God's Wrath on Unrighteousness

18Forthe wrath of Godis revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Romans 1:18 ESVWatch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVwF700FDuY

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

16ForI am not ashamed of the gospel, for it isthe power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jewfirst and also tothe Greek.17For in itthe righteousness of God is revealedfrom faith for faith,[a]as it is written, The righteous shall live by faith.

Romans 1:16-17 ESVWatch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnK7z1iIFoc

Longing to Go to Rome

8First,I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.9For God is my witness,whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son,that without ceasing I mention you10always in my prayers, asking that somehowby God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.11ForI long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you12that is, that we may be mutually encouragedby each other's faith, both yours and mine.13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[a]thatI have often intended to come to you (butthus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap someharvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.14I am under obligation both to Greeks and tobarbarians,[b]both to the wise and to the foolish.

Romans 1:8-14 ESVWatch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpA94jbKJ2I

1Paul,a servant[a]of Christ Jesus,called to be an apostle,set apart for the gospel of God,2whichhe promised beforehandthrough his prophets in the holy Scriptures,3concerning his Son,who was descended from David[b]according to the flesh4andwas declared to be the Son of Godin power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,5through whomwe have received grace andapostleshipto bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his nameamong all the nations,6including you who arecalled to belong to Jesus Christ,

7To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:1-7 ESVWatch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee9UYrgB1Ao

The Blessing - Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTRX2v4C5xM

The Shepherds and the Angels

8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9And an angel of the Lordappeared to them, andthe glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.10And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for allthe people.11Forunto you is born this day inthe city of Davida Savior, who isChristthe Lord.12Andthis will be a sign for you: you will find a babywrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.13And suddenly there was with the angela multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14Glory to Godin the highest,and on earthpeaceamong those with whom he is pleased![a]

15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the babylying in a manger.17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.19ButMary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.20And the shepherds returned,glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGbl41uFTII

In those daysa decree went out fromCaesar Augustus that all the world should beregistered.2This was the firstregistration when[a]Quiriniuswas governor of Syria.3And all went to be registered, each to his own town.4And Joseph also went upfrom Galilee, from the town ofNazareth, to Judea, tothe city of David, which is calledBethlehem,because he was of the house and lineage of David,5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b]who was with child.6Andwhile they were there, the time came for her to give birth.7And she gave birth to her firstborn son andwrapped him in swaddling cloths andlaid him in a manger, because there was no place for them inthe inn.

Luke 2:1-7 ESVWatch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlfBvcx01QQ

The Birth of John the Baptist

57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.58And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lordhad shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.59Andon the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,60but his mother answered, No;he shall be called John.61And they said to her, None of your relatives is called by this name.62Andthey made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.63And he asked fora writing tablet and wrote,His name is John. And they all wondered.64And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongueloosed, and he spoke,blessing God.65Andfear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through allthe hill country of Judea,66and all who heard themlaid them up in their hearts, saying, What then will this child be? Forthe hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah's Prophecy

67And his father Zechariahwas filled with the Holy Spirit andprophesied, saying,

68Blessed be the LordGod of Israel,for he hasvisited andredeemed his people69andhas raised upa horn of salvation for usin the house of his servant David,70ashe spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,71that we should be saved from our enemiesand from the hand of all who hate us;72to show the mercy promised to our fathersandto remember his holycovenant,73the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us74that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,might serve himwithout fear,75in holiness and righteousness before himall our days.76And you, child, will be calledthe prophet ofthe Most High;foryou will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,77to give knowledge of salvation to his peoplein the forgiveness of their sins,78because of thetender mercy of our God,wherebythe sunrise shallvisit us[a]from on high79togive light tothose who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet intothe way ofpeace.

80And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he wasin the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Luke 1:57-80 ESVWatch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQbk7izjLc4

39In those days Mary arose and went with haste intothe hill country, to a town in Judah,40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabethwas filled with the Holy Spirit,42and she exclaimed with a loud cry,Blessed are you among women, andblessed isthe fruit of your womb!43And why is this granted to me that the mother ofmy Lord should come to me?44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.45Andblessed is she who believed that there would be[a]a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.

Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat

46And Mary said,

Mysoulmagnifies the Lord,47and myspirit rejoices inGod my Savior,48forhe has looked on the humble estate of his servant.For behold, from now on all generationswill call me blessed;49forhe who is mightyhas done great things for me,andholy is his name.50Andhis mercy is for those who fear himfrom generation to generation.51He has shown strength with his arm;he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;52he has brought down the mighty from their thronesand exalted those of humble estate;53he has filledthe hungry with good things,and the richhe has sent away empty.54He hashelpedhis servant Israel,in remembrance of his mercy,55as he spoke to our fathers,to Abraham and to his offspring forever.

56And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Luke 1:39-56 ESVWatch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai8V2uGFdPg

26In the sixth month the angelGabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee namedNazareth,27to a virgin betrothed[a]to a man whose name was Joseph,of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.28And he came to her and said, Greetings,O favored one,the Lord is with you![b]29Butshe was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.30And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, foryou have found favor with God.31And behold,you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, andyou shall call his name Jesus.32He will be great and will be called the Son ofthe Most High. And the Lord Godwill give to him the throne ofhis father David,33and he will reign over the house of Jacobforever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.

34And Mary said to the angel, How will this be, since I am a virgin?[c]

35And the angel answered her,The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power ofthe Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[d]will be calledholythe Son of God.36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with herwho was called barren.37Fornothing will be impossible with God.38And Mary said, Behold, I am the servant[e]of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. Andthe angel departed from her.

Luke 1:26-38 ESVWatch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL385mLPZdA