The Bible does mention two individuals celebrating birthdays: the Egyptian Pharaoh in Joseph's time ( Genesis 40:20) and King Herod in Jesus' time ( Matthew 14:6; Mark 6:21 ). And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. For most people, the answer could be obvious. "Hark! You want something but don't get it. The Life! Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. I am convinced that this thought was uppermost in Luke's mind as he set about to write this opening section of his gospel. The first message is a message of the faithfulness of God. Salem Media Group. Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. Before we turn to the book of Luke, I want to say first that by far the best and greatest way to celebrate Christmas is by becoming a Christian if you have never done so. When the angels had departed, the shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem. We find peace by praying. Nothing destroys joy except sin. There are two answers. Just as we celebrate our childrens birthdays every year, I believe its entirely appropriate for us to celebrate the birth of Gods own Son, Jesus Christ, every year. "The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology" explains that the earliest Christians did not have a time when they regularly observed Christ's birth. Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! I am not referring to activity, of course. Had God forgotten His people? I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. The meaning of His name is "He will save His people from their sins" To him be glory forever. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man in his incarnation. Malachi, who lived in the fifth century before Christ, was the last of the prophets. But they have. (Luke 18:13). What we sow we shall reap." Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. "O Come, All Ye Faithful" Words: John F. Wade, circa 1743. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Frank E. Gaebelein writes about this passage in The Practical Epistle of James, "A few years ago, former Chancellor Hutchins of the University of Chicago said war begins in the minds of men. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. On the day of the firstfruits, when you offer a grain offering of new grain to the Lord at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. Not only did these men have something to tell, as we do, they also knew of a world that needed desperately to hear their message. Does the Bible Condemn Using Tarot Cards? The time of fulfillment has come! Have you confessed them to God and to others? Nevertheless, this is the day that most people, Christians and non-Christians alike, observe as His birthday, and if we are to mark it at all, this seems to be the only realistic time to do it. This is the first message that I would leave with you. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Do you sometimes feel that God has forgotten you? Perhaps you are one who longs for the Lord's return. But the significance of it would have passed her by. B And you will be at peace with God in a way that you were not at peace formerly. The second concerns the salvation of men. I bring you good news of great joy" (Luke 2:10). We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire. And David said to him, Will you take me down to this band? And he said, Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band. And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold Him Crashaw wrote of this wonder: This is why the wonder of children seems so appropriate at Christmastime. The appearance of Gabriel to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus. These words mean "a right opinion," "a wrong opinion," and "a contradictory opinion" respectively. At best she might have guessed that the child that was born to her might possibly be the Messiah. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Perhaps you have prayed for something and have not received an answer, at least not the answer you were waiting for. Together these verses teach that men are not naturally at peace with God but that God has acted to make peace through the Lord Jesus Christ. You can remember the moment in which they became real for you personally. Nor would Joseph have known. I believe that I can illustrate the fact that two kinds of peace are involved here by the wording of one of Charles Wesley's great hymns, in which the same contrast is found, although the actual word used is different. One person who has been responsible for watering down the biblical meaning of the word "salvation" is Paul Tillich, the German-born American theologian. Then out of the darkness we hear God speaking to call forth life and order. Romans 14:5-6 - One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Gaebelein, Frank. You can sharpen up your affections; indeed, you must, for it is a terrible thing to have your love for the One who is the Lord of love grow cold. What Does the Bible Say About Celebrating Jesus Birthday? Long ago, when the Greek language was in its infancy, the word from which the word "glory" came meant "to have an opinion." So begin with amazement be amazed at the fact that you have not suffered the just punishment of your sin, that God has loved you, that Jesus came and died for you, that God called you to faith in Himself when you were yet without hope of salvation, and that you are now God's child and are secure in His love. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. You say, "How does this come about?" 12. But how should a Christian celebrate Christmas? In other words, what they had been told coincided with their own experience, and they could not resist speaking of such things. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Jeremiah 10:2-4 ESV / 302 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. Joy is a wonderful thing; it is an appropriate part of Christmas. And where are you from? He said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago. He came to earth and became a man but kept fully the divine nature in Himself. And you will enter, perhaps for the first time, into the Christmas story. Third, there is the suggestion of the work of a mediator who makes the reconciliation possible. You shall keep the Feast of Harvest, of the firstfruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. Have you seen that truth in the story? In chapter 2, verse 10, Paul writes of God's fairness in granting "glory, honor and peace, for everyone who does good.". Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Why? Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living. Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. The appearance of first one angel and then a multitude of angels to the shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem. Let's consider four reasons why Christmas doesn't meet the criteria of being "Christian.". And there, where they had first heard the angels' song, they themselves were heard to be singing God's praise. This is the perfect combination a knowledge of the Good News and men who need to hear it. Of course, you can and you should! Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 1. Let me illustrate this by a story from the life of Dr. Ralph L. Keiper, who was a professor of English Bible at Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary in Denver, Colorado, and who was for many years associated with Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse in his ministry. For you see, Joseph was in a difficult position. There are a few theories. The third message is of the outcome, which is joy for man and glory for God. However, God does promise to give us what we need (Philippians 4:19), and He promises to keep our minds in His peace, if we will pray to Him. Sol Invictus was a pagan god who was believed to be the unconquered sun. Then glorify and praise God for what you know. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. The shepherds, wise men, and angels celebrated the birth of Jesus with gifts, songs, and prayer. And he called out with a mighty voice, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! Peace on earth. And in the center of them in the appearances of angels to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds there are the three messages which, more than any other, perfectly explain the true, divine meaning of Christmas. To the choirmaster. Celebrating it certainly does seem and feel like the right thing to do. Most people think that the day of one's birth is special. But their amazement is fitting to Christmas - it's a sample of what Christmas amazement should be for those who understand the Christmas story. The second message brought by the angels concerning the birth of Christ is the message to Joseph. The passage begins by speaking of the shepherds. This holy amazement is closely melded to adoration. The words of the angel to Joseph confirmed Joseph's authority and responsibility in the naming of Mary's child. And God has not forgotten you! TopicalBible Celebrating Christmas can also take the form of pondering it, for Mary "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. It is celebrated on December 25th. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord., For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.. How Should We Celebrate the Birth of Christ. Helpful Not Helpful Praise the Lord! In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. So, the best way to celebrate Christmas is to believe on Jesus as your Savior. The Apostle James was one who knew this, and he spoke of it in a passage that is a perceptive analysis of such problems in the world and in church circles. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. Here is a rest that is given and a rest that is found. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. There is peace with God. Happiness is related to circumstances. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Happiness is a wonderful thing at Christmas shopping, decorating, entertaining, mailing cards but it is the world's virtue, and like all the world's virtues, it quite easily passes away. G This is what theologians call, "Hypostatic union." It explains how God, the Son of God, took human nature but He remained God at the same time. Keiper asked, "Why do you call it a farce?" Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. And we need to understand exactly what the biblical meaning of these words is if we are to understand this part of the angel's announcement.
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