2. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows”

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

4. I. Observations No proof of December 25 th Exact year, month, day is not revealed Adopted in 3 rd or 4 th century Luke 2:1-14

5. 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

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

7. II. Not a Holy Day “Christmas” not in Bible Catholic “Christ Mass” Not observed in early church No command in Bible

8. 10. Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Gal. 4:10-11

9. 16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Col. 2:16-17

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

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

12. Dates Suggested For The Birthday of Christ January 6 March 25 January 10 May 20 December 25 Every month of year!

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

14. 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.” John 1:1-2 His Spirit pre-existed His body

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

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

17. “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” Hebrews 7:3

18. 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

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

21. We have no “Christmas” service Not wrong to observe holiday Proof of His Divinity

22. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249evanscoc@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Morning December 20, 2009