Bible Study Christmas

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My favorite time of year?

As a child, there was always something wrong about people and Christmas. It was such a good feeling with friends and family, and the atmosphere of good cheer. There was no time for anger, everyone was happy. People would give to the poor, feed the hungry (cheerfully). But after the first of the new year, it was doom and gloom! If the birth of Christ is so glorious (and it is) Why is not the death and RESURRECTION of Christ more glorious? It is salvation to the world. Of course there is the shame of our sins that put Him on the Cross, but Christ NEVER wanted man to live under that shame, but to have life more abundantly without fear of death anymore (Heb. 2:14-16) (Rom. 8:15, 21) (2 Tim. 1:7)

When Satan beguiled (lied) to Eve into believing him over believing our creator "Jehovah", and Adam obeyed his wife's request,(Gen. 3:1-6). Adam lost his dominion over the earth and became subjected to the principles of Satan (The curse) (Gen. 3:16-24) (Rom. 8:18-23). For even now, the world lives under the principles of "The power of the prince of the air" (Eph. 2:1-3). Even a free people are free, but only by a standing army. We are subjected to lying merchants and car, insurance, and salesmen that practice deceiving the customers. And what about government officials (lairs all!). Hard time and you can't pay your rent? Your belongings go out on the curve along with you. Thank God for some charitable organizations.
But the Sons of God are not to live under those principles. (1 Cor. 6:11) (Eph. 2:2-4) (Eph. 2:10-12) (Eph. 5:5-7) I hate being taken advantage of, But I refuse to treat others that way. I can't, The Spirit does not have that nature. I never lend, I give.....not I, but Christ in me. That is the Spirit I was born again with. Not assuming I have a Spirit, but having the Spirit. Not because I think I have the Spirit because, I think I understand all mysteries of the Bible, but because of the heredity passed on by the Father, Not because I would give my life for the Gospel, but because I have no life without it. I'am a foreigner here, I have no place to settle in comfort. Even in the visible church, there are those who seem afar off, not because they do not agree with the Gospel of the kingdom and Jesus the Christ, (Acts 1:3) (Acts 5:42) (Acts 8:12) (Acts 14:21-22) (Acts 19:8) (Acts 20:24-27) (Acts 28:30-31) but because they show no love or compassion, usually with the same nature I left behind. We have to die to self, to give birth to the Spirit, that the world may see it (but even so) the world will reject it (Act 14:21-22)

It amazes me that people will fill the Churches on Christmas eve as it makes them feel good like they did their good deed for the year, but never walk in again until next season. If they only knew the true Spirit of God they would be in fellowship with all His goodness that He wants us to have in abundance.

You know the old adage "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."
If you're talking about the born again that is a different story, if you are talking about the unregenerate, that is a losing battle.

dirtfarmer here

There are 3 times that the "church building" is almost filled to capacity; Christmas, Easter, and Mother's day. None of which we are told to celebrate.
Christmas is when the world says that Christ was born, but Christ was not born in the winter, but in the fall.
Easter is the celebration of the Sun god with easter egg hunts.
These are suppose to be religious celebrations
Mother's day is a secular celebration.

On the fourth of July the "church" meets at the lake, or at a recreation facility, but not to celebrate the resurrection of our savior. Labor day is another "holiday" (holy day) that the Lord is left out of.

According to scripture, there are no sacred days that we are to observe. We are to worship the Lord every day, not just on special days.

Remember The Sabbath Day and keep it Holy.
(Notice the singular and no plural)
Easter is the celebration and holy rememberance of The Sabbath Day.
Even Jesus took the abbreviated Nazarite vows after the Passover dinner. (To be more Holy, as if such a thing was possible)

Which in part is the reason we go to church on Sunday...to celebrate his victory over death.

Good Friday is the celebration and Holy Day too.

So....we can claim that Easter is one of the Ten Commandments that we are keeping.

