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Christmas 2022 - Christmas 2022

SPEAKER: Pastor Charlie Riley
December 23, 2022

Christmas 2022

Why Do We Celebrate Christmas?
Is It Pagan or Pure?

The Incarnation

Isaiah 7:13
Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

The “Protoevangelion” Seed of One
Genesis 3:14-15
So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

There Is No Other World Religion That Can Stand Next To Christianity

Three Undeniable Facts
His Impact on World History Is Undeniable
His Bodily Resurrection Is Undeniable
His Prophetic Entrance To The Earth and Soon Return Is Undeniable

Why 2000 Years ago in Bethlehem?

Why Not Now?
Facebook Live From Bethlehem
Joseph on Twitter
Sheppards and Selfies with the Angels
Magi Watch Party With Daily Updates

Galatians 4:4-5
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Mark 1:14-15
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Spiritually
The Jews Were Extremely Aware of The Messiah’s Arrival

Culturally
Alexander The Great
Greek World Of That Day (India to Britain)
Were Completely Connected
The Greek Language Most Precise Language

Politically – “Pax Romana”
Rome Had Made Great Advances
Seaports Established
Paved Roads Established
250 Thousand Miles of Paved Roads with Soldiers
Information Could Travel Safe and Fast
Israel Was the Epicenter

Sacrificially
The Romans Had Mastered Torture
The Roman Crucifixion Process

Why Christmas on December 25?
Is It Pagan or Pure?

The Jewish Belief of Jesus Conception Being 9 Months From His Death
Jesus Died on Nisan 14 on The Jewish Calendar
Modern Calendar – March 25
Add 9 Months
December 25

Why Christmas Trees?
Is It Pagan or Pure?

Celebrating Christmas
The Puritans In The 17th Century – 13 Colonies
It Was Against The Law to Celebrate Christmas

Jeremiah 10:1-5
Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord:
“Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile; for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple. They are upright, like a palm tree, and they cannot speak; They must be carried, because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, nor can they do any good.”

600 Years Before The First Christmas
This Was About The Idolatry
This Was About Their Captivity

Christian History of The Christmas Tree

16th Century in Germany
Every Year on December 24
Celebrate the “Feast of Adam and Eve”
They Would Have The “Paradise Play”

Families
Would Cut A Pine Tree And Decorate It With Apples
Wafers Were Added A Short Time Later Representing Communion
A While Later Cookies Were Added For Children

Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther Walking Home At Night

John 1:1-9
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

He Then Added Lights To His “Paradise Tree”

The Paradise Tree – Paradise Was Lost
The Christmas Tree – Paradise Rescued
At Another Tree – Paradise Restored

Galatians 3:13
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

Christmas Trees Tell The Story of Three Trees
The First Tree (Paradise Tree) – Was The Tree of Death
Christmas Tree – Was The Tree of Light
Calvary’s Tree – Was The Tree of Life

Why We Celebrate Christmas?
Why 2000 Years Ago?
Why December 25th?
Why The Christmas Tree?