Christmas in the Words of Christ
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- čas přidán 14. 12. 2022
- Christmastime provides a great opportunity to reflect on what the Bible says about the birth of Emmanuel, “God with us.” In this Christmas concert message, however, Alistair Begg challenges us to consider the reason Jesus came, in His own words. The book of Mark records that before healing a paralytic man, Jesus gave him some life-changing news: his sins were forgiven. This same grace, regarded as outrageous by the Pharisees at the time, is extended to all who cry out to Him in their need. He came to grant forgiveness!
Preach Date: 12/9/22
Scripture: Selected Scriptures
Thank you is so insignificant in light of so great a love, I Jesus, my Lord, keep me in Your love.
Very good word.. Christ gives what we most need and that is forgiveness, redemption and relationship with Him. Thank you Father for you undying love
Now think about this, Jesus made the world, for all this were made by Him and through Him and for Him...now, He still made the world and all it contains knowing He would have to come as a sacrifice for His sinful chosen children...now that is grace.
Greater love has no man than this… that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you, said our wonderful Saviour.
Now that is Love❣️
@@kymdickman8910 0:46 0:46
@@georgeangraham667
Nobody pays attention to Him at all???
I would say: "Thankyou, Jesus".
I needed this encouragement. I love you Jesus! Without you I would never know God’s love. I will keep faith in Jesus even though I’m struggling. My husband died years ago. So as a single mother I’m overwhelmed at times because both of my children are autistic. I’m desperately struggling trying to support them and myself because like so many others. I lost my job as a social worker at Forsyth hospital because I declined the vaccine. I declined because of my pre existing health condition lupus and heart disease. I was denied my medical/religious exemption. I wish I could go back to the hospital but the mandate is still in place for hospitals that participate in Medicare and Medicaid all employees must be vaccinated against covid 19. I’m waitressing and I’m so THANKFUL to be working again, but I’m not making nearly enough to make ends meet. I get harassed and called names for simply asking for prayers, and for sharing my testimony. BUT prayers are all we need to get by, and when you’re a real christian people will always crucify you. I’m so ashamed and discouraging. BUT, Jesus is my salvation. Thankfully, God gives me strength to keep going. I have faith God will provide. He HAS THIS FAR. Please pray for me and my children.
Amen. Prayers!
Hi Tiff I'm your brother in Boston and I will pray for you and your family God bless and be safe
Father God I pray for Tiff and her family right now in Jesus name and you will bless her, honor her, gift her and favor her for upcoming things financial resources known and unknown so that she will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that not only do you love her but you will take care of her as well and as Christians we will hold up her arms and we hold them up to you right now in Jesus name amen
I am so sorry for you but admire your strength. I have prayed for you and have asked God to bless YOU!
I found this profoundly moving and encouraging I am here in New Zealand . Troubles , being harangued and mocked it seems to be part of the troubles of this world its part of the package. It proves of course that there is an enemy ... the world prefers darkness (John ) . You don't use your name I am and will pray for you. Don't be ashamed we are all fall short thats the point to rely totally and utterly on Jesus. He's done all the work . Discouraged ..well we are all human thats the battle this is all just temporary. One very important point the Holy Spirit is fully God so praying to be spirit filled for JOY .. it really is real but not a magic trick ...better than that!! Also praying for other people like the persecuted Church ( Nigeria, China, Ukraine, etc.) stops you focusing on yourself gets you seeing the World Gods way.
What would I say to Jesus?
I love you!
The Gospel is always great to hear!
Thank God for Pastor Begg!
Happy Christmas one and all!
This is absolutely wonderful! Thank you for sharing this beautiful recording. I praise Almighty GOD, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit. Amen.
Though the man on the golf course did not like you. I intern do like you. I like the way you present your message and your demeanor. Thank you for this most important message. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.
Truly beautiful!! Thank you so much & God bless you Pastor Begg.
Amen! Thank you Pastor Begg for this great message!
So so powerful. Thank you so much for sharing this as I needed this as well as many others.
Glorious thank you! Beautiful praise God.
Jesus, "I need You".
Thank you, and amen. I love, “whose birthday is it?”
Instead, receive the True gift… and listen to what Jesus actual said❤️👂🏼
Merry Christ-mas and God bless you all.
You too.
Hallelujah 🙌
Amen and amen !
Thank you, and God bless you!
Merry Christmas to all
Amen
Amen 🙏
Amen, thank you
I love this!
This a beatle
Amen! The last scripture John 6:40, is the scripture Holy Spirit woke me up with.
Pastor Paul McCartney??! 😄
Jokes apart, thank you pastor for the Christmas message.
It's absolutely insane that satanic customs are proudly celebrated by ppl as "Christian". And if that wasn't bad enough, the truly Christian festivals in Lev. 23 are scornfully looked at in traditional Christianity as empty Jewish customs, nvm the fact that Jesus was a Jew who observed these festivals with His followers. The world of professing Christianity is a genuine madhouse.
@thewmeternalsbeliever1779 Brother, just keep walking with Abba/Jesus Lord and Savior/Holy Spirit, growing in Love, Joy, Hope and Peace, and avoid legalism and stressing over non-essential doctrines. Merry Christmas!
❤
Where is the word CHRISTMAS in the Word of God? 🤔
@caminandoensuverdad Where are the words "theology," "Trinity," or "abortion"?
In Spanish, "mas" equals "more", so Christmas equals, "more of Christ" -john
Yeah, help me?
Amen .
Don't be deceived, holidays are pagan derived. Stop putting Jesus's name in the pagan traditions, God hates that. The Bible doesn't state anywhere to celebrate pagan holidays nor Xmas
The first holiday we know Jesus celebrated was very easy to recognize, because it is… named. We read in the Gospels that Jesus celebrated Passover already as a child, since His earthly parents were observant Jews (Luke 2:40-43). As an adult, not only did He observe the holiday. He took it very seriously and looked forward to celebrating it with His disciples.
Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.” (Luke 22:7-8)
When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer… (Luke 22:14-15)
Two arguments are often used to justify Christmas observance.
