All right, you can now open your hymnals there to 104. 104, I believe that this hymn is misplaced in our hymnals. It's in the midst of Christmas carols. And tonight we are not celebrating the birth of Jesus. We're exalting the Lord of glory here this evening. And I want you to notice with me Psalm 98. I want for us to take a look at this Psalm that is mentioned at the bottom of that hymn. Psalm 98. We could say, not in the scriptural sense, this is apparently the inspiration for joy to the world as we consider what is mentioned in this psalm. Psalm 98, notice it says, O sing unto the Lord a new song, for He hath done marvelous things. His right hand and His holy arm hath gotten Him the victory. The Lord hath made known His salvation. His righteousness hath He openly shown in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all the earth. Make a loud noise and rejoice and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord the King. Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands, let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for He cometh to judge the earth. With righteousness shall He judge the world and the people with equity." Again, as we think about the words to joy to the world, that was not about His first coming. Okay, so I understand the Magi, the wise men went to worship the king of the Jews. But in reality, I want you to consider that that's basically the only reference to that. And of course, when they try to make Jesus Christ an earthly king, it says He avoided them in John chapter 6. Now, when we think about the tune or the song, the words to Joy to the World, you see there's no mention to the birth of Jesus in that hymn. Isaac Watts wrote the words to this hymn. And the music, as we see at the bottom here, is George Friedrich Handel. And he lived at the same time as Johann Sebastian Bach, all these names that we think about classical music in history. But Handel was best known, of course, for his oratorio called Messiah. I'm not going to try singing any of that tonight. Some of that gets way too high for me. But that was composed in 1741, so you understand the timing of this. And with that in mind, notice with me Isaiah chapter 9. Isaiah chapter 9. I want you to consider here in relation to what we often use in reference to an observance of Christmas. The reality is that the verses that are so often mentioned in relation to this actually are not emphasizing His birth. It's actually emphasizing what Joy to the World emphasizes in Him coming to reign and rule. Notice it says in Isaiah 9, verse 6, for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. So I want you to think about all the Christmas cards that I ever remember seeing that use this verse. They might as well just not include the rest of it, because the reality is they're emphasizing the very first part of the verse. Because you notice it says, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. I want to emphasize verse 7 here, "...of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever." Notice the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. I remind you that Jesus Christ is not waiting for Revelation 20 to establish His Kingdom. He's already seated on the throne of heaven ruling. So really what I believe happens in Revelation 20 as far as the 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ, that's when the Lord Jesus delivers the kingdoms up to God His Father as we'll see here in a moment. Also notice Micah chapter 5 and verse 2. Micah 5 and verse 2. Again, I'm showing you here that the verses that are often used to emphasize his birth actually emphasize his ruling and reigning. Micah chapter 5, and of course, this was the passage that was quoted by the Jewish leaders in Matthew chapter 2, but they didn't bother just traveling a few miles to go see if prophecy had been fulfilled. Micah 5 and verse 2, But thou Bethlehem Ephrathah. Why doesn't the Bible just say Bethlehem? There's more than one. There's more than one Bethlehem in Israel. So this very clearly emphasizes as far as Bethlehem Ephrathah in Judah. though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." I've mentioned this before, but the NIV says that last phrase this way, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. That is blasphemous. One of the modern Bibles, all the modern Bibles pretty much, are blasphemous in places at least. So notice origins are from of old, from ancient times, not from everlasting. There's a big difference from ancient times. People sometimes will even joke about somebody getting older, wow, you're getting ancient. Sorry, that's not everlasting, right? This is the ESV, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. So when we think about this, when we're talking about Jesus having an origin, an origin is a point at which something comes into existence. Can I ask you when the Son of God came into existence? He was in the beginning of eternity with God the Father. So again, all these errors that come in with this, notice again the emphasis that He was to be ruler in Israel whose goings forth have been of old from everlasting, not just from ancient times, ancient days. I want to give you a little bit of history here tonight. I just did a little search on this here this afternoon. pinpoint a little timing of this as to what we observe in our culture and around the world today. It's very interesting. Non-Christian cultures will even observe December 25th and so on. The early churches And of course, especially in the apostolic era, the time