In 1835, Joseph Smith, the Mormon founder, claimed he learned in vision and by the Spirit that the coming of the Lord was nigh, 56 years should wind up the scene. History of the Church, vol. 2, p. 182 (Feb 14, 1835)

William Miller, founder of the SDA religion, predicted that Christ would return before 21 March 1844.

The Jehovah’s Witness organization also predicted that the end of the world would come in 1914, 1915, 1918, 1925 and 1942.

The world is full of false prophets. Note what God said about false prophets. (Deuteronomy 18:22) When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. In the same chapter God said, (Deuteronomy 18:20) But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

On the other hand, prophecies in the Bible are all true. Bible prophecies serve more than one purpose. One of their primary purposes is to give us information about the future that can often help us prepare. But another important benefit is that when they are fulfilled, it helps to build our faith in God. (Romans 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Transition

This evening we are going to examine seven faith-building prophecies about the birth of Christ that were fulfilled at the time of his birth and young childhood.

He would be born of a woman (Gen 3:15 — Gal 4:4)

  1. This prediction was in the Garden of Eden
    1. [Gen 3:15] God told Satan who indwelt the serpent that He would put enmity (or hostility, conflicts) between his seed and Eve’s seed.
    2. This was the first prediction that one born of a woman would conquer Satan. This prediction was 4,000 years before Christ’s birth.
  2. Christ was born of a woman
    1. [Gal 4:4] Paul clearly states this.
    2. Jesus truly had a human mother. The angel told Mary these words. (Luke 1:35) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
    3. John tells us that Christ became flesh. (John 1:14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

He would be born of a virgin (Isa 7:14 — Mat 1:22-23)

  1. Isaiah predicted this 700 years before Christ
    1. [Isa 7:14] A virgin would bear a son.
    2. The word “virgin” in the Hebrew refers to a virgin, young woman of marriageable age.
  2. Christ was born of a virgin
    1. [Mat 1:22-23] Jesus was born of a virgin as the prophet said.
    2. God makes it very clear in Luke’s Gospel that Mary was not only a young woman of marriageable age, but also a sexually pure virgin. (Luke 1:34) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
    3. An angel also made this clear to Joseph. (Matthew 1:20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

He would be born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2 — Mat 2:1, 5)

  1. God told Micah where Christ would be born
    1. [Mic 5:2] He identified both Bethlehem as the birth place and several details about the babe.
    2. Bethlehem was a small unlikely location for Christ to be born.
    3. The babe to be born would have his origin from the days of eternity – He would be God.
  2. Jesus was born in Bethlehem as predicted
    1. [Mat 2:1, 5-6] Jesus was born in Bethlehem as the prophet Micah had said.
    2. Though Joseph and Mary were from Nazareth in the north, God arranged the taxation to require them to go to Bethlehem just as Christ was to be born. (Luke 2:3) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
    3. God’s word never fails!

He would be born of Abraham’s seed (Ge 12:3 — Mat 1:1)

  1. God promised to bless Abraham’s seed
    1. [Gen 12:3] Abraham lived 1800 years before Christ.
    2. God promised that through Abraham’s seed all the families of the earth would be blessed.
  2. Jesus was born of Abraham’s seed
    1. [Mat 1:1] Matthew shows that Christ was related to Abraham.
    2. While Matthew traced Christ’s lineage through Joseph, his legal father (see Mattthew 1:1–17), Luke traced it through Mary, beginning with Mary’s father, Heli [Lu 2:23-38]. (Men in ancient times often regarded their sons-in-law as their own sons). CARM

He would be called Immanuel (Isa 7:14 — Mat 1:22-23)

  1. Isaiah said the babe would be Immanuel
    1. [Isa 7:14] He said that the child’s name would be Immanuel.
    2. The Hebrew word means God, the one true God, mighty one, etc.
  2. An angel told Joseph Jesus would be Emmanuel
    1. [Mat 1:22-23] Emmanuel is another spelling of the same name.
    2. The Greek name means God with us. Jesus was not just a man like the cults claim. He was truly God in human flesh. (1 Timothy 3:16) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Children in Bethlehem would die (Jer 31:15 — Mat 2:16-18)

  1. Jeremiah mentions the crying in Bethlehem
    1. [Jer 31:5] Jeremiah wrote these words about 600 years before Christ.
    2. His words may have referred to crying over the heartache of going into captivity.
  2. Matthew points the weeping back to Jeremiah
    1. [Mat 2:14-15] The Holy Spirit directed Matthew in his Gospel to apply Jeremiah’s words to Herod’s killing of the babies in Bethlehem. Thus, Jeremiah’s prophecy had a double meaning as was often the case.
    2. Once again, God protected the Christ child.

He would be called out of Egypt (Hos 11:1 — Mat 2:14-15)

  1. Hosea makes the prediction about Egypt
    1. [Hos 11:1] Hosea spoke of God’s love for His people at least 700 years before the time of Christ.
    2. God loved them while they were yet few in Egypt.
  2. The prediction was fulfilled in Matthew
    1. [Mat 2:14-15] The words of Hosea are here applied to Jesus coming out of Egypt with his parents.
    2. The words of Hosea had a double meaning that God revealed to us in Matthew’s writing.

Conclusion

Do you see the pattern of God’s prophecies. These prophecies were 4000 years, 1800 years, 700 years, and 600 years before the birth of Christ, yet each of them came true. We can fully trust the Bible. It is true from beginning to end. Many prophecies like the ones we studied this evening have already been fulfilled. Those that are yet future will come to pass just as God said.

Jesus will come back to take Christians to heaven!

Christians will answer to God at the Judgment Seat!

Unbelievers will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire!

Believers will live forever with God in heaven!

Let the truth of God’s promises build your faith this Christmas season.

Song: Trusting Jesus – 262 (v.4)
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Prophecies of Christ’s Birth
20 December 2015 PM – Gen 3:15 – Christmas – Scott Childs