Sermon Tone Analysis

*                                   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 49:6*6          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*.