Sunday Bulletin December 15 2024
Sunday Bulletin December 8 2024
Sunday Bulletin December 1 2024
Sunday Bulletin November 24 2024
Craig A. Brittingham, Pastor
Hillside Baptist Church
December 15, 2024
“Begotten of God” – Matthew 1:1-25
1A. Jesus was not begotten by a man (1:1-17).
1b. This is clearly communicated in the genealogical record of Jesus.
2b. Matthew began his gospel with Jesus’ genealogy.
1c. In the heading or introduction of the genealogy, we observe what he wanted to emphasize about Jesus (1:1).
2c. Matthew emphasized that Jesus is in the royal line of David and therefore qualified to be the King – the Anointed One, Messiah.
3c. That this is Matthew’s purpose is made even more clear by the way he refers to David in the genealogy (1:5-6).
4c. Jesus is unique among the sons of David (1:16, cf. 22:42-46).
2A. Jesus was begotten by the Holy Spirit (1:18-20).
1b. In verses 18-25, Matthew explained the discrepancy found in verse 16.
2b. Jesus was not begotten by Joseph, but by the Holy Spirit (1:18-20).
1c. The word “conceived” in verse 20 is a translation of the same word translated “begot” in verses 2-16.
2c. The conception of Jesus was a miracle!
3A. Jesus was also the only begotten Son of God the Father (John 1:18, 3:16, 1 John 4:9).
1b. The emphasis here is not on Jesus’ conception and birth, but His uniqueness.
2b. Isaac is said to be Abraham’s only begotten son, but Abraham begot other children including Ishmael (Heb. 11:17)
4A. Christians are also begotten or born of God.
1b. We have been born again (John 3:3, 1 Pet. 1:23; 1 John 5:4).
2b. According to John, there are at least four things that are true of those who have been born again (1 John 2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1).
Questions…
1. What does the heading of Matthew’s genealogy (1:1) signal about its content or emphasis? How is it signaled?
2. What purpose does the genealogy serve or why is it important?
3. Why does 1:16 require an explanation?
4. What explanation did Matthew give in 1:18-20?
5. What is the difference between Jesus being begotten of God the Holy Spirit (Mat. 1:20), and being the only begotten Son of the God the Father (John 1:18, 3:16)?
6. How does Hebrews 11:17 help us understand what “only begotten” means?
7. What does it mean that Christians have been born again?
8. According to 1 John, what is true of those who have been born again?
