On this edition of Classic Christianity Radio, Bob George delivers a detailed teaching on the birth of Jesus Christ, the meaning of the cross, and the true foundation of salvation. Bob explains how the cross itself was not salvation, but rather the necessary preparation for salvation by permanently removing sin so eternal life could be given through Christ.
Teaching through the Christmas story in Luke and Matthew, Bob examines the roles of the shepherds, Simeon, Anna, King Herod, and the wise men while correcting several common misconceptions surrounding the nativity account — including the timeline of the wise men’s arrival
Welcome to Classic Christianity Radio with Bob George. Bob’s clear, timeless teachings on the complete forgiveness and unconditional love of Jesus Christ will transform your life as you learn about God’s amazing grace. Let’s join Bob as he teaches us from God’s Word.
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We’ve talked about how in the Old Testament that that was God’s way for well over 4,000 years of showing man nothing but his failure to try to live a life that he did not have. You have two types of people in the world, those who are trying to live a life that you don’t have and those who have a life that they do not live. And this, in the Old Testament, is dealing with people trying to live a life, but they do not have it as yet. And that is why the day of Pentecost was such a pivotal day in the history of Christianity. Because Pentecost is the day when the Holy Spirit of God came to permanently indwell believers. Prior to that time, the Holy Spirit would come upon people for divine service and then depart. But in order for God to give us permanently believers, A permanent eternal life. Before that could have ever have occurred. He had to permanently deal with the cause. Of spiritual death. Which is sin. And that is precisely why the cross. is what paved the way for salvation. The cross in and of itself is not salvation. The cross was what prepared us for salvation. That’s where you got your sins taken away from the eyes of God, never to see them again eternally, back to Adam and forward to eternity. Your sins have been taken away from the eyes of God, never to see them again. Therefore, able to give us eternal life, a life that could not be destroyed by sin. That’s the divine logic of the gospel. That before life could be given eternally, he had to eternally deal with the cause of death. And that is sin. And that’s the meaning of the cross. In order to do that, Jesus had to come in human form because the blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin. The blood of bulls and goats, called atonement, could sacrifice for sins. They could cover sins temporarily, but never ever could they take it away. Jesus was identified by John the Baptist as behold who? The Lamb of God who does what? Takes away the sins of the entire world. And so the story had to begin with Jesus becoming a man. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And what did the Word God do? Became flesh and dwelt among us as the only begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and of truth. So the story began in Bethlehem, a small little community, and it began in a manger. where the shepherds were out in their fields, and we studied that last week, and they were watching over their flocks. These were common men. These were shepherds. These were people that spent their lives out in the fields with their sheep. They were not men of noble heritage. They were not men of noble education. They were just the common man, basically poor men. And so who did God, how did God arrange for Jesus to be born? Not in the Jerusalem Hilton, but in a manger. And who was the first people that he revealed that to? Shepherds, just common, ordinary people. And he appeared to them in the form of an angel. There was no star. We get it all confused at Christmas. There was no star. There was an angel, and an angel appeared to him and said, don’t be afraid. That always tickles me to death. Can you imagine an angel showing up and saying, don’t be afraid? But he said, I bring you great news. I bring you good news, great joy for everyone today in the city of David. A Savior has been born unto you, Christ the Lord. And he said, he’ll be a sign. This is a sign today. that what I’m saying to you is true. You’re going to find this babe in a manger, lying in a manger and wrapped in strips of cloth. And then we remember suddenly a host of angels appeared and they began saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people with whom he is pleased. Now the angels returned to heaven and the shepherds said, let’s go to Bethlehem. So they knew that this Messiah was in Bethlehem. Bethlehem was not a large city. I don’t think it would have been difficult at all to have found the manger. And so they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus lying in the manger. And when they had seen this, they reported to everyone that they had been told about this child. These people, shepherds, were not there to offer monetary gifts. They probably didn’t have any. So when the poor heard… They went and told. When the wise men heard, they gave. We’re going to deal with that in a minute. Now, it said Mary treasured these things in her heart, reflecting, what in the world does this mean? What’s the meaning of all this? Said the shepherds went back, giving glory and praise to God for all they had heard and seen, which was exactly as they had been