 I want us to look at a few verses in Paul’s first letter to Timothy.
“I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory” (1 Tim. 3:14-16 ESV).  Several passages in Scripture reveal the beauty of the gospel. One of them is Titus 2:11-14.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness, and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (ESV).  In Matthew 2:1-12, wise men visit the newborn Christ. They come to Herod, asking where Jesus is supposed to be born. The Jewish leaders, upon examining Micah 5:2, point them in the direction of Bethlehem. Before long, the wise men joyfully discover Christ and give Him gifts. Then, they depart.
 Most of us are familiar with the birthplace of Christ.
“O little town of Bethlehem, / How still we see thee lie! / Above thy deep and dreamless sleep / The silent stars go by.” “O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant! / O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!” “Joyful, all ye nations, rise, / join the triumph of the skies; / with th’angelic hosts proclaim, ‘Christ is born in Bethlehem!’” Indeed, He is. And we see the significance of this location in our passage this week.  Last week, I wrote about the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1:1-17. It’s important to understand where Jesus comes from in relation to the Old Testament. But when considering the origins of Christ, something else must be said. After all, there is no origin of Christ.
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