The Greatest Christmas Gift of All

The Greatest Christmas Gift of All

By Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934-1995)

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Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet said, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given" (Isa. 9:6). That prophecy was fulfilled in the words of that blessed text, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Jesus Christ was God’s Christmas Gift, and God never gives anything but the best! The Bible says in James 1:17, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

With deep gratitude for this Gift, the apostle wrote, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (II Cor. 9:15).

Christmas is that blessed time of year when nearly everyone’s thoughts turn to gifts and giving. Ample evidence of the fact is the enormous sum of money spent for Christmas gifts each year.

Giving is a Christian virtue not to be taken lightly. It is a tragedy for life to be lived in ignorance of the joy of generous giving. To keep happiness, it must be given away. To lift another’s load is to lighten our own. And as the waters fled away from Tantalus, so do all the higher, nobler things of life flee away from the self-seeking spirit.

As we think of gifts and giving at this Christmas season, let us meditate on the fact that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

The blessed Heavenly Father gave the first Christmas Gift. Romans 8:32 states, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Salvation is the gift of God.

The Scripture says in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." As we think about God’s glorious Christmas Gift, let’s consider that it was
 

An Unsolicited Gift

Several times this Christmas season I have been asked, "What would you like for Christmas?" or "What can I get you for Christmas?" I have asked my children what they would like for Christmas. Many times Christmas gifts are the result of a specific request, but not so with God’s Christmas Gift. His was an unsolicited Gift.

It wasn’t man who saw his need and asked for God’s help; it was the blessed Father who foresaw our need and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

When our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned and fled from the presence of God, it wasn’t Adam who saw his need and sought the Father; but the Father who, knowing Adam’s need, sought him.

It was God who asked, ‘Where art thou, Adam?’ not Adam who asked, "Where art Thou, God?"

Salvation is not an afterthought with God. The Bible says concerning Jesus, "…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8).

Sinners are pictured in the Bible as lost sheep. The Scripture says, "All we like sheep have gone astray" (Isa. 53:6). I am told that sheep are geographical morons, that a lost sheep left to himself will never find his way home but will wander farther and farther away.

How wonderful at this blessed Christmas season to think that the greatest Gift ever given was unsolicited; we didn’t ask for it, but "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).

God’s Christmas Gift was also
 

An Unlimited Gift

Some department stores cater only to the very wealthy. The gifts they offer for sale are so expensive that the average person cannot purchase them. Some very poor families are unable to enjoy gifts that are enjoyed by the middle class of society.

But God’s Christmas Gift is unlimited. The blessed promise in John 3:16 is, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Jesus Christ was God’s Gift to the entire world. No one, no matter how poor, is excluded. "He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world," states I John 2:2. And Hebrews 2:9 plainly states "that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."

I have very little patience with those who teach a limited atonement, that Jesus Christ died for only a select few. That is certainly not the teaching of the Bible. The Bible says He died for every man, no matter how educated or uneducated, no matter how wealthy or poor, no matter how privileged or underprivileged, no matter how unloved or unwanted. God’s Christmas Gift is unlimited.

No one will die and go to Hell and look back to Heaven and say, "I wanted to be saved, but Jesus Christ didn’t die for me!" The Gift is available to one and all, and no one is excluded except he who excludes himself by refusing to trust Jesus Christ as Saviour.

In the last great invitation found in the Bible, our Lord opens the door as wide as He can by saying, "The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).

"Whosoever heareth," shout, shout the sound!

Spread the blessed tidings all the world around;

Tell the joyful news wherever man is found,

"Whosoever will may come."

God’s Christmas Gift is
  An Unspeakable Gift

Thinking of this wonderful Gift, the Apostle Paul said, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (II Cor. 9:15). Rest assured that God never gives anything but the best: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Jesus Christ is God’s unspeakable Gift! He is beyond telling! He is indescribable! He is inexpressible!

Perhaps Charles Wesley was thinking of this unspeakable Gift when he wrote:

O for a thousand tongues to sing

My great Redeemer’s praise,

The glories of my God and King,

The triumphs of His grace.

My gracious Master and my God,

Assist me to proclaim,

To spread thro’ all the earth abroad

The honors of Thy name.

For ages songwriters and poets alike have attempted to describe God’s glorious Christmas Gift. Preachers the world around have preached unnumbered sermons trying to explain this unspeakable Gift, but the half has never yet been told. God’s Christmas Gift is unspeakable.

God’s Christmas Gift is also
 

An Unchanging Gift

Hebrews 13:8 declares, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

Times change, styles change, attitudes and tastes change, history and math books change. Nearly everything we know of changes. But Jesus Christ is God’s unchanging Gift. His perfection demands His immutability.

There can be no moral change in Jesus. If He got better, it would mean He was not perfect before He improved; and if He got worse, it would mean He was no longer perfect.

But not only is there no moral change in Jesus; there is no change within Himself. He never differs from Himself. He never changes from understanding to more understanding, from impatient to patient, from merciful to more merciful or from willing to more willing. All that Jesus is He always has been, and all that He has been and is, He ever will be.

Christmas gifts we received several years ago have now become obsolete, but Jesus is always current; He is always new; He never changes. He is the same today to those who trust Him as Saviour as He was to those who trusted Him two thousand years ago! We enjoy the same Saviour and salvation that Spurgeon, Whitefield, Billy Sunday, W. B. Riley, Martin Luther and all the saints of bygone years enjoyed.

O how sweet the glorious message,

Simple faith may claim;

Yesterday, today, forever,

Jesus is the same.

Still He loves to save the sinful,

Heal the sick and lame,

Cheer the mourner, still the tempest;

Glory to His name!

Yesterday, today, forever,

Jesus is the same,

All may change, but Jesus never!

Glory to His name.

God’s Christmas Gift is unchanging.

But consider further that it is
 

An Undeserved Gift

The very fact that salvation is a gift indicates that it is undeserved. If it is earned or deserved, it is no longer a gift. A gift is something offered with no strings attached. Salvation is wholly of grace. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9).

Many religions teach that salvation is part of grace and part of works, but that simply cannot be. Romans 11:6 reminds us, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."

Regarding those who work to earn Heaven, Jesus said in Mat-thew 7:22 and 23, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Works offered to God in an attempt to earn salvation are described by Jesus as ‘works of iniquity.’ No matter how good those works may be, they are still ‘works of iniquity.’ If one worked to earn Heaven, the motive behind the work would render it ineffective. All Christian service must be motivated by love.

We read in I Corinthians 13:3, "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

If one worked to be saved, the service would be motivated by fear rather than love and thus be ineffective.

