The Real Story Begins

Matthew 1:18-23 - Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 

Life begins...in the natural and in the Spirit. It happened to Jesus and it can happen to us too.

Jesus was conceived first by the Holy Spirit. He was born as a natural baby. His name is significant because of its meaning, that He will save people from their sins. We are born naturally to start out but later if we are receptive to God we are born by the same Spirit of God and through Jesus and His Holy Spirit saved from our sins.

This saving is not just an act of knowing and believing in Him. We must have a new Holy Spirit birth. When we receive this new birth, our second birth, we know the goodness of it, the peace that comes with it. Something changes in us. Yet, sometimes that new birth causes others to be wary of us, like Mary's husband Joseph was at first...until or unless they understand it is of God.

When this new birth happens we are then able to say that "God is with us" also. Praise His holy name this Christmas season for all He has done for us...in birth, in life and in death. We celebrate His birth now...