when the Apostles were still on this earth. Notice in the Acts chapter 2, during this time they focused on the heavenly reign and Second Coming of Jesus Christ in addition to His crucifixion and resurrection. I want you to notice on the Day of Pentecost some of the things that Apostle Peter emphasized as he preached the Gospel to those who had responded to the coming of the Holy Spirit and the evidences that the Holy Spirit had come. Notice it says in verse 22 and following as we catch in the midst of what Peter is emphasizing to those who are listening to the preaching of the Gospel here, "'Ye men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth,' notice, a man, not a baby, "'a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.'" Don't stumble over Peter calling Jesus a man. As we understand it in 1 Timothy, He's called the man Christ Jesus. So we see the Son of Man even as a divine title emphasizing His deity and humanity in one person forever. him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken him by wicked hands, have crucified and slain. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should beholden of it." So obviously we see here his crucifixion and resurrection. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad. Moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope, because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." So as he's quoting from the Psalms and various Old Testament scriptures here, we see an emphasis on his crucifixion and resurrection. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance." Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried. Our former king is not risen from the dead. So obviously he was speaking of somebody else is what he's emphasizing here. And his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne." Notice, all of this he leads to the ascension and rule and reign of the Lord Jesus. He, seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted," that sounds like Hebrews chapter 1, he's exalted to the right hand of majesty on high. Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens, but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand." This is quoting from Psalm 110 verse 1. until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Again, I emphasize The things that the gospel presentations in Acts and on throughout the New Testament emphasizes his crucifixion and resurrection, his reign and second coming. But what I think is interesting is the ascension is included. How many times do we even think of including the ascension into our gospel presentation? Jesus Christ is not in a grave somewhere. In fact, I believe we need to start emphasizing that again because there are a lot of people who think that Jesus was just a man, he died, Ben Shapiro talks about him, he died leading a rebellion against Rome and he ends up dying for the cause. According to them, according to Ben Shapiro, he's still in a grave somewhere. So when you think about this, the emphasis, it was on the crucifixion resurrection, the ascension and reigning of the Lord Jesus Christ. A pagan church turned the focus toward a celebration of the birth of Jesus. I just did an online search. I just was trying to pinpoint a time, a date when this started changing as far as, you know, quote unquote, Christianity and Christendom. Christianity in general is in a general sense. So I typed in today, when did the Catholic church begin celebrating the birth of Jesus? So it was just interesting. I thought, well, I wonder what I'm going to find out on this. So the results of this search were this. First thing that was mentioned in a summary response, the earliest mention of December 25 was mid-4th century Rome, according to a Roman almanac. but the response said that there was no specific link to Jesus' birth. So a Roman mentioned to December 25th, but not in relation to the birth of Jesus Christ. So I thought that was interesting. Now, I'm gonna use this term, I'm quoting it. So theological scholar, all right? So that's the way he was described. And his name was Andrew McGowan. He's an Australian Anglican priest, so that tells you something right there. And he was described as being a scholar of early Christianity. So, I mean, if he's a scholar of early Christianity, then he might know something as to when all of this started to be emphasized in churches. And his work has focused on the life of early Christian communities. And I'm just going to add my clarification to that with Anglican glasses. So keep that in mind. So he's looking at early Christianity with Anglican glasses. But as far as the early church fathers and so on, I'm sure he's dug into a lot of those things, so he might be able to figure some of this out. But the Roman Catholic Church began celebrating December 25th in 336 A.D., or the modern term is C.E., Common Era. You know, B.C.E. and C.E. You can't mention the year of our Lord anymore. Now, what I want to emphasize is what this summary said was to replace pagan celebrations. I believe it's better said to accommodate pagan celebrations, because literally what they did was, in the Roman church, is they took the pagan celebrations, the pagan gods, you know, mother, child worship actually became Jesus and Mary. So all of these things. And so when you have, you know, various saints, some of them were, pagan Roman gods, Greek gods. So when we think about the accommodation that they're using to accommodate these pagan celebrations in the churches, that's what we see here. And I want you to consider