Christmas 07

Reasons to celebrate Christmas

CHRISTMAS 07 - Part 4 12/23/07 a.m.

Christ•mas \ˈkris-məs\ n

often attrib [ME Christemasse, fr. OE Cristes m+sse, lit., Christ’s mass] bef. 12c

1 : a Christian feast on December 25 or among some Eastern Orthodox Christians on January 7 that commemorates the birth of Christ and is usu. observed as a legal holiday [1]

Christmas, the annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus, celebrated on December 25 in all churches except the Church of Armenia, for which it is January 6.

The term appears as early as a.d. 1123 in Old English as ‘Cristes maesse’ (and variations) and ‘Christmas’ by 1568, meaning Mass of Christ.

The actual date of Jesus’ birth is unknown.

There is no evidence of celebrating the nativity before the third century. January 6 became widely observed in the third century to commemorate the ‘manifestation’ (‘epiphany’) of Christ on earth, including his birth, baptism, and the visit of the Magi, with varying local emphases.

The celebration of the nativity is attested in Rome in a.d. 336 (where Epiphany, January 6, commemorated the visit of the Magi), and this became widespread in the fifth and sixth centuries.

Although there are various theories on the selection of December 25, the most widely accepted is that this date had already been a major pagan festival, that of Sol Invictus, the ‘birth’ of the ‘Unconquerable Sun,’ marking the winter solstice (the sun’s triumph over darkness).

With the triumph of Christianity, Christmas replaced the pagan festival, Christians having applied ‘Sun of Righteousness’ (Mal. 4:2) to Christ. See also Epiphany; Jesus Christ; Sun; Wise Men. A.J.H. [2]

Lk 2:1-38 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (fulfillment of scripture)12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying (praise God)

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill 5toward men!”

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,

According to Your word;

30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation (salvation)

31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

32  A light to bring revelation (the knowledge of God)to the Gentiles,

And the glory of Your people Israel.”

The proper manner to celebrate Christmas

1 Co 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

*** Celebrate Christmas to honor and glorify God ***

Reason #1; To praise God

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God

Reason #2; The fulfillment of Scripture – (God kept His Word)

11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Reason #3; Salvation – (the proof of Gods’ love)

30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation

Reason #4; The light that brings revelation and glory –

(the source of understanding, knowledge, and the glory of God)

 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

The express revealing of God

LIGHT — illumination; the opposite of darkness. Throughout the Bible, light represents truth, goodness, and God’s redemptive work. Darkness, on the other hand, symbolizes error, evil, and the works of Satan.[3]

Jesus is Gods’ light or way, understanding, knowledge of salvation for all people.

Is 49:66 I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,

That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

1 Cor. 1:30 Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness

and sanctification and redemption—

LIGHT is Illustrative of

a. Glory of God. Ps 104:2; 1Ti 6:16.

b. Purity of God. 1Jo 1:5.

c. Wisdom of God. Da 2:22.

d. Guidance of God. Ps 27:1; 36:9.

e. Favour of God. Ps 4:6; Isa 2:5.

f. Christ the source of all wisdom. Lu 2:32; Joh 1:4,9; 8:12; 12:46.

g. Glory of Christ. Ac 9:3,5; 26:13.

h. Purity of Christ. Mt 17:2.

i. Word of God. Ps 119:105,130; 2Pe 1:19.

j. Gospel. 2Co 4:4; 1Pe 2:9.

k. Ministers. Mt 5:14; Joh 5:35.

l. Wise rulers. 2Sa 21:17; 23:4.

m. The soul of man. Job 18:5,6.

n. Saints. Lu 16:8; Eph 5:8; Php 2:15.

o. Future glory of saints. Ps 97:11; Col 1:12.

p. The path of the just. Pr 4:18.

q. The glory of the church. Isa 60:1-3.

r. Whatever makes manifest. Joh 3:21; Eph 5:13.[4]

Believers are described as enlightened (Heb. 6:4; 10:32).

Disciples are called ‘the light of the world’ (Matt. 5:14).

Because Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12; cf. 1:4-5, 9),

for he is the emissary of God, who is light (1 John 1:5)

and who calls people ‘out of darkness into his marvelous light’ (1 Pet. 2:9)[5]

What does it mean to be enlightened, for disciples to be the light of the world?

Heb 6:4-6 describes those who were enlightened,

and have tasted the heavenly gift, (the mercy & grace of God, salvation)

and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,

5 and have tasted the good word of God

and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

What need is there for us to be enlightened?

Is 55:8-9 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Is 9:2 2 … people …. walk in darkness ….

They dwell in the land of the shadow of death,

Pr 14:12 12 There is a way that seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death.

Mt 24:10-1111 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

2 Tim 3:13-14 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Ac 20:29-30 (Paul)29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

2 Pe 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies,

EXAMPLES

THE EMERGENT CHURCH

their purpose and goal is to draw people not glorify God
they do not preach or teach but each express their own thoughts
they have no absolutes of truth, right, wrong, good, bad
they have a mixture of religions; Christianity, Eastern Religions, Catholicism
are more concerned with feeling good about themselves than being correct in their faith

Other teachings of the modern church

all religions are equally the same
that Allah and the God of the Bible are the same
the denial of the virgin birth
the denial of the nativity
the denial of the sinlessness of Christ
the denial of the authority of the Bible
the denial of the factuality of the Bible
reject the application of scripture to daily life
the practicing, praising, and promotion of homosexuality

Jas 3:15 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

Is 8:2020 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Christ came to expose and rebuke the foolishness, lies, and deceitfulness of mans’ wisdom.

Are you enlightened and living in the light of Christ – the knowledge & wisdom of God?

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\

\ə\ abut \ə\ kitten, F table \ər\ further \a\ ash \ā\ ace \ä\ mop, mar

\au̇\ out \ch\ chin \e\ bet \ē\ easy \g\ go \i\ hit \ī\ ice \j\ job

\ŋ\ sing \ō\ go \ȯ\ law \ȯi\ boy \th\ thin \ṯẖ\ the \ü\ loot \u̇\ foot

\y\ yet \zh\ vision, beige \ḵ, n, œ, ue, y\ see Guide to Pronunciation

n northern, noun

attrib attributive, attributively

ME Middle English

fr from

OE Old English

lit literally, literary

bef before

c century

usu usually

[1]Merriam-Webster, Inc: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Eleventh ed. Springfield, Mass. : Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003

A.J.H. Arland J. Hultgren, Th.D.; Associate Professor of New Testament; Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary; St. Paul, Minnesota

[2]Achtemeier, Paul J. ; Harper & Row, Publishers ; Society of Biblical Literature: Harper's Bible Dictionary. 1st ed. San Francisco : Harper & Row, 1985, S. 163

5 NU toward men of goodwill

[3]Youngblood, Ronald F. ; Bruce, F. F. ; Harrison, R. K. ; Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville : T. Nelson, 1995

[4]Torrey, R.A.: The New Topical Text Book : A Scriptural Text Book for the Use of Ministers, Teachers, and All Christian Workers. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos research Systems, Inc., 1995, c1897

[5]Achtemeier, Paul J. ; Harper & Row, Publishers ; Society of Biblical Literature: Harper's Bible Dictionary. 1st ed. San Francisco : Harper & Row, 1985, S. 561