Part 1 of 4 / The Promise Of His Coming: From Eternity To Bethlehem

Introduction: Christmas Begins In Eternity, Not Bethlehem

When you think of Christmas, most people think Christmas starts in Luke Chapter 2. We read about a manger, shepherds, angels, and a young couple wandering through Bethlehem in the middle of a Roman census. But what if we actually allow the Scriptures speak with their full weight, their full voice, if we do, then we are about to discover something very breathtaking.

Christmas began LONG before Mary ever held the infant Christ. Before the shepherds heard angels singing. Before Joseph dreamed of a virgin conceiving the Christ who would save the world from their sins. Before Israel ever existed for Abraham to be guided by God Almighty.

No, Christmas didn't start here as described above, it began in Eternity, in the uncreated mind of the Lord God.

Ephesians 1:3-6 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved."

Think about these Scriptures for a moment; before there were mountains, galaxies, atoms, or angels, God had already planned our redemption. Before Adam had breathed his first breath, Jesus was the Lamb destined to be slain (Revelation 13:8 - "All who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slaughtered.") Christmas was not a last-minute repair job. It was not a divine reaction to humanity's rebellion.

Christmas is God REVEALING a plan He wrote before time began. What does this mean?

• Jesus' Coming Is Not Small Or Seasonal - It Is Eternal!

• Christmas Is Not Sentimental - It Is Supernatural!

• The Nativity Is Not The Beginning Of His Story - It Is The Unveiling Mystery Hidden!

  
  

  • Colossians 1:26 - "I was made a minister of this church according to the commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

The birth of Jesus is God stepping into history to fulfill. a promise older than the world. Let us walk through the entire Biblical story leading up to Bethlehem; from eternity past, to the fall, to the covenants, to the prophets, to the moment Heaven touched Earth in a cattle stall.

The Eternal Blueprint: God's Redemptive Plan Before Time

• Before there was Sin, there was Grace.

• Before there was a Garden, there was a Savior.

• Before there was a Fall, there was a Lamb.

Scripture reveals that Jesus' coming was not merely foreseen, it was preordained.

The Lamb Slain Before The Foundation Of The World

- Revelation 13:8, "All who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slaughtered."

What this verse is showing us is that the Cross was NOT Plan B!

Bethlehem was NOT a reaction!

Redemption WAS part of God's eternal decree!

What does this mean?

It means that Calvary was determined before Adam was ever created. Bethlehem was chosen before Abraham was born. The virgin birth through Mary was written before Eve ever existed.

The Trinity's Eternal Counsel

Before time, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit purposed redemption TOGETHER.

Psalm 2 shows us the Father promising the Son the Nations.

Psalm 40 speaks of the Son delighting to do the Father's will.

Hebrews 10:5-7 reveals the Son saying:

"Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “You have not desired sacrifice and offering, But You have prepared a body for Me; You have not taken pleasure in whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin. “Then I said, ‘Behold , I have come (It is written of Me in the scroll of the book ) To do Your will, O God.’”

This is Christmas before Christmas!

The Son of God says:

"I Will Go."

"I Will Take On Flesh."

"I Will Redeem Them."

"I Will Crush The Serpent's Head."

Christmas begins with the Son's eternal WILLINGNESS to SAVE!

The First Gospel: Christmas In The Garden Of Eden

The FIRST Christmas prophecy is NOT in Isaiah or Micah, but have you ever noticed it is in Genesis 3? Genesis Chapter 3 is known as the Chapter - Humanity's Fall

The Tragedy That Set The Stage

Adam and Eve were created in the beginning by God in perfect holiness. They walked with God in the cool of the day. However, when they chose the serpent's lie over God's truth, paradise was completely shattered and we were eternally separated from God and us being able to be holy.

What was the result of the Fall?

Sin Entered.

Death Entered.

Separation Entered.

Shame Entered.

The Curse Entered.

But before God ever proclaims judgment over Adam and Eve, before He speaks of the sweat of the brow, the sorrow of being thrown out of the Garden, and the thorns of the ground, God gives us a beautiful, yet powerful promise, a coming Child, Jesus Christ.

Genesis 3:15 - The First Whisper Of Christmas

The verse of Genesis 3:15 is the seedbed of Scripture. It says, "And I will make enemies of you and the woman, And of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise Him on the heel.”

This is the first announcement of the Gospel, the protoevangelium (first Gospel).

