The Story of Christmas is True

Five Reasons You Can Trust the Story of Christmas Is True (Free Bible Insert)


Detectives create lists. As a cold-case detective, I'm no different. When investigating an event in the distant past (in my case, an unsolved murder), I collect evidence, make lists and do my best to reach the most reasonable inference. When I began to investigate Christianity at the age of thirty-five, I approached the gospels the same way I approached my cold-case files. Lists were an important part of the process. One New Testament claim was particularly interesting to me: the conception and birth of Jesus. When I first read through the gospels, the birth narratives seemed incredible and unreasonable. I'm not the only person to express such a concern. In a recent article posted in the Herald Scotland, Reverend Andrew Frater called the Nativity story a "fanciful, fairy tale" and called on Christians to "disentangle the truth from the tinsel". Frater is a minister and a believer, and even he doesn't believe in the virgin conception of Jesus. As an atheist, I was even more skeptical. I rejected supernatural claims altogether, and the first Biblical claim about Jesus was a supernatural one. But as I collected the evidence and formed my lists, I found there were many good reasons to trust the story of Christmas. I've assembled them here with links to longer treatments of each topic:


Reason 1:
The Supernatural Nature of the Virgin Conception Shouldn't Disqualify It
When I began to investigate the virgin conception, I was actually investigating my own philosophical naturalism. I was, in essence, asking the following questions: "Is the natural world all that exists?" "Is there anything beyond the physical, material world we measure with our five senses?" "Are supernatural events possible or even reasonable?" In asking these questions, I was putting naturalism to the test. It would have been unfair, therefore, to begin by presupposing nothing supernatural could ever exist or occur. If we want to be fair about assessing the virgin conception or any other supernatural aspect of the nativity story, we cannot exclude the very possibility of the supernatural in the first place. Our presupposition against the supernatural would unfairly taint our examination of the claim.


Reason 2:
The Claim of the Virgin Conception Appears Incredibly Early in Christian History
It's always easier to tell a lie once everyone who was alive to know the difference has already died. But if you're going to make a claim early in an area where people are still available to debunk your claim, be prepared to have a difficult time getting away with misrepresentations. The virgin conception of Jesus is one of the earliest claims in Christian history. The students of the gospel authors cited the virgin conception as a true claim about Jesus. Ignatius, the student of John (an Apostle who chose not to write about the birth of Jesus in his own gospel), included it in his early writings to local churches. Other Church leaders repeated the claim through the earliest years of the Church, and the doctrine also appears in the most ancient Church creeds. Even early non-canonical documents include the virgin conception of Jesus.


Reason 3:
The Birth Narratives in Luke and Matthew Are Not Late Additions
Critics, in an effort to argue the birth narratives in Luke and Matthew are not reliable, point to stylistic differences and "content shifting" within the gospels. Critics claim that the Greek language…


Read the rest
here.

Sunday School Lesson—The Holy Spirit helps us

The Holy Spirit helps us




A1 Scripture

B1 John 14:15-27

B2 John 15:26-27

A2 Outline

B1 Jesus's message to the Apostles John 13-17

B2 Jesus's leaving will be a blessing to all John 14

C1 Preparing a place for believers John14:1-7

C2 Making followers to be co-workers John 14:8-14

C3 Sending the Holy Spirit to help in Christian life and to remember John 14:15-24

C4 Leaving a peace that overcomes the world John 14:25-31

A3 Notes and Questions

B1 Basic doctrine of Holy Spirit

C1 From Matt Slick

D1 With the ascension of Christ, we have the arrival of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26, Acts 2) who ministers to the Church through the mediation of Christ (1 Tim. 2:5) and the Scriptures.

D2 He is fully God. He is not a force. He is the third person of the Trinity.

E1 He has a will--1 Corinthians 2:11

E2 He speaks--Acts 13:2

E3 He loves--Romans 15:30

E4 He can be grieved--Ephesians 4:30

E5 He convicts of sin--John 16:8

E6 He creates--Genesis 1:2, Job 33:4

E7 He gives gifts--1 Corinthians 12:8

E8 He intercedes--Romans 8:26

E9 He teaches--John 14:26

E10 He testifies of Jesus--John 15:26

E11 He baptizes--1 Corinthians 12:13

E12 He guides--John 16:13

E13 He encourages--Acts 9:31

E14 He empowers--Micah 3:8

E15 He gives joy--Romans 14:17

E16 He comforts--John 14:16-26

D3 The Holy Spirit indwells the believer (Romans 8:11) and continues to work in him to bring about sanctification (Romans 15:16).

