“For unto you is born in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
It’s almost impossible to find people who aren’t excited about Christmas!
Young and old alike love this special time of the year; the rich and poor, businessmen, students, government officials and the elderly; the Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Jew!
Why? Christmas offers something for everyone!
A time of spiritual fulfillment and reflection, family reunion, fun and holidays, gifts, extra business and even a time to fall in love!
I’ve always cherished Christmas with all the festivities, services and caring-sharing spirit that accompanies it.
I know there are people who say Christmas was borrowed from a pagan ritual, that Christ wasn’t born on December 25, and the Christmas tree is of pagan origin.
The Watchtower Society, Jehovah Witnesses and Herbert W. Armstrong’s followers strongly disagree with Christendom on these points.
Most Bible scholars will agree that Jesus Christ was born in September or October, in 4 or 5 B.C. and that December 25 was in fact the date of an ancient Roman festival.
MARTIN LUTHER INTRODUCED CHRISTMAS TREE!
We’ll have to blame Dr. Martin Luther for the Christmas tree, and possibly the carol ‘Away In A Manger’ which was originally known as ‘Luther’s Cradle Hymn’. Modern research says it may be of American authorship appearing first in the ‘Little Children’s Book’ published in Philadelphia in 1885, with a third verse added later by a Methodist minister, Dr. John T. McFarland.
The Protestant Reformation however, injected joy and happiness into the usual dull, somber services!
The J.W.’s aren’t too reliable with their dates anyway, having prophesied the Second Coming of Christ to take place on numerous occasions, 1948 being the last one!
Their prediction that the ‘End of the World’ would occur in 1975, caused thousands of their members to leave that cult!
And a few years ago the Michael Jackson-Second-Coming-Cult was gaining ground among Jehovah’s Witnesses, and only some of Herbert W. Armstrong’s followers actually believe that the gospel wasn’t preached until 1934, when he began his ministry!
If old Herbert made it to heaven, he’ll have a lot of explaining to do to Martin Luther, John Wesley, D.L. Moody and Jesus Christ!
CHRISTMAS IMPRESSES ME!
I enjoy giving gifts to my family and friends, and also receiving a few. I love the Christmas cards, turkey dinner, family get-togethers and worship services.
Maybe I’m sentimental, but Christmas means a lot to me! I’m thankful I do not live in Saudi Arabia, Iran or North Korea. I’m glad I’m a Canadian and a Christian!
I salute the governments of our nation (federal, provincial and municipal) for respecting and honoring the birth of Christ.
As for the gift-giving, we’ll have to credit Almighty God for starting it all by giving His “only begotten Son” to the world, and to the wise men for bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ-child.
I’m impressed with the miracles and challenges of Christmas: the angelic visitation and the virgin birth of Christ, together with His life, death and resurrection!
The message of the angels has brought comfort and hope to millions down through the centuries. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:14)
Mankind hopes sincerely and desires peace! We all need inner peace during the turmoil around us; peace in our hearts, homes and communities!
And peace among nations!
CHRIST IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE!
Is peace possible, when you consider the staggering workload of pastors, psychologists and psychiatrists; with the frightening level of mental illness and nervous breakdown?
Is it possible to have peace in view of the increase of murders, abortion, rape, incest and other violent crime?
Unfortunately, violence has become a staple in our daily lives from violent scenes on our TV screens in the movies and even on children’s cartoons as well as domestically!
Child abuse, incest and violence in the home, is often sparked by things like pornography, sexual perversion, triggered by drunkenness and drug abuse!
Can peace invade the hearts and homes of vulgar, blasphemous and ungodly pot-smoking, heroin-taking, wife-beating, incestuous people? Is it possible for a change to occur in their lives?
The answer is a definite, “YES”! Jesus Christ is the ‘Prince of Peace’ and ‘Life’s Great Champion’. His love for the fearful, sinful, absurd and hurting is awesome and an absolute reality!