And since my family and friends celebrate my birthday...I am going to give Jesus less than what I myself get? Not hardly!

I can not remember were the verses were at but year ago our preacher mentioned that he does not believe that

Dec. is the time of JESUS birth............. I think he was saying may be in Sept.

any one have an idea on that ?

I'M Grams said:

I can not remember were the verses were at but year ago our preacher mentioned that he does not believe that

Dec. is the time of JESUS birth............. I think he was saying may be in Sept.

any one have an idea on that ?

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hello "I'M Grams, dirtfarmer here

The weather in Israel, the Holy Land, is similar to ours and shepherds would not have their flocks out in the pastures in the cold.

The reason that December 25th is celebrated is because the early church wanted to include the heathen in their celebration and couldn't because they wouldn't come. So, they merged the birth of Christ with the day that the heathens celebrated winter solstice; that is when the days begin to lengthen and represents birth from death.

dirtfarmer said:

hello "I'M Grams, dirtfarmer here

The weather in Israel, the Holy Land, is similar to ours and shepherds would not have their flocks out in the pastures in the cold.

The reason that December 25th is celebrated is because the early church wanted to include the heathen in their celebration and couldn't because they wouldn't come. So, they merged the birth of Christ with the day that the heathens celebrated winter solstice; that is when the days begin to lengthen and represents birth from death.

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This was once believed to be true but new research shows that our December 25th date to be accurate.

JohnDB said:

This was once believed to be true but new research shows that our December 25th date to be accurate.

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hello JohnDB, dirtfarmer here

Where do you find the "new research" that proves the shepherds keep their flocks out in the winter in Israel?

dirtfarmer said:

hello JohnDB, dirtfarmer here

Where do you find the "new research" that proves the shepherds keep their flocks out in the winter in Israel?

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I wish I could really remember. But it was a combination of things that showed that the early Church was celebrating on the same day as we do today and that day was for Particular reasons that had nothing to do with pagan or Greek gods worship.

Birthday celebrations were more Roman/Greek than Ancient Near East. The ANE might have a small something with Birthdays (like a Barmitzvah)) but the Roman/Greek world went all out for them each and every year. Which is why we celebrate Jesus' birthday with a Mass

Christ's Mass (and subsequent feast) was to honor Jesus.

St Stephan's feast came the day following Christ's Mass which became known as Boxing Day in which your employer would give you a fat bonus. (Anything from food to good ol hard cash) which became known as a Christmas bonus in America as we moved away from heralding Saints and Martyrs.
Traditionally it's November 1st for All Saints Day which we celebrate all the Saints upon whose shoulders we stand. But All Hallowed Eve (Halloween) seems to have gathered all the attention even though the "ghouls" and frightening stories were supposed to scare you into church the next day.

(All this knowledge I came across in my studies for personal benefit, never thought that I would be telling others this stuff and didn't think to make it reference material)

Douglas Summers said:

I did not know if you were being facetious or not. Easter is a pagan holiday celebration of the spring goddess of birth Esotre or Ishtar (Syria) and Ashtoreth (ancient Israel) between March 22nd and April 25. (1 Kings 11:5) (Jer. 7:18) (Ezek. 8:16) The Easter Bunny, Sunrise Services, coloring eggs are all part of the Queen of heavens worship. Easter is not in Scripture. The Roman Church substituted it for the Passover. It is the same with Christmas and all Saints Day (Halloween). They are all Pagan.

The Passover starts on the 15th of the Jewish month of Nisan (April / May) and last 7 or 8 days. The resurrection of Christ was on a Saturday.

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I was being serious.
The Sabbath Day is singular in the Ten Commandments...for a reason. It's not a collective singular. (That part of speech isn't in Hebrew grammar like it is in English)
To show faith in the Sabbath Day to come you were to rest every Saturday (Sabbath's) and violations held the ultimate penalty.