1) Many will reason this way: "But, even though the exact date of Jesus' birth is unknown, should we not select some date to celebrate as His birthday?" The answer is positively no! Notice the statement quoted from the Catholic Encyclopedia: "Sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthdays." The celebration of birthdays is not a Christian, but a pagan custom, observed by sinners!
2) But, many still reason, "Even so-even though Christmas was a pagan custom, honoring the false sun-god, we don't observe it to honor the false god, we observe it to honor Christ."
But how does God answer in His Word? "Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them [the pagans in their customs] . . . that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the Eternal, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods" (Deuteronomy 12:30-31).
God says plainly in His Instruction Book to us, that He will not accept that kind of worship, even though intended in His honor. To Him, He says, it is offering what is abominable to Him, and therefore it honors, not Him, but false pagan gods. God says we must not worship Him according to the "dictates of our own conscience"-a term we often hear. But Jesus says plainly, "God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). And what is truth? God's Word-the Holy Bible-said Jesus, is truth (John 17:17); and the Bible says God will not accept worship when people take a pagan custom or manner of worship and try to honor Christ with it.
Again, Jesus said: "In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9). Christmas observance is a tradition of men, and the commandments of God, as quoted, forbid it. Jesus said, further, "full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."
That is precisely what the millions are doing today. They ignore the commandment of God. He commands, regarding taking the customs of the pagans and using them to honor or worship God: "Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God." Still, most people today take that command of God lightly, or as having no validity whatsoever, and follow the tradition of men in observing Christmas.
Make no mistake! God will allow you to defy and disobey Him. He will allow you to follow the crowd and the traditions of men. He will allow you to sin. But He also says there is a day of reckoning coming. As you sow, so shall you reap! Jesus was the living Word of God in Person, and the Bible is the written Word of God. And we shall be judged, for eternity, by these words! They should not be taken lightly or ignored.
I'm Pathetic , I had No idea Christmas was about Jesus ' Birth
No hobo you're not pathetic you just didn't know and that's okay because once you learn it you understand it don't put yourself down you're not pathetic or ignorant or anything like that you just didn't know but now you know and you can share it with others
@@ritchievernon8099 Thanks RV, But I just watched a Video on Roman God " Saturn"
And it dawned on me:
Christianity just might sound as Ridiculous to " Worldy People " as the Saturn Video sounded to me.
Hmm.
But in any case the Hidden Meaning behind Jesus 'promise was Unspeakable Love ❤️
Or Unspeakable Wrath. 🔥
@@HoboHiney a Roman God bro didn't die for your sins and a Roman god wasn't born in Bethlehem at Christmas the way you'll know that Jesus is real is if you sincerely ask him into your heart to come and change your life and he will do it if you sincerely ask him he will come into your heart you'll find out the difference between the real God and any idol gods
@@HoboHiney bro it's up to you to what you believe in for Jesus is the only one who was born in Bethlehem in a manger he wasn't born at the Holiday inn he was born in a lowly place in Bethlehem and he also died for your sins on a cross and rose again that you would have life but you have to receive him into your heart in order to obtain the gift of salvation and eternal life
@@ritchievernon8099 Yo, RV.
I suffer from " Religious Delusions "
So I go Extremely Faithful
To Possibly Suspicious 🤔
After All God " Created Satan"
Which may mean He Also
" Conspires with Satan" against his Elect to " Test" them.
( like Job)
December 25 is Christmas.
This day is the biggest festival in Christianity and of the world.
Even a month before Christmas, all kinds of decorations are hung in the streets and shops,
and even those who do not believe in God exchange gifts and enjoy the Christmas season.
Christmas is a compound word originated from the term “Christ’s Mass,”
and means the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
All told, transcending its religious meaning, Christmas has been established as a public holiday
in many countries and become a much-awaited day for many people in the world.
Do you know when people
started to celebrate Christmas?
Do you think people were celebrating Christmas on the day Jesus was born?
Christmas was first kept in A.D 354.
Around 300 years after Jesus was crucified, Christmas was celebrated.
At first Christmas was kept by the Roman Catholic Church and then spread to Christianity.
Did Jesus and the apostles keep Christmas 2,000 years ago?
The apostles preached in A.D 30- A.D 100.
They never kept Christmas .
The last book of revelation was recorded in A.D 96.
Since Christmas was introduced 250 years later this is why the Bible doesn’t have a single line of Christmas.
The Bible also doesn’t have any evidence of Jesus born in the winter.
Luke 2:6-8
Shepherds do not keep their flocks outside during winter nights.
December 25 was chosen to correspond pagan festivals that took place during the winter solstice when the day’s lengthen , to celebrate the rebirth of the sun.
How can the birthday of the sun god become the birthday of Jesus?
In Roman there were 3 festivals , Saturnalia brúmalia and sigilaria.
These 3 feasts were celebrated the rise of the sun.
Roman emperor Aurelian appointed December 25th as the birthday of the sun-god.
The Roman Catholic Church started accepting these practices and spread to Christianity.
After this the december 25th was then changed from the birthday of the sun god to the birth of Jesus.
Then they continued setting up trees , exchange gifts which continued following the pagan customs.
Christmas is a festival primitive belief that has nothing to do with Jesus.
Celebrating Christmas is equally worshipping the sun-god.
Keeping Christmas which is a man made holiday , is worshipping God in vain.
Matthew 15:9
“They worship me in vain, their teachings are but rules taught by men”.
You cannot receive blessings by God because it’s not from God and the Bible. But something that was made by men.
Galatians 1:8
“But even if we or an angel from heaven preach a gospel other than we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”.
If Jesus and the apostles were alive they would never keep Christmas.
Isaiah 29:11-
the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” 12 And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot read.”
13 And the Lord said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
14 therefore, behold, I will again
do wonderful things with this people,
with wonder upon wonder;
and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”
Mark 7:6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,
“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
7 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
Sources : the Bible (no Christmas evidence)
World book encyclopedia: (history of Christmas ).
In conclusion Christmas has 2 faces. A wolf in sheep’s clothing . Outwardly they look innocent but Inwardly they destroy souls.
