Book Review: The Promise of the Messiah by Ethan Jago

It has been nearly a month since we celebrated Christmas. Most Christians love this time of the year because we remember what God did by sending His Only Begotten Son born of a virgin. What's sad is many Christians after Christmas will forget all about the incarnation of Christ till next Christmas, which is less than 12 away for those who are keeping track. 

The Incarnation of Christ is not something we should study around Christmas time. It should be something that we study, read, and know for all times of the year. I am delighted to recommend a great resource from G3 Press written by Ethan Jago, titled, The Promise of the Messiah: A Theology of Christmas. 

Jago does a wonderful job showing his readers that the coming of the Messiah was something God promised all the way back to the beginning in the garden of Eden. He also points out that while Christmas is a time to reflect on the birth of Christ, it is also time where we anticipate His return. Christ's first coming should always make us consider that one day He will return.

Jago continues to point out that Christ never ceased to be God. Jesus went through everything a man could go through yet was without sin. He was tempted so that He can be a Great High Priest that can sympathize with us in our weakness. Jesus did not earn righteousness or salvation but came to fulfill the Father's will. Jesus was already the Son of God and He delighted to do the will of God.

Jesus did not come just to be a good teacher, as Jago says in the book, or a miracle worker. He came to bear the sins of the world so that we can have righteousness from God by faith in Christ. Christ lived a perfect life because we could not. 

Jago concludes that the fulfillment came when Christ took our place on the cross so that He can pay for our sins. He also was raised on the third day and will physically return one day. As Christians today, we must share this good news to all. Christ's incarnation is not something that should be celebrated just during Christmas time, but in every season of the year. Not saying we should bust out the Christmas decorations, but we should remember that God loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son as John 3:16 boldly proclaims.

This is a great resource for all studying on the incarnation of Christ. This is also a useful tool to be used for Christmas time when doing a Sunday School lesson or sermon on the incarnation.

I received this book from G3 Press in exchange for an honest review. 

Ryan Day: The Greatest Christmas Gifts

Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?

As Christmas approaches, there is still a question pondering many in the church today: Should we be celebrating Christmas?  There is no command in the Bible to remember the birth of Jesus, but we do make a lot of it. We decorate our homes, offices, and even churches. We have parties and wear different articles of clothing celebrate the birth of the Savior, but is it wise to celebrate Christmas?

Sinclair Ferguson wrote:

It’s important for us to understand that there are no special holy days now for believers. In the Old Testament, the life of an old covenant believer was punctuated by holy days because God’s people had national holidays. They had many such days, but they were religious holy days. That is where the word holiday comes from. Before the Protestant Reformation, the church had created a whole calendar of holy days, Christmas being one of them. The Reformers, especially in my own country of Scotland, reacted against that because it appeared that the church had been insisting on observations that went beyond Scripture—and sometimes against Scripture. And so all these special days came to an end, including Christmas. 

When the Scottish commissioners went to the Westminster Assembly in the mid-seventeenth century—the assembly where the famous confession and catechisms were written—they were appalled to discover that people were not working on Christmas Day. Even when I was growing up in Scotland, Christmas Day was only a half-day holiday. I have Christian friends who maintain that old tradition because Scripture doesn’t command us to celebrate Christmas, and therefore, they think that the church shouldn’t. Sometimes rather sadly, that can be expressed in a rather mean-spirited and even spiritually superior way, suggesting that those who do celebrate the incarnation at this time should feel guilty about doing so. But there are several considerations that have led me to believe that it’s legitimate, appropriate, and helpful for us to celebrate Christmas. One is this: Scripture doesn’t tell us that our pastors, our elders, or the congregation as a whole, for example, should decide that we will have sermons in September on sanctification, or that the last Sunday in some month in the year will be “Missions Sunday,” or that another weekend will be the church anniversary weekend. Our pastors and elders make those decisions for the spiritual well-being of the congregation. And if we have that liberty, then surely we have the liberty to have a time in the year when we concentrate on the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ—thinking about, celebrating, and applying the momentous event of the birth of the Savior of the world. We’re not saying that these are special holy days. We’re not binding anyone’s conscience any more than when we have a month of sermons on sanctification.

In fact, my general observation is that Christians and congregations that don’t mark the incarnation in this way are actually likely to hear fewer sermons and have less concentration on the conception, birth, and early days of our blessed Lord than those who do. But surely these topics are really important. There’s something else. It’s often said that Christmas is actually a pagan holiday based on the Roman holiday of Saturnalia. But that is a bit like saying that Reformation Sunday is a pagan celebration because it coincides with Halloween. Some churches started holding a Reformation Day service as a direct contrast with the events associated with Halloween. Historically, there were similar reasons that Christmas came to be celebrated around the time of the Roman festival of Saturnalia. It was a way of pointing the pagan world to a better story, to an infinitely greater God than the Roman god Saturn. It was saying, “You are worshiping the creature, and we want to encourage you to worship the Creator.” It was meant to be a powerful witness to the incarnate Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. And in fact, so powerful was that witness that at least on one occasion a church gathering on Christmas Day was deliberately and maliciously firebombed by Christ’s enemies. 

