Christmas - The Real Meaning
Matthew 1: 5
Importance of Rachal, and Ruth - Gentiles grafted in.
Matthew 1: 18 - 2: 15
Vs. 20 - Conceived of the Spirit
Vs. 23 - God with us
Vs. 11 - Gold - Frankincense - Myrrh - Gold representing the Kingship of Christ, Frankincense representing the Priesthood of Christ, and the Myrrh representing the death and sacrifice of Christ.
Vs. 14-15 - Out of Egypt - Jews with Moses - Us with Jesus
The way the season has been perverted
Luke 6: 27-36
Where in the scriptures does it institute the giving of presents to each other? It's not bad - just distorted - the Bible and Jesus only instituted the giving to the poor and those that can not give back.
People have "X'ed" Christ out of Christmas
Commercialism has taken the meaning away
We buy gifts for those that need nothing, just to be buying because it is expected because of the tradition.
What can we do?
Change our perspective on how we celebrate
- As Romans 12: 2 says: Be Not Conformed to the World
- We can stop burdening ourselves with buying so much for us and family and start devoting more to homeless, nursing homes, soup kitchens, Rescue Mission, ect.... The options are endless.
- We can focus on presenting the Greatest Gift of all... Telling others about the Gift that God gave US...