The Importance of Christmas – Sermons, Outlines and Bible Studies

Philippians 2:6-11

INTRODUCTION:

What do you know about Christmas? Human meanings are not precise regarding Christmas, because its meaning is of a spiritual nature. Only God can reveal it through his Word. Biblical studies and Christian preaching about Christmas teach us that it is a spiritual event that illustrates the message of the Good News, the good news from God to humanity. Let us strip our minds of all traditional celebrations and return to the Bible to ask again: What is Christmas?

As a child I always waited for the visit of Santa Claus and the magicians, but they never came to me; Isn’t it true that when the Christmas season arrives, everyone wants to receive something very special? My children always ask, how important is Christmas? And what gifts will you give us this Christmas? I take this opportunity to introduce you to the real meaning of Christmas from its tender language. Why do it? Because at Christmas everyone wants to feel very special with gifts: husbands, wives, employees and children, etc.

Christmas, sadly, has taken on a value very different from what it really means. For modern man it means consuming, doing business, juicy profits for self-realization: it is more commercial than spiritual. On the other hand, millions of adults and children struggle to find something that makes them rest happily at Christmas, others suffering in hospitals, some crying at funerals because they have suffered a misfortune, some countries complaining about the government system that keeps them burdened without enjoying of what many call: the Christmas party! Faced with a problem of this magnitude: What is the meaning of Christmas?

THE DEFINITION OF CHRISTMAS – Biblical Studies:

a) The word Christmas comes from the Latin “Nativitatem” = birth 1
* from the same root comes the word “Nativity” = birthday
* specifically birth, Christmas is used to name the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem = “place where bread is born” 2

b) The declaration of the Christmas holidays

* Biblical studies teach us that the exact date of the birth of Christ is unknown, not even the most scholars have affirmed its accuracy with certainty, however in the Roman tradition it was made to coincide with the “invicti sun facing darkness” celebrated on 25 from December.

* Today it is decorated with the image of Santa Claus, Father Christmas, who in Russia became the patron saint of children. Now Santa Claus, because of his fame in almost all of Europe, people have made him the hero of Christmas, taking away his Christological place. . In Latin America there is no difference: Saint Nicholas is the commercial image of Christmas.

How has it changed? Neither Peter, nor Paul, nor John speak to us about the Christmas holidays, which is why I understand that they were not celebrated, and therefore neither was the early church. They were worried about proclaiming the good news of the gospel, as an event and not as a date, they wanted the gospel to spread, they didn’t have time for those things. However, reading the first chapters of Matthew and Luke we discover the birth of Jesus and Christmas in a different way: how has Christmas changed? . Christmas is important because it is:

1. Larousse Encyclopedic Dictionary 2007, 13 edition, Colombia, pag, 710-711.

2. Escuaín, Vila: New Illustrated Biblical Dictionary; Edit Clie, 1985; page 107.

1. THE REVELATION OF THE ETERNAL GOD WITHIN HISTORY:

Philippians 2:6 “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God to be something to grasp” (God has entered into history, divesting himself of his glory by penetrating into the lowest part of space and the time suffering limits in his body. ) 3

a) An impersonal substance?

The philosophers tried to explain through concepts and ideas the origin of things and their existence, all the proposals they made did not respond to the desire of their souls. For the most part they conceived a Supreme Being, eternal and impersonal; The philosophers, although they did not declare it, were looking for the person behind the creation, the beginning of all things, the Creator of the universe; however, they chose the path of reason, which is why they did not arrive clearly at the “personal Lagos” that moves all things. “The Logos who became a man to identify himself with humans and save us, is Jesus, Romans 11:36.” 4

b) The sacred book reveals the “Lagos”

John 1:1,4 says: In the beginning was the Word… and he dwelt among us and we have seen his glory.” God has entered history, he has made himself known, he is not only an immaterial substance; he is the Eternal, Sovereign, Spirit and Immutable and Personal Being that relates to the creation of him. Christmas is that historical event where God takes human form, to enter into a direct relationship with his creation… “that Word became flesh”. Only God can reveal this great Truth to us, implanting faith in our hearts through his Holy Spirit, recognizing what the psalmist had anticipated: What is man that you remember him, and the son of man that you remember him? do you visit? (Psalm 8:4)

c) It is the historical birth of the Savior.

The gospel record of Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-20, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6. It shows us that the baby that was born that night in Bethlehem was unique in history, He was not created by a human father and mother, He had a heavenly pre-existence (John 1:1,14) He was the GOD, the Creator of the Universe that he is revealing to men so that they may know him and worship him. Christmas has a biblical and theological meaning incomparable to the Christmas holidays: IT IS THE INCARNATION OF THE ETERNAL AND ALMIGHTY GOD on earth. Why would he do such a thing? It is time to meet God.

