He shall save His people

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matt 1:18-21).

Yes, I know, Christmas is over. But what is more significant than the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Savior, God Incarnate? Besides, I wanted, as you worship today, to point out a couple of little, oft-missed points.

Mary was told something a little different. Her news was that the Son she was going to bear would be King. Joseph, on the other hand, heard this message: "He will save His people from their sins."

Notice a couple of items in that simple phrase. First, the salvation that Jesus was bringing was definite. "He will save ..." Second, the salvation that Jesus was bringing was limited. He wasn't going to save everyone; He was going to save some. Finally, this "some" had a title -- "His people." If you are among those who are saved, you are among those who are "His people." You are owned by the Savior. You are related to the Savior. What a glorious place to be ... definitely saved as part of a narrow group that is called "His people"!