these separated churches totally resisted all of this. They would not acknowledge the Roman Catholic pagan idols and so on. Early church father, quote unquote, Hippolytus, who lived from 170 to 235, had a commentary on Daniel, and so this reference was made to that, that the birth of Jesus occurred. This is a statement that was made, I think it was at 204 AD. I like that better than the CE. But this was a statement made in this Daniel commentary, as far as the birth of Jesus, eight days before the calendar of January. And then he clarifies the fourth day of the week, Wednesday, on the Julian calendar. But I want you to catch the date of that. So this random reference was in 204 AD. I came across an article, actually a couple articles today that I want to reference. In fact, the first one is this Andrew McGowan. And I want you to listen carefully because, again, the reason why I'm saying this is because somebody who does not separate from Christmas like some of us do and all that, They recognize some of this, and the title of this article was, How December 25 Became Christmas. This was an article that Andrew McGowan put, or had in on December 17th, Biblical Archaeology Society. It's got an online journal here. Listen to a part of this article. On December 25, Christians around the world will gather to celebrate Jesus' birth. Joyful carols, special liturgies, brightly wrapped gifts, festive foods, these all characterize the feast today. And I'm quoting this article. At least in the northern hemisphere. But just how did the Christmas festival originate? How did December 25 come to be associated with Jesus' birthday? The Bible offers few clues. That should tell us something right there. Here's somebody who's looking at Christmas with Anglican. Catholicized glasses, and he says, the Bible offers few clues. Celebrations of Jesus' nativity are not mentioned in the Gospels or Acts. The date is not given, not even the time of year. The biblical reference to shepherds tending their flocks at night when they hear the news of Jesus' birth, Luke 2.8, might suggest the spring lambing season. In the cold month of December, on the other hand, the sheep might well have been corralled. Yet most scholars would urge caution about extracting such a precise but incidental detail from a narrative whose focus is theological rather than, let's see if I can say this word, calendrical, based on the calendar. I don't know why I can't just say that instead of having to use these big theological terms that I have trouble getting my tongue around. But the extra biblical evidence from the first and second century is equally spare. Did you notice that? 1st and 2nd century of Christianity is equally spare, just like he said as far as the Bible offering few clues. There is no mention of birth celebrations in the writings of early Christian writers such as Irenaeus, who lived 130 to 200, or Tertullian, who lived 160 to 225. Origen of Alexandria, who lived from 165 to 264, and he's the father of corrupt theology, so that tells you something right there. Origen goes so far as to mock Roman celebrations of birth anniversaries, dismissing them as pagan practices. So here's a doctoral heretic, and he calls those things as pagan practices. A strong indication that Jesus' birth was not marked with similar festivities at that place and time. So again, he lived until 264. So that puts it in a window here again. Then he closes off this paragraph, as far as we can tell, Christmas was not celebrated at all at this point. This stands in sharp contrast to the very early traditions surrounding Jesus' last days. Each of the four Gospels provides detailed information about the time of Jesus' death. According to John, Jesus is crucified just as the Passover lambs are being sacrificed. I thought that was interesting. Somebody who observes religion, a religious system that observes Good Friday, recognized the Passover as far as the crucifixion of the lambs and the crucifixion of Jesus at the time of the Passover lambs. This would have occurred on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Nisan, just before the Jewish holiday began at sundown. A couple of the things he mentions in this article, even extra biblical writings, of course are uninspired, spurious writings, that's my added note, provide names of Jesus' grandparents, his education and so on, but there's no reference to his birth date. So he even quotes and refers to extra biblical writings beyond scripture, and he says there's no reference to his birth date in any of these things, and they supposedly have details about Jesus' younger years and all that. Clement of Alexandria, at about 200 AD, several days are proposed for the birth of Jesus, but there's no mention of December 25. So Clement of Alexandria offers different ideas and possibilities for the birth of Jesus, But December 25 wasn't one of them. So that's at 200 AD. In the fourth century, December 25 was established as far as the Western Roman Empire. And I remind you, at the time of the split of the kingdom with Constantine, That's why we have the difference here. December 25th was recognized by the Western Roman Empire, January 6th by the Eastern, and they emphasize that because of the arrival of the wise men. And this is where the 12 days of Christmas come in. What I think is interesting is we always, you know, 12 days of Christmas, we, a lot of times, Joey, you have these, I forget what they're called, They have the little, yeah, nativity calendars. And you start it at the beginning of December