HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS

Matthew 1:1-25
Key Verse 1:21

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Last week we studied Malachi 4, the last book of the Old Testament. Lord called his people to repent because the day of his coming was drawing near. 

Today we begin the study of Matthew's gospel, the first book of the New Testament. The gospel means "good news." This "good news" refers to the good news that God came to us to save us from our sins. To do this he sent the Christ, who is Jesus Christ. Today's passage tells us how the Christ came into the world. From seeing how the Christ came into the world, we see this simple message: God wants to save all people from their sins and be with them. To do this he worked hard and faithfully throughout history to send his Son Jesus Christ. May God help us to learn of Jesus Christ who came from God to save us from our sins. May God help us to see his plan of salvation in and through Jesus, and to discover what that means for us today.

I. The Genealogy of Jesus Christ (1-17)

Look at verse 1. "A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham." 

The genealogy of Jesus tells the origin of the Christ. The title Christ literally means, the Anointed One, which refers to God's chosen servant to be the Savior of the world. In the past, kings and priests were anointed with oil, as the sign taking up their respective duties. But God was going to anoint his servant to be the Savior of the world. He was the hope of God's people. The genealogy of Jesus Christ focuses on two main people: Abraham and David. It was through these two men that God made known the hope of the Christ for all people. 

Let's think first about Abraham, who lived about two thousand years before Jesus Christ. 

(1) Abraham

Who was Abraham? Look at verse 2. "Abraham was the father of Isaac." This short sentence is a very powerful testament to the work of God displayed in Abraham's life, especially concerning the Christ. In what way? 

First we must consider Abraham's condition when God first called him. At that time his name was not yet Abraham, but Abram, which means exalted father. He was 75 years old and his wife was 65 years. But they had a major problem in their family: there were only two of them. You see, Abraham's wife was barren and they had no children. And by this time they were already passed the age of child-bearing without any hope of children. Abraham despaired and looked like a hopeless old man, waiting out his last days in retirement. But at that time God appeared to him and called him. He made a promise to him. Let's look at this promise in Genesis 12:2-3: " 2 'I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.' " These promises gave Abram great hope, especially the promise to be a great nation because it meant having many children. And not only was God promises children, but that through his offspring all nations on earth would be blessed. 

However, it was hard for Abraham to believe God's promise and live by faith. He was too old to have children. Today, old men like David Letterman and Larry King became fathers. But they do so by getting young and fertile wives. It looks like any old man can have a child. But God had promised a child through his barren wife Sarah. Abram even made a mistake by compromising and trying to have a child through his wife's maidservant. But rejected that child and strengthened Abram to believe in his promise. So he gave him the name Abraham which means Father of Many. It really seemed impossible, especially after more than 20 years went by. But Abraham didn't lose faith.  Abraham didn't give up hope, because God kept planting the hope of his promise in Abraham's heart. He believed God's promise and was strengthened in faith. In the most impossible time, when Abraham was 100 years old and his wife was 90 years old, God sent them a son named Isaac. But God did not stop there. He tested Abraham's faith after receiving his long await promise. God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. And Abraham did so, but God spared Isaac's life. God was so pleased with his faith that he confirmed his promise to bless all peoples on earth through Abraham's offspring (Gen 22:18; Gal 3:8). And this was the beginning of the revelation of the Christ. He would come from Abraham to bless all peoples on earth. 

But the problem is that people could not be blessed because of sin. When sin entered the world through Adam, death also came. And since then sin and death have ruled man's life and corrupted his godly image and purpose. Sin separates man from God, his Creator and Father. Yet God saw our cursed condition and made a plan of salvation, and he began working out this plan starting from Abraham. The promise given to him looked ahead to the Christ who would bless all peoples on earth.

Why did God begin with Abraham? God raised a man of faith through Abraham. And through this we learn that salvation begins with faith in God Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, who saves his people. All who have faith are considered Abraham's descendants and share in the promise of being blessed by the Christ, Abraham's offspring.

