+DEV+ By Grace: A Savior Among Us [4 of 27]

Date: March 12, 2013 10:54 PM
Topic: +DEV+  By Grace: A Savior Among Us [4 of 27]

By Grace: A Savior Among Us [4 of 27]

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 7:13-16; Matthew 1:20-25

Here, we are given specifics about One who will be born a Savior. A sign will be given to the house of David: a virgin will bear a Son. Some skeptics have argued that the Hebrew word for "virgin" can also mean "young woman." They would attempt to eliminate the miraculous. But in ancient Hebrew society, the word meant a young unmarried woman. For such a one to give birth would have caused the utmost scandal. Others have contended that the ancient Hebrews didn't know where babies came from. That, of course, is ridiculous!

We're also told here that this Son would not be any ordinary child. He will be called "Immanuel," a Hebrew word which means "God with us." The child, in other words, will be the incarnate God - Creator of heaven and earth. He will come to earth, live the life we should have lived and die the death we should have died, bringing gracious salvation to His people. No human could have planned it! No human could have even foreseen it! God in human flesh? Absurd! No way! But true.

Insight: God's grace to us is miraculous. That is, it cannot be explained with human reason. Like Jesus' birth, our new birth is miraculous, too.




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