The first verses of Paul’s letter to the Romans are rarely, if ever, considered to be part of the Christmas message. But when we look at them, we will quickly and clearly see why they are significant for Christmas.

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son …” (Romans 1:1-3)

The key phrase is “promised beforehand.” When Paul is talking about the coming of Christ, he is talking not about something that no one was prepared for and therefore unexpected. The coming of Christ into the world had been promised centuries and centuries before.

The reason we call this season Advent is because the meaning in Latin is “a coming to.” We are celebrating the coming of Christ into the world. It was a long expected, long-awaited coming, “promised beforehand in the scriptures.”

We see the Messianic prophesies regarding Christ’s birth in a number of passages:

Isaiah 7:14

The book of Isaiah was written in approximately 700 B.C., seven hundred years before Christ. That would be like something today written back in the 1400s pointing to an event that would occur today.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son and she will call his name Emmanuel [which means “God is with us”].

And the fulfillment of this prophecy you read in Matthew chapter 1, verses 18, 24 and 25, and then in Luke 1:26-35.

Micah 5:2

Written between 740 and 690 B.C.

But as for you, Bethlehem, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you one will go forth for me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.

The prophet Micah is describing a person who is eternal, who will come into the world and be born into Bethlehem. And it’s fulfilled in in Matthew 2:1 and Luke 2:4-7.

Isaiah 9:6 (700 B.C.)

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will rest on his shoulders and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

I find it to be of great significance that this child will be called “Mighty God.” Isaiah’s words are a foretelling of the Incarnation, that God was going to come into the world as a human being. And it’s fulfilled in Matthew 4:15-16.

The people of God in the Old Testament were willing to wait for the advent of their Messiah. They waited with confidence in the trustworthiness of God’s promises.

Richard E Simmons III is the founder and Executive Director of The Center for Executive Leadership and a best-selling author.