Christmas Scripture Worth Reading

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Sunday Night 2 weeks bfore Christmas

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The Christmas Scriptures Worth Reading

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah
Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Scripture Discussion

Christmas. Though speculation as to the time of year of Christ’s Birth dates from the early 3rd cent., *Clement of Alexandria, e.g., suggesting 20 May, the celebration of the anniversary does not appear to have been general till the later 4th cent. The earliest mention of the observance on 25 Dec. is in the *Philocalian Calendar, representing Roman practice of the year 336 (25 Dec.: natus Christus in Betleem Judeae). This date was prob. chosen to oppose the feast of the Natalis Solis Invicti by the celebration of the birth of the ‘Sun of Righteousness’. Another tradition, however, derived the date of Christmas from that of the *Annunciation. The Pseudo-*Chrysostomic tractate De solstitia et aequinoctia conceptionis et nativitatis domini nostri Iesu Christi et Iohannis Baptistae argued that the Lord was conceived and crucified on the same day of the year, and calculated this as 25 Mar., a computation mentioned by St *Augustine (De Trinitate, 4. 5). Whatever the origin of the 25 Dec. date, after the accession of the Emp. *Constantine its observance in the W. seems to have spread from Rome. In the E. the closely related feast of the *Epiphany (6 Jan.), which commemorated also the Baptism of Christ, was at first the more important; but in the later 4th cent. it was connected with the Nativity, esp. in Syria, and by the, middle of the 5th cent. most of the E. had adopted 25 Dec., though the Church of *Jerusalem held to 6 Jan. until 549. In the *Armenian Church 6 Jan. is still the only day devoted specifically to the celebration of the Incarnation. The controversies of the 4th to 6th cents. on the Incarnation and the Person of Christ doubtless contributed to the growth in importance of the feast.

The day is celebrated in the W. rite by three Masses, of the night (normally said at midnight), of the dawn, and of the day, which have been held to symbolize the threefold birth of Christ, eternally in the bosom of the Father, from the womb of the Virgin Mary, and mystically in the soul of the faithful.

The popular observance of the feast has always been marked by the joy and merry-making formerly characteristic of the Roman Saturnalia and the other pagan festivals it replaced. It developed considerably in England in the 19th cent. through the importation of German customs by the Prince Consort (e.g. Christmas trees) and the influence of Charles Dickens. The singing of *carols has become a widespread feature in both ecclesiastical and secular contexts.

and 2 are certainly the Christmas texts, but what else is there?
John 7:40-52
Jesus the Son of God was from Old. He was spoken of as a son prior to the birth in Bethlehem.
Isaiah was one prophet to give the news to the nations. He does so in 9:6-7 and 7:14.
Micah also tells us of the one to come in 5:2-4
John, the one Jesus loved, tells us he was from the beginning
It is also believed the “Angel of the Lord” many spoke to or heard from in the Old Testament was the Lord himself. Here are some reasons why:
, He is identified as God
In he pardons sin
He was worshiped
These passages don’t tell us who He is, but the actions, the work of the person is the same.
Galatians 4:4 ESV
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
But why come? Why leave heaven and all authority to come under the authority of men? Well in God’s plan, this was the way, the only way, your will and my will could remain free and God could satisfy the law.
But why come? Why leave heaven and all authority to come under the authority of men? Well in God’s plan, this was the way, the only way, your will and my will could remain free and God could satisfy the law.
2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Cor 5:21
He came, born of the virgin, keeping His holy identity, and gaining the identity of man. The God man was capable of feeling pain, hunger, thirst, fatigue, temptation, pleasure and rest. Because of his complete humanity he can sympathize with us,
Hebrews 4:15 ESV
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
He was also God. He forgave sins, was omniscience, he knew the hearts of men, he created, and calmed the sea. “Even the wind and waves obey.”
He made water into wine, fed the 5000 by multiplying the bread and fish.
Hebrews 1:8 ESV
But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
Mark 2:7 ESV
“Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
He did all this and remained sinless. Have you tried that for an hour, a day, a week?
Because He remained sinless He was the perfect lamb of God. In the Old Testament, the shedding of blood was for the remission of sins.
How would this sinless man, the one born of the virgin, Mary, shed His blood to become redeemer?
Silly as it sounds, He didn’t have to do anything. He just had to be God walking among the people, and they would do it. His sinless character, correct interpretation of the Scripture, ability to know man’s heart, and keeping humble were enough to get Him killed. Besides the fact that He was and claimed to be the Messiah!
1 Timothy 2:5 ESV
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
So the baby born in the manger, was called God.
Hebrews 1:8 ESV
But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
This is truly an unparalleled act! The God Man, sinless, perfect, crucified, redeemer, Holy One, Emmanuel, Messiah, Ancient of days, the Bread of Life,
Philippians 2:10 ESV
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
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