Someone gave this acrostic of grace:

God’s

Riches

At

Christ’s

Expense

Everything we have we received one of three ways: we earned it, stole it, or somebody gave it to us.

Now, if we go to Heaven when we die, we will either earn it, steal it, or Someone will give it to us. Could we earn Heaven? If we had a million lifetimes and worked day and night, there is no way we could earn Heaven. The street in Heaven is made of pure gold, so pure it is like transparent glass. Earth has no way of refining gold this pure. There is no way we could possibly earn Heaven.

And we certainly couldn’t steal it. The Scripture teaches that thieves shall have their part in the lake of fire.

If we can’t earn it or steal it, then there is only one other way for us to enjoy Heaven: it must be a gift. And that is exactly what the Bible says. Jesus said to the woman at the well in John 4:10, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."

God’s Christmas Gift that is unsolicited, unlimited, unspeakable, unchanging, and undeserved is also
 

An Unclaimed Gift

"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son," but the whole world has not yet received Jesus Christ as Saviour! Christ tasted death for every man, but every man is not trusting Christ for salvation. To multiplied millions, Jesus Christ is still a stranger.

Dear children and friends have made a sacrifice to purchase Christmas gifts for the ones they love. These gifts are wrapped in beautiful packages and laid underneath the tree.

Excitement builds as Christmas Day approaches, and those who have made sacrifices are anxious to watch as loved ones and friends open Christmas presents.

Mother and Father watch with joyful faces as the daughter opens a beautiful package and then exclaims, "O Mother! This is just what I wanted!" And then hugging and kissing Mother and Father, the grateful daughter says, "Thank you." Then another package is opened, and the scene is repeated.

How sad to imagine that after sacrifice and expense, some gift is unclaimed, some package is unopened! How sad the giver must feel to think that the gift is not wanted! Yet the greatest gift of all, God’s Christmas Gift, Jesus Christ, is still unclaimed by millions!

Perhaps there are some reading these lines who have never trusted Christ as Saviour; you have never received Him. If that be the case, let me urge you to trust Him now. Don’t wait another moment. The Bible warns, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (II Cor. 6:2). The death of Jesus Christ on the cross is sufficient for all, but it is efficient only to those who believe.

The words believe and receive are used synonymously in the Scriptures. The Bible says in John 1:12, "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." To believe is to receive. The Bible word believe means to trust, to depend on, to rely on. To receive God’s Christmas Gift simply means that one must admit that he is a sinner, believe the gospel story that Jesus Christ died for our sins at Calvary, and then trust Him completely.

Books and Preaching

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How does a person get to Heaven?

Ye Must Be Born Again! | You Need HIS Righteousness!

Is it Wrong to Celebrate Christmas?

Is it Wrong to Celebrate Christmas?

By David J. Stewart

       There are many varying opinions concerning the celebration of Christmas. Some religions, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, teach that it is a sin to observe Christmas at all. Is it a sin to celebrate Jesus' birthday? What about Santa Claus? What about Christmas trees? I'd like to share with you some practical thoughts concerning the Christmas holiday, with the Scriptures in mind.

First, may I say that I think God despises the modern idea of Christmas. The greedy business world has commercialized Christmas into a time of making billions-of-dollars. Christmas is not about buying, giving and receiving. It's not even about giving to the poor. It's about God giving us the gift of eternal life, at the expense of the life and blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Thus, we celebrate Christ's birth into the world. To make Christmas anything less is wrong! It is sinful to exploit the name of Jesus at Christmas-time to make a buck.  Sadly, this is all too common nowadays.

Celebration of Christmas Not Mentioned in Bible

Christmas is not mentioned in the Bible. There is NO command for believers to observe or celebrate Jesus' birthday. It is a matter of personal choice. I think it is acceptable to observe Christmas; or not to observe Christmas. There is nothing in the Word of God which requires a Christian to observe Christmas, or Easter for that fact.

I personally do not believe it is sinful to celebrate Christmas, to a degree, anymore than it would be sinful to celebrate the birthday of a family member. I think it is appropriate to celebrate the Lord's birthday for those who choose to do so.

This raises several related questions:

1. What about Santa Claus? — Santa Claus is a Satanic imposter, designed by wicked people to steer children away from the Lord Jesus Christ. Santa is a fictional character who is given the powers of being omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. This is blasphemy against God (Jesus Christ), Who is the ONLY One Who possess such divine qualities. No parent should ever deceive their child to believe in Santa. Not coincidentally, "Santa" rearranged spells S-A-T-A-N. Santa Claus is of the Devil. Christian parents should teach their children the honest truth, i.e., Santa Claus is a demonic hoax, intended by unsaved heathens to keep children from coming to Christ.
    
2. What about Christmas tress? — I think Christmas trees are appropriate. I realize that the Babylonians decorated and worshipped trees in Jeremiah 10:1-15; but the context of this Scripture passage is IDOLS, i.e., trees cut into the form of an idol and then decorated. It is ridiculous to allege that anyone with a Christmas tree in their home is practicing idolatry. Is it sinful to grow plants indoors to brighten one's home? Of course not! We enjoy the same sun, moon and stars that the Babylonians worshipped (Jeremiah 78:2). Certainly it is not wrong to enjoy the warmth of the sun, or to admire God's beauty of creation. Placing some decorations upon a tree to brighten one's home is not sinful. The clear meaning of Jeremiah 10:2, i.e., "Learn not the way of the heathen," is a prohibition against astrology and idols. I don't know anyone who worships or fears their Christmas tree. I think it is perfectly acceptable to hang Christmas lights, ornaments, and to decorate one's home with a pretty Christmas tree. Again, this is a matter of personal choice. We must be careful not to judge one another in areas where the Bible is silent.
   
   According to retired FBI agent Gary Aldrich, in his book, Unlimited Access: An FBI Agent Inside the Clinton White House, pg. 105-106, when First Lady Hillary Clinton was in charge of the White House Christmas tree, her idea of festive ornaments included crack pipes, condoms and various sex toys. This is certainly bizarre.
   
   

3. What if Jesus' birthday is not in December? — Most theologians agree that Jesus was NOT born in December. Truthfully, no one knows for sure when Jesus was born. Thus, one should not be dogmatic on this issue.
   
   A person whose birthday is on February 29th only has a birthday once every 4 years (leap year). It certainly wouldn't be wrong for such a person to celebrate their birthday on a different date. Likewise, I see no harm in celebrating Jesus' birthday on December 25th, even if His actual birthday rests in a different month and date. I think it is a wonderful thing to celebrate the birth of the Savior, God's gift to mankind.
   
