Advent Day 7

“But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20 ESV).

I have been writing a lot about the dangers for Joseph and Mary. Joseph was afraid to take Mary as his wife; we know this is true as Matthew wrote this for us. But both Joseph and Mary, despite their fears in the temporal world, feared God.

Today, people do not want to hear about the wrath of God. Pastors are afraid to preach the wrath of God. I have heard people say, “God is love, not hate”. Biblically, this is incorrect. In Psalm 5:5, the Psalmist wrote, “The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.” God loves; therefore, He must hate. His holiness alone means He must hate that which offends or rebels against Him.

Sinclair notes the fear of God often seems to be what people fear the most. I think this is true, especially for the true Christian. By “true” Christian, I mean the one with a clear biblical understanding of the Gospel and God; they know what the five Solas are and that salvation comes through faith alone in Christ alone.

A healthy fear of God is necessary to help us live according to God’s design. Joseph and Mary lived this way, Zechariah lived that way, and after Gabriel made him mute for his disbelief, his fear was most likely more significant. We all must live our life coram deo, in the presence of God. Joseph was a righteous man, which means he feared God; the angel told him not to fear, and as such, Joseph knew his marrying Mary would not be an offense to God.

One point Sinclair makes is that Jesus’ birth was not supernatural. It was the same as you or I. It was the conception that was supernatural. The virgin birth is a doctrine that is often contested by science. If God created everything ex nihilo from nothing, I have no doubts that the Holy Spirit could place the Son of God in a virgin. I wonder if Joseph understood the depth of Mary’s pregnancy. The birth of Christ was the beginning of a new creation. Jesus would bring about that new creation as the second Adam; only this time, He would give us the chance to erase the failure of the first Adam.

Would you have believed as Joseph did? We all are in the same place as Joseph. Do you think the immaculate conception happened? Joseph welcomed the Savior out of faith. Have you received Him? God challenged Joseph to devote His life to Christ. Have you accepted that challenge? that people often fear GodThe decision to answer Yes to all the above holds repercussions. You will be treated like your Savior. Jesus told us, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18 ESV).

Joseph did not lead but followed Jesus. When the angel told Joseph to take Jesus to Egypt, Joseph went where Jesus had to go. When the angel told Joseph to bring Jesus to Israel and Nazareth, Joseph went where Jesus had to go. We are much the same. It is Christ who changes us, and we follow Him. We carry His death in us so that we may carry His life in us. It is He who molds us. By following Him, we are transformed into His likeness.

Grace and Peace!

Sinclair Ferguson, The Dawn of Redeeming Grace”, The Goodbook Company, 2021