CHRISTMAS STORY FROM GOSPEL OF =
LUKE
"And it came to pass in those days, that there =
went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be =
taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of =
Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own =
city.
"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of =
the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is =
called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to =
be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it =
was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she =
should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and =
wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because =
there was no room for them in the inn.
"And there were in the same country shepherds =
abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, =
the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone =
round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto =
them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, =
which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city =
of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a =
sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, =
lying in a manger.’
"And suddenly there was with the angel a =
multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God =
in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward =
men.’
"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone =
away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, ‘Let us =
now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, =
which the Lord hath made known unto us.’ And they came with haste, =
and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a =
manger.
"And when they had seen it, they made known =
abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all =
they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the =
shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her =
heart.
"And the shepherds returned, glorifying and =
praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was =
told unto them."
APPLYING THE CHRISTMAS STORY IN GOSPEL OF =
JOHN
"He was in the world, and the world was made =
by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own =
received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to =
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: who were =
born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of =
man, but of God.
"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.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His =
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, =
but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to =
condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He =
that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is =
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only =
begotten Son of God. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: =
and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of =
God abideth on him."
DO NOT =
MAKE THE ETERNALLY FATAL ERROR OF WORSHIPPING A BABE IN THE MANGER AND =
REJECTING THE CHRIST OF THE CROSS!
~~
Dr Bob Griffin =
[email protected] www.grif.net =
"Jesus Knows Me, This I =
Love!"