   I think it's safe to say that all Christians observe "Good Friday," but a simple math calculation reveals that there are only 2-days between Good Friday and Sunday when Jesus rose from the dead. Obviously Jesus had to die on a Thursday; NOT Friday. 1st Corinthians 15:4 teaches that Christ "rose again the third day." Howbeit, I don't think it is sinful to observe the Lord's crucifixion on a Friday. Howbeit, the Bible does NOT command us to recognize Good Friday at all. Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper as a time of REMEMBRANCE when He gave His body and shed His blood for our sins. The Bible does NOT instruct us to observe ANY holidays.
   
   

4. Doesn't Christmas have pagan origins? — Yes, but so did Easter, the names of the week, and many other things we accept today. Every Easter, Christians all across America come to Sunday services to celebrate the Lord's resurrection from the Dead. Although Easter began as a pagan holiday, Christians today celebrate the holiday in an entirely different manner. Other than the term "Easter," there are no similarities with the worship of the fertility goddess, Semiramis.
   
   Certainly Halloween is a demonic holiday, and should be avoided by all Christians, except as an opportunity to pass out Gospel tracts to the lost.
   
   Although "Christ Mass," or "Mass of Christ," is purported to have it's origin in the Catholic Church, the Catholic Encyclopedia states otherwise...

"Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church . . . The first evidence of the feast is from Egypt." "Pagan customs centering around the January calends [the pagan calendar] gravitated to Christmas."

SOURCE: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 ed., article: "Christmas."

5. What about December 25th? — No one prior to 335 AD celebrated the birthday of Jesus. The word "Christmas" (Christ + Mass) was first used in 1038 AD. Before 335 AD, the pagan cult of Mithra, the Iranian "god of light," had long celebrated December 25 as Mithra’s birthday. December 21, being the winter solace, marked the beginning of days with increasing amount of light, hence December 25 celebrated Mithra’s triumph over darkness. Because the pagan festival that celebrated Mithra’s birthday was so popular, the Roman Catholic Church adopted the day, but changed the meaning from the birthday of Mithra, the "god of light," to Christ’s birthday, God the son, "light of the world."The old meaning of December 25 was connected with Mithra’s triumph over physical darkness. The new meaning celebrated Jesus' triumph over spiritual darkness. Eventually Christmas became dominant, the Mithra cult went extinct and today this origin is not widely known among Roman Catholics. None of the apostles or the early church celebrated the birthday of Jesus.
   
   
6. What about Christmas carols? — There are many wonderful Gospel hymns which have been written to worship Jesus at Christmas time; such as, Silent Night, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem, Joy To The World, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, Noel, et cetera. I think it would be a mistake to overlook Christmas entirely, and miss out on the opportunity to witness to the lost during the emotional Christmas season. Many hearts have been turned to the Lord during the Christmas holiday as a result of the Gospel-centered carols.
   
   Suicide rates are higher at Christmas time, because most people's reality cannot live up to the bigger-than-life image which Christmas portrays. However, in Christ Jesus there is hope, a better life, and a brighter future.
   
   
7. What about Christmas parties? — I think it is a bad idea to go to ANY parties, whether it be a company party or a party at a friend's house, unless you are certain that there will be no worldliness and booze at the party. Most often, there is alcohol, dirty-dancing, immodestly dressed women, worldly music, and Christ is not celebrated at all. I think a get-together with fellow church members, at the church, would be appropriate. I have never attended any company Christmas parties, because of all the horrible things I've heard from co-workers who went to them. A Christian has no business being in an environment of lust, booze, Rock music, and worldliness.

Conclusion

If you feel that Christmas is a pagan holiday, and shouldn't be celebrated, then don't. But if other believers think it's acceptable, don't judge them. It is clear that there are two ways to celebrate Christmas:

1. The Worldly Way — Santa Claus, Rudolph the Reindeer, the north pole, elves, Frosty the Snowman, secular songs about Christmas, booze, parties, Rock music, buying and giving gifts, et cetera.


2. The Christian Way — Jesus Christ, Christmas carols, soulwinning, a nativity scene, helping the poor in Jesus' name, et cetera.

Opponents of Christmas, condemn Christians who celebrate Christmas on the basis of the world's way of observing Christmas. This is not fair. Christians certainly may observe Christmas time by honoring the Lord through soulwinning, helping the poor, singing Gospel hymns, and drawing closer to the Lord in the Scriptures.

I knew a Christian man who became enraged with anger, when he found out that pumpkins were being given away as a promotion, to get kids into a local church on Halloween. That rascal never won anyone to the Lord; yet he criticized a church for using pumpkins to attract children into Sunday School. I say "shut up!" If a church can get kids into church by giving away goldfish, having contests, or putting a cow up on the roof, then so be it. Why should the Devil's crowd be the only one's to use promotions? The unsaved business world uses promotions all the time, as a marketing tool to make more money. Certainly, it is wise to use whatever means available (morally speaking) to encourage children and their parents to come to Church to hear the Word of God. Thus, I think it is appropriate for churches to make big of Christmas, and use it as an opportunity to win the loss to Christ (Proverb 11:30).

Some people hate Christmas because it is a happy time, and something tragic (such as the death of a child) has happened in their life. There's an empty spot by the Christmas tree. I understand completely. Such a grieving person has every right to grieve. The answer is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with this sin-cursed world at Christmas-time, and tell them... "You need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS." When I am discouraged, I go soulwinning.

I am as disgusted with the commercialization of Christmas as is anyone else. It's tragic. I don't think Christian's ought to spend a lot of money on Christmas gifts, because this is what the greedy retailers want. Christmas is largely exploited. I sincerely think God hates Christmas, because of the way the world celebrates it; however, I am also confident that God is pleased with those few believers who genuinely celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world.

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How does a person get to Heaven?

Ye Must Be Born Again! | You Need HIS Righteousness

Silent Night, Holy Night

Silent Night, Holy Night

by Evangelist John R. Rice (1895 - 1980)

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The Christmas Carol
By an Austrian Priest and Organist

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, 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.

How many beautiful Christmas carols or hymns there are! Charles Wesley wrote, "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," and we sing it to the music by Felix Mendelssohn. Martin Luther wrote, "Away in a Manger," words and music. Isaac Watts wrote, "Joy to the World," with music by George F. Handel. The famous Episcopa1 preacher, Phillips Brooks, wrote the words for "O Little Town of Bethlehem." There are a number of others that rejoice the heart and make melody at Christmastime by Christians. We suppose the newest Christian Christmas song is my own little song, "Jesus, Baby Jesus.