Matthew 7:15 ⬆️
Well said
@@bobklen4232 all thanks to God 🙏🏼
This holiday season I’d like to remind you all that you don’t have to drive alone, drunk, tired, or even in traffic…
Just remember these 4 words -
“JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL!”
And He will deliver you to your destination safe & sound.
God bless you all!
You have people sitting behind Alastair to distract everyone❓
Unlike every other human birth, the birth celebrated at Christmas was not a beginning, but a becoming! Christmas wasn’t HIS start, but HIS commission! Unlike any other baby, HE was not created. HE came. No other human in the history of the world shares this particular glory! And as remarkable as his virgin conception is, the preexistence of CHRIST sets HIM apart even more distinctively! Even JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF celebrates this distinction when HE says that ‘before Abraham was, I AM!’”
JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH never once says that HE was born; only that HE “came into the world.” JESUS CHRIST is the very one described in the Old Testament book of Daniel chapter 7 as the "ANCIENT OF DAYS " sitting on a throne of fire with thousands upon thousands standing before HIM!
The whole reason the MESSIAH JESUS CHRIST came forth from time and eternity was to rescue you and me! The KING became a servant! GOD became man! JESUS CHRIST, WHO was rich beyond splendor became a poor human being! HE had the form of GOD, but HE took on the form of a servant so that you might live with HIM for all of eternity! Oh, what a cause for celebration this holiday season!
🙏 PRAYER
"LORD JESUS CHRIST, I thank YOU that you left the glory of heaven to come and rescue me. Thank YOU for becoming a servant so that I can live with YOU for all eternity. Help me to live with eagerness for this reality and allow it to ignite my joy this CHRISTMAS, in YOUR beautiful name I pray - AMÉN!"
🇮🇹🌹Parola D'amore Ministries 2022
You deny the fact that Jesus was a MAN, a human man, not God in a human body. So many scriptures support this. You will understand James 3:1 on your judgement day. The Pharisees created the Trinity concept to steal Jesus’ glory and you refuse to research this with an open mind.
So many people try so hard to defend Christmas (not in the bible) but do not put in the same effort to defend God's Holy days (in the bible). So many are against His Holy days. They are blind.
Psalm 119:17-24
Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
My soul breaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
You rebuke the proud-the cursed,
Who stray from Your commandments.
Remove from me reproach and contempt,
For I have kept Your testimonies.
Princes also sit and speak against me,
But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors.
Galatians 4 (KJV)
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
⁸ Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
⁹ But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
¹⁰ Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
¹¹ I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
The Galatians observing days and months, and times and years, as if blessing could be secured by the observance of an outward ritual which the natural man, whether Jew or heathen, could carry out. It is true that in the Epistle to the Romans the Apostle exhorts Gentile believers to have forbearance towards a Jewish believer who might still cling to the observance of special days and the refusal of meats. But here he shows that for a Gentile to return to the system that observes certain days and ceremonies will involve a return, not only to Judaism, but to the idolatry of heathenism.
“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:”
- Colossians 2:16 (KJV)
@@bijbelstudienederland4017 Paul was not against followers of Christ keeping God's holy days. Why wouldn't they be keeping them? They are blessings from God. If Paul was against God's holy days then he would be a false apostle wouldn't he? To go against the commandments of God.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8
Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
The problem so many people have with the writings of Paul is that they do not understand them.
You shared Galatians 4. Context is about them turning back to idols (V8). Keeping God's holy days is not serving idols is it? It is serving God.
You shared Colossians 2 when in context is talking about being judged according to the commandments/traditions of man. Read v8 and v22. God's holy days are His commandments. Not mans.
Thanks for the response.
Before I respond to your response, I first have a question.
1. Is it just about holding festivals or about more laws, ceremonies and other regulations?
Response:
with answers from me below your comment.
Paul was not against followers of Christ keeping God's holy days.
Where do we find that in scripture? If so, is this an obligation.
Why wouldn't they keep them? They are blessings from God.
Because they are shadows, but the reality is Christ (Coll 2 verse 17)
Christ is the filling of all shadows, why return to that? Just imagine: if I were to wait for the sun to shine, would I sit in the shade when it actually shines?
Or when I have a photo of someone and that person is in the same room, do I look at the photo or at the person? If I want to live out a shadow that relates to Christ, it casts a shadow on Christ Himself. For He Himself is the full light.
If Paul was against God's holy days, he would be a false apostle, wouldn't he? Going against the commandments of God.
Nowhere does Paul teach that he was for holy days, rather the opposite. Paul, as a teacher, explains how we should deal with Jews/believers who observed certain ordinances at the time of the formation of the church.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8
Therefore purge away the old leaven, that you may become a new lump, since you are truly unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
The point here is that during our earthly walk we must avoid all evil and walk in uprightness and truth. In my opinion, this is not about celebrating a certain type of feast. If Christ is our Passover Lamb, we should walk accordingly without leaven.
The problem that so many people have with Paul's writings is that they don't understand them.
Agree. Paul proclaimed the gospel of grace.
You have shared Galatians 4. Context is about their return to idols (V8). Isn't keeping God's holy days serving idols? It is serving God.
It is actually as if you start serving idols again, placing yourself under a law, because you start keeping certain ordinances again. Therefore these ordinances cannot be substituted for or in addition to Christ. However, He was perfect and fulfilled the law perfectly. Even if we were already keeping ordinances, which we cannot do, we would still need Him as a Mediator. For the ordinances do not put me in right relationship with God, but the eternal Son does. Praise His Holy Name.
@@quiet-strength
@@bijbelstudienederland4017 It's about keeping His feasts.
I shared with you Paul saying to keep the feast. Later in your post you gave your opinion but it doesn't change the fact.
You shared Colossians. So just because they are shadows means we shouldn't keep them? It doesn't say that does it? Show me where Jesus says to stop keeping His feasts. Not writings of Paul used out of context.
Paul never taught to not keep the feasts. Telling us to keep the Passover is the opposite of your opinion.
"Paul proclaimed the gospel of grace" By God's grace we can keep the feasts of God.
