“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows”

Christmas Season - celebrates December 25 th birthday of Christ  Happy time of year  Gifts exchanged  Can we celebrate?

I. Observations  No proof of December 25 th  Exact year, month, day is not revealed  Adopted in 3 rd century Luke 2:1-14

Christians can enjoy as National Holiday Phil. 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always” We may give and receive gifts July 4th Memorial Day Labor Day Valentine’s Day

“But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.” Rom. 14:23 Christian Liberty

II. Not a Holy Day  “Christmas” not in Bible  Catholic “Christ Mass”  Not observed in early church  No command in Bible  Rev. 22:18-19

“You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.” Gal. 4:10-11

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” Col. 2:16-17

“observe all things that I have commanded.” Matt.28:20 “speak as the oracles of God” 1 Peter 4:11 We must not “go beyond what is written” 1 Cor.4:6

“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread” Acts 20:7

Dates Suggested For The Birthday of Christ January 6 March 25 January 10 May 20 December 25

III. What We Know Matt. Luke  Caesar Augustus  Virgin Mary  Bethlehem of Judea  Wise men from East  Fullness of time - Gal. 4:4-7

Birth was not His beginning “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” Jn. 1:1-2 His Spirit pre-existed His body

“This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for He was before me.” Jn. 1:30 Jesus pre-existed John

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” Jn. 8:58 Jesus pre-existed Abraham

“without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.” Heb. 7:3

His physical birth did not bring Him into existence Likeness of a man - Phil. 2:6-8 “word was made flesh” Jn.1:14 “Immanuel” = God with Us Matt. 1:18-23 Incarnation

 Birthdays celebrate one’s beginning.  Christ had no beginning !  To celebrate His birthday would detract from His deity.

In all of this, we do not want to take away the importance of Jesus’ birth, and the appreciation we have to God for sending Him Application It is because of His birth that He could die for the sins of the world. We remember Him every first day of the week (I Cor. 11:23-26)

In Christ = SAVED Baptized (Gal.3:27) Confess (Rom.10:10) Hear (Rom.10:17) Believe (Jn.8:24) Repent (Lk.13:3)