"Silent Night" was written by a Catholic priest, Joseph Mohr, pastor in the Austrian Alps in a little town of Oberndorf. It was Christmas Eve, 1815, when he meditated on the wonderful story of the birth of Christ and wrote the sweet, simple verses of this song. The next day he took them to the village schoolmaster, an organist, Franz Gruber, who prayerfully put them to music that fits them so quietly and so well. And that night they had the choir sing it for the first time with only guitar accompaniment, since the organ had broken down . Through the years this sweet song drifted out to the world and now millions of people rejoice as they sing

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

The name "Bethlehem" means house of bread. It is some six miles south and a little west of Jerusalem on the way toward Hebron. It was the home of David and of Boat and Ruth before him. Micah 5:2 prophesied that the Saviour would be born there: "But thou, Beth-lehem 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."

So when Caesar at Rome decreed that all must go to their families' ancestral homes to report for taxation, Joseph and Mary, his virgin wife, heavy with child, came from Nazareth, nearly a hundred miles north in the province of Galilee. They came to Bethlehem because they were of the house and lineage of David. The little town was crowded. There was no room in the inn, and they were given a place in the stable and there Mary brought forth her firstborn son, the Lord Jesus. Now they show a cave as the birthplace of the Saviour and over it is built the Church of the Nativity and another church beside it. However, no one knows for sure exactly where Jesus was born. Queen Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, selected this cave as the birthplace of Christ but it was way over three centuries after His birth. The area had been ravished by war a number of times and there may have been not a single house remaining that anybody could know Jesus was ever there. So she selected a cave. Over it was built the Church of the Nativity.

I think the dear Lord does not want us worshiping a place so He did not let it be settled surely, either the place of the birth of Jesus or the house in which He lived in Nazareth or the place of crucifixion or the tomb in which He was buried. All that is left a little unsure lest men should worship as an idol a mere place when the Lord wants us to worship the Saviour Himself. I have been many times in that cave and there we sing, "Silent Night," and speak of the birth of Christ. At least it represents the place where Jesus was born, whether it is the exact place or not.
 

1. Christ Born in a Stable

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and Child,
Holy Infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

It is true that there was no room for them in the inn. Does that seem sad? No, surely that foretold that the Lord Jesus would be a Man of sorrows and He would be acquainted with grief. He came to be abused and rejected as well as to save all who would receive Him. So Jesus is fitly born in a stable. Since He is to be "anointed. . .to preach the gospel to the poor. . .to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives," it is suitable that His coming be announced to ignorant shepherds and not in the palaces of the mighty but to the poor. But remember, this is a glad time. Jesus is born to die on the cross, but, oh, praise the Lord He is born! The shepherds heard the angels say, "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." So it is a joyful, happy time. So the song very properly says,

"All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child."

Mary is in sweet peace and joy over her God-given Son. The Baby sleeps peacefully for He is in God's care and has entered His earthy mission. Psalm 22:9,10 says, "But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly." And that indicates that even the Baby Jesus was someway conscious that He was from God and that His hope was in God His Father. I think I see a bit of a smile upon the face of the sleeping One there in the manger cradle. "Round yon virgin mother and Child," the song says. Oh, yes, Mary is still a virgin. And the angel had said to Joseph, "Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 1:20). Ah, yes, this Baby Jesus is the "Seed of the woman" which was promised Eve. This birth of Christ fulfills the promise of Isaiah 7:14, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son." Oh, here is Immanuel, God with us in human form. I was shocked the other day looking in a hymnbook and saw that this first verse of "Silent Night," had been wickedly changed, and the liberal, unbelieving hand that changed that first verse took out "Round yon virgin mother and Child," and put other words. Oh, but Mary is a virgin and Christ is God in human form.

Jesus, Baby Jesus, of a virgin mother born, Laid in manger cradle, wrapped in swaddling clothes and warm.

Birth cry in a darkened stable, in the inn no room. Jesus, Baby Jesus, Son of God, to share earth's gloom.
 

2. Angels Announce Christ's Birth to the Shepherds

Silent night, holy night,
Darkness flies, all is light;

Shepherds hear the angels sine,
"Alleluia hail the King!

Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born."

Yes, suddenly the darkness turns bright as day and the Heaven is filled with glory!

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. " It was the Angel Gabriel who had announced to Mary up in Galilee nine months before that she was to be the mother of the Saviour. We suppose this is the same Angel Gabriel bringing glad news. The "Field of the Shepherds" is not far from Jerusalem, and we suppose it is the same field where the shepherds watched their flocks by night. It may be also the same field of Boat where Ruth, the Moabitish young woman who came back to Israel with her mother-in-law Naomi to live under the shelter of God's wings--and there in the field, perhaps, where Ruth gleaned and got acquainted with Boaz. The announcement is wonderful:

"And the angel said unto them, 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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in, swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."-Luke 2:10-12.

Ah, the Saviour is born! And the angel says they may find Him in the city wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Then suddenly all the heavenly host filled the skies, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

The shepherds were told they would find the Baby Jesus "wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger," and they went quickly to find Him. Oh, they believed the story; they were glad to hear it. King Herod heard it and was troubled. The scribes and Pharisees knew where the Saviour should be born and they told Herod it would be in Bethlehem, but they did not heed the glad news brought them by the Wise Men from the east. But these shepherds were so glad to hear it! Oh, whoever reads it, be sure you run to see Jesus and know Him for yourself and go away to tell it gladly as they did.
 

3. Wise Men From Afar Are Alerted by a Star to Seek Jesus

Silent night, holy night,
Guiding Star, lend thy light;

See the eastern wise men bring
Gifts and homage to our King!

Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.

The Scripture says, "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." They are "wise men." The term reminds us of the wise men, the magi, in the book of Daniel. And these are from the east, so if we go back some 500 miles or so to the site of ancient Babylon we find, no doubt, the area from which these wise men came.

They said, "We have seen his star in the east." Note carefully, they did not follow the star, traveling all this way. They had seen the star in the east as a warning, a reminder. But it seems evident they knew from the book of Daniel that the Messiah would come, and that He would be King of the Jews.

In Daniel 9:25 Daniel had been inspired to write it down, "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times." And it is interesting that although nearly all the Old Testament is written in Hebrew, certain parts of Daniel, including this part, are written in Chaldaic and so God must have intended that the Scriptures there should be kept in the Chaldean language so they would know about the coming of the Saviour. He is to be a Prince or King and He is to come to Jerusalem. And we are plainly told that it is to be sixty-nine weeks of years from the time Jews were to go back from captivity until the coming of the Saviour. So they took what they knew from the Scriptures and then had a sign from God to verify it and they came.

Later they came to Jerusalem thinking the Saviour, a King, would be born there. There scribes and elders told them, as Herod insisted, that the Messiah must be born in Bethlehem six miles away in the city of David and now they came to find it. But how will they find the house? Ah, there is the star. They see it again and it stops over the house where the Child lay and they came in to see the Baby Jesus.