Keeping God's law and God's feast days is not serving an idol. Keeping pagan holidays however...
@@bijbelstudienederland4017 I am curious. Do you defend holidays like Christmas and Easter?
He did miss the other essential as well that one must repent of the life that he's been living not just think he can continue with whatever he wants.
Apostate who will find a good position with Pope since most Bishops and Priests are needed to bless Same sex unions, Allistar you’ll fit in Rome quite easily.
Earth is an Insane Asylum 😳
@HoboHiney Yes, this fallen, broken world IS Spiritually insane! But Jesus will redeem and restore ALL. Merry Christmas!
The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make sacrificial wafers to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other elohiym, that they may provoke me to anger. JEREMIAH 7:18
Christmas is celebrated as Jesus' birthday but before Rome it was Zeus's birthday. Do not be deceived.
Your thoughts aren't really all that deep in this shallow world, Jeremiah was making fun of them going through all the motions and then sacrificing to a false God----hasnt a thing to do with Jesus birthday.
Jeremiah 7 or 10 has absolutely NOTHING to do with Christmas Trees.
You are conflating the fashioning of idols by the gentile pagans and extra-Israel nations to a Christmas Tree. They turned these trees into statues and worshipped the trees as though they were gods.
Much anthropomorphic work has been completed on this passage of Scripture and it is also mirrored in Isaiah. These statues were placed in the "GROVES" which are seen all throughout the Old Testament as carved/graven idols.
Isaiah
44:12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
44:13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
44:14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
Asherah was represented by a limbless tree trunk planted in the ground. The trunk was usually carved into a symbolic representation of the goddess. Because of the association with carved trees, the places of Asherah worship were commonly called “groves,” and the Hebrew word “asherah” (plural, “asherim”) could refer either to the goddess or to a grove of trees. One of King Manasseh’s evil deeds was that he “took the carved Asherah pole he had made and put it in the temple” (2 Kings 21:7). Another translation of “carved Asherah pole” is “graven image of the grove” (KJV).
____________________________________________
Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. The first Christmas tree was decorated by Protestant Christians in 16th-century Germany. Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early German traditions, and the custom most likely came to the United States with Hessian troops during the American Revolution, or with German immigrants to Pennsylvania and Ohio.
________________________________________________
There is nothing in the Bible that either commands or prohibits Christmas trees. It is an absolutely FALSE CLAIM that Jeremiah 10:1-16 prohibits the cutting down and decorating of trees in the same manner as we do at Christmas. However, even a cursory reading of the text makes it clear that the passage is one in which Jeremiah sets forth the prohibition against idols made of wood, plated with silver and gold, and worshiped. As you see above, Isaiah speaks of the silliness of the idol-worshipers who cut down a tree, burn part of it in the fire to warm themselves, and use the other part to fashion an idol, which they then bow down to. So unless we bow down before our Christmas tree, carve it into an idol, and pray to it, these passages cannot be applied to Christmas trees.
There is no spiritual significance to having or not having a Christmas tree. Whatever choice we make, the motive behind a believer’s decision about this, as in all matters of conscience, must be to please the Lord. Romans 14:5-6 sets out the principle in a passage about liberty:
“One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord.”
The Lord is grieved when Christians look down upon one another for either celebrating or not celebrating Christmas in a particular way. This is spiritual pride. When we feel that somehow we have achieved a higher plane of spirituality by doing or not doing something about which the Bible is silent, we misuse our freedom in Christ, create divisions within His body, and thereby dishonor the Lord.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
___________________________________________________
If you don't want a Christmas Tree, that is fine, but do not place stumbling blocks and faithless practice upon others. Unlike Christmas Trees, Paul was quite clear about our determining one's ultimate destiny.
Romans
10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
I did not add the parenthesis to the above verses 6 and 7. Those are directly in the text.
God Bless
@@codythomas8927 I didn't mention anything about the christmas tree.
@@deepthoughtsshallowworld
Apologies:
Typo: Christmas OR Christmas Trees.
7:18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
This has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. Same concept as above. "queen of heaven" is a reference to Asherah (false goddess).
True Christian traditions at Christmas have nothing to do with Jeremiah (which was written nearly 3000 years ago during a time when Israel was given over to the worship of false gods). It is a false equivocation of scripture to conflate Christmas with the worship of Asherah, and the same is done from Jeremiah 10.
The Book of Jeremiah is primarily a message of judgment on Judah for rampant idolatry (Jeremiah 7:30-34; 16:10-13; 22:9; 32:29; 44:2-3). After the death of King Josiah, the last righteous king, the nation of Judah had almost completely abandoned God and His commandments. Jeremiah compares Judah to a prostitute (Jeremiah 2:20; 3:1-3). God had promised that He would judge idolatry most severely (Leviticus 26:31-33; Deuteronomy 28:49-68), and Jeremiah was warning Judah that God’s judgment was at hand. God had delivered Judah from destruction on countless occasions, but His mercy was at its end. Jeremiah records King Nebuchadnezzar conquering Judah and making it subject to him (Jeremiah 24:1). After further rebellion, God brought Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian armies back to destroy and desolate Judah and Jerusalem (Jeremiah chapter 52). Even in this most severe judgment, God promises the restoration of Judah back into the land God has given them (Jeremiah 29:10).
Christmas is NOT idol worship.
The real Christmas story is the story of God’s becoming a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ. Why did God do such a thing? Because He loves us! Why was Christmas necessary? Because we needed a Savior! Why does God love us so much? Because He is love itself (1 John 4:8). Why do we celebrate Christmas each year? Out of gratitude for what God did for us, we remember His birth by giving each other gifts, worshiping Him, and being especially conscious of the poor and less fortunate.
The true meaning of Christmas is love. God loved His own and provided a way-the only Way-for us to spend eternity with Him. He gave His only Son to take our punishment for our sins. He paid the price in full, and we are free from condemnation when we receive God's Grace. "But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
______________________________
BUT
My concession is Santa Clause. Him I cannot stand. This is quite unfortunate and I would not recommend to any congregation the upholding of this false belief.
