However, by the late fourth century it was generally celebrated in churches. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. But their amazement is fitting to Christmas - it's a sample of what Christmas amazement should be for those who understand the Christmas story. But now, assuming that you have believed on Him and that you are a Christian, what can you add to this in order to properly celebrate Christmas? I believe that I can illustrate the fact that two kinds of peace are involved here by the wording of one of Charles Wesley's great hymns, in which the same contrast is found, although the actual word used is different. Sing God's praises. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. But the angel appeared and explained to Joseph what was happening. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Jesus Christ does not thus become some magical wand which causes all our troubles to disappear. Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! But in changing the line, the editors of the hymnbooks have probably missed the main point of Wesley's thinking. Will Graham Devotion: The Criminal on the Cross. He was born to die. Though Dec. 25 is considered the birthday of Jesus by a large segment of Christendom, there is no evidence that . To the choirmaster. Well, they had been out in the fields of Bethlehem in the middle of the night, watching over their sheep as they had for many hundreds of nights previously and as their fathers undoubtedly had before them. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. Thus says the Lord: "Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity.A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. Bible verses related to Celebrating Birthdays from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance. Home To do so is to worship God both by words and in song. For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. Some even contain good emphases. Moreover, since acknowledging His true worth is the essential meaning of worship it means to acknowledge God's worth to glorify God is to worship Him by words. Or, in other words, there is a peace with God that we receive freely at the moment of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and there is another peace that we are able to enter into increasingly as we learn to know and trust Him. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. He answered, "That old threadbare message of peace on earth, good will to men." They would readily tell you that the Bible commands us to celebrate Jesus' birth - that it is a time of rejoicing for the coming of the Savior of the world. The angel said, "Do not be afraid. It is one of the great words of the Greek language. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Jesus was born to be our Savior as the carol says: Christ was born to save! Keiper then took his Bible from his briefcase and turned to Luke 2:14, to the verse that is our text, and then read with his professor, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (KJV). The difficulty with this approach does not lie in the thought that the biblical view of salvation is unrelated to such themes. He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord., For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.. 7 This basic approach to salvation has been picked up in an avalanche of books on pastoral counseling, Christian psychiatry, and the cure of souls. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Jehoshua, meaning "Jehovah is salvation." In the first place, we are told that the shepherds, after they had come to Bethlehem and had seen the infant Jesus, "spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child." In other words, the shepherds became witnesses of the event. He explained the full force of the original language which literally means "Glory to God in the highest and peace among men of peace." What Does the Bible Say About Celebrating Jesus Birthday? This, of course, is monstrous. And "you will find rest for your souls." She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. In this verse, Simeon says to Mary, "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a . However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. And the shepherds would not have come to the manger in the little town of Bethlehem if the angels had not conveyed their message. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. "Come unto me and I will give you rest." Clap your hands, all peoples! This is the first message that I would leave with you. The Scriptures say, "And let him who hears say, Come!" And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. The Infinite clothed in human flesh! N Born the King of angels; Beyond any question, the gospel of Jesus Christ has important social implications. They aren't all thinking of God or Jesus as they stand spellbound at the presents and tree on Christmas morning. By Billy Graham Finally, there is the appearance of first one angel, than a multitude of angels to the shepherds as they were in the fields around Bethlehem. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Proud member Imitate the shepherds in spreading the word concerning what you know about the Christ child. Will you turn your focus toward Christevery day. But shouldnt He be part of your life every day? He then assured the professor that the reason why the Christmas message was an apparent farce to him was not God's fault. We learn of His mercy. 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. What Does the Bible Say About Celebration? Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants. Once more they cried out, Hallelujah! To do so is to participate in the Christmas story. 52 Bible Verses about Celebration Verse Concepts They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness. Just as we celebrate our children's birthdays every year, I believe it's entirely appropriate for us to celebrate the birth of God's own Son, Jesus Christ, every year. There are five appearances of an angel, or angels, in the Christmas story, and another appearance of an angel to Joseph later to tell him to return to Israel from Egypt. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. We see His disposition to use little things, to exalt the humble and to subdue the proud. 