We are told that they opened their treasures and brought forth gold, frankincense and myrrh--gold, no doubt, as a proper tribute for a king and myrrh for the suffering of a Saviour as picturing the spices of His burial, and like the bitter herbs with which the Passover lamb was eaten, and frankincense for worship to God, for Christ is God.

Oh, Wise Men, let us kneel beside you by the manger cradle and to Jesus let us open our treasures and bring all we have to the Lord Jesus.

Wise men came to see Him, having seen His star afar, Bro't their gifts of precious gold and frankincense and myrrh. Herod heard, was troubled, could not kill the Holy Child. Jesus, Baby Jesus, King and Priest, and Saviour mild.
 

4. Greater Than the Star Was the Leading From the Scripture

Silent night, holy night,
Wondrous Star, lend thy light;

With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King!

Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.

There were wonders and marvels to astound the mind and lift up the heart, give a lilt to voices of praise the night Jesus was born. His birth was itself a miracle. It was good news to all people. He is Christ the Saviour.

The angels were miraculously present and it was so important that it seems every angel in Heaven wanted to join in the glad refrain, the chant, of peace on earth.

The star was wonderful, too. Some think it might have been the conjunction of two of the planets in the heavens that made an extra brightness. No, no. This was a special star. Was it like a comet across the sky? Was it like a meteor falling into space? No. In those days before there were any telescopes, they did not have a great many names for heavenly bodies, they did not differentiate between ancient planets and suns and meteors and comets. This star was especially created for this time to announce the Saviour. The Wise Men saw it in the east, and again when they came to Jerusalem they saw the star resting over the house where the Baby Jesus lay. We suppose then that star disappeared having run its course, having made its holy announcement.

But do not miss even a greater marvel than the angels and the star and the divine leading of these Wise Men. They came according to the Scriptures.

Oh, the birth of Jesus was wonderful, but it was foretold and this is the Gospel "how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." All the other miracles and manifestations are subject to a divine pattern, a divine schedule written down in the Bible. It was in "the fullness of the time" that Christ came, as we are told in Galatians 4:4. That is, He could not come before and He could not come after--He must fulfill the Scripture, and He did.

So wise men studied the Scriptures yonder in the area of ancient Babylon. Old, old manuscripts and books they studied until they came across what Daniel had prophesied. When they came to Jerusalem, they needed more light. They came as far as they knew how. They came into Jerusalem, but they found now the Scripture said the Saviour would be born in Bethlehem, so they came to Bethlehem. In the east they were to follow the Scriptures but they had a star then to verify their decision and comfort their hearts. Now they follow the Scriptures out to Bethlehem and again God gave the star to give additional light.

Do you not see again, as we sing about the Christmas story, that the virgin birth of Christ is far better than any fairy tales of Santa Claus and reindeer and sleighs? Do you not see that the story of the announcement to the shepherds and the Wise Men coming from the east is far more joy and blessing than the worldly festivities and drunkenness and feasting and revelry? Let us rejoice then in the blessed Word of God this Christmas season.

Jesus, Baby Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, Tempted, poor and suffering no one knows us as He can!

Holy, righteous, blameless, fitting sacrifice complete. By His blood atonement, God and sinners in Him meet.

Now, let us sing again this sweet Christmas song, "Silent Night, Holy Night," for

"Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born."

Oh, make sure that you take Him as your own Saviour, that you trust Him for forgiveness, that you love Him and give Him all your heart and all you have.

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Jeremiah Chapter 10 and Christmas Trees?

Jeremiah Chapter 10 and Christmas Trees?

Jeremiah 10:1, "Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel."

Jeremiah 10:2, "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them."

Jeremiah 10:3, "For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax."

Jeremiah 10:4, "They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not."

That could only describe a Christmas tree and its ornaments, some will say. What could be more obvious? Jeremiah is clearly condemning the Christmas tree! Well, not so fast. Let's read on...

Jeremiah 10:5, "They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good."

• They speak not???
• They cannot go (move) by themselves???
• Be not afraid of them???
• They cannot do evil???
• Neither can they do good???

Just how, if I may ask, can those be logically applied to a Christmas tree? I suggest they cannot, with any sense. But let's continue...

Jeremiah 10:6, "Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might."

Jeremiah 10:7, "Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee."

Jeremiah 10:8, "But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities."

Jeremiah 10:9, "Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men."

• Gold and silver plates???
• Blue and purple clothing???

How does that apply to the Christmas tree? It doesn't.

Jeremiah 10:10, "But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation."

Jeremiah 10:11, "Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens."

Jeremiah 10:12, "He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion."

Jeremiah 10:13, "When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures."

Verses 10, 12 and 13 contrast the true creator God with false gods in verse 11.

Jeremiah 10:14, "Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them."

Jeremiah 10:15, "They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish."

Ah, graven and molten images that confound their makers! There is no breath (life) in them! Jeremiah is talking about manmade heathen statues - idols:

• The idol starts as a tree cut down, and it is then carved.
• Though it has a mouth, the idol cannot speak!
• The idol is nailed down, fixed in place. It cannot move on its own, it must be carried!
• Be not afraid of the idol!
• The idol cannot do evil!
• Neither can the idol do good! The idol is powerless!
• The carved wooden idol is covered with silver or gold plate!
• The idol is dressed in blue and purple clothing!
• The idol is lifeless!
• The idol is vanity (futile), and the work of error!

In context, Jeremiah is clearly not describing Christmas trees, he is talking about idolatrous graven and molten images of the heathen, the worthless futile powerless statues of their pagan gods, that are not to be feared.

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How does a person get to Heaven?

Ye Must Be Born Again! | You Need HIS Righteousness!

It's the Most Hypocritical Time of the Year

It's the Most Hypocritical Time of the Year

By David J. Stewart | December 17, 2007

I really hate Christmas. It's so phony! Just as with Christianity in America, Christmas has been commercialized into a greedy business. Every year, as soon as Thanksgiving Day passes, the corporations push Christmas like gangbusters, raking in billions of dollars in holiday revenues. It's sickening! And then all we hear about is Santa, Santa, Santa (or should I say, Satan).

Christmas is so phony! Behind all the holiday cheer and music are a bunch of selfish hypocrites that couldn't care less about Jesus Christ. It's one of the biggest scams in history. Everywhere we go throughout the month of December, we see canned-food collections for the poor; BUT, no one cares about those same poor people during the other 11 months of the year. Hypocrites!

Thru the year, parents punish their children for telling lies. Then, at Christmas time, those same parents lie to their children about "Santa Clause"! Is it any wonder why many kids grow up to believe God is also a myth?

