Emmanuel, God With Us

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:23).

The mystery, power, and glory of the gospel is that, “God was manifest in the flesh” (John 1:14). All the divine attributes are displayed in the Lord Jesus Christ – Emmanuel – GOD WITH US! Take Christ from the gospel and you have no gospel. Take Jesus Christ and Him divine, incarnate, crucified, risen, and enthroned out of your preaching and you have no message and no ministry.

Whatever else you major on or whatever good work you accomplish, it is all wood, hay, and stubble if the Lord Jesus is not your central theme. If He be lifted up, He will draw men unto Him; and He MUST be lifted up or else the preaching is like the rattling of dry bones.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1986)

GOD OUR SAVIOUR “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared” (Titus 3:4).

Three times in this epistle to Titus the Lord Jesus Christ is called, "God our Saviour." Paul believed in and preached a divine Saviour, not just a mere man, but rather the Saviour, who is Almighty God. His name is Jesus, Saviour (Matt. 1:21), who shall save His people from their sin, that declares His office. But let us not forget that His name is also, Emmanuel (Matt. 1:23) God with us, that declares His nature.

If you take away the Deity of Jesus Christ you have no gospel, no good news to preach, no salvation. It is not that just some good man died for sinners, but rather He who died in the room and stead of His people is God Almighty (1Tim.3:16, John 1:14 Acts 20:28). He could not be our Prophet, Priest and Potentate unless He is, “God our Saviour.” He could not be our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, unless He is, “God our Saviour” (1Cor.1:30). He could not be our all-important Mediator (1 Tim.2:5), unless He is, “God our Saviour.” He could not be our only Advocate with the Father, unless He is, “God our Saviour” (1 John 2:1). He could not be our all-powerful Surety, unless He is, “God our Saviour” (Heb. 7:22). He could not be our all sufficient Substitute and Sacrifice, unless He is, “God our Saviour” (2Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:12).

Remember the words of Simeon, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:29-30).

Remember the words of Thomas, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

Now, I don't know what the Lord Jesus Christ is to you. But I know beyond all doubt what Jesus Christ is to me; He is “God my Saviour” (Isa. 45:21-22)!

HEAR HIM

"And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved Son: hear him" (Matt. 17:5; Luke 9:35).

On this occasion the Lord Jesus was glorified before the apostles. There also appeared with Him Moses and Elijah when He was transfigured. Both Moses and Elijah were occupied and discussing the Lord's death, “His decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.” When Peter saw this glorious sight he thought that it might be good to build three tabernacles honoring them, Moses the great lawgiver and Elijah the mighty prophet of God. About this time God was pleased to overshadow them with a cloud and to speak out of heaven unto the disciple. The instructions of God were plain and simple, "Hear Him." Peter, don't build, don't sacrifice, don't worship Moses and Elijah; "Hear Him." The command of the gospel has not changed. The command of God is as appropriate today as it was then, "Hear Him." God has given the whole testimony of scripture as an accurate record to bear witness to the glorious person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). May God give us grace in our heart to do these four things:

1). Receive with confident conviction the truth to which God bears witness. Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of the most high God, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation (John 14:6). God is only well pleased with those in Him (Eph.1:6). He is the only suitable and effectual sacrifice for sin (Heb.9:12).

2). Because of who He is we should hear Him with profound reverence, "Holy and reverend is His name" (Psa.111:9). His teachings are not the philosophy of men, but rather the doctrine of God, "My doctrine is not mine but His that sent me" (John 7:17). Therefore we should quickly receive His word as, "light" and "life" as the only foundation of faith.

3). We should hear Him with unconditional obedience. God told king Saul that it was better to obey than to sacrifice (1Sam.15:22). We are commanded to repent and believe the gospel (Mark 16:15; Acts 17:30).