Easter Sunday is nothing about what you ascribe to it. That's a myth from a created religion to enrage the Christians and subsequently became a tool by unknowing "Phariseeical teachers" to make people believe that they were more Holy by not celebrating Jesus' death and ressurection with fun stuff for families with Children.

Easter is a Christian Holy Day and no one thinks otherwise. There are no Astarte idols in any state in America that I've ever heard of. Nor in Europe, Nor in South America nor anywhere.

I feel that Christmas as well as Easter, whether we are celebrating on the right days or not, we are celebrating the virgin birth as well as the death and resurrection. We are not celebrating a pagan holiday, that is a heart thing, we as Christians celebrate Jesus our savior.
It may be on a day that was used by Satan for some other reason, we use that day now for the good of all mankind.

JohnDB said:

Easter Sunday is nothing about what you ascribe to it. That's a myth from a created religion to enrage the Christians and subsequently became a tool by unknowing "Phariseeical teachers" to make people believe that they were more Holy by not celebrating Jesus' death and ressurection with fun stuff for families with Children.

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That is not so and you should know that. People celebrate the Passover (Easter, a heathen name) Added by the Church of Rome. The reason most people do not know the TRUTH is the same reason a thief can not find a policeman. Not looking for it. I can give you a hundred history sites on the origin of Easter. The early church and Apostles NEVER celebrated Easter..
HOW PASSOVER became EASTER - Mayim Hayim
www.mayimhayim.org/Rabbi Mike/How Passover became Easter.htm

HOW PASSOVER became EASTER. ... properly occur in Scripture, ... Standard Bible Encyclopaedia that's show how this was changed and how Easter is ...

Douglas Summers said:

That is not so and you should know that. People celebrate the Passover (Easter, a heathen name) Added by the Church of Rome. The reason most people do not know the TRUTH is the same reason a thief can not find a policeman. Not looking for it. I can give you a hundred history sites on the origin of Easter. The early church and Apostles NEVER celebrated Easter..
HOW PASSOVER became EASTER - Mayim Hayim
www.mayimhayim.org/Rabbi Mike/How Passover became Easter.htm

HOW PASSOVER became EASTER. ... properly occur in Scripture, ... Standard Bible Encyclopaedia that's show how this was changed and how Easter is ...

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Doesn't matter what this guy says.
I know what God says: Remember (not only remember but a call to act upon it)
The Sabbath Day ( only ever has been one throughout history) and keep it Holy. ( By special rememberance and doing no work)

Now that the One Sabbath Day is in history I still remember and act upon it once a year. Call it whatever you want it doesn't matter. To me, and the rest of the world, it's a Christian Holy Day all about the days where Jesus died and rose from the grave... referred to as The Sabbath Day in Old Testament Decalogue. The writer of Hebrews points to this "rest" especially hard core.

Douglas Summers said:

It is the right of every Christian to honor the Lord on any day or special days (Rom. 14:4-6) But don't squash the truth about Church history.

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Nor is it right to perpetuate myths created out of whole cloth either.

In either case....
Christ owns Easter today...He is the Lord of the Sabbath. Even the Hindu and Atheist believe Easter is a Christian Holiday. The same with Christmas. The Buddhist have tried to adopt Christmas with something similar...but when we go to the Far East the people explain that their own leaders are trying to mimic Christmas.

Douglas Summers said:

So don't do it.

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The "sources" you cited most certainly have.

Anthropology studies should be based in archeology. This paper's "sources" have none. It's all supposition with threads of facts not pertinent to the conclusions asserted that create this tapestry of a myth.
Sure it sounds impressive and legitimate but it's really not good science.

I'M Grams said:

I can not remember were the verses were at but year ago our preacher mentioned that he does not believe that

Dec. is the time of JESUS birth............. I think he was saying may be in Sept.

any one have an idea on that ?

Click to expand...

I don't remember what website I got this from as it was to long ago to remember. Just wanted to let you know it was not my work.