Here are the lyrics to a popular Christmas song that I really hate...

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
It's the hap -happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap - happiest season of all

There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's The Most Wonderful Time
It's The Most Wonderful Time
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

What a selfish song, and a bunch of nonsense! Oh joy, it's Christmas. So what? The Christian life is to be lived 365 days a year, not just during the "Christmas holiday season." America's hypocrisy shows at Christmas more than at any other time of the year. It's a sad fact that inner city rescue missions have to push hard for donations during the holidays, because people become stingy for the rest of the year. The American people have been programmed by all the commercialization to care only at Christmas time. It's hypocrisy!

Behind the bigger-than-life image which Christmas portrays, and all the depressing music, reality is cold and brutal. Do you know why Christmas music is so depressing? It's because it paints an unrealistic picture, an illusion that cannot be found in reality. Thankfully, the Word of God is genuine and real, and Jesus Christ does exist. We can rejoice 365 days a year because our name is written in Heaven (Luke 10:20). I don't like Christmas because it's NOT real. It's too good to be true, a fantasy that comes once a year. The fact is that the Bible never tells us to celebrate Jesus' birth. In fact, the Bible doesn't even tell us when Jesus was born. Most theologians agree that Jesus couldn't have been born in December.
 

Christmas Isn't a Wonderful Time for the Victims of Alcohol-Impaired Drivers

There'll be parties for hosting? Is that all that Christmas means to people nowadays... throwing a party? Parties and intoxicating alcohol are synonymous. Every time I hear the song, It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, I can't help but think of the victims of the alcohol industry. While the barons of the liquor industry enjoy Christmas with their loved ones, there are thousands of devastated families all across America, who have lost loved ones due to an alcohol-impaired driver this past year. Do you think Christmas is a wonderful time for those devastated families? Certainly not.

Alcohol is a deceitful substance, a drug, that alters one's ability to think clearly. This is the big problem, and deception, with the popular phrase "Drink Responsibly." That's like saying, "Play Russian Roulette responsibly." You can't. That's like saying, "Play with deadly rattlesnakes responsibly." You can't. The Devil is a big liar, and the father of all liars, which includes the lying beer barons who continue to help alcoholics kill our children. Say what you will, booze is of the Devil.
 

Christmas Isn't a Wonderful Time for the World's Afflicted and Starving Poor

This year, total pet-related sales in the United States are projected to be $31 billion. An estimated $5 billion worth of holiday season gifts were offered – not to the poor – but to the roving family pets. Americans spend $20.3 billion a year on games and toys. One doesn't need toys to play with when the most popular game is playing deaf and blind to the needs of the poor. Americans spend $586.5 billion a year on gambling. $31 billion goes annually in the U.S. for tobacco products. $58 billion is spent on alcohol consumption. $250 billion dollars are spent annually in the U.S. on the medical treatment of tobacco and alcohol-related diseases. Here are $976.3 billion dollars – almost a trillion - spent every year in the US on pets, toys, gambling, alcohol and tobacco.

Yet, the world's poor continue to starve to death for lack of a $10 bag of grain, basic medicines, and clean water to drink. 
 

It's Not a Wonderful Time of the Year for U.S. Citizens Who are Having Their Homes Stolen

The U.S. government has burdened America's citizens with outrageous deficit spending to pay for the war in Iraq. The New York Times and MSNBC estimate that the Iraqi war will cost over $1,000,000,000,000!!! That's one TRILLION dollars! Do the math, that same money could have bought 4,000,000 homes at a cost of $250,000 each. And here's the worst part, the U.S. citizens losing their homes are the same one's being forced to pay for the war in Iraq (in the form of national DEBT). While American citizens are losing their homes by the millions, congress just gave another $1,000,000,000 to Mexico. Congress just gave another $30,000,000 to Israel. Folks, that's OUR money! We literally owe that money to the Federal Reserve Bankers! There is no band of ruthless criminals like the international banking cartel. So while you're losing your home because you're short a few hundred dollars on your mortgage payment, your government is simultaneously giving away TRILLIONS of dollars of YOUR money to strangers. I marvel why Americans haven't burned The White House to the ground yet. For a nation that boasts of being so powerful and mighty, Americans are some of the sorriest wimps on the planet. I mean, we allow our leaders to rob, cheat and steal from us; but then we continue to support them. Those criminals don't have my support. Every new politician is simply an initiate into a ring of organized criminals.  America needs a new government, and it's not Democrat or Republican.

I just can't enjoy listening to a song about how "wonderful" Christmas is, when so many children are needlessly being murdered by abortion, when prison camps are being built to lockup American citizens, when millions of Americans are losing their homes, hundreds-of-thousands of innocent Iraqis are being ruthlessly murdered by our nation, and 18,000 children continue to starve to death every day.
 

Santa = Satan

America's public school children are growing up confused, with no moral compass, devoid of the knowledge of God. Even worse, they're being brainwashed that there is NO God, and that the universe evolved over billions of years from stardust. From the lie of Santa Claus to the lie of Evolution, America's children are being woefully deceived. All we hear about at Christmas time is songs praising Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Oh Christmas Tree, Jack Frost, Old Man Winter, Little Saint Nick, and so forth. Sadly, the name of Jesus is seldom if ever mentioned throughout the Christmas holiday. It is no coincidence that "Santa" rearranged spells SATAN! The average person is woefully ignorant of these obvious attempts to remove Jesus Christ from society.

And then to add insult to injury, many ingrates refer to the precious Savior with an "X." I don't care what you say, the Word of God gives the Savior a name, and that precious name is JESUS! Anyone that says Jesus can appropriately be symbolized by an "X" is an idiot and a blasphemer.

It is no coincidence that Santa Claus is given the same powers as God. This is an attempt to mislead children at a young age. Santa is given omnipresence and omniscience, knowing whether each child has been bad or good. Santa is given omnipotence, being able to visit every child's home in the entire world in a single night. This is something that only God alone could do. Santa is given the power to understand and speak any language, which again, is something that only God could do. Also, Santa is portrayed as being righteous, i.e., the "good guy," who is always happy, and is the higher moral authority. Clearly, whoever designed Santa Claus wanted to make children believe that he was a god.

In addition, the entire concept of being rewarded by Santa Claus (an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present being) for being good is a dangerous teaching. Children are being taught works salvation at an early age. No wonder the average adult today thinks that they might go to Heaven if they're good enough. Hmmm? I wonder where that teaching got started? It's the same naive parents who see no harm in teaching their children about Santa Claus, who also have no problem with their children idolizing Harry Potter's witchcraft. What is wrong with parents? The problem is that the average parent doesn't love the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus doesn't care about the Word of God. Santa is an imposter, cleverly designed to replace the Lord Jesus Christ in the mind of the world's children.