2. IT IS THE CELEBRATION OF A REAL EVENT AND NOT OF A DATE:

Philippians 2:7,8 “But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men”

Biblical studies and Christian preaching do not teach that the birth of the Savior is an absolutely decisive event in the history of salvation, we can read it in the prophecies: “because a child is born to us, a son is given to us” (Isaiah 9: 5-6) It is a fact that the whole sky celebrated: “Suddenly, a multitude of celestial beings appeared together with the shepherds and praised God with these words Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will for with men” Luke 2:13-14.

a) Consumerism is a date:

We are in a consumerist world, so much so that the meaning of Christmas has lost its real essence as a historical event. A large part of the people do not understand this festival, they only gather to celebrate a historic date with gifts, food, sweets; etc. It’s more than just a reason to get together as a family.

3. Notes in Christology class, Saint Paul Seminary, Reverend David Legters.

4. Uladislau,Rysy,rysky: Doctrinal Monument of the Reform, Edit el faro SA ; Mex, pages 35-36.

b) At Christmas we celebrate the approach of God to man through Jesus Christ.

Jesus miraculously took the form of a man. It is the celebration of the birth of Christ as a real event, so real that the Holy Scriptures teach that:

• The shepherds celebrated with joy “they came to see him and adored him”
• The magi received him with joy “they came to see him, offered him gifts and adored him”, Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh: gifts that identify the offices of Jesus: as Priest, Prophet and King.
• The angels joyfully declared “they came to earth to give news of him and worshiped him”

c) God worship event:

It is not about celebrating a date, it is about worshiping Christ for the event of his Incarnation. No to the Christmas tree, not to Santa Claus, not to the food; it is the birth of a Savior. Each person has their own way of seeing the Christmas spirit, but the Bible says the truth: “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we saw his glory…” What happened when God sent the angel to speak to Joseph and Mary ? At that time God had determined to enter the history of mankind to fulfill what he had determined from the beginning. . Hallelujah! His coming has been to give light to the blind, life to the dead, hope to those who are lost. Jehovah’s salvation has come to his people, the acceptable year of the Lord has come. Therefore Christmas:

3. IT IS THE REVELATION OF ETERNAL LOVE SO THAT WE LOVE HIM

Philippians 2: 8 “And being in the condition of a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross”

How much love does God have for the world to sacrifice his own Son? Why does an Eternal God become a real man and live among us, knowing how much harm they would do him? The answer is: INCOMPARABLE LOVE! “For God so loved the world” (John 3:16)

a) Christmas has a Name:

JESUS, IMMANUEL! At Christmas God has a wonderful plan for each of us in his Gospel. God has a remedy for the lost world, the revelation of his love, the good news that a Savior has been born who is Christ the Lord. Christmas is Jesus because without Jesus there is no Christmas.

b) His love came to us:

Since the fall of our first parents, we were conditioned without hope, but God sent his Son to save us, his love from eternity entered time, in the Person of Jesus as theophany of God the father: in his condition as a man, in his humiliation, in his obedience and death on the cross. That’s Christmas: “Birth and expression of God’s love from eternity in Christ in the form of a servant” I have loved you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) 5

c) Let us bow our knees to Jesus Christ:

This Christmas, surely many people will be bending their knees to other gods: to business, to the commercialization of Santa Claus, little trees, to the image of Mary, etc. They are not the main characters of the party, the main character is Jesus “God’s gift to the world” and you will give birth to a son and you will call his name Jesus (Matthew 1:21) The entire human race is lost, every second they die without knowing Christ, the way they celebrate Christmas is the reflection of their perdition.

5. Fernando D Saravi: The Divinity of Jesus Christ Vindicated, Edit Clie, page 52.

CONCLUSION

Friends: Christmas is knowing Christ and loving Him, that the whole world this Christmas confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of Christmas, that we kneel before Him as did the shepherds, the wise men and the angels of heaven. Christmas is an announcement of the good news of great joy and happiness that the world cannot give us.

Biblical studies and Christian preaching teach us that Christmas is not about a specific date; In fact, we can celebrate Christmas at any time. They are not gifts and meals; it is about the Deity of Christ, it is about a Christological and soteriological matter that has been supplanted by traditions and commerce. Saturnalias, Santa Claus, trees, multicolored lights, etc. The true Christmas shows the love of God that reaches even the most marginalized person in society.

Glory to Christ the Lord! Because although the exact date of his birth is not known; we can, in these holidays, announce the good news of…

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