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”. (John 14:27)
The Bible says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. (2 Cor. 5:17)
JESUS IS MASTER OVER EVERY SITUATION!
Is world peace possible - even after the breakup of the Soviet Union - when you consider the powder keg that exists in Bosnia, Chechnyia and Northern Ireland?
Russia’s instability - with an enormous stock pile of nuclear weapons - growing tension in the Middle East and the increasing possibility of human error and miscalculation, adds to the problem!
Humanly speaking, it appears like an impossibility, unless there is divine intervention! Mankind has proven that we cannot govern ourselves properly. Greed, hatred, bigotry and strife is consuming the human race!
We all exult in the message of the angel band on the Judean hillsides that first Christmas morn but many have failed to listen to the entire message.
“Fear not, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”
The question I pose is, “Have we expected Him to bring peace to earth and goodwill toward men, without us giving glory to God?”
The world - by and large - has rejected Him as Savior and Lord and will continue to do so until He comes. How terribly sad and unfortunate!
Jesus Christ will return in power to rapture those who trust in Him and bring judgment upon the enemies of God and righteousness.
THE DEVIL WILL THEN BE BOUND AND PEACE WILL REIGN!
Until we invite Christ into the UN in New York and the nations of the world recognize His Lordship, strifes, confrontation and war is inevitable and will continue to escalate!!
THOSE WHO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST INTO THEIR LIVES EXPERIENCE A SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION AND HEALING. WHEN THIS BEGINS TO HAPPEN ON A LARGE SCALE, OUR COMMUNITIES WILL CHANGE; BECAUSE HE IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE!
Jesus Christ is the real reason for the season!
HAVE A SAFE, PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS SEASON
On December 25th, more than one billion people will celebrate Christmas!
The birth of Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah and the world's saviour, is gaining in popularity each year.
The Gregorian calendar divides history into two sections from the time of His birth nearly 2000 years ago - BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini - which is latin for "In the year of our Lord".)
Although there have been, and still are, other calendars, the Gregorian is used worldwide.
According to Dr. Ralph Winters, an expert on world religions, the message of Jesus Christ is a very viable and powerful force in the world today.
Here are some of his findings: In the year AD 40, there was only one Christian to 40,000 pagans. By 1900, there was a dramatic change - one Christian for every 100 pagans. In 1950, the ratio was reduced further - 1 to 26. And today, the figure stands at one Christian for every 9.3 non-believers.
GREAT REVIVALS OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY ARE CURRENTLY SWEEPING THE PHILIPPINES, LATIN AMERICA, SOUTH KOREA, AFRICA AND EASTERN EUROPE.
With the collapse of communism, it will surely continue to escalate, garnering in millions more for God's kingdom!
And a growing number of imminent Jewish scholars and rabbis now believe in Jesus as their Messiah or at least acknowledge Him as prophet and teacher.
Ellis Rivkin, professor of Jewish history at Hebrew Union College, said: "Of these messianic claimants, only one - Jesus of Nazareth - so impressed his disciples that he became their Messiah. And he did so after the very crucifixion which should have refuted his claims decisively. But it was not Jesus' life which proved beyond question that He was the Messiah, the Christ. It was His resurrection".
And even though Muslims do not accept Jesus as the Son of God and His substitutionary death on the cross for our sins, they believe in Him as a prophet.
History has a way of repeating itself and like the middle ages, the religious race is once again between Mohammed's Islam and the Gospel of Christ.
And now with the door open to the former Soviet Union, we can carry the gospel of Jesus Christ into the many Muslim republics there!
Muslims have been taught to sacrifice themselves for their religion - And when they realize that Jesus Christ is the Very Son of God (which their Koran teaches, as well as contradicts) they will be willing to die for Jesus, if necessary!
With that kind of a mind-set, the gospel will spread quickly among the masses, as it did in the Early Church period!
But, with the enormous wealth of the Arab Gulf States - some of which heavily support Islam's missionary vision - and the fanaticism of Iran's Shiites, the religion of Mohammed is gaining ground.
