CHRISTMAS QUESTION ANSWERED

CHRISTMAS QUESTION ANSWERED

Monday, December 21, 2015

Matthew 16:13-16 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. [Mk.8:27-29; Lk.9:18-2]

John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Romans 10 … if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? …

  This week last year I posed the question “Can one have authentic Christmas without personal resurrection?”

  A number of people quickly responded: “Very comprehensive question.” Kaitlan (MD); “Nope.” Penny (NE); “No.” David (NE); “My wife says "No."  I agree.” Tom (IL); “Are you talking about Spiritual resurrection as in regeneration? “ Randy (MD); “No, without a personal relationship with Christ celebrating Christmas is a secular celebration.  Jim Daley said on Focus on the Family this morning "There is no authentic reality without a personal relationship with Christ."” Sharon (NE); “Nope ... The Advent of Jesus would be meaningless without His crucifixion and His resurrection.”; “Thanks for making us think - both in today's installment and in your entire year's writings.” Rev. Dr. Rod Buck (NE); “I talked to a friend last night and he said this was his 1st Christmas.  He got saved not long ago.” Al Costanzo (NE).

  A few relatable points to keep in heart and mind in authentically celebrating Christmas:

·         “authentic” means genuine, real, valid, bona fide, true, reliable et al.

·         “Christ” identifying Jesus as deity. The honorific title is first seen in Matthew 1:1 and last seen in Revelation 22:21, with a total of 571 mentions in 532 NT verses; in every mention meaning the same thing: “anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: - Christ.” “the son of God” (Strong’s & Thayer’s Greek definitions)

·         “mas”, more commonly today “mass”, having to do with congregant celebratory worship.

·         “Christmas” meaning to worship Christ.

·         “resurrection” in and by the Word is not singularly new life after death; it is present renewal beginning with trusting Jesus Christ. (Jn.3:3; 2Cor.5:17-18; Eph.2:1-5; Col.2:13; 1Pet.3:18. I encourage looking up these verses.) 

  Jesus Christ cannot be worshipped when not believing who and what He is, always has been and always will be. (Rom.10; Rev.1:8, 11; 21:6; 22:13)

  In conversing with the confused Samaritan woman, Jesus Christ Himself emphasized  “God is a spirit, and they who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah is coming, who is called Christ. When He has come, He will tell us all things. Jesus said to her, I AM, the One speaking to you. (MKJV Jn.4:24-26; Ex.3:13-14; Isa.52:6)

  It is impossible to have an authentic Christmas apart from personal resurrection! Without personally having a John 1:12; 3:3 relationship this season is merely temporal Happy Holidays sans eternal present.

EBB4