Jewish month
Begins the New moon of
1. Abib / Nisan - March/April Birth of John the Baptist 15 Nisan
2. Zif / Iyyar - April/May
3. Sivan - May/June - Conception of John the Baptist after 3rd Sabbath
4. Tammuz - June/July
5. Ab / Av - July/August
6. Elul - August/September
7. Ethanim / Tishri - September/October - Birth of Jesus 15 Tishri
8. Bul / Marheshvan / Heshvan - October/November
9. Chisleu / Chislev / Kislev - November/December Conception of Jesus 25 Kislev ?
10. Tebeth / Tevet - December/January
11. Shebat / Shevat - January/February
12. Adar - February/March

According to Luke Chapter One Jesus was conceived six months after the conception of John the Baptist and was born nine months later in the months of September/October according to the Lunar Jewish Calendar.
King David on God's instructions (1 Chr 28:11-13) had divided the sons of Aaron into 24 groups (1 Chr 24:1-4), to setup a schedule by which the Temple of the Lord could be staffed with priests all year round in an orderly manner. After the 24 groups of priests were established, lots were drawn to determine the sequence in which each group would serve in the Temple. (1 Chr 24: 7-19). That sequence is as follows:
1 Chr 24:7 1. Jehoiarib 2. Jedaiah
1 Chr 24:8 3. Harim 4. Seorim
1 Chr 24:9 5. Malchijah 6. Mijamin
1 Chr 24:10 7. Hakkoz 8. Abijah
1 Chr 24:11 9. Jeshuah 10. Shecaniah
1 Chr 24:12 11. Eliashib 12. Jakim
1 Chr 24:13 13. Huppah 14. Jeshebeab
1 Chr 24:14 15. Bilgah 16. Immer
1 Chr 24:15 17. Hezir 18. Aphses
1 Chr 24:16 19. Pethahiah 20. Jehezekel
1 Chr 24:17 21. Jachim 22. Gamul
1 Chr 24:18 23. Delaiah 24. Maaziah

1 Chr 24:19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.
Now each one of the 24 "courses" of priests would begin and end their service in the Temple on the Sabbath, a tour of duty being for one week (2 Chr 23:8, 1 Chr 9:25). On three occasions during the year, all the men of Israel were required to travel to Jerusalem for festivals of the Lord, so on those occasions all the priests would be needed in the Temple to accommodate the crowds. Those three festivals were Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Deut 16:16).

The Jewish calendar begins in the spring, during the month of Nisan, so the first "course" of priests, would be that of the family of Jehoiarib, who would serve for one week, Sabbath to Sabbath. The second week would then be the responsibility of the family of Jedaiah. The third week would be the feast of Unleavened Bread, and all priests would be present for service. Then the schedule would resume with the third course of priests, the family of Harim. By this plan, when the 24th course was completed, the general cycle of courses would repeat. This schedule would cover 51 weeks or 357 days, enough for the lunar Jewish calendar (about 354 days). So, in a period of a year, each group of priests would serve in the Temple twice on their scheduled course, in addition to the 3 major festivals, for a total of about five weeks of duty.

The Conception of John the Baptist.
Back to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, which is important to understand that Jesus was born September/October according to the Lunar Jewish Calendar being conceived six months after John the Baptist.
Luke 1:23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
Luke 1:24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived
Beginning with the first month, Nisan, in the spring (March-April), the schedule of the priest's courses would result with Zacharias serving during the 10th week of the year. This is because he was a member of the course of Abia (Abijah), the 8th course, and both the Feast of Unleavened Bread (15-21 Nisan) and Pentecost (6 Sivan) would have occurred before his scheduled duty. This places Zacharias' administration in the Temple as beginning on the second Sabbath of the third month, Sivan (May-June).
Having completed his Temple service on the third Sabbath of Sivan, Zacharias returned home and soon conceived his son John. So John the Baptist was probably conceived shortly after the third Sabbath of the month of Sivan.