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ChristmasChristmas

The Greatest The Greatest Mystery:Mystery:

God IncarnateGod Incarnate

J.I. Packer Knowing GodJ.I. Packer Knowing God

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When Reason failsWhen Reason fails

The AtonementThe Atonement

The ResurrectionThe Resurrection

Virgin BirthVirgin Birth

Gospel MiraclesGospel Miracles• Walking on waterWalking on water• Feeding 5,000Feeding 5,000• Raising the deadRaising the dead

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1.1. The Greatest MysteryThe Greatest Mystery

- Why make faith harder than need - Why make faith harder than need be? Forget the others. Look here.be? Forget the others. Look here.

- The supreme mystery: The God-Man- The supreme mystery: The God-Man

- Plurality of persons within Godhead- Plurality of persons within Godhead

- “The - “The WordWord became flesh.” ……. became flesh.” ……. GodGod became flesh became flesh

• Luke 1:34-35Luke 1:34-35• Charles Wesley: Our God contracted to a Charles Wesley: Our God contracted to a span, Incomprehensibly made manspan, Incomprehensibly made man

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2.2. The Reality of the Incarnation The Reality of the Incarnation Dissolves Other Issues of Dissolves Other Issues of BeliefBelief

Foundational issue is identity Foundational issue is identity of Jesusof Jesus

““Once His divinity is Once His divinity is established, it is all of a piece, established, it is all of a piece, a unity and hangs together a unity and hangs together complete.”complete.”

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3.3. Going Deeper into the Identity Going Deeper into the Identity of of the Christmas Childthe Christmas Child Mark, Matthew and LukeMark, Matthew and Luke John’s Prologue John’s Prologue 1 Tim 1:3 “instruct certain men 1 Tim 1:3 “instruct certain men

not to teach strange doctrines”not to teach strange doctrines” Two Clear Essential Truths About Two Clear Essential Truths About

the Baby Born at Bethlehem: the Baby Born at Bethlehem: 1.1. He was GodHe was God

2.2. He was God made manHe was God made man

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4.4. The Baby was GodThe Baby was God

““The only begotten Son of God” The only begotten Son of God” John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 John 5: 11-John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 John 5: 11-1212

John 1:18 – No one has seen God at John 1:18 – No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.explained Him.

1 John 5:11-12 – And the testimony is 1 John 5:11-12 – And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; He who does has the Son has the life; He who does not have the Son of God, does not not have the Son of God, does not have the life.have the life.

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4.4. The Baby was God The Baby was God (continued)(continued)

Still QuestionsStill Questions• Deut. 6:4 “The Great Shema”Deut. 6:4 “The Great Shema”• Divisions: Jews, Arians, Divisions: Jews, Arians,

Muslims, Unitarians, Jehovah Muslims, Unitarians, Jehovah WitnessesWitnesses

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John wrote to set record John wrote to set record straight straight John 1:1 - 18John 1:1 - 18

“ “The Word”The Word”• God’s creative utteranceGod’s creative utterance

• ““In the beginning God ... God In the beginning God ... God

said, ‘Let there be ... and there said, ‘Let there be ... and there

was' …”was' …”

• It is His power in action fulfilling It is His power in action fulfilling

His purposeHis purpose

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Seven Truths about Word of Seven Truths about Word of GodGod

John 1:1 - “In the beginning was the John 1:1 - “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things came into being through 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.into being that has come into being.

4 In Him was life, and the life was the 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.light of men.

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Seven Truths about Word of Seven Truths about Word of GodGod

1.1. Eternal - John 1: 1Eternal - John 1: 1

2.2. Personality - 1:1Personality - 1:1

3.3. Deity - 1:1Deity - 1:1

4.4. Creating - 1:3Creating - 1:3

5.5. Animator - 1:4Animator - 1:4

6.6. Revealing - 1:4Revealing - 1:4

7.7. Incarnate - 1:14Incarnate - 1:14

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5.5. The Baby was God made The Baby was God made manman

A real human baby …… A real human baby ……

who had not ceased to be who had not ceased to be GodGod

• Not minus divinity, but plus Not minus divinity, but plus manman

• Fair game for Satan Fair game for Satan Hebrews 2: 17 – 18; 4:15 - 16Hebrews 2: 17 – 18; 4:15 - 16

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6.6. Born to DieBorn to Die2 Corinthians 8:9 “You know 2 Corinthians 8:9 “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you became poor, so that you through His poverty might through His poverty might become rich.”become rich.”

The baby in the manger … The baby in the manger … not simply a marvel of nature, not simply a marvel of nature, but rather a wonder of gracebut rather a wonder of grace

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ApplicationApplicationChristmas MessageChristmas Message

Hope for ruined humanityHope for ruined humanity Hope for peace with GodHope for peace with God Hope of gloryHope of glory ““Most wonderful message Most wonderful message

world has or will ever hear”world has or will ever hear”

Our Attitude: Philippians 2:1 -3Our Attitude: Philippians 2:1 -3

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Philippians 2:1-3Philippians 2:1-3

““Therefore, if there is any encouragement Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ (and there is), if there is any in Christ (and there is), if there is any consolation of love (and there is), if there consolation of love (and there is), if there is any fellowship of the Spirit (and there is any fellowship of the Spirit (and there is), if any affection and compassion (and is), if any affection and compassion (and there are), make my joy complete by there are), make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important regard one another as more important than yourselves.”than yourselves.”