What you gonna call the baby? #1 (06.12.09 - morning)

Immanuel

Intro.

One of the things couples do when they find out that there will be a baby born into the family is to start to think of a name.

With Jesus - Mary & Joseph had that choice made for them - Gabriel.

But - if we look at Matt, Luke & John we find that there are other names given to Jesus - titles, words that describe who He is, what He has come to achieve. Over the next few meetings leading up to Christmas, we will be looking at What are you gonna call the baby?

Does it matter that Jesus is God? Why is it so important?

What about Muslims? J.W's?

Think of 1 reason why it is so important to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Implications if He isn't?

1. Proof of His deity

1.1 I Am!

Jn 8:58-59 ⁵⁸Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” ⁵⁹So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. ^ESV

Why did they pick up stones?

See also Jn 10:30-33 ³⁰I and the Father are one.” ³¹The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. ³²Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” ³³The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” ^ESV - Jews understood implication of what He was saying!

Walking on water - “I Am!”

1.2 Received worship

• Wise men - Matt 2:2
• Matt 14:33 - Disciples in boat
• Man blind from birth - John 9:38
• Disciples - Matt 28:17 - Jews!

1.3 Miracles

Jesus did many miracles - but so did the apostles afterwards and so can His church in His Name.

But - something special about the miracles Jesus did - John 2:11 - manifested His glory! Bigger than if a person prays for the sick. Miracles to point to Jesus

1.4 Forgive sins

Mark 2:5-7 - Who can forgive sins but God alone?

2. Blessings of His deity

So much for the theology - what difference can it make to us today?

2.1 Infinite price

Why does a person have to suffer in hell for eternity as the penalty for their sins? = sin against a holy God.

• Job 4:17 Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker? ^ESV
• Job 9:2 Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God? ^ESV
• Job 25:4 How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure? ^ESV

What then could pay the price for not just their sins but for a whole world of sinners?

Mark 10:45; 1Pet 1:18-19

The price has been paid!

More than enough!

Infinite price!

2.2 Infinite grace

Do you ever feel as tho' you are scraping the bottom of the barrel of God's mercy? Is there enough for you?

Is there enough in God to get you from where you are now to Heaven?

Is there enough grace to see this church move on in God?

To keep on blessing us again & again?

Jn 1:14, 16 ¹⁴And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁶And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ^ESV

So Jesus is full of grace & truth. How full is that? What size container are we talking about here?

If Jesus was a man - then there wouldn't be much!

Perfect angel?

God! What size container is full of grace? Infinite!

from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. From His fullness! So, out of His infinite fullness - grace upon grace, ¹⁶For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favour upon favour and gift [heaped] upon gift. ^AMP

The idea is of grace, blessing being heaped up again & again - as soon as we receive some grace, there's more!

Blessings, grace, undeserved favour that will never run out or cease!

2.3 Omnipresence

God is with us! Because He is God, we can know the fact that God is with us all the time, everywhere we go.

Ps 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ²Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, ^ESV

Therefore! Because of this! The Psalmist made the doctrine personal & practical!

That's what we need to do -

• Realise that God is with you!
• He is full of grace & truth - all the blessings and gifts you need to live for Him are ready to be poured out on you.
• Therefore - you can face life, trouble & suffering - because God is with you!

For further reading: John Owen, Communion With God