God continued to plant the seed of hope in Abraham and in his children. By faith, Abraham became the father of Isaac at 100 years old. And God planted this promise in Isaac. Then Isaac had a son named Jacob. And Jacob had a son named Judah. Judah also had a son (2). And God kept planting the seed of hope in each of them as he called them to live by faith and they in turn planted this hope in their children after them. Verse 5 mentions a Gentile woman named Rahab. She was not a Jewess. She was a foreigner and the Bible says that she was a prostitute who ran who her own brothel. Her life was going nowhere, except to hell. In fact, in her days, God’s judgment was coming to her city Jericho as the Israelites were ready to enter and claim the promised land. But to her, it was a chance to escape judgment and be saved. She saw God working in his people and hope arose in her. She made a great action by faith. She surrendered to God and aided his people. She helped and protected the spies from the Israelites. God was so pleased with her faith that he included her as part of his people. He even included her as part of the direct work to bring the Christ, the Savior of the world. But what happened to her townspeople who didn’t turn to God? They were destroyed completely. God was working in the generations of Abraham and his children. He really wanted to bless all peoples on earth and men and women of faith were able to participate positively in his plan of salvation and blessing. Much more can be said about God's work in these generations, but we do not have time to talk about all of the people listed. Let's move on.

In this way, 14 generations passed from Abraham to a man named David. Let's now consider God's promise to David.

(2) David

Who was David? Look at verse 6a. "and Jesse the father of King David." David was a special man in God's history. God said that David was a man after his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). David had been a shepherd. He risked his life time after time to protect his sheep. He cared for them one by one. God saw in his heart God's own heart for his people, and was pleased to make him king over his people Israel. The kingdom under David was unified and God-centered. David took care of God's people like a shepherd over his sheep. God was pleased with David and made a promise to him. Let's look at this promise, which is found in 1 Chronicles 17:11-14: "11 When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever."  God promised David that one of his sons would sit on his throne, he would be called God's Son, and God would establish his kingdom forever. God made a little clearer the hope of the Christ in his promise to David. And from here the genealogy follows the royal line of David's sons, the kings of Judah in the hopes of the coming Christ. Through David God made the promise of the Christ a little clearer. He would be a king, a son of David. He would rule like a shepherd over God's people. David's shepherd kingship was the model of the coming Christ. In fact, when God reviewed the kings throughout history, he used David as the standard and model. 

However, we also find out another important aspect about David in Matthew's genealogical record. Look at verse 6b. "David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife." David had committed adultery with Uriah's wife. The Old Testament records that he not only committed adultery, but had Uriah murdered to try and cover up his sin. David was one of the most exemplary men in history, he even was a man after God's own heart. But even David was caught up in sin and found a slave to his lustful desires. But did God rescind his promise to David? No. The Lord revealed David's sin to him. At that time David repented sincerely before the Lord and the Lord restored him. This was to teach us that all men need to be saved and it is only through the grace of our Lord King Jesus. This grace is made available to those who turn to the Lord in earnest repentance like King David. 

(3) The Exile

Look at verse 11. "and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon." 

Throughout the next 14 generations, the people of Israel had hit their lowest point in history. The people had turned away from God, worshiped idols, and did not want to repent. The leaders, even the kings, the sons of David, were corrupt. And God sent them into exile in Babylon for 70 years. This time of exile made them seriously question the promises of God. They seemed to have lost everything. They lost their city, Jerusalem, and the temple, were God dwelled among them and had put his name. They also lost their kingship. A son of David no longer ruled them, but foreign kings ruled. What happened to God's promise? So, many people choose to live like people unfaithful to the Lord and they became like the pagan and heathen nations of the world. They compromised their faith and identity as God's people. 

But even in their lowest point, God was working faithfully. After 70 years of exile, God brought a remnant back to Jerusalem. And he continued to plant the seed of hope in them through his prophets, such Malachi. The hope of Israel today is still David's son. If you look at the Israel's flag, you'll see a six-pointed star. It refers to David's star, which symbolizes God's promise to David about the Christ. In Jesus' day, the Jews had hoped for an earthly king, the son of David, who would build their nation again and destroy Roman rule. 

