Posted on 12/12/2009 1:26:00 PM PST by patriot08
Luke Chapter One
1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of
those things which have been fulfilled among us,
2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers
of the word delivered them to us,
3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all
things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most
excellent Theophilus,
4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were
instructed.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest
named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the
daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were
both well advanced in years.
8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the
order of his division,
9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense
when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the
hour of incense.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side
of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your
prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and
you shall call his name John.
14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither
wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb.
16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn
the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the
wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
18 And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an
old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."
19 And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in
the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these
glad tidings.
20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these
things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be
fulfilled in their own time."
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so
long in the temple.
22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived
that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and
remained speechless.
23 And so it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed,
that he departed to his own house.
24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself
five months, saying,
25 "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me,
to take away my reproach among people."
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of
Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored
one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered
what manner of greeting this was.
30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have
found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and
shall call His name Jesus.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the
Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom
there will be no end."
34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come
upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore,
also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her
old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing will be impossible."
38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me
according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste,
to a city of Judah,
40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the
babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among
women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should
come to me?
44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears,
the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those
things which were told her from the Lord."
46 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold,
henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His
name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in
the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent
away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever."
56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her
house.
57 Now Elizabeth's full time came for her to be delivered, and she
brought forth a son.
58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great
mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.
59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child;
and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.
60 His mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John."
61 But they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is
called by this name."
62 So they made signs to his father--what he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is
John." So they all marveled.
64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he
spoke, praising God.
65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings
were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, "What
kind of child will this be?" And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and
prophesied, saying:
68 "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed
His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His
servant David,
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since
the world began,
71 That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all
who hate us,
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His
holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
74 To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will
go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their
sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on
high has visited us;
79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To
guide our feet into the way of peace."
80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts
till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Luke Chapter Two
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar
Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was
of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for
her to be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling
cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them
in the inn.
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of
the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring
you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who
is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in
swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God and saying:
14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward
men!"
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that
the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and
see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."
16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying
in a manger.
17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was
told them concerning this Child.
18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told
them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child,
His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was
conceived in the womb.
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses
were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the
womb shall be called holy to the Lord"),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the
Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and
this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not
see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought
in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,
28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According
to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your
people Israel."
33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken
of Him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this
Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for
a sign which will be spoken against
35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts
of many hearts may be revealed."
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the
tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband
seven years from her virginity;
37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart
from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him
to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and
the grace of God was upon Him.
Name one heathen who would...
There are many Muslim Americans and many Muslims have contributed to our culture and served in our armed forces.
I’m watching the Tulsa/PSO Christmas Parade (going on now, tonight) and you can see that they don’t have any fear of saying “Merry Christmas” here or “God Bless You” or anything like that.
Some parts of the country do have a problem, though...
Sorry, but that's a ridiculous assertion. That would mean that everyone in the bible was doomed since Christmas wasn't associated with Christ for nearly 400 years after his death. The full blown celebration of Christmas we experience today didn't come into existence until 100 years ago or less. The original pilgrims wouldn't celebrate Christmas because they rightly recognized it as an invented holiday.
That being said the fact that Obama won't observe Christmas is because he's a Muslim. But not observing Christmas doesn't make one a Muslim, a pagan, or a heathen.
Sorry, but that's a ridiculous assertion. That would mean that everyone in the bible was doomed since Christmas wasn't associated with Christ for nearly 400 years after his death.
It's only ridiculous to those who don't want to mention it.... LOL...
The Messiah of Israel was mentioned immediately right from the beginning..., as we can see from Peter's sermon. There was no gap in time for mentioning who He was, as it was done immediately and according to what Jesus told His desciples.
It's the "reason for the Season", namely that Jesus came to be born, to be the Messiah of Israel, and the Savior of the World for every person who lives or has lived. This is the message to be proclaimed and not the happiness and joy and happy holidays and have a good time, etc...
Peter's first sermon...
Acts Chapter Two 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.' 22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.' 29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." ' 36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
But not observing Christmas doesn't make one a Muslim, a pagan, or a heathen.
Anyone who does not recognize Jesus as the Messiah of Israel and not as their own personal Savior is unsaved and lost and destined to go into the lake of fire, to be judged at the Great White Throne judgment (in Revelation 20) and burn in the lake of fire forevermore, as the Bible says.
Mentioning Jesus (or not mentioning him, as it were) as the Messiah of Israel and also as one's pesonal savior at "this particular time of the year" is really only a "symptom" of the problem. The real problem is that one does not recognize Jesus as the Messiah of Israel -- in the first place. That's what is going to get a person in the lake of fire, to burn forevermore, as the Bible tells us.