And who is the "Seed"? It is not humanity in general or Israel collectively. But a singular male descendant known as Christ according to Galatians 3:16.

Galatians 3:16, "Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ."

Christmas Is The Answer To Genesis Chapter 3

What does Genesis 3 give to us as Believers in Christ?

• The Problem: Sin, Shame, Death, Separation

• The Promise: a Redeemer (Jesus) Born of a Woman (Mary)

• The War: the Serpent (Satan) versus the Coming Savior (Jesus)

• The Outcome: the Serpent's (Satan) Head Crushed Under His (Jesus) Heel

Christmas is Heaven declaring:

"The war is already won!"

"The One who will undo this curse is coming!"

"Satan's dominion has an expiration date!"

The entire Old Testament unfolds from this very promise in Genesis 3!

The Scarlet Thread: God's Covenant Line Leading To Christ

When you read the Old Testament, it is not a bunch of random stories. It is one UNIFIED narrative, a genealogy of REDEMPTION leading to Christmas. Every COVENANT advances the promise of His Coming. Every CHARACTER POINTS to Christ. Every DELIVERER FORESHADOWS THE Deliverer.

Let's now trace the line from Eve to Mary.

The Promise To Abraham (Genesis 12) - Christmas Begins To Take Shape

God calls Abraham from a pagan lifestyle of darkness and makes a staggering promise:

Genesis 12:3, "And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

How is this possible? Through Abraham's Seed - Christ.

Galatians 3:16, "Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ."

When you look at Abraham's life, it contains the shadowing of Christ:

• A Promised Son

• A Miraculous Birth

• A Father Sacrificing His Only Son

• A Ram Caught In The Thicket As A Substitute

• A Journey To Mount Mariah Which Would Be The Same Region Where Jesus Died

Do you see how Christmas is rooted in the Abrahamic Covenant? Let's Dive Deeper!

The Promise To Judah (Genesis 49:10)

Jacob gives prophecy saying, "The scepter will not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples."

What does this prophecy from Jacob reveal about Christ?

It reveals the following:

• The Messiah Will Be A King

• He Will Descend From Judah

• He Will Rule The Nations

• He Will Bring Peace (Shiloh = 'peace-bringer')

Christ's lineage is NOT a coincidence, it is PROPHECY FULFILLED!

The Promise To David (2 Samuel 7:12-16)

God tells David through prophecy saying, "When your days are finished and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and with strokes of sons of mankind, but My favor shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” ’ "

What does this prophecy to David of the Davidic Covenant reveal about Christ?

It reveals the following:

• The Messiah Is David's Descendant

• His Kingdom Is Eternal

• His Rule Is Universal

• His Throne Is Everlasting

When the angel Gabriel later appears to Mary, Gabriel cites this specific Davidic Covenant directly which when Christ is born, it fulfills partially this prophetic word spoken to David by God. It will be fully fulfilled when Christ sits on the Davidic Throne in the Third Temple in Jerusalem during the 1,000 Year Millennial Reign. We as believers will be witnesses to this prophetic fulfillment!

Luke 1:32-33, "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

Christmas fulfill's David's dream!

The Prophets Foretell The Coming King

After the covenants, the Abrahamic & Davidic, the Prophets then add stunning details.

• First Prophet

  • Isaiah

    
    

• Time Frame

  • 700 Years Before Christ

    
    

• Prophetic Scripture

  • Isaiah 7:14; 9:6

    
    

    - "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel." - Isaiah 7:14

    
    

    - "For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

    
    

• Prophetic Details

  • A Child To Be Born

  • A Son Given

  • A King Eternal

  • A God In Human Flesh

• Second Prophet

  • Micah

    
    

• Time Frame

  • 700 Years Before Christ

    
    

• Prophetic Scripture

  • Micah 5:2

    
    

    - “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” - Micah 5:2

    
    

• Prophetic Details

  • Location Christ Is To Be Born

  • Bethlehem Was Tiny, Obscure, & Politically Insignificant

  • Bethlehem Was King David's City Where He Was From

• Third, Fourth, Fifth, & Sixth Prophet

  • Hosea, Jeremiah, Zechariah, & Malachi

    
    

• Time Frame

  • 700 Years Before Christ

    
    

• Prophetic Scripture

  • Hosea 1:1, Jeremiah 31:15, Zechariah 9:9, Malachi 3:1

    
    