told. They were told by the angels, and they went into Bethlehem and saw exactly… what had been communicated to them. Now, we remember that during this day of purification of Mary, that was a 40-day, 41-day time that they went in, was circumcised. Maybe Jesus was circumcised according to the customs of the land. And then they went into Jerusalem. And we’re going to pick up with the story of Simeon, who was a devout man waiting for the comforting of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it said the Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. And that’s where we left off last week. Folks, that’s a desire of all people, isn’t it? If you know somebody that’s lost, your desire for them has to be that you’ll see the Messiah before you die. Because you’re never going to go into the presence of God apart from putting your faith in the promised Messiah. That ought to be our prayer for any person that we know that does not know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. That I pray that you will see the meaning of the Word of God before you die. You see, death is a constant with us. No one’s going to escape it. We’re all going to die. But not all of us are going to come to the Messiah. That’s the variable. And so the Spirit of God prompted him to go into the temple. And when the parents brought the child of baby Jesus, Simeon took him in his arms and he praised God and he said this, Now, O Lord, allow your servant to depart in peace. In other words, I can now go in peace. How many times I have sat at the side of a person dying and have seen the peace of God that passes all understanding radiate from them. Instead of dying in fear, dying with a smile on their face because they knew full well that they were about to go and see Christ Jesus their Lord personally. He said, I’ve seen your salvation, which you have prepared in full view of everyone, a revealing light to the Gentiles and a glory to your people of Israel. Now Joseph, the mother of Jesus, was astonished at what was said. And then Simeon blessed them, and to Mary he added, This child is destined to cause the fall and the rising again of many in Israel. And to be a sign that will be opposed. Remember Jesus said, I didn’t come to bring peace. I came to bring a sword. Jesus’ message is a message of division. You’re either going to be on this side saved or you’re going to be on this side lost. There’s no in-between. There’s no alleyway with Jesus. There’s not a house over here and a house over here and an alleyway. There’s a fence. And you’re either in this person’s property or you’re in this person’s property. There’s no alleyway when it comes to salvation. And so he was saying to us that he’s going to bring a sword, he said, and a sword will pierce your own soul as well. Mary, you’re going to be hurt deeply, which certainly occurred at the cross. Mary had to know that this babe that she had just delivered was a unique young man from God and had a unique message and a unique message. goal for his life but to understand it fully no now he said there was also Anna a prophetess and a daughter of Phanuel the tribe of Asher and Anna was very old and her husband had died seven years after they had married and she had lived as a widow for 84 years never left the temple but served God by fasting and praying day and night At the same moment, she came up and gave praise to the Lord, speaking about Jesus to everyone in Jerusalem who was looking for deliverance. Now, we go on with the story. After Jesus was born. Now, you say, well, how long after Jesus was born did the wise men show up? Because we’re so used, are we not, to seeing the wise men in the stable? Well, folks, the wise men were never in the stable. The shepherds were in the stable. Who told them to go there? Angels. Who told the wise men to go where they went? A star called the Star of Bethlehem. Now, we know that some information here. We know that when Herod and we’ll get to that in a minute. I’m a little ahead of the story. But when Herod had been tricked by these wise men, we’ll get to that in a moment. He was enraged and he ordered deaths in Bethlehem of all male babies, two years old and younger. So it’s like all of a sudden I’ve been tricked and saying, well, when did these wise men, when do they hear about this? Well, somewhere in two years or less. We don’t know how soon this was. It could have been 18 months, 19 months, probably so. between the time that Jesus was born in a manger and the wise men were led by the star to come and visit him. And so after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem where there was one who had been born king of the Jews. Now you see there one who has been born. They ask, we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him. When Herod heard this, he grew anxious. Why? This is the king of the Jews. Someone’s going to take over my job. I’m going to get rid of him. He’s called a king. Some of my people worship. No one’s going to worship anyone except us, the Romans. And so he grew anxious and all of Jerusalem with him. He called together all the chief priests and the teachers of the Jewish law and demanded to know where the Messiah was to be born. Now, folks, you’ll see there that he certainly was in contact with the chief Jewish priests. Herod himself, a Roman, but they had a deal with the Jews in order to keep some sort of semblance of order. So he called them in and the teachers of the law and demanded to know where the Messiah was to be born.
