2/4/13

THE HORMONE GUIDE


My oldest daughter posted this on facebook recently.  Knowing her sense of humor, I am quite sure she found this hilarious!  Didn't quite have the same effect on me.  Ask any husband about "the change of life" and whether he will admit it or not, it WAS A DIFFICULT TIME FOR HIM!!!  Should you follow this guideline?  For me the answer is a NO, because I don't drink or encourage anyone else to.  But, choosing ones words carefully out of a concern for their spouse is true wisdom indeed.  I like the way Paul puts marital attitudes...

Ephesians, Chapter 5
22  Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.  24 But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything. 

  25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;  26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect.  28 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly;  30 because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.  31 “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly.  33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

If you are expecting something profound at this point; you are just going be disappointed.  The only things of importance that I could say on marriage relationships, Paul has already said!!!  Love you spouse, be kind and forget the wine!!!

Bad Old Bible by Jim McGuiggan


Spending Time with Jim McGuiggan


Bad Old Bible

There's that startling text Psalm 137:8-9 that says, "O Daughter of Babylon...happy is he who...seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks." You don't have to be one of those genuinely tedious "politically correct" people to find that passage a challenge. Here in "the word of God" we have someone exulting in the brutal killing of a child. To the non-believer who has little time for explanations the case is closed; there's no chance to say, "Wait, let me explain." Others would really like to know how the Bible could promote such feelings. Non-believers of that stripe gladly admit that the Bible ranks high as a book that has promoted justice and virtue and are willing to listen.
Believers handle such texts in different ways. There are those who dismiss this one as a vindictive outburst by a person who is best ignored. I suppose that's possible but since the psalm wasn't inserted into the canon by such a person we can't settle for that. Whoever included the psalm wanted it heard, and in fact, wanted it sung. Still, even the compilers of the psalms might have thought the original psalmist was being vindictive but still wanted his voice to be heard. To show, maybe, how mistreatment can drive a man over the edge. We've seen that kind of thing in movies and in real life where a person was driven to the point of madness and said what he wouldn't dream of saying under ordinary circumstances. We might nor approve it but we "understand" it.
Others, moving in the same general direction, insist that the psalmist might have felt this was how he should feel and that it wasn't simple vindictiveness. "But we've outgrown such a moral response," is what they'd tell us. They'd add that this shows the development of moral ideas in the Bible. I think there's something to that but it's not as simple as it appears because there are lots of things in the Bible that were never meant to be taken as "normative". The Bible doesn't mind rehearsing what this man or that generation felt and it sometimes does it without critiquing it as it records it. But even if we knew that the psalmist in 137:8-9 was speaking from a low moral level that wouldn't mean this was the biblical norm. When the chronicler tells us that God was thought to be a mountain-God and that's why he defeated their armies we're not to suppose that's the normative teaching of scripture. Even in this day and age we can find people whose views aren't as "advanced" as our own so we shouldn't think it strange if we find it in the truthful Bible.
But is the psalmist being vindictive? Is he approving of a low moral response? Well, of course, in a Western society where so many oppose the death penalty for even the most horrendous crimes there's no way to justify 137:8-9 but maybe it won't hurt to see what he might have been saying before we damn it.
Bear in mind the passage doesn't reflect an individual opinion about crimes perpetrated on individuals. It's speaks of war and the horrors committed against nations. Reflect on the World Wars and think maybe of the Kaisers and Hitler from the angle of the oppressed of Europe and we're beginning to set the scene correctly. Whatever we think of the grounds for beginning a war, when we're in the middle of one and the oppressor has savaged nations and hundreds of thousands have been butchered we might expect the kind of speech of 137:8. "O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us." Not everyone even in this modern age would call that vindictive or vengeful if it were uttered in light of early revelations of what the Nazis were doing to humans in the death camps. At least we would "understand" it and might think it a hope-filled wish for justice. What if this passage is just that, a nation expressing it's longing that justice be carried out on the oppressor?
But surely we shouldn't take it out on the infants? Of course not! But we don't need to read the psalm as "infant-phobia". The psalmist wants justice against Babylon and not against infants. He assumes that justice will take place via military conflict and he knows that in warfare the children will suffer this wicked violence (it was a common practice to kill children in this way--see a concordance for passages). Note that it's "your" infants that are killed. The object of scorn and indignation is not babies but a predatory nation! We all allow ourselves the room to condemn as immoral "a nation's" predatory behaviour even though we know it isn't the will of every individual in that nation. Even those who without remorse wage warfare express regret at times that the innocent suffer in the process. Maybe we should bear that in mind when reading this text.

