1. THE LORD’S BIRTH THE LORD’S DEATH THE LORD’S BIRTH THE LORD’S DEATH 1. Commemoration not authorized or command- ed by Christ - "of men" 2. We are not told how to observe it -- “of men” 3. We are not told when to observe it -- “of men” 4. We are not told where to observe it -- “of men” 5. Observed by no Christian in apostolic age - originated in later apostasy (Matt. 15:9) 1. Commemoration Au- thorized&commanded by Christ (Matt. 26: 26-29) 2. We are told how to observe it (Matt. 26:26-28) 3. We are shown when to observe it (Acts 20:7) 4. We are told where to observe it (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20-25) 5. Observed by all Christians in apostolic age (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23)

2. "There is no evidence of the existence of a Feast of the Nativity before the 4th century." (Encyclopedia Of Religion & Ethics, III:601, via Joe Price, “Oh come all ye faithful”) "There is no historical evidence that our Lord's birthday was celebrated during the apostolic or early post-apostolic times." (Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia, III:47.) "According to authentic records, no church festival was held in celebration of Christ's birth, until the first half of the fourth century." (The Encyclopedia of Religion, by Fern, via David J. Riggs, “Christmas”) “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church.” (The Catholic Encyclopedia, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm ) "There is no evidence of the existence of a Feast of the Nativity before the 4th century." (Encyclopedia Of Religion & Ethics, III:601, via Joe Price, “Oh come all ye faithful”) "There is no historical evidence that our Lord's birthday was celebrated during the apostolic or early post-apostolic times." (Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia, III:47.) "According to authentic records, no church festival was held in celebration of Christ's birth, until the first half of the fourth century." (The Encyclopedia of Religion, by Fern, via David J. Riggs, “Christmas”) “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church.” (The Catholic Encyclopedia, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm )

3. SHEPHERDS IN THE FIELDS (Lk. 2:8-20): "...the Jews sent out their flocks into mountainous and desert regions during the summer months, and took them up in the latter part of October or the first part of November, when the cold weather commenced." (Albert Barnes, Barnes' Notes on the New Testament, Vol. 1, p. 189) SHEPHERDS IN THE FIELDS (Lk. 2:8-20): "...the Jews sent out their flocks into mountainous and desert regions during the summer months, and took them up in the latter part of October or the first part of November, when the cold weather commenced." (Albert Barnes, Barnes' Notes on the New Testament, Vol. 1, p. 189)

4. WHY WAS JESUS BORN?

5. Matt. 5:17-18: “Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.”

6. WHY WAS JESUS BORN? I. SO THAT DIETY COULD TABERNACLE IN THE FLESH, Isa. 2:2; 4:2; 11:1, 10; Rom. 15:12; Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Matt. 1:23; Jno. 1:1-3, 14; 8:52-53; Phil. 2:5-7; Gal. 4:4 II. HE CAME TO BEAR WITNESS OF TRUTH, Jno. 18: 37; Isa. 61:1-2; Lk. 4:18-19, 21; Matt. 11:2-6; Isa. 35:5-6; Isa. 49:5-6; Acts 13:47; Isa. 53:11; Matt. 1:21; 4:17; Lk. 13:3; 24:47; Rom. 3:23; Jno. 3:16; 14:6; 18:37; Mk. 16:16; Heb. 5:9; 1 Pet. 1:22-23; 2 Thes. 1:7-8

7. WHY WAS JESUS BORN? I. SO THAT DIETY COULD TABERNACLE IN THE FLESH II. HE CAME TO BEAR WITNESS OF TRUTH III. HE CAME TO BE KING OVER A PROPHESIED KINGDOM, Dan. 2:44; Acts 2:30; 2 Sam. 7:13-14; Ps. 132:11; Isa. 11:1; 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5-6; Matt. 4:17; Mk. 9:1; Matt. 16:18-18; Jno. 18:33, 36-37; Acts 2: 30-36; Col. 1:13; Heb. 12:28 I. SO THAT DIETY COULD TABERNACLE IN THE FLESH II. HE CAME TO BEAR WITNESS OF TRUTH III. HE CAME TO BE KING OVER A PROPHESIED KINGDOM, Dan. 2:44; Acts 2:30; 2 Sam. 7:13-14; Ps. 132:11; Isa. 11:1; 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5-6; Matt. 4:17; Mk. 9:1; Matt. 16:18-18; Jno. 18:33, 36-37; Acts 2: 30-36; Col. 1:13; Heb. 12:28

8. WHY WAS JESUS BORN? I. SO THAT DIETY COULD TABERNACLE IN THE FLESH II. HE CAME TO BEAR WITNESS OF TRUTH III. HE CAME TO BE KING OVER A PROPHESIED KINGDOM IV. JESUS CAME TO SAVE SINNERS! Rom. 3:23; Isa. 53:1-12; Matt. 20:28; Lk. 5:32; 19:10; 1:29; Acts 8:32-34 (Isa. 53); Mk. 16:15; Rom. 1:16; Acts 4:12; Mk. 16:16; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 2:38 I. SO THAT DIETY COULD TABERNACLE IN THE FLESH II. HE CAME TO BEAR WITNESS OF TRUTH III. HE CAME TO BE KING OVER A PROPHESIED KINGDOM IV. JESUS CAME TO SAVE SINNERS! Rom. 3:23; Isa. 53:1-12; Matt. 20:28; Lk. 5:32; 19:10; 1:29; Acts 8:32-34 (Isa. 53); Mk. 16:15; Rom. 1:16; Acts 4:12; Mk. 16:16; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 2:38

9. Prophecy of Isaiah N.T. Record of Fulfillment

10. WHY WAS JESUS BORN? I. SO THAT DIETY COULD TABERNACLE IN THE FLESH II. HE CAME TO BEAR WITNESS OF TRUTH III. HE CAME TO BE KING OVER A PROPHESIED KINGDOM IV. JESUS CAME TO SAVE SINNERS! Rom. 3:23; Isa. 53:1-12; Matt. 20:28; Lk. 5:32; 19:10; 1:29; Acts 8:32-34 (Isa. 53); Mk. 16:15; Rom. 1:16; Acts 4:12; Mk. 16:16; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 2:38 I. SO THAT DIETY COULD TABERNACLE IN THE FLESH II. HE CAME TO BEAR WITNESS OF TRUTH III. HE CAME TO BE KING OVER A PROPHESIED KINGDOM IV. JESUS CAME TO SAVE SINNERS! Rom. 3:23; Isa. 53:1-12; Matt. 20:28; Lk. 5:32; 19:10; 1:29; Acts 8:32-34 (Isa. 53); Mk. 16:15; Rom. 1:16; Acts 4:12; Mk. 16:16; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 2:38