Christmas and Christ

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ False reasons for not celebrating Christmas as Christ’s birthday –Because we do not think the birth of Christ is important It is important! The plan of God was unfolded –Matthew 1:20-21

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ False reasons for not celebrating Christmas as Christ’s birthday –Because we do not want to honor or remember Christ We wear His name! –Acts 11:26

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ We honor and remember Him by adhering to the memorial He left –1 Corinthians 11:23-26 –Acts 20:7 Things accomplished by His death –Colossians 2:14-16 –1 Peter 2:24 –Hebrews 9:15-17

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ Reasons we do not celebrate Christmas as Christ’s birthday –Bible does not give the date of Christ’s birth He was born in the days of Herod –Matthew 2:1 –Luke 3:1-3

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ Many different dates have been suggested by men through the years December 25 th not a logical date –Luke 2:7-18 –Matthew 2:1-11 We are not told the day, year, or how to celebrate Christ’s birth

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ Reasons we do not celebrate Christmas as Christ’s birthday –Doing so violates many divine principles It is not in the Scriptures –2 Timothy 3:16-17 –Ephesians 2:10

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ One does not have God ( 2 Tim 3:16-17) It is a presumption ( Eph 2:10) It is of man ( Matt 15:9) It is adding to the Word ( Rev 22:18) It is another gospel (Gal 1:8)

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ Reasons we do not celebrate Christmas as Christ’s birthday –It is of human origin No church festival held in celebration of Christ’s birth until the fourth century Bishop Liberious ordered December 25 to be adopted as birth of Christ in 354AD

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ Reasons we do not celebrate Christmas as Christ’s birthday –It is of human origin Liberius gave this reason for having Christmas: –“we have a Mass for every Saint, but there is no Mass for Christ.” From this came “Christmas” – “Christ and Mass”

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ What about the non-religious aspect of Christmas? –Christmas is both religious and secular in nature Same is true with Halloween and Valentine’s Day Our days of the week once had religious significance –Sun Day, Moon Day, Thor’s Day, Saturn’s Day, holiday – holy day

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ The Sabbath, or Saturday, once had religious significance and still does to many –Jews and Adventists

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ What about the non-religious aspect of Christmas? –Christians can do certain things of a secular nature on Christmas Day Visit relatives and friends Put up a tree and exchange gifts No religious significance

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ What about the non-religious aspect of Christmas? –Christians must be careful not to attach religious significance to Christmas It isn’t religious until made so by the participant

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ Can’t be part of any religious service –Candlelight service, religious plays –Be alert to school activities having our children participate in religious things

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ Don’t leave an impression of believing it to be Christ’s birthday –Sending religious cards –Singing religious seasonal songs –Decorating with ornaments of stars, angels (vs pixies and candy canes) –Religious decorations in the yard, etc.

Christmas Christ Christmas and Christ Conclusion –We can do non-religious things on Christmas if we desire –Practicing things of Christmas to commemorate the birth of Christ is done so without Bible authority John 14:15, 21; Matthew 15:9