For unto us a child is born (2/4)

No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another… 1 John 4:12

No one has ever seen God,
but if we love one another,
God abides in us,
and his love is made complete in us.
1 John 4:12 love God neighbor
This is how we know what love is:
he laid down his life for us,
and we in turn must be prepared
to lay down our lives for our brethren.
1 John 3:16 love Jesus neighbor

The birth of Jesus Christ occurred in this way. When his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came to live together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:18 christmas Holy Spirit miracles
By faith Abraham also received the power of procreation, even though he was well past the age—and Sarah herself was barren—because he believed that the one who had made the promise would be faithful in fulfilling it.
Hebrews 11:11 trust faith reward
Our temporary light afflictions are preparing for us an incomparable weight of eternal glory.
2 Corinthians 4:17 eternal life suffering encouragement
Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your name give glory
because of your kindness and faithfulness.
Psalm 115:1 love humility worship
The father of a good man will rejoice;
he who begets a wise son will delight in him.
Proverbs 23:24 joy wisdom family
For the Lord, your God, is gracious and compassionate, and he will not turn his face away from you if you return to him.
2 Chronicles 30:9b grace repentance conversion
He did not spare his own Son but gave him up for all of us. How then can he fail also to give us everything else along with him?
Romans 8:32 sacrifice Father receiving
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy he has given us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3 hope resurrection rebirth
Cure the sick who are there, and say, ‘The kingdom of God has come unto you.’
Luke 10:9 healing sickness nearness
God saved us and called us to a life of holiness, not because of our works but according to his own purpose and the grace that has been bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.
2 Timothy 1:9 grace holiness salvation
Thus you could understand that the Lord, your God, was disciplining you, just like a father disciplines his son.
Deuteronomy 8:5 Father learning punishment
My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad.
Proverbs 23:15 wisdom heart joy
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer.
However, the face of the Lord
is set against those who do evil.
1 Peter 3:12 righteousness prayer listening
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that weighs us down and the sins that so easily distract us and with perseverance run the race that lies ahead of us.
Hebrews 12:1 sin life overcoming
Though he was in the form of God,
he did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
Being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself,
and became obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:6-8 Savior obedience Jesus
Yet even so, because of your great compassion,
you did not completely destroy them,
nor did you forsake them,
for you are a gracious and merciful God.
Nehemiah 9:31 grace mercy nearness
This is how we can be certain
that we abide in him
and that he abides in us:
he has given us a share in his Spirit.
1 John 4:13 God Spirit nearness
His divine power has bestowed on us everything that is necessary for life and for devotion through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue.
2 Peter 1:3 strength life receiving
All this took place in order to fulfill what the Lord had announced through the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
a name that means “God is with us.”
Matthew 1:22-23 prophecy miracles Jesus
What then can we say in response to all this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31 God encouragement protection
Rend your hearts and not your garments,
and turn back to the Lord, your God.
For he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and always prepared to relent from punishing.
Joel 2:13 heart grace love
Before the mountains were brought forth
or the earth and the world came into existence,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 90:2 creation God understanding
Jesus replied,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
everyone who sins
is a slave of sin.”
John 8:34 addiction sin slavery