After yet another 14 generations, God sent the fulfillment of his promise to Abraham and to David, Jesus Christ, in a dark and most unexpected time and way, to the family of Mary and Joseph. 

God had a plan from the very beginning and was working throughout history for that purpose. Even in the lowest of the lowest failures, and in the darkest darkness, God was working faithfully throughout history. Everything was working according to his plan to send Jesus Christ, who is the promised Savior. God really wanted to save his people form their sins. He was preparing the world to receive the Christ. Verses 16 and 17 say, "16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ." The flow of the Old Testament history, which we covered today, was moving towards one purpose: to send the Christ into the world. Praise God for his faithful work throughout history to save us from our sins.

Let's look closely at how Jesus was sent to the family of Mary and Joseph.

II. How the birth of Jesus Christ came about (18-23)

Verse 16 takes a strange twist and lists Joseph as merely the husband of Mary, of whom was born the Christ. Matthew does not list Joseph as Jesus' father. Only Mary was listed as a human parent. How did this happen? 

Look at verses 18-19. "18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly." This couple were pledged to be married. But Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant. Because he was a righteous man, he put his feelings aside and wanted to protect her. So he decided to divorce her quietly and not expose her to public disgrace. But something happened. 

Look at verses 20-21. "20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' " 

Here we find out clearly who Jesus is and what he came to do as the  Christ. Jesus is God's Son. Jesus was conceived in Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit. Although Jesus is the son of David and the son of Abraham, he is really the Son of God. God confirmed this Joseph, who was ready to divorce his fiancee Mary. This is Jesus' uniqueness as the Christ and shows how he is fundamentally different from all other men. Here we find God's amazing grace in his plan to save us. There has been no man who could save us from our sins. Even David was a slave to sin and needed God's mercy and grace to even stand up on his feet. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). This is the truth that all must accept. We are all sinners and all fall short of the glory of God. Sin is real. And the consequences of sin are also real. What are they? Death. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death. God told Adam in the very beginning in the Garden of Eden, "for when you eat of it you will surely die." But man is not destined just to die once, but to die and face judgment and then die eternally, if condemned. God saw our miserable and pathetic condition. To save us he came as a little baby named Jesus. God did not demand from heaven that we straighten up and go up to him. Jesus took up our humanity to save us from our sins. He is fully God, yet fully human and knows all of our weaknesses and needs. The driving motive throughout all history is God's desire to save us from our sins. And this is fulfilled in Jesus Christ and in nothing else and in no one else. He is the Christ, the chosen one of God to accomplish this. 

Yet how is Jesus regarded today? His name is used as an expletive when people are upset. He is a joke to many. People seek after him to be saved from bodily aches, financial debt, and poverty. But he came to save his people from their sins. Peoples' attitude in regards to sin is largely confused and distorted. 

For example, we think of "major" sins, really bad ones, like murder, adultery. And we think those people should really be punished. And then we think of "minor" sins, like telling lies, or coveting. And the minor ones don't really deserve punishment. And then we begin to compare ourselves with other people and think, "Well, at least I'm not as sinful as that person." Yet we know of sin's reality inside of us, it's not just outward things we do, but we have a "sinful" nature. We know this is true because when we try to obey God's law, we hear a rebellious voice inside that tells us to forget obedience and do what we want. So, many people make the excuse that it is human nature and we can’t help ourselves. Las Vegas invites people to sin because they won't tell anyone: "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Popular thought says that what is sin is not really sin, because there were two consenting adults. One popular evangelist says that he doesn't like use the word "sin" or call people "sinners". He's accused of "moral therapy" where preaches mix happiness and holiness, and only focus on self-improvement to lead a "good" life. Meaning that they don't need to talk about sin, because being good is enough. But sin is not  about etiquette or just feeling good about yourself. Even Christians many times regard sin so lightly. We say, "God is love. He'll forgive me," or, "Jesus forgives." What terrible sin to test God's love like this. It's true that we're not perfect yet, but we can't deliberately engage in sin. If we do, then we need to repent earnestly. 