A case of the blahs? by Jim McGuiggan



Spending Time with Jim McGuiggan

A case of the blahs?

I’m not making an “argument” against unbelief so much as making an observation. Harry Emerson Fosdick quotes a brilliant physics professor of some years ago by the name of Tyndal, an atheist. Tyndal said he noticed that atheism seemed more compelling to him when he was feeling depressed than it did when he was feeling buoyant and optimistic. That doesn’t in the least surprise me because I notice that I’m more inclined to be critical of the ways of God when I’m experiencing a case of the blahs than when I feel on top of things.
Our rational capacity is one of the marvellous things about us and only a fool despises it but it’s astonishing to see how many other things about us that can interfere with our reasoning capacity. A famous London preacher called Joseph Parker said that when his wife died, he who had never had a moment’s doubt in all his life became like an atheist almost overnight. And wasn’t it Martin Luther who confessed “sometimes I believe and sometimes I disbelieve”? In the middle of a bad dose of “the blues” 2+2 still equal four and apples still drop down from trees rather than fly up from them but while we can’t walk away from mathematical or empirical realities they’re not the dominant things in life.
A blistering headache, a very sick child or an honourable but unpayable debt can drive out of us any desire to consciously worship God. Confusion, lack of energy, deep personal loss or the week in week out sameness of life can hobble a non-believer and keep him or her from thinking clearly. The atheist Blackham, I think, spoke for a host of people when he said that he thought the strongest argument against unbelief was “the pointlessness” of it all. He said, “It’s too bad to be true.” He insisted, of course, that whatever the truth is it is and if we must face “unyielding despair” (the early Bertrand Russell’s phrase) then so be it. This is right and proper. Just the same I can’t help thinking that as believers and non-believers we think and say silly things not because we’ve rigorously thought them through but because we feel disappointment or think things should be better than they are. And so, weary more than convinced we turn to things that are very doubtful to say the least and passionately reject what should have been given a fairer and a prolonged hearing.
Feelings of impotence and rage and pity can all combine to rule God out of existence but maybe…just maybe they are the very things that should make us look up. Maybe these very feelings are as they should be in a world bent out of shape by what the Hebrew-Christian scriptures call “sin”. Maybe God is pleased when we feel such things, things such as rage against injustice and oppression, against the poverty and pain of countless millions. Each of us can make a difference to someone but our impotence rises up and jeers at us when we think of the vast numbers of our fellow humans and maybe it’s then, especially, that we should talk to God about it all and to listen to him as well.
You might remember the song from the stage musical Pickwick called If I Ruled the World. In it Samuel Pickwick (the Dickens character) is mistaken for a political candidate and the crowd wants to know what kind of world they’d have if he was elected. It’s a great song (usually connected with Harry Secombe but popularised too by Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder) that expresses what every sensitive soul would like to see but knows he or she can never bring about. In that world, sings Pickwick, every day would be the first day of spring and every heart would have a new song to sing about the joy each new morning would bring. Every man would be as free as a bird, every voice would have a right to be heard, people would dream wonderful dreams, everyone would know his neighbour was his friend and there’d be happiness that no one could end.
How could we not want such a world if we had a grain of humanity in us? And a vast number of us—believers and non-believers alike—do want such a world and we want it not just for ourselves or the West or for many of us or even most of us but for all of us. If we think noble things of God we’ll know that he too wants a world like that for us all. And the good news is—the good news centred in the glorified Jesus Christ who stands as the representative of the human family—that God not only wants it but is able to bring it about and is even now moving to that breathtaking completion. The Christian Story is that the resurrected and glorified Jesus is the standing proof of it.
Even to disheartened non-believers the living Jesus would say, “Take heart, I have overcome the world.”
Trust yourself to him and his agenda and let your sad heart find peace and hope.

