What a cause for amazement! May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. The third type of peace is a peace with one another. N He explained the full force of the original language which literally means "Glory to God in the highest and peace among men of peace." This is why Jesus came. B And we need to understand exactly what the biblical meaning of these words is if we are to understand this part of the angel's announcement. 11. 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. 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! Why not join every year with the shepherds on that first Christmas, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen (Luke 2:20)? In chapter 2, verse 10, Paul writes of God's fairness in granting "glory, honor and peace, for everyone who does good.". And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. It was dying because it had no adequate cause for which to live. 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. There is the peace of God, which is personal. of But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. They are an important part of our lives, and our relationship with them should continue to grow every day. Notice that this verse does not say, "In everything present your requests to God. Come to the wedding feast. But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. But this is all there will be - until the angels appear with their message. And the herald proclaimed aloud, You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 1. Nevertheless, each of them fails at the most important point the great fact that salvation in the biblical sense is by God alone and tries to encourage the age-old desire of man to save himself, which is impossible. The world won't let us miss the holiday. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. It is recorded in Luke 1:26-38. So begin with amazement be amazed at the fact that you have not suffered the just punishment of your sin, that God has loved you, that Jesus came and died for you, that God called you to faith in Himself when you were yet without hope of salvation, and that you are now God's child and are secure in His love. J 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. Home We need to think about each of these ways. Have you recognized yourself as a sinner? The Truth! This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? 10. In other words, James is saying that war begins with men's emotions. 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." I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. The angel said, "Do not be afraid. Perhaps you are one who longs for the Lord's return. Publication date: Apr 30, 2023. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 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. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? T It is a time where they remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You shall keep the Feast of Harvest, of the firstfruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." James means that the lack of peace between men has its true source in men's emotions. To what did they return? 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. December 26, 2015 The answer is in chapter 3, verse 17: "And the way of peace they do not know." And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. My family likes to read these together on Christmas Eve, right before we go to bed. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Will Graham Devotion: Why Would Jesus Willingly Die a Horrific Death? They had seen the angels and had come to worship the angels' King. I The Greek word for peace is eirene. Christmas is a very important holiday for Christians because it celebrates the birth of their savior. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to celebrate. The appearance of an angel to Joseph in a dream to tell Him to take the Child Jesus and his mother into Egypt to escape the wrath of King Herod. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. And God has not forgotten you! If we turn back to the earliest chapters of Genesis, we discover a description of the globe before God fashioned it into the kind of world we know now; and we are told that "the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." Like the message to Mary, this message also has four parts: Also, like the message to Mary, it has an important emphasis which, in this case, is the proclamation of joy. From beginning to end, God's dealings with our race are cause for amazement. Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 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. The development of Christmas was a kind of affirmation of God's interest in the world and in human lifebirth as well as death." He added this. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. You can remember the moment in which they became real for you personally. Celebrating it certainly does seem and feel like the right thing to do. And in the center of them in the appearances of angels to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds there are the three messages which, more than any other, perfectly explain the true, divine meaning of Christmas. Though you have not seen him, you love him. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Pondering is work. He loves you so much that He gave His life for your salvation. Moreover, the Bible teaches that if you will believe that that is, if you will believe that you are not at peace with God naturally but that He has made peace through the death of His Son for your sin - then God will enter into the kind of eternal relationship with you in which you can be called His son or daughter. Malachi, who lived in the fifth century before Christ, was the last of the prophets. 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. 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. 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? Let's consider four reasons why Christmas doesn't meet the criteria of being "Christian.". Then out of the darkness we hear God speaking to call forth life and order. "Has God forgotten me?" We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire. And David said to him, Will you take me down to this band? And he said, Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band. And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. She would have wondered how she could have conceived without having slept with a man. Joy is of God. Spend some time at Christmas thinking over what you do know of God and trying to understand the ways of God more fully. He would say that He was the way for a world that was lost. Does God Really Work All Things Together for Good? They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with . There is a clue to what peace means in this verse in the way the word is used in the earlier chapters of Romans. But the angel appeared and explained to Joseph what was happening. 7. It comes from a verb which means "to reconcile" or "to bring back into harmony." It is selfishness and pride, plus the lack of individual peace and contentment. Come to Him! 8. Music: Adeste Fideles, attributed variously to John Wade, John Reading or Simao Portogallo. "He was born like us as well as died like us. Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. But shouldnt He be part of your life every day? And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. It is the way mentioned in the book of Philippians. Jesus Christ is that Savior. 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. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. Tillich developed his understanding of salvation from the meaning of the Latin word salvus, which underlies it. 7. That is the question. What is the source of the fighting and turmoil in the world today and, unfortunately at times, within the churches? 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. And then this is what is so wonderful Joseph believed him. Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 ESV / 156 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. The Apostle James was one who knew this, and he spoke of it in a passage that is a perceptive analysis of such problems in the world and in church circles. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Many of you might have heard that the wise men did not appear during the night of Jesus' birth, no matter what nativity scenes may try to tell you. There are three instances. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. The question is important because of the significance of the day and because so many obviously do not know how to celebrate it. However, there is no evidence that Christmas was originally . I doubt if this was what he meant. Do you know that you have fallen short of God's standards and that nothing within you will ever be able to move up to the fulfilling of them? "O Come, All Ye Faithful" Words: John F. Wade, circa 1743. Verse 17 suggests that we are to tell others what we have seen and heard; but we can hardly do that effectively until we have first been amazed at Christ's birth, pondered its meaning, and glorified and praised God for it. 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 Life! Music: Pax Tecum, George T. Caldbeck and Charles J. Vincent, 1876. Now I am an old man, and I haven't any reason to believe that there is any truth in that text at all. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. It is the message of Christmas. Moreover, you can do it in song. Local: 704-401-2432 The situation would have been difficult for anyone to understand, let alone a man engaged to a woman who was expecting a child. Q One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. The second message brought by the angels concerning the birth of Christ is the message to Joseph. We see the force of this verb when we recognize that it was used of persons who were becoming engaged, hence, of the engagement contract. Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. Let your prayer be the cry of the publican: "God be merciful to me, a sinner!" Who was He really? Ponder on its meaning. Let the people of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. He would have simply thought her unfaithful. Will anyone argue that they were uneducated? When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found . You cannot tell that which you have not first felt and experienced. 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). If you know this joy, then you can go on, as the angels did, to give glory to God; and you can possess that peace of heart and soul which transcends understanding. We only understand the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ by revelation. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. 6. Glorify and praise God for what was done that first Christmas. They are: The appearance of Gabriel to Zechariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. These words mean "a right opinion," "a wrong opinion," and "a contradictory opinion" respectively. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. Thus, the message to Joseph centers primarily on that great work which Jesus, the Messiah, was to do. In the Christian religion, Jesus Christ is believed to be the son of God. 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. Keiper, Ralph L. op. How can this be? In fact, it . C Anybody who knows good news is authorized to tell it, particularly when it is news that will be the means of salvation of others. The world of the shepherds' day was much like our world today, in which the lamps of knowledge and culture seem to be slowly flickering out. Arrangement: William H. Cummings, Congregational Hymn and Tune Book, 1857. There will be a little Christian sentiment, some happiness, and much activity. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago)" (Luke 1:68-70). Jeremiah 10:2-4 ESV / 302 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. F He was, however, making a very important point: We should never celebrate Jesus birth at Christmastimeand then forget Him the rest of the year. 52 Bible Verses about Celebration Verse Concepts They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness. K We can estimate when Jesus was born by counting backward from his death on Passover, Nisan 14 in the spring of the year 33 C.E. Jesus fulfilled that promise when He died for your sin and rose again for your justification. Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! It comes from a Latin verb which means "to make a bargain" or "to make an agreement between contracting parties." Jesus is called God-man. But there is a second way also. It is a result of the Christian's first having entered into a relationship of peace with God. Both of these ideas are related to the idea of a mediator who brings irreconcilables together. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. God is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20). For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to celebrate. 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. Nor am I referring to happiness. Do you do that? May God give you grace to do that. For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living. Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Be amazed at the event itself. Continue by pondering these things. S You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Of course, you can and you should! Frank E. Gaebelein writes about this passage in The Practical Epistle of James, "A few years ago, former Chancellor Hutchins of the University of Chicago said war begins in the minds of men. Geocoding At best she might have guessed that the child that was born to her might possibly be the Messiah. The exact date of Jesus' birth is not recorded in the Scriptures. 3. You shall not do any ordinary work. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. Now, just as the Bible speaks of peace with God so it also speaks about a peace of God, and this is quite different. 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. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Jehoshua, meaning "Jehovah is salvation." "Everything" leaves nothing out. What is the solution? 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 a means of our salvation.
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