@@codythomas8927 I'm Not sure what your trying to say to me. The Most High God will be angry if we celebrate the birthday of other gods and call it his birthday.
Should Christmas be celebrated?
What does the Bible say?
Remember 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight…..
Christmas tree??
Jeremiah 10:1-5 says do not learn the way of the nations….for the customs of the people are a delusion……it is a tree of the forest that is cut down……they adorn it silver and gold….and fasten it with hammer and nails so it won’t fall over.
What about the star of Bethlehem that is normally placed on top of the Christmas tree? This ‘miraculous’ star first led the astrologers to King Herod, who wanted to kill Jesus. After Herod, the star immediately led the astrologers straight to Jesus. After Jesus, they started back to Herod, but one of God’s angels told them to go a different way. Matthew 2:1-12
What about Santa? Are we telling false stories?
2 Timothy 4:4
1Timothy 4:7
2 Peter 1:16
1 Timothy 1:4
What about birthdays?
Ecc 7:1 says that your day of death is better than your day of birth.
Did you know that there are 2 places in the Bible where someone was celebrating a birthday?
Phar’aoh celebrated his birthday. Was he a worshipper of God? Genesis 40:20
Herod celebrated his birthday. Was he a worshipper of God? Matthew 14:6
In both of these accounts, someone died, one of them being John the Baptist, Jesus’ own cousin.
Please remember 2 Timothy 3:16.
@stevenwebb6253 Brother, just revel in the Love, Joy, Hope and Peace that walking with Abba/Jesus Lord and Savior/Holy Spirit brings, and don't be so hung up on non-essentials.
This is fraud. 14 minutes and nothing about Christmas. Click and bait
Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Jesus was not born on December 25th nor did he tell anyone to celebrate that specific day.
December 25th is the birthdate of 2 roman sun gods, and the Christmas tree and holiday wreath came from the pagan festival Yuletide!
Who is Santa Claus? Why do we lie to our children that an old man can see all, hear all, and has the right to hear judgement on who is wrong or right? Isn't that Jesus' job? Why do we tell our children to be good for Santa Claus and not for the Lord Jesus who is God, our everlasting king?
If you call yourself a follower of Jesus it is time to wake up. This holiday has NEVER had anything to do with Christ. It is of pagan origins for other gods and had been taken by the Roman Catholics who slapped Jesus' name on it in order to appease the pagans and convince them to turn to monotheism.
Ask yourself, why do you go and buy a tree that was cut out of the forest. Why do you put silver and gold ornaments and lights on it? Why do you put presents under it? Why do you make an offering of cookies for Santa knowing he does NOT exist? These are altars, and again, have NOTHING to do with Jesus Christ.
But let's see what God has to say about the Christmas tree.
Jeremiah 10:2-4 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. ‼️
For the customs of the people are 👉🏼 vain:👈🏼for one cutteth 🪓 a tree 🌲out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
They deck it with silver and with gold; 🎄 they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 🔨
Sound familiar? If ye have ears, hear the word of the Lord. These are pagan traditions that never had anything to do with Jesus Christ!!! The pagans worshipped the winter solstice and made this time of year a time for festival, pagan worship and gift giving. This is in your history books and Google searches if you do not believe me.
Turn to the LORD while you still can. Come out of this paganism and follow the LORD with all your heart before it is too late. In Jesus name amen. ‼️
Exodus 20:1-3 (KJV) And God spake all these words, saying,
I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 👈🏼
Instead of blindly believing the claims of charismatic preachers, the wise course is for us to test their claims to avoid being misled by a deceiver. Satan is “misleading the entire inhabited earth.” (Revelation 12:9) But how can the claims of the Trinity be reliably tested?
God’s written Word is our divinely given guide to the truth. Regarding it, Jesus Christ said: “Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) So we are admonished at 1 John 4:1: “Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.” When carefully compared with the Bible, do their claims, philosophies, and actions conflict with it. God’s Word is the authority as to what is the truth.
Is the preacher, religion, or organization that claims that the Trinity is true, practicing what God says to do in the end times. Are they spreading the truth from door to door, in every tribe and nation? Do their members reflect love among themselves or do they display disunity in believing different things regarding the Bible? Do the congregations in the religion teach and believe different things? Does the religion have all races and tongues among them with harmony and love, or do they belong to different nations and kill each other in war? Paying homage to nationalism instead of God. If the religion does not show these characteristics, you know it is a false religion. They are condemned by God’s Word. Revelation 18:4-5 says, "And I heard another voice out of heaven say: “Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues. For her sins have massed together clear up to heaven, and God has called her acts of injustice to mind." Did you observe what this scripture said? God says to get out of false religion unless you want to experience its plaques.
If the preacher or religion claims that the Trinity is true, they are blatantly contradicting God’s Word. If they say, Jehovah God, Jesus Christ, and the holy spirit are one God, and are all equal, they plainly contradict what God says at Exodus 20:3,
“You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me” By making Jesus and the holy spirit equal to God, they dishonor him.
Be careful about listening to any religion or preacher who teaches false doctrines. A lot of the present doctrines come from the traditions of men. Have you noticed that when people try to prove the Trinity, they quote religious leaders and so-called scholars? That's not good. I do not listen to the traditions of men and neither should you. The Bible should be our source of reference. Preachers that teach the Trinity or Jesus is Jehovah God, they are sinning. “The soul that is sinning-it itself will die.” (Ezekiel 18:4) Is he exalting himself and saying, "I am the preacher, I know more than you." Matthew 23:12 cautions: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled.” And Acts 20:30 warns Christians: “From among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” The Trinity is a twisted thing. Everyone who believes in it cannot explain it or has their own take on it. So be careful about listening to false doctrines.
In conclusion, “The wisdom from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, not making partial distinctions, not hypocritical. Moreover, the fruit of righteousness has its seed sown under peaceful conditions for those who are making peace.” The previous scripture said, that the wisdom from above is peaceful and reasonable. That means it makes sense. That they all agree upon it. Does the preacher or religion seek the truth, or are they trying to make wrong right, for religious tradition's sake? God’s Word denounces them emphatically, saying: “Whoever . . . wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God.” Thus the Bible exposes what is false.-James 4:4. Be careful of what you believe. It means your life. God's wrath will come to action in Armageddon.