Therefore, it’s both muddleheaded and ungracious to say that Christmas is a pagan celebration. So yes, Christmas Day isn’t any more holy than any other day of the year. Christmas dinner isn’t more sacred than yesterday’s dinner. But like that food, it can be sanctified in special ways by the Word of God and prayer and praise, because the Lord Jesus came into the world to be our Savior. It’s knowing this that helps us to enjoy Christmas to the full.

My fellow believers, take time to celebrate this season. Tell others what Christmas means to you. Share the good news that Jesus Christ was born to save sinners. 

Merry Christmas

A Discussion on the Importance of Christmas

To many people, Christmas is a time of joy while for others it is a time for sorrow. Some are celebrating Christmas for the first time without a loved one or without their family due to a job relocation. For Christians, Christmas is a time to be celebrated no matter what season of life we are in.

In this video from the Redeeming Truth Podcast, there is a discussion on why Christmas is important but also why it is more than a season. 

John MacArthur: The Ugliness of Christmas

Is the Virgin Birth Relevant?

In light of the approach of Christmas, I’d like to highlight the reality and importance of the virgin birth, or more properly, the virgin conception of Jesus Christ. Until recently, the virgin birth has been acknowledged as an important doctrine of the Christian faith. The early church fathers, the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene and Chalcedon Creeds, the Lutheran Augsburg Confession, the Reformed Belgic Confession, the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England, and the Westminster Confession of Faith all bear witness to the church's faith in the virgin birth. However, in recent years some Bible scholars have questioned the veracity of this claim and have challenged the importance of this doctrine. Some within the church no longer believe it to be true.

Read the entire post here.

Phil Johnson Preaching on the Virgin Birth

Jim Osman: Unto Us Is Born A Son

Costi Hinn on the Misconceptions of Christmas

The Christmas season is upon us and like many holidays there are misconceptions about Christmas. In this video, Costi Hinn addresses four misconceptions about Christmas on his For The Gospel podcast.

A Controversial Version to a Christmas Hymn

It is the day after Thanksgiving and for some it is the official start to having Christmas music played in your house, office, car or wherever you enjoy listening to music. So, I thought I would share a music video to a classic Christmas hymn performed by Skillet....

Wait a minute...

Do you mean the one that has some many people upset? O Come O Come Emmanuel? That's the one. I am sure some of you are wondering why I am playing this video. Well, I am glad you asked although you did not.

First, I am a Skillet fan, Second, I like rock music. Third, I actually do like this version. Do I want it played in a church worship service? No. Skillet is a rock band that made a rock version of a Christmas song. If you do not like that song, that's fine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Skillet has been around for 30 years next year, and they have not gone far left field like other Christian artists. 

So, sit back and enjoy the start of the Christmas season with this classic hymn made in a genre that not many people enjoy. 

Glory to God in the Highest

Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of all the inhabited earth.

This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child.

Now it happened that while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guest room.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.

For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

And it happened that when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.

And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

And all who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart.

And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as was told them.

Luke 2:1-20

Allen Nelson IV: The Gospel of Christmas

Christmas Music to Enjoy

Its officially Christmas time which means the tree is going up, parties are happening, the waste line gets bigger, the blood pleasure goes up, and the checking account gets smaller. Hopefully not all of that comes true for everyone especially the waste line getting bigger. 

One of the things I love about Christmas is the music. Granted some of it can get annoying and repetitive. How many versions of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer are there? 

Some of you reading this may not even like Christmas music to which I say, I get it. Some of it is bad like White Christmas and Having a Wonderful Christmas Time, but there is some good Christmas music out, which brings me to why I decided to recommend some of my favorite Christmas albums to you on the day after Thanksgiving, which most people decide to listen to Christmas Music. 

Some of these have been my favorites for years while others have been more recent:

Christmas by Michael W Smith

One Christmas Eve by Wayne Watson

The Music of Christmas by Steven Curtis Chapman

Prepare Him Room by Sovereign Grace Music

Heaven Has Come by Sovereign Grace Music

Behold the Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson

Advent by Emu Music

The Soul Felt Its Worth by Nathan Drake (Reawaken Hymns)

Come and See by The Grace Collective

Christ Has Come by Journey Worship Co.

These Christmas Lights by Matt Redman

Do You See What I See? by Todd Agnew

Why Did God Send Jesus?

As Christmas time approaches, I am sure some you have been asked why God sent Jesus. Maybe you are asking that same question yourself. God did not send Jesus to give us another holiday. There are good, theological reasons why the Father sent the Son.  

I invite you to take time to read these three posts from John Divito as he shows us God sent Jesus:

Why God Sent His Son: Part 1 - Our Slavery

Why God Sent His Son: Part 2 - Our Savior

Why God Sent His Son: Part 3 - Our Sonship 

Three Sovereign Grace Christmas Albums

Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas season has begun. Of course that means Christmas music being played in the mall, workplace, and the home. That also means 20,000 versions of the same song over and over again. There are some Christmas songs I love and there are some, not so much. I also love listening to new Christmas albums with original songs. Sovereign Grace has released a new Christmas filled with original songs for this time of year called "Heaven Has Come." They also have two previous albums, "Prepare Him Room" and "Savior" that I highly recommend:

The Virgin Birth Reveales Who Jesus Is

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25).