in a lot of cases. Well, here's the 12 days of Christmas, and they recognize January 6th as far as the eastern part of the Roman Catholic Church. That's essentially what the Greek Orthodox Church. Here's another article, Christmas Stories in Christian Apocrypha. So we're talking about the apocryphal books. Again, this is another article from Biblical Archaeology Society. This is dated December 7. One of the most familiar images of the Christmas season is the nativity scene. The well-known depiction of Jesus' birth displayed in an array of public and private settings, including churches, parks, store windows, and on fireplace mantels. Again, a culture that does not recognize Jesus Christ as Savior, and in many cases, even as As a Messiah, they still recognize December 25th. They still celebrate this. Here's the history of this. The scene first assembled by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223. So we're talking about hundreds of years after Jesus Christ was on this earth. The word that they use is iconographic, meaning its various elements are intended primarily to depict theological, not historical, nor even literary truths. This is what they emphasize with this. It harmonizes two very distinct stories. Luke's birth of Jesus in a stable visited by shepherds and attended by an angelic host and Matthew's magi who are led by a star to the home of Jesus' family sometime before Jesus' second birthday. Here's the point. Even neo-evangelical sources acknowledge that there's no biblical mandate to worship a baby Jesus. I think it's very interesting when you consider that even somebody from the Anglican church recognizes the difficulties of pinpointing something like this for today. Now, with that said, I want you to consider here, as far as different aspects of the Lord Jesus Christ, the doctrine of Christ, that are absolutely essential. Here's, I believe this is one of the doctrinal reasons why I've come to see that it's inconsistent with true Christianity to focus and emphasize the incarnation of Christ without the rest of the doctrine of Christ. First of all, the conception and birth of Jesus only applies to his incarnation. I remind you that this is the son of God who had to take on human flesh for us. It does not stop there. What I want you to understand is that so many times we focus on that without the full doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, again, as we've already seen, is the crucifixion of Christ. Notice with me 1 Corinthians 5. The reference that was made in the article even by an Anglican, I want you to understand scripturally what we see here as far as the fulfillment of this Old Testament type of the Passover. Notice it says in 1 Corinthians 5, verses 6 through 8, your glorying is not good. Now, this is in the context of Paul telling the church they needed to deal with public sin in the church that was being tolerated. This is what I want to focus on, the end of verse 6 down through verse 8. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump as ye are leavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Again, here's the very clear reference to the Old Testament sacrifice of the Passover. And again, as I've emphasized, Jesus Christ would have died about the same time they would have been sacrificing the Passover lambs all throughout Jerusalem. Verse 8, Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. It was to understand in the Old Testament, they were supposed to go through the house and clean out all the leaven. Oh, there's a package of yeast over here. We've got to get it out of the house. Literally, they would clean the house out of leaven. That was to picture this very type of thing that Paul is emphasizing here in this passage. So we have the incarnation of Christ. You have the crucifixion of Christ. Also the resurrection. Notice 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 4. This is the resurrection chapter. I actually meant to mention verse 3 here for our crucifixion thought here. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. Even as I've emphasized here recently, what scriptures is he talking about? The New Testament wasn't completed yet. Going back to the Old Testament scriptures, so all the types and all the prophecies about the coming Messiah, the coming Savior, are fulfilled in Jesus. Now this next point, the resurrection of Christ. So again, the full doctrine of Christ here. And that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures. Why does the Bible emphasize that He was buried? Proof of his death, right? There are some who say that Jesus did not die on the cross. He did not die. He swooned. He revived in the coolness of the tomb. Well, let me just emphasize how ridiculous that is. Do you really believe that the apostles, after they saw Jesus Christ crucified and literally torn to shreds with the scourge and all those things, do you think if he showed up only half alive, that they were going to be ready, let's take on the world, we want to proclaim this mess? I don't think so. It was called a resurrection for a reason. In fact, Jesus didn't need the stone to be removed for him to rise again. I believe the stone was removed so that people could see that he was no longer there. Literally though, we see that the gospel accounts even describe what they saw inside the tomb there. It says here, and that he was seen of Cephas, of Peter, then of the 12. After that, he was seen of above 500 brethren at once. I believe this was the meeting in Galilee that Jesus had arranged, of whom the greater part remain unto this present. But some were fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James, then of all the apostles. And last of all, he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. I believe that was fulfilled in Acts chapter 9. When we drop down to verse 12 then we see here how Paul emphasizes as far as the importance of the resurrection. Now, if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you? Alright, so this was teaching that was going around in the church here. Some say among you that there is no resurrection of the dead. So false teaching was coming to the church about the resurrection. