1. Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard www.GraceDoctrine.org Sunday, December 24, 2012

2. The Celebration of the Birth of our Savior!

3. 1 John 4:13, “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”

4. Scripture gives us precedent for commemorating and remembering the birth of Christ. Mat 2; Luke 2

5. 1. Joseph and Mary traveled a long distance to be joined with their family for this blessed event. Luke 2:1-5

6. 2. The appearance of the angel of the Lord with the glory of the Lord to announce the birth of Christ to the shepherds. Luke 2:8-12

7. 3. The response of the angels at the announcement of Christ’s birth. Luke 2:13-14

8. 4. The shepherds leaving their flocks to go and see, was nothing short of a celebration. Luke 2:15-20

9. 5. The arrival of the men from the east bearing gifts a year or two later. Mat 2:1-2, 9-12

10. Their gifts included, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Mat 2:11

11. a. Gold, represents His Deity. All could see the humanity of Jesus throughout His life, but only by means of faith in the Word of God can anyone see His deity.

12. Jesus was and is the God of all creation. Prov 3:19; John 1:1-5

13. John 1:1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

14. Mat 1:23, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

15. b. Frankincense, a spice used in offerings which gave off a sweet smelling aroma.

16. Lev 2:2, “He shall then bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests; and shall take from it his handful of its fine flour and of its oil with all of its frankincense. And the priest shall offer it up in smoke as its memorial portion on the altar, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the LORD.”

17. This signifies God the Father’s satisfaction with the offering of His Son on our behalf.

18. Isa 53:10, “But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.”

19. Heb 2:17, “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

20. c. Myrrh, used for embalming upon burial of the dead. This foretold of the death of the baby boy.

21. John 19:39-40, “Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.”

22. They proclaimed His Deity, perfect humanity and death upon the Cross. They worshipped His Birth, Life and Death.

23. Micah 5:2-5, “But as for you, Bethlehem … One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. When she who is in labor has borne a child, He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. This One will be our peace.”

24. 1 John 5:11-12, “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”

25. Communion

26. Grace Offering John 12:3, “Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

27. Grace Fellowship Church Monday, December 24, 2012 Tape # 12-148 Christmas Eve Special 2012 Celebrating the Birth of our Savior! Luke 2:1-20; Mat 2:1-12; John 1:1-5; 23; Isa 53:10 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012