Once, while fishing students for Bible study at school I met one person who had a really strange response to my invitation. He immediately said, "No. I'm not a sinner." And then he raised his hands to the sky and said, "If I've done so wrong, may God strike me down now." I was scared to death for him. I thought he was going to fall over right there. But when nothing he happened, he looked at me and said, "See. I don't need Bible study." But then I looked him straight in the eyes, and one verse came to mind which I shared with him, Romans 1:18-19: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be know about God is plan to them, for God has made it plain to them." So I said, "See, God's judgment is already striking you, because you are refusing him. And it's going to be much worse later. You should come to Bible study. Jesus saves us from our sins." And then his lip started to quiver and he told me to go away. Who could be so bold as to say such a thing? A sinner. And that is the point. Sin has distorted our views about God in such a major and devastating way. 

But God doesn’t want to strike people down. He wants to save his people. The proof of this, and further that God does not ignore sin, is the fact that he sent his own Son into the world, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins which eternally separate us from God, strip us of the glorious purpose of life for which God made us, grows more and more in hearts and lives making sin so sin-sick, and finally leads to judgment and eternal damnation. 
 
This passage tells us that God sent Jesus to save us. He came from God to do what really needed to be done. Only Jesus can save us. There's no substitute for Jesus to save ourselves from our sins. But this what we find ourselves doing. We look for substitutes to cover our hearts guilt and emptiness. We try to feel good about ourselves with many things, but it never works. We're always left wanting more. 
We thank and praise God for such a wonderful plan to send Jesus to save us from our sins. We thank God for working throughout all history to save us from our sins. It was Jesus' death on the cross that paid my price of sin, and set me free and gave me hope. Those who put repent and put their faith in Jesus can be saved. 

At this point, the author makes a comment about the meaning of Jesus' birth. Look at verses 22-23. "22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel'—which means, 'God with us.' " He found that Jesus' birth fulfilled prophecy. It meant that Jesus really can save us. This is what God wants in saving us: to be with us. Sin had separated us from God our Creator and Father. But he wants to restore that relationship and fellowship perfectly. 

What does "God with us" mean? It means a new life as a child of God and a servant of God. It means to practically know the power of Jesus' salvation daily. It means that we're not alone or left to ourselves. He's with us. When we receive him by faith, he dwells in our hearts. And we have the hope of being in God's presence eternally in his kingdom. And during our life on earth, Jesus promised to be with us always to the very end of the age. This is how Matthew actually closes his gospel (Matthew 28:20). 

What did this mean to God?It meant that He humbled himself and became like us. He loved us and practically worked to save us. The name "Immanuel, God with us" also tells us how Jesus saves his people. What kind of people was Jesus with during his earthly ministry? He was with the sick, the lame, the blind, the demon-possessed. He also went to sinners and earned the title,, "Friend of Sinners." He was with the proud Nicodemus, the love-thirsty Samaritan woman, the bitter cripple, and the greedy Zaccheus. He welcomed them as they were and taught them God's word and lovingly invited them to God's kingdom, setting them their life of sin, including the author Matthew, who was a greedy, yet lonely tax collector whom Jesus visited and invited to a new life as one of his Twelve disciples. And he comes to each of us as well to save us. 

III. Where do we stand in God's history? (24-25)

Look at verses 24-25. "24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus." Humanly speaking, Joseph and Mary were put in a very difficult situation, to understate. But really God had blessed them with the most blessed opportunity in his salvation history. How did they respond? Yes, faithfully. And they earned their place in God's history as the parents of Jesus Christ. Joseph and Mary stand out as the perfect example of joining in God’s plan by faith. They had their own plans for marriage and their family. But they were willing to set it aside for God’s purpose. Most importantly, we find that they struggled to live a pure life and please God, even before God gave them the mission of taking care of the baby Jesus. Their struggle for righteousness and purity was first, and then they were called by God. They were a ready vessel for God’s work. And when God called them, they made a firm stand by faith. 

