Chapter 1: What is the significance of the birth narrative of Jesus?
Instantly, there was beside this single messenger from heaven, this angel, the entire heavenly host, there was with the angel a multitude of that army of angels that inhabit heaven and surround the presence of our eternal God. And now it's not Zacharias who's singing. It's not Mary who's singing. It's the angels who bring a chorus from heaven.
And it's that chorus, that song of the angels, that R.C. Sproul will consider on this Sunday edition of Renewing Your Mind. Hi, I'm Nathan W. Bingham, and in preparation for Christmas Day, today you'll hear Luke's account of the birth of Jesus and that incredible moment as this heavenly host sings praise to God.
Don't forget that this sermon is part of a much larger series through Luke's Gospel, and those sermons eventually became Dr. Sproul's commentary on Luke. So if you'd like a copy of that commentary, we'll send it to you as our way of saying thank you for your year-end donation in support of Renewing Your Mind at renewingyourmind.org. But be quick, as this offer ends tonight. Well, here's R.C.
Sproul in Luke chapter 2.
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, every one to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
And the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you. You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger.
Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.
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Chapter 2: How does the census ordered by Caesar Augustus impact the birth of Jesus?
You won't believe what's going to take place in just a few moments. No, there was none of that. But suddenly, out of nowhere, an angel from heaven appeared to whatever shepherds were awake at the moment. The angel of the Lord stood before them. And the angel was accompanied with the glory of God. The glory of the Lord shone around them.
Luke gives us this notation that when the Shekinah glory appeared that the shepherds were greatly afraid. I like the old King James. They were sore afraid. Because it's one thing to be afraid, but it's quite another to be sore afraid. When you are sore afraid, beloved, you are afraid. You are afraid like you've never been afraid in your whole life.
Who wouldn't be trembling in fear at the manifestation of the glory of God at that moment? The angel said, don't be afraid. Why not? Because I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Don't be afraid because there is born to you, to us, shepherds. The angel says there is born to you. Unto you a child is born. Unto you despised shepherds a son is given.
Unto you this day is born in the city of David a Soter, a Savior.
Don't be afraid.
birthday of the One who will save you. This is the day your Savior is born. And not only is He Savior, but He's Christ the Lord, and the shepherds understood the meaning of the word Christ was the New Testament translation of the Old Testament word for Messiah. Today your Savior is born. Today the Messiah is born. Today your Lord is born in Bethlehem, and this will be the sign.
You must go and look. See the sign because the sign is significant. You're going to find a baby wrapped in cheap cloth.
Not on a throne, but in a manger.
No sooner had the angel said that than instantly there was beside this single messenger from heaven, this angel, perhaps even Gabriel again, he is surrounded by the entire heavenly host. There was with the angel a multitude of that army of angels that inhabit heaven and surround the presence of our eternal God. And now it's not Zechariah is who's singing. It's not Mary who's singing.
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Chapter 3: What does the angel's announcement to the shepherds reveal?
We join the angel saying, worthy is the lamb who was slain. to receive the fullness of the glory of God. That's Christmas.
That is Christmas. And isn't this a wonderful time of the year? I do trust you'll have a very Merry Christmas as you gather with family and friends this week. You're listening to Renewing Your Mind. I'm Nathan W. Bingham. Each Sunday we feature the preaching ministry of R.C.
Sproul, and we're currently in a short series considering several of the songs in Luke's gospel surrounding the incarnation of our Lord and Savior. But you can study all of Luke when you request a hardcover copy of Dr. Sproul's commentary on Luke. It's a commentary based on his extensive sermon series, so it's filled with pastoral warmth and wisdom.
You can request your copy when you make a year-end donation at renewingyourmind.org or by using the link in the podcast show notes. We'll send it to you to thank you for stepping forward to help this global ministry reach even more people in 2026. Visit renewingyourmind.org before midnight tonight and add this popular commentary to your library. And if you live outside of the U.S.
and Canada, the e-book edition is waiting for you at renewingyourmind.org slash global. Thank you. Next time, we'll conclude this series as R.C. Sproul preaches on the infancy hymn of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. So be sure to listen next Sunday here on Renewing Your Mind.
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