Go away and take your regurgitated Herbert W. Armstrong-inspired crap with you.
My point was that nobody observed CHRISTMAS in the bible and that the holiday that came to be known as Christmas wasn't associated with Christ until 400 or 500 years after his death.
Biblical Christians observed the holy days of the Lord, as did the Lord Jesus Christ. These days are listed in Leviticus 23. Peters first sermon was on one of these, Pentecost, or the feast of weeks.
I agree. But you lumped in the observation of Christmas as a prerequisite for salvation. You said:
To me, whether one denies Christmas outright, or they simply refuse to mention it and the reason for the season, which is Jesus, the Messiah of Israel -- both positions lead to the same end -- and that is a total denial of what the Bible says, and for which all people have the only salvation that is offered to mankind, no others allowed...
Neither Christ or his disciples observed Christmas. This is a biblical fact.
It's actually regurgitated scripture and not crap. Christians in the bible did not observe Christmas. They observed the same holy days that Jesus Christ did. They followed His example and observed His holy days.
Oh sure. Now he's po'd the Chinese and several other cultures that celebrate New Years at a different time of year.
I think he is placating someone(s) more important to him than the American people.
Surely we are the very LAST on his list.
I agree. But you lumped in the observation of Christmas as a prerequisite for salvation.
Nope, I never did that. I made it clear when I posted in Post #53
The real reason for the Season is that Jesus, the Messiah of Israel came into the world, and then grew up and then died for the sins of the world, in order for all of us to have the salvation that God purposed for all to have, according to our choice (or not).
Even just mentioning Jesus, the Messiah of Israel as being born is not quite enough (as it is) — even though He is not mentioned any longer. It goes further as to the reason why He was born, and that was so that He could die for the sins of the world, taking that burden upon Himself, so that the whole world could be saved, as each one purposes in him or herself.
The fact that someone doesn't mention Jesus the Messiah of Israel at this particular time of the year when that is what the observance is for, makes it clear that they have no intention of recognizing Him as either the Messiah of Israel or the Savior in their own personal life.
I said that "both positions lead to the same end" -- and so it does... because they (whomever "they" are that does this) are refusing to recognize Jesus as either the Messiah of Israel and the subsequent matter, which would be their own personal salvation by means of this Jesus, the Messiah of Israel.
That's the "end to it"... for those who refuse to mention it...
THIS CARD is the Presidential Christmas card???
It could have come from ANY family in any park. They could have sent this last year.
Where is the White House, and why aren’t they more formal, as they represent the highest office in our land???
We PAID for that card!
My point was that nobody observed CHRISTMAS in the bible and that the holiday that came to be known as Christmas wasn't associated with Christ until 400 or 500 years after his death.
And my point is that Jesus was immediately mentioned as the Messiah of Israel and the only way for salvation for anyone in the world.
And furthermore anyone who doesn't mention Jesus as the Messiah of Israel and as personal savior for themselves and for the entire world (for any who would choose Him as their personal Savior) -- during this time of year which is the "observance" for Jesus coming into the World for the salvation of all -- if they're not mentioning it then -- they're not mentioning it any time... LOL... and hence they are lost and destined for the lake of fire, to be in torment forevermore.
Well I was responding to post 56 in which you said:
To me, whether one denies Christmas outright, or they simply refuse to mention it and the reason for the season, which is Jesus, the Messiah of Israel -- both positions lead to the same end -- and that is a total denial of what the Bible says, and for which all people have the only salvation that is offered to mankind, no others allowed...
I deny Christmas outright. But I emphatically assert that Jesus was the messiah and is the Lord. That's why I found your statement ridiculous. But if you wish to amend it no problem.
The fact that someone doesn't mention Jesus the Messiah of Israel at this particular time of the year when that is what the observance is for, makes it clear that they have no intention of recognizing Him as either the Messiah of Israel or the Savior in their own personal life
Nonsense. I don't think that Jesus Christ or his disciples ever thought that Jesus was the "reason for the season". The reason for the season in the time of Christ was pagan superstitions. These pagan superstitions became associated with Jesus Christ hundreds of years later...by men. I know that Jesus Christ is Lord and Messiah, but like the pilgrims I recognize that Christmas is a man invented holiday.
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Is it even possible for that woman to get any uglier? She is beyond ugly. She is grotesque. She can even give ole hog faced Helen Thomas a run for her money.
Yes, supposedly that is the official WH card they sent out.
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