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Classic Christianity Radio thanks you for your support of our online and radio ministry. Make sure to visit bobgeorge.net to order a copy of the Closer Look Bible Study Series. A Closer Look Bible Studies features eight in-depth study guides that detail hundreds of Bible verses to help you deepen your understanding of the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. A Closer Look Bible Study Guides are an excellent tool for both individuals and larger Bible study groups. Well, isn’t it interesting?
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They were there, and so they met with him, and they said, well, in Bethlehem of Judea, they replied, for this is what the prophet wrote, you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, and that’s where Jerusalem and Bethlehem are located in Judah, are certainly not the least of the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people, Israel.” Then Herod sent secretly for the wise men. Always when there’s some kind of a plot going on, you do it secretly. So secretly sent for the wise men and asked them the exact time when the star had appeared. He then sent them on to Bethlehem. Now, he was asking for the exact time. And again, as we’ll read in a moment, where he ordered all the babies, two years and younger… The exact time had to be somewhere in that vicinity. This is two years possibly later than when Jesus, after Jesus was born. So he said, I want you to go and search carefully for this young child. And when you found him, why, you bring him back to me, and then I too can come and worship him. It’s a strange idea of what it is to worship someone is to cut their head off. But that’s what he had in mind. He didn’t have in mind at all of worshiping this baby. He was fearful of this baby, totally fearful that this baby was exactly who the prophets had said he was, the Messiah. And so his idea was, if I can eliminate him, that’ll be all over. Do you suppose, guys, that Satan had any desire at all to eliminate Jesus before he was born and even after he was born? Absolutely. He knew what was going on, but he couldn’t do it. So he said, you go locate him and then come back and tell me where he is, and I’ll come and worship him as well. Now, after hearing the king’s instruction, why the wise men left? Now, guys, again, wise men. You’re dealing with people, chief priests, you’re teachers of the law. It would be like calling in today all of the pastors of the megachurches and all the people who are the authorities in regard to the denominational persuasion that they’re involved in and getting some information. But the issue is, who does God go to? When you see the wise men, the wise men were wealthy. I want us to turn to Matthew for just a moment. In your Bible, verse chapter 19. I want us to put this physical wealth into perspective because it is so misunderstood in Christendom. Beginning in verse 21, here’s a case of a young man who had come to Jesus, and he said, what do I need to do to have eternal life? And he said, well, obey the commandments. He said, oh, I obey all of them. Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal. I do all those. He said, well, all these you’ve kept. The young man said, what do I still lack? And he said, well, if you want to be perfect, go sell all your possessions and give to the poor, and you’ll have a treasure in heaven. And he said, uh-oh, and then come and follow me. When the young man heard this, he went away, sad, because he was of great wealth. Now, guys, there again, he was of great wealth. And when you are of great wealth, many times that becomes your source of security. That becomes your source of dependency, is what do you have in a bank account? How much property do I have? That becomes how well… How holy I am. Don’t you see me as a Christian? How successful I am? God is blessing me. Really? What about Donald Trump? Who’s blessing him? What about Bill Gates? Who’s blessing him? You see, we get down to the point where we say, hold on a minute. If you’re saying God’s blessing and God evidently is blessing the lost the same as he is the saved, I say if you’re successful in business, it’s because you’ve worked hard and hopefully you followed some principles, godly principles that have enabled you to get successful. Don’t equate being successful in business with being holy. In Matthew or in Timothy, it says that anyone who teaches that godliness is a means to financial gain is a man of perverted mind. Prosperity gospel. Godliness is a means to financial gain. That’s perversion. Has nothing at all to do with Christianity. Nothing. And so don’t equate that. Don’t become a Christian to get rich. Paul said at the end of his life, bring my parchment and my cloak. I’m cold. Didn’t even have a coat. And we come around and strut around and say, oh, when you’re godly, you’ll get rich. The Bible says if you teach that, you’re a pervert. And so here’s what Jesus said. I tell you the truth, it’s hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, of heaven. Again, I tell you, it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Now, folks, in the temple, there was an aisleway. It’s called the eye of a needle. If a camel was trying to get through that and it was loaded up with all of its supplies, it couldn’t get through. You had to leave the supplies outside and then crawl through. And that’s why I said it’d be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to inherit the kingdom of God. Why? He’s