Bible Reading, Feb. 4


Feb. 4
Genesis 35

Gen 35:1 God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother."
Gen 35:2 Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, change your garments.
Gen 35:3 Let us arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went."
Gen 35:4 They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
Gen 35:5 They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn't pursue the sons of Jacob.
Gen 35:6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.
Gen 35:7 He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there God was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
Gen 35:8 Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth.
Gen 35:9 God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him.
Gen 35:10 God said to him, "Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel." He named him Israel.
Gen 35:11 God said to him, "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body.
Gen 35:12 The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your seed after you will I give the land."
Gen 35:13 God went up from him in the place where he spoke with him.
Gen 35:14 Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spoke with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it.
Gen 35:15 Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him "Bethel."
Gen 35:16 They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor.
Gen 35:17 When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, "Don't be afraid, for now you will have another son."
Gen 35:18 It happened, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.
Gen 35:19 Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath (the same is Bethlehem).
Gen 35:20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel's grave to this day.
Gen 35:21 Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
Gen 35:22 It happened, while Israel lived in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
Gen 35:23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
Gen 35:24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
Gen 35:25 The sons of Bilhah (Rachel's handmaid): Dan and Naphtali.
Gen 35:26 The sons of Zilpah (Leah's handmaid): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
Gen 35:27 Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners.
Gen 35:28 The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years.
Gen 35:29 Isaac gave up the spirit, and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him.



Feb. 4, 5
Matthew 18

Mat 18:1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"
Mat 18:2 Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3 and said, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 18:5 Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me,
Mat 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.
Mat 18:7 "Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes!
Mat 18:8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.
Mat 18:9 If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.
Mat 18:10 See that you don't despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 18:11 For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.
Mat 18:12 "What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn't he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray?
Mat 18:13 If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.
Mat 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Mat 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he doesn't listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.
Mat 18:18 Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."
Mat 18:21 Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?"
Mat 18:22 Jesus said to him, "I don't tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
Mat 18:23 Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.
Mat 18:24 When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
Mat 18:25 But because he couldn't pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!'
Mat 18:27 The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28 "But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'
Mat 18:29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you!'
Mat 18:30 He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due.
Mat 18:31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done.
Mat 18:32 Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me.
Mat 18:33 Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?'
Mat 18:34 His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him.
Mat 18:35 So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds."

The Visit Of The Wise Men (2:1-12) by Mark Copeland

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                   The Visit Of The Wise Men (2:1-12)

INTRODUCTION

1. Common to many nativity scenes commemorating the birth of Jesus is
   the presence of "three wise men"...
   a. Implied is that these men, three in number, visited Jesus while
      still in the manger
   b. Is this what the Bible really teaches?

2. Matthew is the gospel writer who records this visit...
   a. Which is found in Mt 2:1-12
   b. Which serves as the text for our study today

[This story of "The Visit Of The Wise Men" is both interesting and of
practical value.  Having read the text, let's first note some...]

I. INTERESTING FEATURES OF THIS STORY

   A. FOR WHAT MATTHEW DOESN'T TELL US...
      1. Who exactly were these "wise men from the East"?
         a. Some think they were a group of priests from Persia
         b. Others believe they were astrologers from Babylon
      2. How many were there?
         a. No actual number is given
         b. Three types of gift are mentioned (Mt 2:11), but quality of
            gifts does not necessarily imply the quantity of givers!
      3. What was the nature of the "star"?
         a. Was it an actual "star"?
         b. Was it the planet Jupiter, often associated with the birth
            of kings
         c. Was it a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the Sign of
            the Fish?
         d. Was it a comet acting erratically?
      4. How did these wise men connect the star with the birth of the
         king of the Jews?
         a. Had they been taught by Jews of the Dispersion to expect
            the Messiah?
         b. Had they been given special revelation from God not
            recorded in the Scriptures?

   B. FOR WHAT LEGENDS HAVE RISEN...
      1. That these wise men were "three kings from the Orient"
      2. That their names were Melchior, Balthasar, and Caspar
      3. That they visited Baby Jesus together with the shepherds the
         night of His birth
         a. But it was some time later (up to two years!) - Mt 2:1,16
         b. They visited Mary and the child in a house, not a stable! Mt 2:11
      4. That they were later baptized by Thomas

[The facts are the Biblical record says little about WHO these men 
were.  Perhaps because the emphasis is upon WHAT they did:  "We have
come to WORSHIP Him." (Mt 2:2,11) What is important is that Jesus is
worthy of worship, which can only mean that He is truly DEITY (cf. 
"Immanuel", or "God with us")!

But there are other lessons that can be gleaned from "The Visit Of The
Wise Men"...]

II. LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

   A. IT IS EASY FOR FICTION TO BE TAKEN AS FACT...
      1. We have seen what people have done with the story of Jesus' 
         birth
         a. Making the number of the wise men to be three
         b. Having them visit Jesus in the stable
      2. There are other examples
         a. Making the "forbidden fruit" in the Garden to be an "apple"
         b. Depicting baptism in the Bible as pouring or sprinkling
      -- We need to be like the Bereans (Ac 17:11), and make sure we
         get the facts straight!

   B. THERE MAY BE TRUE SERVANTS OF GOD IN PLACES WHERE WE MIGHT NOT
      EXPECT TO FIND THEM...
      1. The Lord may have many "hidden ones" (i.e., hidden to our 
         knowledge) like the wise men
      2. Their history on earth may be as little known as that of 
         Melchizedek, Job, Jethro
      3. We must not assume that God's people consists only of those we
         know about, listed in "our" directories
         a. There can be many faithful Christians in other countries
         b. We may not know about them, but God does! - 2 Tim 2:19
         -- Though unknown to us, we can still pray for them!

   C. IT IS NOT ALWAYS THOSE WHO HAVE THE MOST RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES,
      WHO GIVE CHRIST THE MOST HONOR...
      1. One would think the chief priests and scribes would have been
         the first to go to Bethlehem, hearing rumors that the Savior
         was born
         a. But no, it was a few unknown strangers from a distant land
         b. As John wrote in his gospel, "He came to His own, and His
            own did not receive Him" - Jn 1:11
      2. Sadly, the same is often true today
         a. Those in the Lord's church often show less love and 
            adoration than those in the denominations of men
         b. Children of Christian parents often show less interest than
            many children of non-Christians

   D. THERE MAY BE KNOWLEDGE IN THE HEAD, WHILE THERE IS NO GRACE IN
      THE HEART...
      1. The chief priests and scribes were quick to provide Herod the
         answer to his question
         a. But as far as we know, they did not act on such knowledge
         b. They did not go to Bethlehem, and some never did come to
            believe in Him
      2. What about us today?
         a. We may knowledge in the head (we know the truth), but do we
            have grace in our hearts (do we act on it)?
         b. We need to always grow in grace and knowledge - 2Pe 3:18

   E. THE WISE MEN ARE A SPLENDID EXAMPLE OF SPIRITUAL DILIGENCE...
      1. Consider what it must have cost them to travel
         a. In money
         b. In time
         c. In dangers
      2. What about our diligence?  Are we willing to pay the price...
         a. To find Christ?
         b. To serve Him?
         c. To worship Him?
      -- They traveled at great costs and risk to worship Jesus; many
         Christians won't even take the time to attend a gospel meeting
         or a second service on Sunday!

   F. THE WISE MEN ARE A STRIKING EXAMPLE OF FAITH...
      1. They believed in Christ...
         a. When they had never seen Him prior to their journey
         b. When the scribes and chief priests were unbelieving
         c. When all they saw was a little child on a mother's knee!
            1) Without miracles to convince them (except the star)
            2) Without much teaching to persuade them
         -- Yet they "fell down and worshipped Him"
      2. This is the kind of faith God delights to honor!
         a. For God saw fit to record their example of faith for us
         b. And every time this passage is read, their example of faith
            is honored!
         -- As Jesus said later, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you
            have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
            have believed." - Jn 20:29

CONCLUSION

1. May the faith and diligence of the wise men serve to inspire us to
   greater service to our Lord!

2. Though the world around us may remain careless and unbelieving, 
   let's not be ashamed to believe in Jesus and confess Him

3. We have much more reason to believe Him and worship Him...
   a. His miracles, His resurrection from the dead
   b. His teachings, His death on the cross for our sins

Are we willing to make the effort to find, worship, and serve this 
great King?  As stated on a popular bumber-sticker:

                        "Wise men still seek Him"

NOTE:  Some of the main points for this lesson were taken from
"Expository Thoughts On The Gospels" by J. C. Ryle.

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

Jesus And Immanuel (1:18-25) by Mark Copeland

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                      Jesus And Immanuel (1:18-25)

INTRODUCTION

1. In Mt 1:18-25, we have Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus...
   a. Matthew tells the story with a focus on Joseph
   b. Whereas Luke centers on Mary

2. Noble qualities of Joseph are certainly seen in this passage...
   a. His tender consideration for Mary
   b. His willingness to bear ridicule
   -- Little else is known of him, for it is his adopted son who is the
      primary interest in Matthew's gospel

3. The word "gospel" means "good news", and hints of just how good that
   news is occurs in this  passage...
   a. Especially when one contemplates the names by which the son of 
      Mary was to be called
   b. Such names as "Jesus" and "Immanuel"

4. In this lesson, we shall consider more closely these two names...
   a. One which describes His OFFICE (what was He to do?)
   b. One which describes His NATURE (who was He?)

