It Wasn't His Child

10 March 2014

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Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. - Matthew 1:18-19

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Mary, having left to go see Elisabeth immediately after the angel visited her, has returned three months later. We do not know when she told Joseph that she was pregnant but the history picks up here, in Matthew, with Joseph knowing that his fiancee is pregnant and he is struggling with what to do.

According to the law, as found in Deuteronomy  22, Joseph had the rite to bring Mary before the elders of the city and accuse her of not being a virgin when they got engaged. If this accusation were found to be true, the the men of the city would bring her out of Heli’s house and stone her to death.

However, Matthew records that Joseph is a just man. He had the right to divorce her and have her stoned to death, but chose to have a private divorce rather than make her a public example. This shows his deep love for her and great mercy on his part. A public divorce, even one not leading to death, would have been a great embarrassment to Mary.

Joseph did not fully understand what was happening at this point. The angel of the Lord had not spoken with him yet. However, Joseph does not respond in haste or judgment. His own reputation could be harmed as well, but he chooses to be patient and show mercy.

What an excellent example of how God's children should show forth His love by showing love and compassion to others!

There have been several covers of this song the past few years, but Skip Ewing sings his song the best.  Please follow this link and listen.

Tags: birth, divorce, harmony_of_the_gospels, jesus, joseph, mary, matthew, mercy

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.

Living in Liberty

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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