Some Christmas Truths
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his
shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace.
Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of
an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Introduction
Christmas the most popular holiday has been the subject of ridicule as well as praise. Groups like
the JW’s and other pseudo Christian group have been attacking, telling that Christmas has its
origin as a pagan holiday. Books as well as magazines feature Christmas as if Christians are really
celebrating a pagan special day. While it is true that the celebration has become so worldly
because of the drinking and partying, and the lies about Santa Claus, I would rather celebrate
Christmas. I would take into consideration some the pros and the cons in this short message.
Illustration: The Unspeakable Gift
Long ago, there ruled in Persia a wise and good king. He loved his people. He wanted to know how
they lived. He wanted to know about their hardships. Often he dressed in the clothes of a working
man or a beggar, and went to the homes of the poor. No one whom he visited thought that he was
their ruler. One time he visited a very poor man who lived in a cellar. He ate the coarse food the
poor man ate. He spoke cheerful, kind words to him. Then he left. Later he visited the poor man
again and disclosed his identity by saying, “I am your king!” The king thought the man would surely
ask for some gift or favor, but he didn’t. Instead he said, “You left your palace and your glory to visit
me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the course food I ate. You brought gladness to my heart! To
others you have given your rich gifts. To me you have given yourself!”
The King of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ, gave himself to you and me. The Bible calls Him, “the
unspeakable gift!” Source unknown
I. The Birth of Christ was not written in the Bible and nobody knows it, so Christmas is
wrong.
A. When was Jesus born? Not on December 25. Though Christians had adopted that
date by A.D. 336, Christ was born “when shepherds watched their flocks by night.”
In other words, most likely in the spring not on winter.
B. He wasn’t born in the year A.D. also
C. The Bible tells us that Herod the Great ruled Palestine when Jesus was born, and
Herod died in 4 B.C.—so Jesus had to have been born not long before that.
(Dionysiuys Exiguus a sixth century monk who came up with the idea of splitting
history into A.D. and B.C. He chose the wrong date).
D. The Lord willed that no one will ever know the correct date of His birth but he did
not tell us that celebrating his birth is wrong.
E. The WORD was made flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:14). Christ left His glorious
place and came here on earth to save us sinners from our sins and for me it’s worth
celebrating.
Illustration: Fear Not
In the Christmas narratives, there are several “fear nots.”
1. The “fear not” of salvation: “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good
tidings…which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which
is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10,11).
2. The “fear not” of the humanly impossible: “Fear not, Mary, … the Holy Ghost shall come upon
thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: …For with God nothing shall be
impossible” (Luke 1:30, 35, 37).
3. The “fear not” of unanswered prayer: “Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife
Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John” (Luke 1:13).
4. The “fear not” oof immediate obedience: “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee
Mary thy wife. … Then Joseph … did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him” (Matthew 1:20,24
Source unknown
II. December 25 was a winter festival, a pagan holiday celebrating the “nativity of the sun”,
so when you celebrate on December 25, it’s as if you are celebrating with the pagans.
A. While it is true that in the olden times December 25 was a pagan holiday, when we
celebrate Christmas on the same date, we have in mind the birth of Jesus, the star
Bethlehem, the baby in the manger, the shepherds, the angels singing, the wise men
B. Nobody even think of worshipping the sun now.
C. The SDA accuse us of worshipping on Sundays, because it’s connected with the
worship of the sun, they worship on Saturdays, but it has connection with the pagan
worship of Saturn.
D. To make a connection with pagan deities is ridiculous because we never have them
on mind now.
III. The word Christmas indicates a mixture of Christian and pagan word.
A. The name of Christ and the Catholic “Mass”, put together in one word so as non-
Catholics we should not celebrate Christmas.
B. Personally, I do not agree with the repetitious prayers, the prayers for the dead, the
transubstantiation rites etc. of the Catholics but when I think about Christmas, I’m
not thinking about the mass.
C. In my mind it is the coming of Christ, and I want to celebrate it to honor Him, to
thank Him, to praise Him, and to worship Him. The Christmas carols which when I
hear brings joy to my heart has nothing to do with the mass.
D. The family reunion, the greetings, the smiles, the reconciliation, the giving of gifts is
something no other holidays can have an impact to people.
E. It’s an accepted fact that its easier to invite people to go to church during Christmas
season than any other time of the year. So, the chances of people hearing the
gospel and getting saved is higher.
F. If Catholics celebrate it with their mass, so be it, we non-Catholics will celebrate it
with our worship service.
IV. They say that Christmas tree and other Christmas decorations is a form of idolatry. They
cite Jeremiah 10:3-4 to justify their reasoning.
A. There was a time that I really want to have Christmas tree in our house but did not
put it just to avoid being criticized by other believers.
B. The truth is Jeremiah speaks of idol making that’s why it mentioned hammer and as
well as silver and gold.
C. During Jeremiah’s time, there was no Christmas, and there was no Christmas tree. If
we decorate our house with Christmas tree, it’s just to beautify and to make the
holiday season more colourful. I don’t see any wrong with that. Who would worship
a Christmas tree now?
D. If we express our joy that Christ came into the world to save sinners thru decorating
our house because friends and relatives are coming, I find no fault in this.
E. The Bible does not say making Christmas tree is a sin. I love to see Christmas lights
in various colours flashing, colourful mistletoes and other things that would make
this holiday season worth remembering because Christ became man and that’s one
of the best thing or events that happened in the earth since God created the world.
V. Christmas celebration is worldly so let’s not join the world in doing carnal things.
A. I would agree that due to lots of drinking, excessive revelry, dancing, carousing, too
much commercialism, as well as lies about Sta. Claus, Christmas is corrupted. But it
doesn’t mean that because some people are doing it, we would stop remembering
the coming of our Saviour.
B. Lots of people are getting drunk during Sundays than people going to church to
attend worship service. It’s a proven fact yet we still continue going to church
despite of this.
C. Christmas is a time to tell our children or grandchildren the birth of our Saviour and
if other people make Christmas a day of doing fleshly things, then we set an example
of celebrating it decently and spiritually.
Illustration: The Awe of Christmas Eve
It may come as a surprise to learn that among Albert Einstein’s talents was a gift for music. He
played the violin and often joined in chamber music sessions in the homes of neighbours and
friends. When well past sixty, he decided to give up his participation in chamber ensembles because
it was too demanding on his time and digital reflexes. Even so, he continued to play for his own
pleasure.
An exception occurred one Christmas Eve when choristers appeared at the Einstein home—112
Mercer Street in Princeton, New Jersey. Hearing the singing, the noble man picked up his violin,
went out on the chilly porch, and provided accompaniment for the carolers.
The contagion of Christmas is irresistible! Its charm surrounds and inspires young and old, rich and
poor, wise and simple. Grateful souls are impelled to join in carols of praise, even the pious Jew.
1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching.
IV. Conclusion:
Christmas time is a time for remembering the birth of our beloved Saviour. We don’t know
exactly when he was born but what is important is it is never wrong to celebrate it. Christmas
day had been abused and people are mocking and celebrating it without restraint and without
even the thought about Christ. For me it’s a great sin but we as Bible believing Christians should
not give up setting an example on how to celebrate it.
