah means “anointed”
    • Greek form “Messias”: used only twice – John 1:41; 4:25
    • Hebrew form: used only twice – Daniel 9:25, 26
  • Jesus claimed to be the Messiah (Christ) in Mark 14:61-64
  • What evidence was there that these Messianic claims were valid?
    • The character of Matthew and Jesus
      • “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” - Matthew 1:1
    • Where did Matthew (and other Jews) get this genealogy?
      • Eusebius (“father of church history”) says the writing of Matthew occurred about twelve years after the death of Christ. Some scholars believe that this would place the writing of Matthew as early as AD 40-45 and as late as AD 55. (See When Were the Gospels Written)
  • Matthew gives Christ’s legal succession through Joseph.
  • Luke traces his biological succession through Mary.
  • Either way, you want to examine His genealogy. It ties Jesus legally and biologically to the Old Testament Messianic promises.
  • If Matthew’s and Luke’s genealogy are faulty, Jesus’ claims to be the Messiah are bogus.

Note on abortion

• According to Dr. Luke, the Bible makes no distinction between …