Everyone says, “Follow the science.”

What does that tell you?

  

The vast, expansive, inexplicable, wondrous world leads to the logical conclusion…God!

In the beginning, God…

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen….

-Romans 1:20

Ancient peoples also believed in god or gods due primarily to the vastness of the heavens and the earth.

It is extremely interesting that these three wise men, kings, Magi, were of Babylonian stock!

If it looks like a flute, it is an omen regarding the art of music; if it appears in the private parts of constellations; it is an omen for immoral behavior; it portends genius and erudition if it forms an equilateral triangle or a rectangular quadrilateral in relation to some fixed stars, and it portends poisonings if it appears in the head of either the northern or southern Serpent.

-Pliny the Elder in (Natural History 2.22-23)

But then, God sent someone to explain the reality of a Creator.

No wise man, enchanter, magician, or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries….

-Daniel 2:27

Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries.

-Daniel 2:47

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself, and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.

-Daniel 9:25-27

Prophecies that can be tested and verified are all in the Bible.

In the year 445 BC the King of Persia, Artaxerxes, gives Nehemiah the order to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. (Nehemiah 2:1-8), and the countdown begins.

As evidenced by their passionate pursuit and long journey, the Wise Men did not allow their traditions or culture to prevent them from discovering the Transcendent.

  

It reveals to us the importance of seeking God on His terms and not ours.

  

  

1 - Christmas really happened.

  

Why did these events of the first Christmas take place?

  

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

-1 John 1:1-4

Religion is a waste of time. Salvation is by grace through faith.

In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God.

-John 1:1

Eternal life was with the father and appeared to us.

-1 John 1:2

How does one unite with Jesus?

Religion: Measured goodness.

Jesus: No one is good enough. I offer salvation by grace.

But then the truth of Christmas comes: I am saved by grace through faith alone.

How does this change my world?

Because He gave up what was most precious to Him so that He would not lose me, we can have an identity that is Rock solid.

  

2 - Christmas means that we can actually have fellowship with God.

  

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

-1 John 1:3-4

Hope, Security, Eternity, Joy!

  

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

-1 John 1:3

For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

-2 Corinthians 4:6

This is why God made the church, the Koinonia: the fellowship of mutual sharing.

Church: The people of God come together to focus on the revelation of Jesus that we may draw near to God and have fellowship with Him.

   

3 - Christmas means that we can have a centralized joy!

  

We write this to make our joy complete.

-1 John 1:4

The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life

-John 4:14

The joy that Christmas brings, the assurance of God’s love and care, is like a subterranean River of joy, a foundation of myrth, that will always reinvigorate you no matter the circumstances of your life.

-Tim Keller, Hidden Christmas

In Christ, winter often comes, but it’s always Christmas.

The Baby in a manger that you passed by. He is the hope of the world. Don’t miss this again.

   

   

   

   

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