1. God Promised the Savior Genesis 3:15 (NASB) “I will put enmity between you and the woman…” → From the very beginning, God promises a Deliverer. Sin enters the world, but so does hope. The promise is not reactive—it is redemptive and intentional. Isaiah 7:14 (NASB) “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son…” → God gives a sign that salvation will not come by human strength, but by divine initiative. The Savior will come in a way only God could accomplish. Micah 5:2 (NASB) “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… from you One will go forth for Me…” → God chooses an unlikely place to fulfill an eternal promise. Key Truth: God keeps His promises over centuries of time. What God speaks, He sustains—no delay cancels divine faithfulness. 2. Jesus Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit Luke 1:35 (NASB) “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…” → Jesus’ birth is not merely miraculous—it is Spirit-initiated. Salvation begins with God, not humanity. Matthew 1:18 (NASB) “She was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.” → The incarnation is not accidental, scandalous, or secondary. It is the fulfillment of promise through the power of the Spirit. Key Truth: What began by the Spirit in Bethlehem continues in us today. 3. Christ Came to Save Us Isaiah 53 (NASB – selected emphasis) “He was pierced through for our transgressions…” → The Child in the manger is the Suffering Servant on the cross. Christmas already carries the shadow of Calvary. Isaiah 9:2 (NASB) “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light…” → Jesus does not merely visit the darkness—He overcomes it. Galatians 4:4 (NASB) “When the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son…” → Christmas happened right on time. God’s promise arrived exactly when redemption required it. Key Truth: The manger points to the cross. Christmas only makes sense when we remember the cross. CONCLUSION: What Do We Understand About Christmas? Christmas reveals: A God who keeps His promises A Savior conceived by the Holy Spirit A Redeemer who came to save us The story of Christmas is not sentiment—it is salvation. Not nostalgia—but necessity. Not just a baby—but a promise kept. Invitation: Will we trust the God who keeps His promises— not just in Bethlehem, but in our lives today?