1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-14 Perhaps the best-known biblical passage recording the birth of Christ is found in Luke 2.&amp;nbsp; Matthew has some other details concerning His birth, but this account (indeed, this entire chapter) occurs only in Luke.&amp;nbsp; Here we have Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem, due to a Roman census.&amp;nbsp; According to Micah 5:2, the Jewish Messiah would come from Bethlehem.&amp;nbsp; This empire-wide census depicts the sovereign providence of God, who is orchestrating the birth of Jesus, down to the details. An angel appears to a group of shepherds, proclaiming not only the birth of Jesus, but His nature ... Savior, Messiah, Lord (Lk 2:11).&amp;nbsp; Upon announcing the birth of Jesus, the angel is joined by a host of angels glorifying God, which was also the response of the shepherds (2:20). The incarnation of the Son of God was essential in order for Jesus to be the necessary substitute for sinful people (Heb 2:17) ... both in His perfect life (Gal 4:4; Heb 4:15) and in His sacrificial death&amp;nbsp; (2 Cor 5:21).&amp;nbsp; Both His righteous obedience to God's law is credited to people who trust in Him, as well as His substitutionary death.&amp;nbsp; If there is no incarnation, there is no salvation.&amp;nbsp; The mysterious wonder of God the Son taking on flesh is essential to Christianity.&amp;nbsp; If there is no incarnation of God the Son, Christianity is not weakened, it vanishes. Bethel Baptist Church https://bethelbaptistscs.org/ <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/42460340/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/205166330