Good Tidings Of Great Joy

Luke 2:1 - 20 GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY

Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

I. THE PROMISE OF THE SAVIOUR.

{A Saviour} "The word properly denotes such a Saviour as perfectly frees us from all evil and danger, and is the author of perpetual salvation." (Adam Clarke Commentary)

(a). The Old Testament Recounts The Promise.

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a CHILD IS BORN, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

(b). The New Testament Records The Promise.

1. The Angels Announced His Birth.

Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. Luke 2: 9-11 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

2. The Shepherds Acknowledged His Birth.

Luke 2:16-17, And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

3. Herod Abhorred His Birth.

Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

II. THE PROVIDENCE OF THE SAVIOUR.

Note :- (a). His Personality.

Luke 1:32 HE SHALL BE GREAT, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

(b). His Piety.

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

(c). His Power

Rom 1:4 And DECLARED TO BE THE SON OF GOD with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

John 2:19 JESUS answered and said unto them, DESTROY THIS TEMPLE, and in three days I will raise it up.

Acts 13:33 “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; ....”

Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. III. THE PROCLAMATION OF THE SAVIOUR. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. A. The Solace Of The Message "good tidings" The gospel of the grace of God is not good advice. It is good news, The good tidings of grace declare that all the law and prophets are fulfilled in Christ. B. The Supremecy Of The Message “good tidings of great joy.” · Not carnal joy, but spiritual joy · Not pretend joy, but real joy · Not temporary joy, but lasting joy · Not small joy, but great joy, even joy unspeakable, and full of glory C. The Sufficiency Of The Message “to all people.” it does bring this great joy to… · All Nations. · All Classes. · All Sinners. D. The Sovereignty Of The Message 11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 1. The “you” unto whom Christ was born, whom he came to save, is God’s elect, his people, the seed of Abraham. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.