⁸ In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. ⁹ And ^(A)an angel of the Lord suddenly ^(B)stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. ¹⁰ And so the angel said to them, “^(C)Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; ¹¹ for today in the city of David there has been born for you a ^(D)Savior, who is ^[a](E)Christ ^(F)the Lord. ¹² And ^(G)this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a ^[b]manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly ^[c]army of angels praising God and saying,

Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem

2 Now in those days a decree went out from ^(A)Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of ^(B)all ^[a]the inhabited earth. ^2 [b]This was the first census taken while ^[c]Quirinius was governor of ^(C)Syria. ³ And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city. ⁴ Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because ^(D)he was of the house and family of David, ⁵ in order to register along with Mary, who was ^[d]betrothed to him, and was pregnant. ⁶ While they were there, the ^[e]time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she ^(E)gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a ^[f]manger, because there was no ^[g]room for them in the inn.

⁸ In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. ⁹ And ^(F)an angel of the Lord suddenly ^(G)stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. ¹⁰ And so the angel said to them, “^(H)Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; ¹¹ for today in the city of David there has been born for you a ^(I)Savior, who is ^[h](J)Christ ^(K)the Lord. ¹² And ^(L)this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a ^[i]manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly ^[j]army of angels praising God and saying,

⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who ^(A)comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.

Results of Justification

5 ^(A)Therefore, having been justified by faith, ^[a](B)we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

⁹ Much more then, having now been justified ^[a](A)by His blood, we shall be saved ^(B)from the wrath of God through Him. ¹⁰ For if while we were ^(C)enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved ^[b](D)by His life.