This week Bro. Leo continues us on a study of the birth of Jesus Christ with a study of four principles of faith found in the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ as well as two other miraculous births found in the Bible.

These four principles of faith are found in Luke 1:30-38:
1) Faith seeks an understanding of how something is going to be accomplished while recognizing it is beyond the limits of human ability.  Vs.34, Mary seeks to understand how she will give birth when she has never been with a man.

2) Faith moves us past the bonds of our own limitations and into the supernatural power and abilities of God.  Vs.35, the Angel tells Mary that she will be indwelt with the Holy Spirit and the power of God would create the baby Jesus.

3) Faith surrenders and submits to the will of God.  Vs.38, Mary submits to the will of God.

4) Faith is simply believing what God says to the point of complete trust, commitment and surrendering to God’s word, authority and power.  Vs.38 “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”

In Rom.4:13, 17-21 we find the same four principles of faith being exercised by Abraham in the miraculous birth of his son.  In vs.19 Abraham knew having a son was beyond he and Sara’s limitations.  In vs.20 Abraham realized having a son would be the supernatural power and abilities of God. In vs.21 Abraham surrenders and submits to God’s will by placing his complete trust in God’s word, power and authority.

In Mark 10:17-27 and John 3:3-6 we find the same four principles of faith required for our miraculous birth into salvation.  1) Vs.17 “what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”  Jesus explains that salvation can not be accomplished under our own abilities. 2) Vs.27 “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”  Jesus explains salvation is accomplished by the power and authority of God.  In John 3:3-6 Jesus explains that we must be born again in the Spirit to be saved.  3+4) Once we understand and believe, to the point of complete trust, commitment and surrender to God’s word, authority and power, our salvation is not dependent on anything we do God will send His Holy Spirit to indwell us.

Christmas Faith is Saving Faith!

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Luk 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luk 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Luk 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Luk 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
Luk 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Luk 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Rom 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Rom 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Luk 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luk 1:45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Luk 1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

Mar 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Mar 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Mar 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Mar 10:20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mar 10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Mar 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mar 10:26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
Mar 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.