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen? And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found to be false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not." So again, he's emphasizing, if there's no resurrection, then Christ is not raised. If Christ is not raised, then we're hopeless. Why are we wasting our time doing all this? Why don't we go enjoy the world? Paul says, no, no, no. God has raised up Christ. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins. Notice the emphasis and the reality of the fact that there had to be a resurrection. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. There's no hope for them if there's no resurrection. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are all men most miserable. But now is, present tense, now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. Christ's resurrection ensures our resurrection. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Of course, in Christ. Notice, in Christ by faith. I emphasize that because not everyone is going to be raised as far as to eternal life. Some will be raised. Everyone will be raised, but some will go to eternal death in a lake of fire. Verse 23. But every man in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Notice again the resurrection. Now, I also want to emphasize the ascension and rule and reign of Christ. Then come at the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign." Notice he's already reigning according to this statement right here. He must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. for he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is accepted, which did put all things under him." God the Father is not going to bow before the Lord Jesus. I believe that's what he's emphasizing. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him, that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Again, I believe it's very, very important to understand that the ascension of Jesus Christ was emphasized throughout the book of Acts. It was a part of the gospel presentation. Now, I want you to understand what I believe Christmas does, and this is something that I wish I had known as our sons were growing up. I honestly wish I had known this. What Christmas does, and as I often emphasize it, Christmas, there's a reason why M-A-S is on the end of Christ. It is a distraction from the importance of Christ's coming. It distracts from what we have, what our focus should be on upon the full doctrine of Christ. What I think is very interesting is billions separate the birth of Jesus while neglecting and even rejecting the crucifixion, resurrection, and the ascension of the Lord of glory. It worships a baby, a baby Jesus, who has no dominion over them. I received a reminder of what Pope Francis does every year as a tradition. There's a porcelain, I guess, I don't know, but it's a statue of a baby Jesus. It's literally what it is. I mean, it appears like life-size in comparison to him in the photos. This is a yearly tradition. He will bow and kiss the knee of this fake baby Jesus. Well, I think it's very interesting, the one who considers himself God. He's the ruler of the church in his perspective. Blasphemy, blasphemously will kiss the knee of a baby Jesus, but he won't bow before him as Savior and Lord. 1 Timothy 6. Notice verse 13 through 16. So if this tradition did not even start until the 200s or 300s, centuries after the Lord Jesus was on this earth. I believe it tells us that we should not be focusing and emphasizing this one aspect and distraction from all that we are to exalt about as far as the Lord Jesus. It says in verse 13, I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickeneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession. that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable," notice, "...until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ." The focus is on looking for His second coming. "...which in His times He shall show." Who is? Present tense. He already is the blessed and only potentate. King of kings and Lord of lords, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see, to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen. I want you to notice with me, hymn 676. In relation to Jesus Christ being on the throne of heaven, this song came to my mind. One of the few that came to my mind for the sake of time, we'll just do this one here, face to face. I want you to consider the words of this as we think about the resurrected Lord, the ascended Lord, and someday we will have an opportunity to see this Lord who dwelleth in light, which no man can approach unto. When we have a glorified body, we'll be able to see him face to face. Let's sing this together. And let me just say this, we won't be bowing to kiss the knee of baby Jesus. we're gonna see the Lord Jesus in all of his glory. He's the Lord of glory.