Although Christianity has made gigantic strides during the last two millenias, many believers have become lukewarm in their devotion to Jesus Christ and are Christian in "name only". And unfortunately, some denominations have compromised their doctrinal position and denied "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints". (Jude 3)
St. Paul warned of those who "have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof". His admonition was: "from such turn away".
THREE FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH, WHICH HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACK BY LIBERAL THEOLOGIANS, ARE THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST, HIS SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH AND PHYSICAL RESURRECTION!
Let's go back to the beginning of Christianity and Jesus' birth, in order to understand the phenomenon surrounding this great event.
Isaiah prophesied the Messiah's virgin birth 700 years before it happened. He also foretold His death on the cross.
"Therefore, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
Numerous prophets had revealed other aspects of His miraculous birth, perfect sinlessness, supernatural miracle ministry, substitutionary death and glorious resurrection from the dead.
Micah prophesied His birth in Bethlehem. This was fulfilled when Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, made a decree that all Palestinians must return to the town of their ancestry for a general census.
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2)
Although Joseph - the husband of Mary - lived in Nazareth, he had to return with his expectant wife for the enumeration. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, as the prophet had said.
"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
"And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:4-7)
Hosea foretold His flight into Egypt, where He and His parents fled from King Herod, who sought His life. Jeremiah prophesied the mourning of children killed by Herod in the "slaughter of the innocents".
"Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not." (Matt. 2:17-18)
Hundreds of Old Testament prophecies, identifying the Messiah, were fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth.
The sad part is that today, multitudes of people celebrate His birth, but have no vital contact with Him. They've also forgotten the reason for His coming!
HE CAME TO GIVE HOPE TO THE WORLD, PEACE TO TROUBLED HEARTS AND MINDS AND HEALING TO THOSE WHO HURT. JESUS CAME TO PROVIDE SALVATION FOR THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE!
"He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:" (John 1:11-12)
Jesus Christ is the real reason for the season!
HAVE A SAFE, PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS SEASON
The world is desperately searching for a saviour who will bring about economic security, racial harmony and world peace!
Jesus Christ warned, “I am come in My Father’s name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him will ye receive”. (John 5:43)
St. John declared: “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name”. (John 1:11-12)
SIN BRINGS SLAVERY & DEATH!
St. Paul wrote: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. (Rom. 6:23)
WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT? The Bible says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. (Rom. 3:23)
Again St. Paul states, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Rom. 5:12)
HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS - “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him”. (Rom. 5:6-9)
Jesus declared, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost”. (Luke 19:10)
The Angel of God announced the good news to the Judean shepherds so long ago: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”. (Luke 2:10-11)
A message of Great Joy - How wonderful! A Savior has been born! And this Savior is Jesus Christ, King Messiah!
The prophet Micah had foretold His coming with pin-point accuracy many years earlier: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting”. (Micah 5:2)
Wise men - probably from Iran (Persia) - followed His star to Jerusalem where they inquired, “WHERE IS HE WHO IS BORN KING OF THE JEWS? FOR WE HAVE SEEN HIS STAR IN THE EAST, AND ARE COME TO WORSHIP HIM”. (Matt. 2:2)
The Bible refers to Jesus, the Coming Messiah as, ‘The Star out of Jacob’:
“I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.” (Numbers 24:17)
No wonder God used a star to guide the wise men in their search for the ‘King of the Jews’!
PEACE ON EARTH!
The angel choir sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”. (Luke 2:14)
There is only one way to receive peace in our spirits and minds - individually and collectively as a nation - and that is to receive Jesus Christ into our hearts and lives and be born again by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God!
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Being born Again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1:18,19,23)
HERE IS SOME Bad News & The Good News!
Isaiah pinpoints our major problem: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”. (Is. 53:6)
It is true that we were all born in sin. We are sinners by birth as well as choice and the wages of sin is death!
Jesus warned, however, that in the last days there would be false Christs and so-called Saviours who would deceive the “very elect if possible”.