Matthew tells us multiple times that Jesus is born to a virgin (18, 20, 23, and 25). This fact is no unimportant detail of Christian legend; it is actually a truth critical to Jesus’ identity and mission. If his body had been created in heaven and then simply sent down to earth, we would rightly doubt whether he was really human; he would simply be too different for us to accept as truly one of us. But if Jesus had been born entirely through normal means, we would doubt his divinity. Matthew emphasizes the virgin birth because it reveals who Jesus is. He is the God-man, fully God and fully man, the Son of God made human.

Adapted from the ESV Story of Redemption Bible

Joseph's Perspective on Christ's Birth

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25).

Matthew tells the story from Joseph’s perspective of what is more correctly termed the “virgin conception” (since our Lord’s birth was normal). Joseph and Mary were engaged (betrothed), a relational status only divorce could break. Before they came together in sexual union as husband and wife, “she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit” (v. 18). Mary had conceived a baby without Joseph’s involvement; the pregnancy was “from the Holy Spirit” because God himself caused Mary to become pregnant through a supernatural conception. By this means the Son of God became a human being. The second person of the Trinity took to himself a human nature in Mary’s womb and was born as the God-man with a human body and soul.

Ignorant of the truth, Joseph assumed the worst. No doubt confused and despondent, he planned to divorce her quietly to avoid shaming her. While he was in this state of mind, an angel of the Lord came in a dream and explained matters to him. The child Mary conceived was “from the Holy Spirit” (v. 20), and Joseph was to name the baby Jesus, which means “Yahweh saves.” The very name of Jesus, then, signifies that “he will save his people from their sins” (v. 21). Matthew indicates that these events fulfilled Isaiah 7:14, which foretells the virgin conception of “Immanuel . . . God with us” (Matt. 1:22–23). Awakening, Joseph obeyed the angel, took Mary as his wife, abstained from sexual relations until the baby was born, and named him Jesus.

The virgin conception of our Lord’s humanity highlights his supernatural character, for Jesus’ conception was the work of God alone. Humanity cannot rescue itself from sin’s plight. Only God can—and did—beginning with the virgin conception. As Luke records, the result of the miraculous conception was the divine sonship of the man Christ Jesus (Luke 1:35).

Adapted from the ESV Systematic Theology Study Bible

Music Monday: Fullness of Grace by Keith and Kristyn Getty

Should You Watch The Nativity Story?

As the Christmas season began, I am sure many of you wondered what presents you will be giving to the people you love as well as the presents you hope to be getting. You probably began listening to Christmas music after Thanksgiving or you started sooner because you just want to. Like most people I know, one thing my family and I look forward to every year is Christmas movies. I am sure some of the men reading this are rolling their eyes at the thought of watching 100 Hallmark movies.

My family and I have many favorite Christmas movies such as Home Alone, The Grinch (the one with Jim Carrey), and the Santa Clause. One favorite of ours is The Nativity Story. I will have be to honest, the first time I heard about this movie, I did not have high expectations. For one it is a Hollywood movies telling the story of Christ's birth. For another there will be a lot of liberties because the Bible does not go into great detail about the birth of Christ as does His earthly ministry, death, burial, and resurrection.

When I finally saw the movie, I was amazed at the quality of the movie and how well it tried to stay on course with the history that took place during Christ's birth. Was the movie accurate regarding the birth of Christ? Not perfectly. As expected, the movie took a lot of liberties in the dramatization of the birth of Christ. There were a lot of things added in the story that was not in the Bible. Overall, it was a good movie.

Now comes the question if this is a movie I should watch. I would not say you cannot celebrate Christmas if you do not watch it, but it will be an open door for your family to discuss the birth of Christ. It might be an open door to share the gospel with friends that are coming over to watch a movie. It will also be a good opportunity to open the Bible and see what says regarding the birth of Christ not just when it happened but why it happened.

Some of you may say that this could violate the second commandment where we are to have no image of God made. Well, I am not calling all to worship the baby on the screen. We are to worship the Risen King. Praise God that Baby grew up (Luke 2:52). Some of you may not want to watch this movie and that's fine. This is a matter of Christian liberty. You may hate the movie and that is okay too. You are no more spiritual if you hate this movie or don't see it and no less spiritual if you like it.

Whether you use this movie, though unperfect as it is, I hope you show people and remind your family that the story of Christmas not about giving us a holiday, but to remember why God sent Jesus. He sent Him to live on our behalf and die on our behalf. He lived a sinless life which a miracle in itself because we are all born with a sinful nature except Jesus. Mary's sinful nature, which goes back to Adam, did not transfer to Jesus Christ. This is why the Virgin Birth was so miraculous not just a virgin giving birth, but that baby did not receive a sinful nature.

So if you use this movie, please open the Bible and share why Christmas is important to all who call on the name of the Lord. If you do not, do that same thing.

Music Monday: See The Man by Emu Music