    - "The word of the Lord which came to Hosea the son of Beeri, during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel." - Hosea 1:1

    
    

    - "This is what the Lord says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamenting and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.” - Jeremiah 31:15

    
    

    - "Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey." - Zechariah 9:9

    
    

    - “Behold, I am sending My messenger, and he will clear a way before Me. And the Lord, whom you are seeking, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of armies." - Malachi 3:1

    
    

• Prophetic Details

  • The Flight To Egypt (Deliverance From Egypt For The Jewish People From The OT For Christ)

  • A Massacre In Bethlehem Of The First Born (King Herod's Slaughter Of 1st Born Boys)

  • A Triumphant & Humble Entry For A King Into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)

  • A Forerunner Crying In The Wilderness Of The Coming King (John The Baptist)

Do you see how Christmas is the intersection of over 700 years of prophetic prophecy waiting to be fulfilled? All of this was fulfilled! This is why we Celebrate Christmas!

Why Jesus Came To Fulfill God's Eternal Promise

Jesus' Birth was not some random event, it was the RIGHT time.

It Came:

• At The Right Time

• In The Right Town

• Through The Right Lineage

• With The Right Signs

• Fulfilling The Right Prophecies

• Achieving The Right Mission

He Came To Be The Promise-Keeper

Every single prophecy from Genesis to Malachi converges

on one Person, in one Moment, and in one Manger.

Jesus came because:

• God Is Faithful

• God Finishes What He Starts

• God Rescues What He Loves

• God Keeps Every Word He Speaks

Christmas is God engraving His Faithfulness into Human History.

Application

In a world drowning in broken promises made by men, rest assured this Christmas as Christ as the lighthouse for the world to see. How does this remind you of Christ?

Remember:

• Christ Has Not Forgotten You

• Christ's Delays Are Not Denials

• Christ Always Fulfills What He Promises

Christ fulfilled thousands of years of prophecy for Christmas, so if Christ can do this before, He will fulfill His promises in your life to.

Let's be reminded what Scripture says:

• He Will Finish The Work He Started In You

  • Philippians 1:6, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus."
    

• He Will Not Abandon You

  • Hebrews 13:5, "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you , nor will I ever abandon you.,”

    
    

• He Will Come Again

  • John 14:3, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be."

    
    

• He Will Wipe Away Every Tear

  • Revelation 21:4, "and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

    
    

• He Will Crush Satan Under Your Feet

  • Romans 16:20, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. T he grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."

    
    

Christmas is proof that our HOPE is not in the imaginary, but in the incarnate of who Christ is!

Reflection & Discussion

1. How does understanding Christmas from eternity deepen your worship?

2. Which Old Testament prophecy impacts you the most and why?

3. How does Genesis 3:15 change the way you see sin, salvation, and spiritual warfare?

4. What promise of God in your life do you need to trust again?

5. How does the faithfulness of God seen in Christmas shape your confidence in His future promises?

Prayer For This Week

Lord Jesus, Thank You for remind us that Your coming was planned from eternity and fulfilled perfectly in Bethlehem. As we reflect on Your promises that pointed to Your first coming this week, let us anchor our hearts in the hope of Your soon return. Strengthen our Faith, Deepen our Worship, and help us live with expectation and purity in these last days. Seal this truth within us and draw us closer to You each day. May we remember this Christmas why you came, not just for the things of this world.

In Your Heavenly Name We Pray, Amen.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sneak Preview - Week 2

In Week 2, we are going to look into the heart of the Gospel. We are going to be exploring why God became man. Expect a clear, faith-built journey through the purpose of the Incarnation in how Jesus revealed God, fulfilled prophecy, conquered sin, and opened the way for salvation for all. This study will deepen your understanding, strengthen your worship, and prepare your hearts to see Christ's first coming with greater awe and His return with renewed hope.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

IMPORTANT DATES - WRAPPING UP 2025

• Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - December 23, 2025

  • Why Jesus Came - In Depth Christmas Study

    
    

• Tuesday, December 30, 2025

  • 2025 Year In Review - Look What God Has Done!

    
    

• Wednesday, December 31, 2025

  • A Look Ahead For Heralding His Truth Ministries

    
    

• Thursday, January 1, 2026

  • How To Be A Light In 2026 In A World Consumed By Darkness

  
  

• Tuesday, January 6, 2026

  • The True Biblical Church Of Christ - 12 Week Study