Christmas is paganism
Sorry brother Begg but you are NOT correct. This is Christmas in the words of Christ:
Obey the Father:
1) Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
What Does the Father say about Christmas or more specifically the winter solstice as this is the time of year where the Sun stops going from less hours and turns about to gaining hours. Something the PAGANS where dismayed by:
1) Jeremiah 10:1Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
2Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
3For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
So I ask my brother, why have you learned and observed the ways of the heathen, why are there trees behind you and you observe this winter solstice? The Christ was born when the cattle where feeding at NIGHT in the field, this was NOT winter. Turn and put your hand not with the heathen, obey our Father and let us shine a light on the actual Holy days of our Father.
Jeremiah 10 has absolutely NOTHING to do with Christmas Trees.
You are conflating the fashioning of idols by the gentile pagans and extra-Israel nations to a Christmas Tree. They turned these trees into statues and worshipped the trees as though they were gods.
Much anthropomorphic work has been completed on this passage of Scripture and it is also mirrored in Isaiah. These statues were placed in the "GROVES" which are seen all throughout the Old Testament as carved/graven idols.
Isaiah
44:12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
44:13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
44:14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
Asherah was represented by a limbless tree trunk planted in the ground. The trunk was usually carved into a symbolic representation of the goddess. Because of the association with carved trees, the places of Asherah worship were commonly called “groves,” and the Hebrew word “asherah” (plural, “asherim”) could refer either to the goddess or to a grove of trees. One of King Manasseh’s evil deeds was that he “took the carved Asherah pole he had made and put it in the temple” (2 Kings 21:7). Another translation of “carved Asherah pole” is “graven image of the grove” (KJV).
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Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. The first Christmas tree was decorated by Protestant Christians in 16th-century Germany. Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early German traditions, and the custom most likely came to the United States with Hessian troops during the American Revolution, or with German immigrants to Pennsylvania and Ohio.
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There is nothing in the Bible that either commands or prohibits Christmas trees. It is an absolutely FALSE CLAIM that Jeremiah 10:1-16 prohibits the cutting down and decorating of trees in the same manner as we do at Christmas. However, even a cursory reading of the text makes it clear that the passage is one in which Jeremiah sets forth the prohibition against idols made of wood, plated with silver and gold, and worshiped. As you see above, Isaiah speaks of the silliness of the idol-worshipers who cut down a tree, burn part of it in the fire to warm themselves, and use the other part to fashion an idol, which they then bow down to. So unless we bow down before our Christmas tree, carve it into an idol, and pray to it, these passages cannot be applied to Christmas trees.
There is no spiritual significance to having or not having a Christmas tree. Whatever choice we make, the motive behind a believer’s decision about this, as in all matters of conscience, must be to please the Lord. Romans 14:5-6 sets out the principle in a passage about liberty:
“One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord.”
The Lord is grieved when Christians look down upon one another for either celebrating or not celebrating Christmas in a particular way. This is spiritual pride. When we feel that somehow we have achieved a higher plane of spirituality by doing or not doing something about which the Bible is silent, we misuse our freedom in Christ, create divisions within His body, and thereby dishonor the Lord.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
_____________________________________________________
If you don't want a Christmas Tree, that is fine, but slandering and bearing false witness against Pastor Begg (9th Commandment), and I suppose by your quoting Matthew 7:21, to send him to Hell is quite dangerous. Unlike Christmas Trees, Paul was quite clear about our determining one's ultimate destiny.
Romans
10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
I did not add the parenthesis to the above verses 6 and 7. Those are directly in the text.
God Bless.
@@codythomas8927 I have only listed scripture and yet your eyes are closed to the fact that the practice of decorating the evergreen tree is a practice of the heathen and God advised us not to observe their ways. Furthermore I would not put my soul upon the words of Paul. Many will say to the Lord on that day, did we not do great things in your name Jesus. Only they who obey the Father are on the solid rock and the Father did not leave anything out. He never said, observe heathen ways in my name and give me glory. Nor did he say, pick whatever day you want just give me glory. As Saul found out, God wants us to obey him, he does not care for our ways of giving him glory. You will benefit much by seeking the Father from the Father and not from Paul. As God said on the mount of transfiguration, listen to Jesus. The Lord never even advised them to wright the books you reference.
Yet I will not lift myself over you friend, I have pointed you to the Father and that is all I am here to do. I am not worthy to say anything more than being an arrow to him. IF God never said to do something, why would you ever care to observe this holiday "Holy Day", as that is what holiday means. Just look around you, this is not a day for Christians and it is full of drunkenness, pride, greed, vanity, sexual perversion and sin. Not one of the things done on this day is anything the Father nor the Christ asked us to do. Not sure how you can not see this, even the original version from Europe "sinterklaas" is about a guy with demons who steals children at night. Even our version mocks God in saying Sa(n)ta or Sa ta(n) knows if you have been bad or good and is all knowing. Even the fact that Jesus was born in the warm months when the cattle where in the field at night and NOT in December. Please think this over, pray about it, this is not a holy day for the people of Christ, nor is Sunday the Sabbath. How lost we have become as the body of Christ.
@@jeremyrobbins9064
1) Your listing of Scripture is a false equivocation and has nothing to do with Christmas. That is why I commented. Your use of Scripture is woefully incorrect and bears literally zero accuracy for use in your accusations. You also use the word "evergreen" which is not listed in your scripture, and still fail to understand what is actually happening in Jeremiah despite the explanations given. Jeremiah 10 has NOTHING TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS OR CHRISTMAS TREES.
2) You apparently deny Paul now as an apostle of God. This is quite strange, since Matthew, Mark, and John were all written by apostles. Luke wasn't even a companion of Christ. Luke was a historian and physician who took many eye witness accounts and combined them to form Luke / Acts. So, if you have an issue with Paul's letters to the churches, I've no idea why you are quoting Matthew 7:21 since technically speaking Matthew (LEVI) is quoting Christ.
