“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” — Romans 1:16
Welcome to The Peoples Gospel Hour!
The Bible reveals two ways which people are following to get into heaven. One way, the true way, is God’s way. God’s way into heaven is the way of peace and truth and righteousness. It is the only way approved of God. This way centers in the Lord Jesus Christ who said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). The Bible declares that there is another way. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12).
There are so many popular ways today filled with lost multitudes all over the land, such as the way of morality, the way of respectability, the way of religion, the way of churchianity, the way of baptism, the way of christening, the way of confirmation, the way of penance, the way of confession, the way of “doing the best I can”, the way of self, the way of education, the way of philosophy, the way of false isms and cults that crowd the street. Little wonder then when we speak to people about the way of salvation, that so many have asked, “How can I know which is the true way? There are so many different ideas and so many religions.”
But there is ONE difference between God’s way of salvation and man’s way, and that difference is found in a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. You will notice that man leaves Christ out of the center of his way. You will discover that the modern false cults and isms demote Christ to a mere man and add something to what He has already done for your salvation and mine. We become children of God through a supernatural birth. Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Jesus also said, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:7)
“May the Lord bless you, and make you a blessing!” – The PGH Staff.
TPGH Headquarters in Halifax, NS
What’s New:
Notes And Quotes For Today
The Manner In Which Christ’s Birth Was Unique: – II
1.The prediction of Jesus’ Advent was unique:
The birth of Christ was the only birth foretold at least 4,000 years prior to its occurrence – Genesis 3:15. There were other births predicted in advance, John the Papist’s birth was predicted 400 ye ears in advance- Malachi, 3:1; Samuel’s birth was prophesied nine month before his occurrence; Esau and Jacob’s births were foretold several weeks before they took place. But no other birth was declared 4,000 years or more before the actual event.
- In Genesis 3:15, the Particular Seed was predicted – the seed of the woman
- In Isaiah 7:14, the Particular Sign was given – the Virgin,
- In Micah 5:2, the particular Site was proclaimed – Bethlehem.
2.The parentage In Jesus appearance Was Unique:
Every human birth (outside of the creation of Adam) has required the seed of a human male to be implanted within the womb of a woman; but this was not true of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ birth was unlike any other human birth that has occurred. Our Lord did not have a human father. In His human nature, Christ was conceived “ of the Holy Ghost” – Matthew 1:18 and born of a virgin: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 Joseph acted in the capacity of a human parent, he but did not supply the conception seed – “ And Jesus Himself began to be about 30 years of age, being as was supposed , the son of Joseph.” Luke 3:23. Yes, no birth like Jesus’s birth took place before the incarnation and none has taken place since that historic event.
3.The Place of Jesus’s arrival, and the place of His announcement were unique:
The place of His arrival was unique; Jesus’s birth apparently took place in an open field, on a quiet hillside in the obscure town of Bethlehem. For ,” there was no room for them in the inn.” Like 2:7 Now, there are two Greek words for “Inn.” The first refers to a hostel, a place with a host and provisions, which we might call today a “bed and breakfast” lodging facility. The second word for Inn, the word used in Luke 2:7, was merely an enclosure with wall into which travelers might drive their cattle for the night.
This type “inn” had no host, no room, no food and entertainment. Even the cattle stalls were filled that night. Our Saviour was apparently born in an open field, outside a cattle stall, with only a blanket on the bare ground. The Scripture declares that Mary, “ laid Him in a Manger…” Luke 2:7 This manger was not nicely varnished wooden piece of furniture, with a soft mattress and woolen blanket as often portrayed, but apparently just a feeding and watering trough for animals. This act of condescension whereby Christ moved from a throne in heaven where legions of angles worshipped him, to the feeding trough of an animal is call in theological terms the “self-kenosis” (the emptying) or the “Humiliation of Christ.”
