Sermon Direct Link
12/7/25
Rev. Clint Smith
Since before the creation of the world, and especially after the fall of humanity, God had planned to send a Savior. The statement “the birth of Jesus is the gateway to eternal life” highlights our central Christian conviction. Throughout history, mankind awaited the promised Messiah, and Jesus’ birth marked the visible beginning of God’s saving work. Through His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection, salvation and eternal life became possible for all who would believe. Jesus came into the world as “God with us” (Emmanuel), and opened the path to forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. In this sense, His birth signified the arrival of the One who is Himself the “door” and the “way” to eternal life.
Across the Scriptures, God made His plan known through prophets, angels, scribes, visions, and many other ways. To reach Joseph, God drew him in by revealing part of that plan personally and directly. 1 Corinthians 15: 1-5, 20-28
Joseph was a just and righteous man, but he was still only human. He was engaged to Mary. Before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, Mary became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph did not want to expose her to public shame, so he resolved to end the engagement quietly. He truly faced a painful and perplexing dilemma. Deuteronomy 22:23-27
As Joseph quietly formed his plan to end the engagement, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and revealed God’s purpose. The angel addressed him by his royal heritage: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, ‘the Lord is salvation,’ for He will save His people from their sins.” This Jesus is the gateway to eternal life. Luke 19:10; John 14:6
All this took place to fulfill God’s prophetic word: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Immanuel,” meaning “God with us.” When Joseph woke from his dream, he obeyed the angel’s command and took Mary as his wife, but he kept her a virgin until she gave birth to her Son. And he named Him Jesus. God’s righteous plan was accomplished just as He said. Isaiah 7:14