Notes from the Sermon

The sermon is titled, "God Miraculously Steps into Our Mess." It is based on Matthew 1:18-25, which tells of the birth of Jesus. 

Life is messy. We all have messes in our lives. We are all hurting. God stepped into our mess to help. 

The Virgin Birth is a sign that Jesus -one of many sons of David - is THE Son of David. Jesus is unique. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. 

Joseph showed mercy to Mary and Jesus showed mercy to the adulterous woman. It was a new dynamic based on the fact that Jesus now pays the price for our sins. He is condemned in our place. He does not negate the Law; He pays the debts we concur. 

Today we say that these things (premarital sex) are not really sins. The Law is old and outdated. This change is not at all doing that. 

Isaiah 54:4 - We will not be humiliated. We will forget the shame of our youth. 

The moral standard has not been altered; but, Jesus bore our iniquities and that leaves room for endless compassion and mercy. 

Jesus brings the rule of God into the world through the forgiveness of sins. The rule of sin is broken. 

Many Old Testament prophecies have a double fulfillment. This is true of Isaiah's prophecies later applied to Jesus.

Jesus was fully God and fully human so that he could be the mediator and pay our debts in full. It's not merely that our sins are removed. Christ's righteousness is credited to us.