Speaking of this act , Scripture states in Philippians 2:7, that He, “ made himself of no reputation.” While from Heaven’s standpoint Christ was of a royal vintage, with heaven’s aristocracy in His blood, yet he bypassed both the hostel and even the horse’s stable in His birth arriving via the lowest means possible. The Place of His announcement was also unique: In an open field on a quiet hillside, on the grazing pastures of the little obscure town of Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-8), just a little small hamlet about 5 miles outside Jerusalem. It is interesting to note the places God bypassed in making this historic e announcement. It was not the palace of the Roman Emperor in Rome; not the place of the provincial governor in Jerusalem; not the gate of the city where the magistrates and influential citizens sat; nor even the hostels, inn or stable. The birth announcement was made on a grassy hillside to a few unknown shepherds and at a time when nearly everyone was asleep.
4.The participants in His Annunciation Were Unique:
It was not emperors, kings, princes governors, judges, educators and wealthy men who participated in that Annunciation, but a group of lowly shepherds, and Angles. “But why shepherds?” one may wonder. Because these shepherds were raising lambs, a large portion of which would be offered as sacrifices to God. These shepherds knew that every sacrificial lamb was a type of the coming Messiah, the true Lamb of God who would be sacrificed for the sins of the world. We see commendable features about these shepherds, which all genuine believers need to emulate.
i).The implicit and immediate faith of these shepherds can not be underestimated. They did not say, “ Let us see if this thing is come to pass”, but “ which is come to pass.” The news of the Savior’s birth stirred them to immediate action for they “ came with haste,” Luke 2:16.
ii).These shepherds also possessed correct priorities, believing that spiritual worship was more important than secular work; for they trusted God to keep their flocks which they went seeking the Christ child. What a contrast to many Christians today as well as a model example for saints. To many professing Christians, regular church attendance today seems an option rather than an obligation, an after thought rather than forethought. Placing spiritual worship above secular work is not the common practice in our modern world.
iii).They also became the worlds’ first missionaries after the birth of Christ, since they “ made known abroad the saying” as soon as they knew first hand about the birth of Christ, they excitedly gave out the good news. The first and immediate concern of saints today should be to spread the good tidings of the Gospel. We read in Romans 10:15, “ How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.” the birth of Christ was surely “ good tiding” to these shepherds and they hastened quickly to share the good new with others. Yes, Angles were the second unique participants in that annunciation. While the Scriptures record the birth of man other important parsonages (Enoch, Elijah, John the Baptist, etc.), the birth of Christ was unique because it was the only birth mentioned that was accompanied by an angelic welcome.
5.The Provision of Jesus’s Attire Was Unique:
There may have been other infants born in Bethlehem that night, a possible fact we do not know. As the shepherds searched and sought, how could they identify the right child? When you are searching for a Savior, there must be no mistake! Throughout the centuries, millions have sought for a Savior and accepted the devil’s counterfeit. There was however an unmistakable sign that night. The Scripture twice records that the infant Jesus was “ wrapped in swaddling clothes,” (Luke 27, and 2:12). Why “swaddling clothes?” Swaddling clothes are long narrow strips of cloth often used in the burying of the dead, a unique sign since a mother never wrapped a new born baby in the clothes of the dead. God wanted the world to know, however, that Christ was born to die!
Similar words are used at Christ’s death. Luke 2;7 records the words, “wrapped” and “laid” in speaking Christ’s birth. These same words are mentioned again at the death of Christ in Luke 23:52-53, where speaking of Joseph of Arimathea it states that “ this man went unto pilot and begged the body of Jesus and took it down and wrapped it in linen and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in Stone.” Yes, our Savior was clothed in His birth, much like He would later be wrapped in His death!
Conclusion: In a great invitational song, the hymn writer wrote:
“Do you know Jesus my Lord, my Savior, Jesus the Son of God?
Have you ever seen Him or heard of His favor, Jesus the Son of God?
O sweet wonder! O sweet wonder! Jesus, the Son of God.
How I adore him, oh, how I love Him, Jesus the Son of God…..”
Do you know the Son of God as your Savior? If not, accept Him now!!
“ But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name.” John 1:12
From The Peoples Gospel Hour Staff