was the indignation that preceded it? We were mortal, we were weighed down
SERMON 189 35 their own, did not submit to the justice of God (Rom 10:3). From where can you or anyone get to be just? From yourself? Who is the poor man who can give himself bread? Who, if naked, can cover himself, unless he receives a garment? We didn't have any justice; the only things here were sins.
Where does justice come from? What justice can there be without faith, since the just lives by faith (Rom 1:17)? Any who call themselves just without faith are lying. How can they not be lying, when there is no faith in them? If they want to speak the truth, let them turn to the truth. But it was so far away. Truth has sprung from the earth. You were asleep, it came to you; you were snoring, it woke you up. It made you a way along itself,4 in order not to lose you. So, because truth has sprung from the earth, our Lord Jesus Christ was bom of the virgin; Justice has looked down from heaven, in order that people may have a justice which is not their own, but God's.
Christ was born that we might be reborn
3. What infinite consideration! Preceded by what fearful indignation!5 What was the indignation that preceded it? We were mortal, we were weighed down by sins, we were bearing our punishments. Every single human being, as soon as bom, begins with misery. No need to look for a prophet; question the child as it's bom, and see how it cries.6 So with this great indignation of God on the earth, what sort of consideration was suddenly shown? Truth sprang from the earth. He created all things, he was created among all things; he made the day, he came on the day; he was before all times, he set his seal on the times.
The Lord Christ is for ever, without beginning with the Father. And yet ask what today is; it's a birthday. Whose? The Lord's. Has he really got a birthday? He has. The Word in the beginning, God with God,7 has a birthday? Yes, he has. Unless he had a human birth, we would never attain to the divine rebirth; he was bom that we might be reborn. Let nobody hesitate to be reborn; Christ has been bom;8 bom, with no need of being reborn. The only ones in need of rebirth are those who have been condemned in their first birth.9
And so let his mercy come to be in our hearts. His mother bore him in her womb; let us bear him in our hearts. The virgin was big with the incarnation of Christ; let our bosoms grow big with the faith of Christ. She gave birth to the Savior; let us give birth to praise. We mustn't be barren; our souls must be fruitful with God.
The two births of Christ
4. The birth of Christ from the Father was without mother; the birth of Christ from his mother was without father; each birth was wonderful. The first was eternal, the second took place in time. When was he bom of the Father? What do you mean, when? You're asking about "when" there, there where you won't find any time? Don't ask about "when" there. Ask about it here; it's a good question, when was he bom of his mother. When was he bom of the Father is