3) Christ asked us to REMEMBER HIM. "This do in remembrance of me!" Christmas is literally a CHRIST MASS. It is a celebration of Christ where he is remembered in both Psalms, Songs, Scripture, and the Eucharist. Just because the world is doing things it shouldn't doesn't mean celebrating Christ on December 25th is bad. This is another false equivocation.
4) "I'm not worthy to say anything more than being an arrow to him" You literally said a bunch more. And denying Paul as an apostle which Acts 9:1-8 describes as having been converted by Christ (personally) on the Road to Damascus is NOT POINTING ANYONE to the Father. If that event didn't happen, then what else didn't happen? I've honestly no idea why you are even here sir.
5) Sunday has literally never been the Sabbath. It is the Lord's Day, but if the book of Acts is not true, then I suppose that would have zero meaning. Sabbath means REST not Saturday. I'm going to guess this sentiment of yours came from Amazon Prime's "The Days of Noah". The gathering on Sunday comes from Acts Chapter 20 where Paul and the Disciples gathered on the FIRST DAY of the week, broke bread, and Paul preached.
6) I am here to defend the faith and Christian liberty in matters of Biblical indifference. I don't worship Idols. I worship GOD. The Holy and Triune GOD. This is why I celebrate and give thanks on December 25th. There are zero other reasons.
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.
7) "How lost we have become as the body of Christ." The body of Christ is NOT and NEVER CAN BE LOST. What a dreadful and unbiblical sentiment.
John
6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
6:41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Who are saved, given Grace, and brought to Christ is not a matter of ours to decide. It is God's. God's grace and mercy are his own to give unto whom he wills. Christ loses NONE to who are his PORTION (Isaiah 53:10-12).
8) You also seem to intimate here that YOU (specifically) are DOING the will of the Father, and this by denying parts of Scripture. Even Solomon had trouble with this notion sir, but perhaps you've elevated yourself to the status of a god??
Prov 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Prov 20:24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
My faith comes from Christ. It isn't in my own understanding. It isn't in my own godliness or holiness.
None of us are perfect. We are ALL sinful wretches who deserve DEATH, and there are NO WORKS of righteousness you or I can perform to be saved. It is CHRIST and ONLY Christ who has provided the way, and is only by Christ anyone will be saved.
@@codythomas8927 You clearly will not hear anything I have to say. Found this after we first spoke, you should watch it:
czcams.com/video/UAPArABi838/video.html
@@codythomas8927 Here is another great video that I just found czcams.com/video/XNfW_QHDJD0/video.html
In the mouth of 2 or 3
First of all, it’s only one God. Jesus Christ is his name. The Farther, which is spirit made a body of flesh, which was fashioned in Mary. And, hid himself, which is spirit, in that body. He was called son because he was begotten. There’s no trinity and who all believe in that foolery will perish. God is against paganism. Christmas and Easter, God is against. He talks about that christmas tree and says not to do as the heathens do. For that man to say that God does not care about your conditions. Yes he does. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have hung, bled, and died. Acts 2:38. Repent everyone of you and be baptized (submerged in water) in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin. Then you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Jesus Christ) with evident of speaking in tongues or unknown language. Not until then are you considered his. Be Blessed and Repent. Get into the Word of God and search for that old path.
Jeremiah 10 has absolutely NOTHING to do with Christmas Trees.
You are conflating the fashioning of idols by the gentile pagans and extra-Israel nations to a Christmas Tree. They turned these trees into statues and worshipped the trees as though they were gods.
Much anthropomorphic work has been completed on this passage of Scripture and it is also mirrored in Isaiah. These statues were placed in the "GROVES" which are seen all throughout the Old Testament as carved/graven idols.
Isaiah
44:12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
44:13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
44:14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
Asherah was represented by a limbless tree trunk planted in the ground. The trunk was usually carved into a symbolic representation of the goddess. Because of the association with carved trees, the places of Asherah worship were commonly called “groves,” and the Hebrew word “asherah” (plural, “asherim”) could refer either to the goddess or to a grove of trees. One of King Manasseh’s evil deeds was that he “took the carved Asherah pole he had made and put it in the temple” (2 Kings 21:7). Another translation of “carved Asherah pole” is “graven image of the grove” (KJV).
____________________________________________
Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. The first Christmas tree was decorated by Protestant Christians in 16th-century Germany. Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early German traditions, and the custom most likely came to the United States with Hessian troops during the American Revolution, or with German immigrants to Pennsylvania and Ohio.
________________________________________________
There is nothing in the Bible that either commands or prohibits Christmas trees. It is an absolutely FALSE CLAIM that Jeremiah 10:1-16 prohibits the cutting down and decorating of trees in the same manner as we do at Christmas. However, even a cursory reading of the text makes it clear that the passage is one in which Jeremiah sets forth the prohibition against idols made of wood, plated with silver and gold, and worshiped. As you see above, Isaiah speaks of the silliness of the idol-worshipers who cut down a tree, burn part of it in the fire to warm themselves, and use the other part to fashion an idol, which they then bow down to. So unless we bow down before our Christmas tree, carve it into an idol, and pray to it, these passages cannot be applied to Christmas trees.
There is no spiritual significance to having or not having a Christmas tree. Whatever choice we make, the motive behind a believer’s decision about this, as in all matters of conscience, must be to please the Lord. Romans 14:5-6 sets out the principle in a passage about liberty:
“One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord.”
The Lord is grieved when Christians look down upon one another for either celebrating or not celebrating Christmas in a particular way. This is spiritual pride. When we feel that somehow we have achieved a higher plane of spirituality by doing or not doing something about which the Bible is silent, we misuse our freedom in Christ, create divisions within His body, and thereby dishonor the Lord.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
___________________________________________________
If you don't want a Christmas Tree, that is fine, but slandering and bearing false witness against Pastor Begg (9th Commandment), and I suppose by your quoting Matthew 7:21, to send him to Hell is quite dangerous. Unlike Christmas Trees, Paul was quite clear about our determining one's ultimate destiny.