So we must ask ourselves: Where do I stand? Do I stand firmly on Jesus' side? Do I stand firmly in the purpose of the gospel? Am I living according to my own plans, or according to God's plan? Even though God already sent the Christ, his plan today still stands to bless all peoples on earth through Jesus Christ, which means that he calls his servants in each generation to proclaim this good news about Jesus to all the world. Some people made decisions to accept God’s missionary calling through the Purdue Conference. They even decided to go to dangerous places, ready to suffer for Jesus’ gospel. What a truly great decision of faith on their part. They offered themselves for God’s plan, rather than live selfishly for their own plans and glory and comfort. Their faith is so honorable and they have a great heavenly reward. May God help us to stand firm in the gospel of Jesus by faith. 

(Personal testimony)

When I personally reviewed God's work in the lives of those listed in the genealogy over all those years, I could see in a new way how much God invested in his plan of salvation and how much he wants to save sinful man, and not leave him to his sins. And these people didn't have an easy life by any normal standards, but God planted faith in them and blessed them to do his work. And many of the people listed recognized God's work and stood firm in his promises.

As for myself, it has been clear that I did not take a firm stand on the Lord's side. And this passage showed me that I didn't do so because I was seeking after other things, even in prayers. I wanted to be saved from financial ruin, I wanted to be saved from embarrassment from failures before my family members and church family, I wanted to give lots of good things to my family and not embarrass my wife. I just haven't been able to overcome my sense of despair and self-consciousness in this matter. And in many ways I felt just stuck in a sinking pit, and I can't get out. And I couldn't find help from the Lord. I was very much through God's love at Purdue. I cried while listening to a few messages. I really needed to hear the message of God's love. But as soon as I got back home, my despair quickly took over again. Why?And it has been so difficult to do anything, even as simple as preparing question sheets, praying, going fishing, or being able to work properly and meditate on a message. I had never had such difficulty before God's words.

But this passage really got into my head the simple message that God sent Jesus to save me from my sins. He doesn't want me to be left to my sins, but to save me. And he worked hard throughout history for this one purpose. And it was clear that I was looking for other things.

But when I just accepted the simple truth that God sent Jesus to save me from my sins, great joy and thanks and peace and contentment filled my heart and soul. I clearly remembered how much my sins bothered me to the point of hating myself, how Jesus had set me free, yet how they were bothering me again lately. But when hearing this message and repenting of seeking worldly things and just accepted the message of God's faithful and hard work to send Jesus to save me from my sins, I didn't feel embarrassed, I didn't feel ashamed, I didn't have desires for other things in my heart. I diligently put together my application for medi-cal for my family and made the appointment. I've beent trying to exercise and get out of my laziness. and Got has helped me to come each night for prayer. I pray that God may help me to fully overcome and listen to his word. I pray that he would help me to stand firm in his salvation purpose and not lose my heart to self-consciousness and worldly desires. And I pray that he would help me to stay fixed on his salvation purpose through giving me strength to diligently go fishing at the campus and through finding the most suitable job. And then I could see Jesus who wasn't self-conscious at all, but practically suffered so much in others eyes all for the sake of saving me from my sins. So he can as a human baby, he was raised by human parents, he suffered at the hands of sinful men who even put him to death. He practically suffered for me and knows my need. May God help me to overcome all self-conscious and follow Jesus and be willing to share in his sufferings for others to be saved.

In conclusion, Jesus is the Christ of God whom God sent to save us from our sins. God really wants to save all people from their sins. So he faithfully worked throughout history and continues to work today for this purpose. Let us stand firm in the gospel of Jesus Christ and set aside our own plans in this world. Praise and thanks be to God for sending such a wonderful savior for you and for me. 

One word: God sent Jesus to save me from our sins