[First we note that in his dream, the angel of the Lord tells Joseph
concerning the child to be born of Mary...]

I. "YOU SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS"

   A. HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS OF THIS NAME...
      1. A very common Jewish name, often given in memory of Joshua 
         (the Hebrew form of the name, Jesus)
      2. It is interesting to compare these two figures of history
         a. Joshua led the nation of Israel into the promised land 
            (Canaan)
         b. Jesus leads the people of God into the Promised Land 
            (Heaven)

   B. SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS NAME...
      1. Jesus (Joshua) means "God is Savior"
      2. The son of Mary was rightfully called that, because "He will
         save His people from their sins" - Mt 1:21
      3. This Jesus would do by saving them...
         a. From the GUILT of sin
            1) By offering His blood as the atonement for their sins 
               - cf. Ro 5:8-9a
            2) When one is washed by the blood of Jesus, He truly is
               their Savior
         b. From the POWER of sin
            1) By sending His sanctifying Spirit to help His people 
               break sin's dominion
            2) Paul writes of this in Ro 8:1-2,12-14
         c. From the CONSEQUENCE of sin
            1) I.e., the wrath of God to come
            2) Cf. Ro 5:9; 1Th 1:9-10
         d. Ultimately, from the PRESENCE of sin
            1) I.e., when we depart to "be with the Lord"
            2) Cf. Re 7:13-17
      4. And so the name of JESUS should be...
         a. A very encouraging name to heavy-laden sinners
            1) Souls which desire salvation may draw near to the Father
               with confidence through Christ
            2) For it is His OFFICE (function, work) to show mercy 
               - Jn 3:17
         b. A very sweet and precious name to believers
            1) For He continues to intercede in our behalf, to save us
               from our sins
            2) Cf. He 4:14-16; 7:24-25

[As stated in a popular hymn, "There is a Name I love to hear..." and
that name is "Jesus"!  It may have been common in the days of Jesus,
but should be very special now to all who seek to be saved from their
sins!

As Matthew recounts what the angel told Mary, he adds that the birth of
Jesus also fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah in which it is said...]

II. "THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL"

   A. HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS OF THIS NAME...
      1. Isaiah's prophecy concerning this name is found in Isa 7:14
      2. In which a virgin would give birth to a child who would be 
         called "Immanuel"

   B. SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS NAME...
      1. Immanuel literally means "God is with us" - cf. Mt 1:23
      2. This name describes the Messiah's NATURE; i.e., that He is
         Deity!
         a. Other passages expound upon this aspect of Christ's nature
            1) He is "Mighty God, Everlasting Father" - Isa 9:6
            2) He is "God", possessing the "glory of God"; the Great
               "I AM", who shared in the glory of the Father prior to
               His incarnation - cf. Jn 1:1-3,14; 8:56-59; 17:5 (cf.Isa 42:8)
            3) Declared to be "the Son of God with power" by virtue of
               His resurrection - Ro 1:3-4
            4) He was "equal with God" who willingly humbled Himself
               - cf. Php 2:5-11
            5) In Him "dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily"
               - Col 2:9
         b. Human minds, finite and feeble, wrestle with this great
            mystery, but Jesus was "God manifested in the flesh"!
            - 1Ti 3:16

CONCLUSION

1. Would you have a strong foundation for your faith and hope?
   a. Then keep in constant view your Savior's name "IMMANUEL" ("God
      with us")
   b. For having become flesh, God understands our human plight - cf.
      He 2:17-18

2. Would you have sweet comfort in suffering and trial?
   a. Then keep in constant view your Savior's name "JESUS" ("God is
      Savior")
   b. For in sending His Son to die, God has offered a propitiation for
      our sins - 1Jn 4:9-10

Thus they called the Child, born of a virgin and raised by a carpenter.
By His resurrection from the dead, He proved true to His name.  Are you
willing to obey Jesus as the One who was "God with us", and through whom
"God is Savior"? - Mt 7:21-23; 28:19-20

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011