Romans
10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
I did not add the parenthesis to the above verses 6 and 7. Those are directly in the text.
With regards to the TRINITY
It is my deepest hope the below scripture is sufficient for you. I will use the KJV as that seems to be the most comfortable for people these days.
Isaiah
7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Immanuel translates as "God with Us"
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.
In a single verse Jesus is described as both "mighty God" AND "The everlasting Father"
John
5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
In this passage we find that Jesus is working on the Sabbath as is the Father, and that Jesus is threatened with death because he counts himself equal with God. This equal in Greek means in both Quantity AND Quality. Thus, it is that Jesus quite literally states he IS GOD. He also states that he is to be honored the same as the Father!
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John
10:30 I and my Father are one.
10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Verse 30: This ONE literally means "together in perfect union" We might consider it like this: I am a father and I am a son at the same time.
Verse 33: The Jews knew what Jesus was saying in verse 30. Why did they want to kill him? It is because Jesus was literally saying "I AM GOD"
John
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Verse 1: The word WAS God
Verse 3: The word has now become a HIM
Verse 14: The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us
Rev 19
19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Jesus is the rider on the white horse. In verse 13 his name is called "The Word of God". This of course makes sense as the same John who wrote John also wrote Revelation.
Matthew
15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men
Jesus rebuking people for worshipping ME (HIM) in word only and not in action. So we are to worship Christ in our belief of him which ultimately shapes our actions and obedience inwardly and outwardly.
John
14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Jesus calls the commandments his own. This would be a blasphemy most heinous if not true. Note above attempt to stone Jesus for this type of speech.
John
20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
What does Thomas (the disciple who walked with Christ for 3 years) call Jesus? Note: The usage of Lord and GOD are exactly the same as in the OT Hebrew usage.
John
8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
What does Jesus say at the end of verse 58? That's the exact same name as God gave Moses. I AM!!
John
4:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
In modern vernacular, when Philip asks to see the Father, Jesus says, "You're looking at him!" (See Isaiah 9:6 / 7:14) above.
Colossians
2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
This use of Godhead is exactly as you'd expect. Paul is describing the Trinity.
Greek - G2320 θεότης, ητος, ἡ = the state of being God
1 John
5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
So why all the Father and Son business? It is because those of us who have received Grace are justified by Christ's blood and become heirs of an inheritance. We become sons of God ourselves and are united by Christ as a singular body. We become slaves of righteousness rather than sin.
Matthew
26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
26:65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
26:66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
If Jesus wasn't God, then the Pharisees would have been right to kill him on the cross as they did.
In verse 64 Jesus says he is coming in the clouds of heaven. This is exactly what he told his disciples about the end of the world. They wanted him dead because he was saying, I AM GOD.
24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
When we bow our knees we worship.
Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
The problem with this speaking of Alistair Begg is that he is speaking to the flesh, trying to present a type of human reasoning that will appeal to the natural human.
But the salvation economy of God is not an appeal to the natural man... It is the working and operating of God in man, for accomplishing what God created man for.
And just the human-contrived complexity of Begg's so-called prayer exposes this... As biblical scripture does not give any such type of prayer for bringing a person into God's salvation... To believe INTO Christ Jesus, which is required for a person's eternal salvation, only requires exercising the faith necessary to believe INTO Him... It does not require praying some type of human-contrived prayer.
And we see this in Isaiah chapter 6, where Isaiah simply needed to recognize what his condition was to be saved by God... All Isaiah said was, "...Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips, who dwells among a people of unclean lips...".
Now you might ask how is this a declaration of faith... It is, because it is the shining of the Lord who Isaiah saw that exposed Isaiah's condition to Isaiah, that Isaiah had to believe was the shining of God. Isaiah had to believe that it was God who was revealing his poor, unsaved condition... And this is expressed in Isaiah's "...Woe is me..." declaration. And we also know that in his declaration, Isaiah was repentant.
In Begg's speaking is the exposing of the folly of the religion of Christianity... Folly in which man is continually trying to insert some form of human-contrived requirement... And God hates it.
Begg's speaking placed an emphasis on Jesus' words... Well... Nowhere in biblical scripture does Jesus tell anyone to get an unbeliever to pray a prayer to be saved... Jesus only said for us to go proclaim/preach the gospel, and for those who believe, baptize them.
The only thing necessary for a person's eternal salvation is that they know/understand and believe about their sinfulness and their need for salvation.
And there is only one way a person can come to know/understand and believe about their sinfulness and their need for salvation... And this one way is by the shining of God upon this person.
So what then is needed for a person to believe INTO Jesus and be eternally saved?
God's shining... That is all... God's shining on a person is what eternally saves a person.
And how does God's shining on a person for their eternal salvation take place?
Matthew 5:14-16... " You are the light of the world. It is impossible for a city situated upon a mountain to be hidden. . . . Nor do men light a lamp and place it under the bushel, but on the lampstand; and it shines to all who are in the house. . . . In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in the heavens."
When Jesus told us to go and proclaim/preach the gospel... He was telling us to go and be a "...light..." that shines and causes men to see... Unto their eternal salvation.
When we proclaim/preach the gospel... There is no need for any type of prayer... There is only the need for us to believe that we are shining lamps of the living God... Shining to reveal the true condition of others to them... And more... In our believing this... Meaning, in our own exercising of faith... We then impart to others the very faith we are exercising.
And as biblical scripture tells us...
Romans 10:17... "So faith comes out of hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
This "...faith..." that "...comes out of hearing...", is the faith that causes the person to believe INTO the Son and be eternally saved.
And this faith is no less than Christ Jesus Himself, within the person proclaiming/preaching the gospel, being spoken out in words as "...living water...".
So, no, Mr. Begg... It's not some kind of human-contrived sinner's prayer that causes someone to be saved... It's the actual Christ Jesus within the gospel proclaimer/preacher that, when presented/delivered to the hearer, becomes the power unto salvation with the hearer.
May the Lord save us out of the folly of the religion of Christianity, into the freedom of Christ Jesus.
Amen.