The very same unbelievers who have no problem with children being taught about some mythical fat slob named Santa; go ballistic at the very mention of the precious name of Jesus. What a bunch of hypocrites! You can have a Jewish Christmas display, a Muslim Christmas display, or any other heathen religious display, and people don't mind; but those same hypocrites go insane when you set up a manger featuring the baby Jesus.
 

Heathens Hypocritically Sing Christmas Songs

At Christmas time, many heathen entertainers sing Christmas songs. These same singers who glorify fornication, drunkenness, feminism, divorce and other sins throughout the year, hypocritically find religion every December. Take Dolly Parton for example. She starred in the movie, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. Miss Parton is a disgrace to America. She is well known for her whorish attire and behavior. Yet, she hypocritically sings Christmas music about the Lord Jesus Christ, such as in the song, ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS. This is like a Communist singing America's national anthem. This is like an abortionist writing a book on how to care for children. It is sickening!

In one song Willie Nelson sings Kneel At The Feet of Jesus. Yet, in another song he embraces homosexuality, singing the song Cowboys Are Secretly, Frequently Fond of each Other. This is apostasy! Willie Nelson hypocritically sings AWAY IN A MANGER and JOY TO THE WORLD on his Christmas album, while glorifying sin in other songs. This is disgraceful.

Please read, Who is On the Lord's Side? It is tragic that godless heathens are increasingly singing Gospel and Christmas songs. As the church is becoming more worldly, the world is becoming more churchy. It's at the place nowadays where you can't distinguish between professed Christians and the sinful heathen world. This is apostasy!
 

Conclusion

Christmas is a big joke. People who live selfishly all year long, get in the "holiday spirit" every December, as they party in drunkenness and perhaps give some chump change to the poor. The very idea of exchanging gifts at Christmas is not reflective of God's gift of salvation, because God gave His only begotten Son for the sins of the world without expecting anything in return. The average person today doesn't give gifts to someone unless they are confident they'll receive something in return. This is why the divorce rate is so high nowadays, because most people have a "conditional love" for their spouse. That is to say, "I'll give my love to you if you treat me right." But what about when you don't get treated right? Then you sinfully quit and divorce. This is heathendom. God's gift of eternal life is freely given (Romans 6:23), even though we treat Him very horribly (Isaiah 64:6), because God loves mankind with an unconditional love (John 3:16).

Every godless heathen sings about the Lord at Christmas, exploiting the name of Jesus to make a buck. It is repulsive to hear a flaming homosexual like Elton John singing Christmas music. For Christ-rejecters to sing about the birth of Christ is utter hypocrisy. What many people don't realize is that Elton John's music is saturated with witchcraft language. Elton John's Christmas album cover is pictured to the right.

Then there's the disgraceful Salvation Army, who promote Santa Claus over Jesus. I've yet to see one Salvation Army Santa Claus giving out Gospel tracts or preaching the Kingdom of God. It's all about money. The Salvation Army has turned God's house into a den of thieves, possessing more ARMY than SALVATION. They've become a marauding band of profiteers, sending out their Santas to target customers all across America every December. It's sickening! The message which needs to be preached the loudest at Christmas time is the Gospel of Jesus Christ; BUT the Salvation Army is silent. While the world is going to Hell in unbelief; most Christians are backslidden and silent concerning the Gospel.

Pictured to the right is the cover of the HOLY COW CHRISTMAS CD [2003]. I couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance to the Satanic goats head pictured to the left. The producers of the album blaspheme the Lord Jesus Christ by referring to a "Holy Cow Christmas." In case you don't know, the cow is literally worshipped as a god throughout India.

On the album, Mark Chesnutt hypocritically sings, "WHAT CHILD IS THIS?". God is not a cow, and there's no such thing as a "holy cow." It's not cute or funny. Jesus shed His precious blood for us, so we could be freed from our sins and the damnation of the Lake of Fire. Yet, men blaspheme God and desecrate the holy things of God. This is evil. No one should ever joke, take lightly, or make fun of God or the Bible. To do so is sin.

You can keep Christmas, I'll take Jesus. The celebration of Christmas in the world today is total heathendom—possessing 95% false religion, vain traditions, selfishness and the sinful worship of a Satanic fraud called Santa.

Thank God for the great hymns of the faith, which at Christmas time remind us of the wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ; BUT they mean nothing coming from the lips of God-hating apostates, unrepentant sinners and the enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ. Let every born-again Christian bring forth the true meaning of Christmas, by being aggressively in our soulwinning efforts year-round, as we strive to reach lost sinners for Christ with the Gospel. Christmas is not about mistletoe, reefs, cookies and milk, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, roasting chestnuts, the three little bears or anything else... it's about God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
—2nd Thessalonians 1:8

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How does a person get to Heaven?

Ye Must Be Born Again! | You Need HIS Righteousness!

Christmas Now and Then

Christmas Now and Then

by Dr. R.G. Lee

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“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another; Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” Luke 2:15~

There is only one object that can satisfy the eye of the mind. That object is Jesus—Son of man without sin; Son of God with power.

Simeon, having waited long for “the consolation of Israel,” seeing the Christ who in eternity rested motherless upon the Father’s bosom and in time rest­ed fatherless upon a woman’s bosom, clasping the Ancient of Days who had become the In­fant of Days, said, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.”

Would that such satisfaction would possess our hearts through the eyes of our minds—as we turn our eyes away “from be­holding vanity.”

Let us turn our mind’s eye upon Bethlehem.

Bethlehem! Jerusalem— the city of thousands of national memories—glorious and guilty, with evil, girt with diadem inside her walls. Not Athens—the intel­lectual center of the world. Not illustrious Rome—festering on the soil of war. But Bethlehem— called by some “a weed patch ignored by world travelers”—a small village in which nothing had occurred to aggrandize it.

Bethlehem, drawing a new star to lighten, its obscurity, drawing sages from the East, drawing the angel of the Lord, drawing of the heavenly hosts a multitude— remembered in all generations. “Thou Bethlehem Ephrata, 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”
 

Consider the Dutiful Diligence

“Shepherds.. Keeping watch over their flock.”—Luke 2:8.

These shepherds—poor, hon­est, industrious—were not lead­ers of armies, not expounders of philosophies, not advocates of political theories, not bankers, counting piles of money—rather just throwers of stones to keep the wolves away. Watchers of their flocks, to these who were dutifully diligent in their com­mon tasks, the good news was first announced—teaching us to be “diligent in... .business”—urg­ing us to remember that our modest work and the hero’s sac­rifice are one in the unseen realm of duty, showing a woman’s two mites and a rich man’s great gifts are the same in the realm of love, showing that God seeks people in humble places for serv­ice and the honors of service.

“Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” —Il Pet. ~3:14.

As we look upon Bethlehem, let us see to it that this diligence possesses us.
 

Give ear to the Divine Declaration

To Joseph “the angel of the Lord appeared.. .saying.’. .fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife.. . she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:20, 21).

To the shepherds the angel of the Lord said, “Fear not... For unto you is born...a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10, 11).

To these same shepherds a multitude from the heavenly choir sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).

Had they made a declaration that poverty, war, plague and dis­ease would be forever banished from the earth, such an an­nouncement would have been as discord to melody, as the chatterings of nonsense to the speakings of wisdom, when put in the light of this divine declara­tion.
 

But we should see the Deep Descent

What deep descent—from the heights of glory to the depths of shame;  from the wonders of Heaven to the wickedness of earth; from exaltation to humili­ation; from the throne to the tree; from dignity to debase­ment; from worship to wrath; from the halls of Heaven to the nails of earth; from the corona­tion to the curse; from the glory place to the gory place at the cross!

In Bethlehem, humility and glory in their extremes were joined. Born in a stable. Cradled in a cattle trough. Wrapped in. swaddling clothes of poverty. No room for Him who made all

rooms! No place for Him who made and knows all places! Oh, deep humiliation of the Creator—born of the creature, woman! But His descent was the dawn of mercy. Because we can­not ascend to Him, He descends to us.
 

Forget not the Delayless Doing

“Let us now go.”—Luke 2:15.

The information God gave, the shepherds wisely put into action immediately. Not the delay of a week—nor a day, nor an hour, nor a minute. ‘The Saviour of men born in the City of David? Let us go and see Him now! Not “when a more convenient time presents itself.” Not “after we go home and talk it over with our families.” But “now.” Not “when we make sure no wolves will attack our sheep.” But “now.” Not “when we make sure no money will be lost.” But “now.”

The wise men made the same improvement of their informa­tion. In a distant country they saw His star and followed its direction—defiant of all dis­tances, discouraged by no vast expanse, downcast by no far reach of miles.

“Let us now go.” What—at midnight? Coot and calculating reason would have argued that it was an unreasonable hour. Had covetousness spoken, it would have asked questions as to the welfare of the sheep. Had pro­crastination prevailed, it would have put off until “a ‘better time.” But these plain men, who had left their beds to attend their flocks, now left their flocks to inquire about the Saviour. “They came with haste.”

To inquire after Jesus, to see Jesus, to serve Jesus, to follow Jesus is our first business—let us do it quickly.
 

Deity Displayed

God’s first promise to guilty man was that the seed of the woman should bruise the ser­pent’s head (Gen. 3:15). As to the flesh, Jesus is the seed of the woman. But He is infinitely more. Paul says:

“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might re­ceive the adoption of sons. “—Gal. 4:4,5.

Necessary it was to our re­demption that the Saviour of men should be a man. But had Christ been produced in the ordinary way of human generation, He must have been a par­taker of a sinful nature. This was prevented by the miraculous way of His conception—by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus the virgin-born Christ Was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners”—fit to become sin for us because He knew no sin.

Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. Let us go to Bethlehem and see this great sight. Glorious mystery. We cannot fully com­prehend it. Men may speak and write of it, but as they attempt to describe it, a woeful sense of in­adequacy oppresses the mind. We may speak of it, but the most we can say is that it is unspeak­able. And the most we know is that it
 

Think too of the...

Deplorable Darkness

When Jesus came it was night in Egypt, night in Rome, night in Athens, night in Syria, night in Palestine—night everywhere. Darkness blacker than “a murder­er’s mark of crepe.” Darkness, as Keats would say, like “the par­entage of chaos.” The world was dark “as if it were dipped in the death shadow.”

Poe spoke of the darkness “as the caves wherein earth’s thun­ders groan”—and it was groaning “ever darker and darker like the shadow of advancing Death.” Thomas spoke of a condition “Dark as the inside of a whale,” and Whittier, of a matter “dark as the brooding thundercloud?”

The world was, as Milton described Samson, “dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon.”

Yes, deplorable darkness had long covered the earth—and the wisest of men bowed “to they unknown God.”

But, glory to His name, “the only begotten Don, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18). This is He who is “the brightness of his [the Father’s] glory, and the express image of his person” (Heb. 1:3); “the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). This too is unspeakable, but we believe and adore. Let but the light shine into our heart to give us “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,” and it is enough.
 

But consider as to Christ the...

Design of Death

What was the grand design of the Savior’s birth? The redemption by His death of fallen, guilty, helpless man. That was the grand design. “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law” (Gal. 4:4,5). He was named Jesus—because He came to “save his people from their sins.”

There is something so sublime, so delightful in the name Saviour. Cicero, the Roman ora­tor, said that when traveling in Greece he saw a pillar inscribed with the word Saviour. He ad­mired the fullness in the name, but he was as ignorant of its Christian meaning as an owl is of astronomy. How much more may every redeemed sinner ad­mire that name—Saviour!
 

But, seeing the things come to pass at Bethlehem, let us hate the...

Despicable Disgrace

What mean I by that? As, at Bethlehem, we see God in all His glorious perfections manifested in the Person of Jesus, we should engage our souls to adore and love and praise Him—magnifying “the Lord God of Israel” “The Lord.. .hath visited and redeemed his people.”

But we see the disgraceful way in which some celebrate the sea­son called Christmas. Vain, frothy, carnal—these three words—can be written over the celebrative ways of those who “make merry” at the Christmas season. Fool­ishly, even iniquitously, do they contradict as much as possible the design of His coming as the “Infant of Days” to Bethlehem.

Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil.’ So many at Christmas seek to keep up the works of the Devil. What have vulgar dances to do with the birth of Jesus? What does partic­ipation in the degradation.. of human lust? What does greed? or gluttony? or drunkenness? What do the works of the flesh have to do with the birth of Jesus?

Jesus came to save His people from their sins—not to urge them to participate in them. Why should more sins be com­mitted at the Christmas season in a few days than in many weeks at other times? Why should sin be aggravated by let­ting it pass under the guise of religious joy? Why should many choose to “steal the livery of Christmas to serve the Devil in”?

Such disgraceful observance of the birth of Christ is an affront to a holy God, a reproach to the Christian name, a ruinous matter to the souls of men. Riotous rev­elry of reverence and worship and gratitude is of Hell—not Heaven; of man—not God.

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How to be Saved

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 “I am an old-fashioned preacher of the old-time religion, that has warmed this cold world's heart for two thousand years.”
-Billy SUNDAY.