burdened. His dependency is in the wrong place. I’ve had a lot of years in ministry since 1969. I’ve seen it all. I’ve been with very rich people and I’ve been with very poor people. And I’ve just been with people like you. Guess which one I like the most? I have seen people who were very wealthy. They gave to the work of the Lord very generously and said, don’t tell anybody. I also have seen people with a lot of wealth who use their wealth to control ministries. That’s what happens in many churches. Who’s the board of deacons? The richest people in the church. What do they use that money to do? Control the pastor. The pastor ought to be running the church, not deacons. Deacons are supposed to be serving the pastor. But the deacons end up running the pastor. Why? They got money. Do anything you want to with it. I’ve seen people, when I was a number of years ago working in one of the largest churches, He wasn’t good enough to introduce me as Bob George. I wanted to be called Dr. George. And so this person wanted me to be a doctor. And so he volunteered to pay my full scholarship to Dallas Theological Seminary, full expenses for Amy and I, so that I could be a doctor. A little big, hairy deal. You see, my friends, what does he want to do with his money? Use it to control so that he could introduce me as Dr. George, instead of just Bob. It’s one of the reasons I love Chuck Swindoll. Don’t know him personally, but I love him. He doesn’t allow himself to be called a doctor, and he is one. It’s not important to him. It’s important to him to just be called Chuck. But there are people who want to use their money to control. And those are the kind of people that it’s saying it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, well, who then could be saved? If a rich person can’t be saved, who can be saved? He said, with man, it’s impossible. With God, all things are possible. Peter answered him, we’ve left everything to follow you. What then will be for us? Jesus said, I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are the first will be last and many who are the last will be first. Folks, there’s nothing wrong with money. But God didn’t give you money to control things. He gave you money, if you have it, to share and to help perpetuate the gospel. That’s why you have it, is to help the gospel get out. Why? You can have all the United Nations meetings in the world. You can have all the peace movements in the world. But my friends, you know this as well as I do, that you’re never going to have peace in the world until you’ve got peace in your heart. And there’s only one person that can bring peace to the heart of man, and his name is Jesus. So, he went to the poor first, and then called the rich wise men, who probably came somewhere around two years later. Now, After hearing the king’s instruction, the wise men left. And the star that they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. And seeing the star, the wise men were overcome with joy over the star. And so they entered the house. Now you see the house now. Before he was born in a manger. Now they’re living in a house. And they entered the house and saw a young child. It’s not just a baby, but a young child now. That’s why I say he’s got some months on him. They saw his mother, and they bowed down and worshipped him. They opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh, which they came to give. Just what God had given to us, they in return were giving back to him. And then God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. And so they took, they returned to their country by another route. They were not going to go back to Herod and tell him where the baby was. So they just left and left him wondering. Now, after the wise men departed, so this was sometime now, two years after the birth of Christ, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, get up and take the child and go into Egypt. Stay there until I bring you word because Herod will hunt for the boy to kill him. So Joseph got up and he took the baby and his mother and left that night for Egypt. And there they stayed until Herod died. And this fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet that out of Egypt I have called my son. Now Herod had realized that he had been tricked by these wise men. He was enraged. He was kind of a nutcase anyway. But he was enraged. And he ordered the deaths in Bethlehem of all male babies, two years old and younger, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. So you get an idea of the chronology. Now this is what fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah. That a voice is heard in Rabbah, wailing and bitter mourning. Rachel weeping for her children. She refused to be comforted because they were no more. Can you imagine as a mother having a baby two years and younger and having the brutality of the government to come in and to jerk that baby out of your arms and to kill it in front of you? Can you imagine the heartache that that would be? After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph. He said, get up and take the young child and his mother and go to the land of Israel. Those who wanted to kill the child are dead. It seems like he came to Joseph and said, take the boy into Egypt. He got up and took the boy to Egypt. He said, now go back. So he gets up and goes back. Isn’t that a wonderful way to live?
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Until next time, walk in faith, be good to one another, and praise the Lord. Amen.