12. They had no thought about spiritual things at least we are not told that they did and they certainly didn't expect the miracle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. The noun form of the word is doxa, which we have in our words "orthodox," "heterodox," and "paradox." Let's consider four reasons why Christmas doesn't meet the criteria of being "Christian.". (Philadelphia: Evangelical Foundation), 1961, pages 12-13. It is an attempt to take what you know and then by an exercise of the mind to build upon it. His works were first collected in one volume in 1858, by William Barclay Turnbull. You quarrel and fight. V Have you seen that truth in the story? "A Hymn to the Nativity." Because man is at odds with God, there cannot be peace on earth. Finally, in chapter 1, verse 7, Paul indicates that the only solution to the problem lies in receiving peace from God: "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ." Wesley wrote it as follows: Apparently, some of the editors of our hymnbooks, including the one used in my own church, have been troubled by Wesley's line "Let us find that second rest," fearing that some people would think (or that Wesley himself thought) that there was a "second blessing" experience to find beyond salvation. Easter Easter is another holiday that is celebrated by Christians. The reasons why they became witnesses are that there was an event, a great event, and that others very much needed to hear of it. There is much activity but many go through these activities in a joyless way. Just as we celebrate our childrens birthdays every year, I believe its entirely appropriate for us to celebrate the birth of Gods own Son, Jesus Christ, every year. What are they? Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. God is faithful. We see His grace. And they kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, in the wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the people of Israel did. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Why? In one sense all the acts of God are legitimate grounds for such amazement. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. 12. I bring you good news of great joy" (Luke 2:10). This is why carols are so much a rightful part of Christmas; for, when sung by those who understand them, they are a means of praise. To him be glory forever. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. For, since Wesley had filled his mind with Scripture and since he used references to it extensively in his verses, it is likely that he was thinking of a verse of the Bible that speaks of two kinds of peace, two kinds of rest, and was saying that he wished to enter into the second as he had once entered into the first. Contact Us. The Bible tells us that the birth of Jesus was unlike all other births in that Jesus existed before birth as the second person of the Godhead and He became man, not to provide us with a sweet story to tell children each winter or even as a theme for our greatest musical compositions, but in order to grow to maturity and then to die for our sin as The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. 2. As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. Peter tells us that God delays only long enough to call to repentance all whom He has before determined should believe ("He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" see 2 Peter 3:9). Here then is the first lesson Luke teaches us on celebrating Christmas. "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told" (v. 20). Perhaps you are one who longs for the Lord's return. And there is peace with one another. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" Words: Heinrich Suso (?-1366); translated from Latin to English by John M. Neale in Carols for Christmastide (London: 1853). Both of these ideas are related to the idea of a mediator who brings irreconcilables together. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. Tillich, Paul. Music: Antioch, arranged by Lowell Mason, 1836. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. In the book of Philippians, Paul speaks of this peace when he says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. In chapter 2, verse 10, Paul writes of God's fairness in granting "glory, honor and peace, for everyone who does good.". "Everything" leaves nothing out. If you have never done that, then this is a great season in which to believe on Him. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. There are a few Bible verses that seem to suggest that Jesus did not want people to celebrate his birth. Think of the situation under which the Jews lived at this time. Our children's gift to us is their example of amazement which will lead us to recapture our own sense of amazement at the incarnation. Again he sent other servants, saying, Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Of course they did! So, you see, if Christmas means anything, it at least means this that God has not forgotten His people. You do not have, because you do not ask God. you are asking. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. In all that he does, he prospers. In this hymn, known as the "Benedictus," the aged priest exclaims: "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. Finally, by an obvious extension, glory meant a person's true "worth." And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. O Keiper, Ralph L. Peace in Storm. L That is what Jesus Himself said: "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." This is why Jesus came. Perhaps you have prayed for something and have not received an answer, at least not the answer you were waiting for. Jesus is called God-man. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it? And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 7. Together these verses teach that men are not naturally at peace with God but that God has acted to make peace through the Lord Jesus Christ. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. Suddenly the angels appear, first to Zechariah and then to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, and the word is out: God has not forgotten! Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Why, to their sheep obviously. It says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men the testimony given in its proper time" (1 Timothy 2:5,6). Peace on earth. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. This passage suggests four ways of celebrating Christmas: Tell others about it. I know that Christmas is a busy time. It is in this sense a doxology, which means to express a right opinion of God verbally. But if the second type of peace is not something automatic that is, if you have to find it how do you find it? of But at the same time, the one who will come to Jesus Christ will know a great peace even in a world that denies it. The Herald Angels Sing" Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1739. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Q How do you celebrate Christmas? Tillich developed his understanding of salvation from the meaning of the Latin word salvus, which underlies it. Music: Mendelssohn, Felix in his cantata Festgesang an die Kunstler, 1840. Now this is what the shepherds did.
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