We are being invaded in these last days by thousands of weird clairvoyants, witch doctors, hypnotists, spiritualist mediums and Eastern philosophers who make up the New Age Movement.
Many of them are subtle liars who mix occultism and nature worship with the Bible, in order to deceive the spiritually ignorant and unlearned into becoming Lucifer’s (dumb-dumb) slaves!
BILLY GRAHAM’S CO-EVANGELIST WARNS!
In late 1983, Dr. John Wesley White wrote: "PETER POCKLINGTON was one of the top runners for the Conservative Leadership of Canada...losing out to Brian Mulroney...In a highly publicized court case...PSYCHIC RITA BURNS contended (and Pocklington did not deny it)... the would-be future Prime Minister confided to her: "Everyday I look at myself in the mirror and say: You are a god. People do your will because you are a god". (MacLeans, Oct. 10/83; The Tor. Star, Oct. 14,15)
WHY IS THIS SO ALARMING?
"First John says: “Antichrist shall come”: but before he does there would be “the spirit of Antichrist” issuing in “many antichrists” (1 John 2:18; 4:3).
Jesus projected...“take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My Name saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.. if any man shall say unto you, Lo here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets”. (Matt. 24:4, 5, 23, 24)
A number of years ago the weird John Lennon actually thought he was Jesus Christ and even wilder, 'The White Gloved One's mother Katherine stated that Michael Jackson (WACKO JACKO) might be the "incarnation" of the Messiah. And the spokesman for Rev. Moon, Matthew Morrison replied to his own question, "Is Moon the Messiah? That's what he is".
Dr. White wrote, "St. Paul prophesied that the actual Antichrist, when, as “the man of sin”, he was “revealed, the son of perdition (he’d be) worshipped.. showing himself that he is god”. (2 Thess. 2:3,4)
"So we’re seeing the POCKLINGTONS, as harbingers of the antichrist, talking to themselves: “You are god. People do your will because you are god”. It is only one of a dozen such suitings in the media over the last month.
"Elsewhere in politics Peter Newman wrote of a provincial premier as a “messiah” or at least a “prophet” (MacLeans, Oct. 17/83). David Miller writes that some 15% of our physicians are alcoholics or drug addicts because they have to be so “God-like” (Tor. Star, Oct. 2/83). Pop idol Robert Charlebois is welcomed by his fanatical fans as “like a god” (Tor. Star, Oct. 15/83). In sport, a World Series superstar is adulated by millions, as “someone to…worship” (John Lynn in the Tor. Star, Oct. 15/83).
"The 'Star' polls people it reckons to be leading literary figures, and asks them if they could take five people, from any age of history, home to dinner, who would they be? Not one chose Jesus Christ (see Star, Oct. 1/83). Pontius Pilate was chosen.
"And Canada’s fifth bestseller currently is ‘A Time For Judas’ in which Morley Callaghan extols the ATTRIBUTES OF JUDAS ISCARIOT (MacLeans, Oct. 17/83).
"We’ve already noted that St. Paul describes the coming Antichrist as “the son of perdition” (The Scriptural description of Judas).
"And how does Jesus Christ come off in our official posture? Brenda Taylor and Victor Goldbloom of the Council of Christians and Jews go before the House of Commons Committee on Racism to plead for the removal of Christian pageants and the singing of Christmas carols from our public schools.
"In short, eliminate any mention of Jesus Christ as Someone to be worshipped or adored from our schools. It’s alright, of course to curse His name in the prose of the books used, the lyrics of the songs sung, or classroom chit chat. Chalk that one down to antichrist in our schools."
WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN TO US?
We know that many are desperately searching for an answer to their problems. And we also know that only Jesus Christ has the solution and is the answer to our every need!
Satan is a liar and deceiver and is desperately trying to enslave this world's 6 billion inhabitants. We also know that he is a loser in the First Degree!
JESUS CHRIST IS THE WORLD'S ONLY SAVIOR!