D4 The Holy Spirit illuminates the mind of the believer (1 Corinthians 2:12, 13) and reveals to him the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10, 13, 1 John 2:27).

C2 From Free Will Baptist Treatise

The Holy Spirit

1. The Scriptures ascribe to the Holy Spirit the acts and attributes of an intelligent being. He guides, knows, moves, gives information, commands, forbids sends forth, reproves, and can be sinned against.

2. The attributes of God are ascribed to the Holy Spirit.

3. The works of God are ascribed to the Holy Spirit: creation, inspiration, giving of life, and sanctification.

4. The apostles assert that the Holy Spirit is Lord and God.

From the foregoing, the conclusion is that the Holy Spirit is in reality God and one with the Father in all divine perfections. It has also been shown that Jesus Christ is God—one with the Father. Then these three— the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—are one God.

The truth of this doctrine is also proved from the fact that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are united in the authority by which believers are baptized; and in the benedictions pronounced by the apostles, which are acts of the highest religious worship.

B2 Gender

C1 Hebrew

D1 Original: רוּח

Transliteration: Ruwach

Phonetic: roo'-akh

Part(s) of speech: Noun, Feminine

D2 Some have concluded that since the Hebrew word is feminine, then the Holy Spirit is feminine (she).

C2 Greek

D1 Original: πνεύμα

Transliteration: pneúma

Phonetic: pnyoo'-mah

Part of speech: Noun, Neuter

D2 Some have concluded that since the Hebrew word is neuter, then the Holy Spirit is it (force, effect).

C3 Apostle John

D1 John 15:26

E1

E2 εκεινος is masculine, not feminine. John knew Greek will and deliberately uses the masculine, because the Holy Spirit is "he."

D2 John 14:26

E1 Greek--εκεινος is masculine

E2 The Apostle John knew Greek very well and used this word deliberately.

C4 God is masculine as in Father and Son, so it is most reasonable to believe Spirit is also. God is one God in three persons, not three gods.

B3 John 14:15-27

C1 How do we love God? (Keep His rules).

C2 How does this show love?

C3 What are His rules? Some examples: Lay aside

D1 Wickedness (James 1:21)

D2 All malice (1 Peter 2:1)

D3 All guile (1 Peter 2:1)

D4 All hypocrisies ((1 Peter 2:1)

D5 All envies (1 Peter 2:1)

D6 All evil speaking (1 Peter 2:1)

C4 John 14:16

D1 Why does Jesus have to ask for something?

D2 How is the giver of the Holy Spirit?

D3 How do we know that this helper, comforter, is the Holy Spirit and not a human? (Next verse)

C5 John 14:17

D1 What is a description of the Holy Spirit in this verse? (Spirit of truth).

D2 Why is truth so important?

D3 How do we know what is truth?

D4 Is it ever OK to lie? (Hiding slaves during 19th century, hiding Jews in WWII, keeping a secret, etc.).

D5 Who is the "world?"

D6 Why can't the world receive the Holy Spirit?

C6 John 14:18 What is the meaning of this verse?

D1 Clarke in his commentary on this verse writes:

The disciples of a particular teacher among the Hebrews called him father; his scholars were called his children, and, on his death, were considered as orphans. Christ calls his disciples children, beloved children, Joh 13:33; and, now that he is about to be removed from them by death, he assures them that they shall not be left fatherless, or without a teacher; for in a little time he should come again, (rise from the dead,) and, after his ascension, they should be made partakers of that Spirit which would be their comforter, advocate, teacher, and guide for ever.

D2 Matthew 28:20 and Hebrews 13:5

C7 John 14:19

D1 What are some facts about this verse?

E1 Yet in a little while

E2 The world will see me no more

E3 You will (resurrection was only seen by believers. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:6).

E4 Because I live, you will, too.

D2 What comfort does one get from the life that is described here? (Comfort of the resurrection)

C8 John 14:20

D1 What day is Jesus talking about? (Some say it is Pentecost, but most likely it is a new dispensation that starts with Jesus's resurrection).

D2 What important knowledge comes to believers from Jesus's resurrection?

C9 John 14:21

D1 Are we to obey Jesus's rules? Is that happening today?

D2 What is the idea of Jesus's revealing Himself to believers?

E1 "Will show" is future present indicative.

E2 He does not say when.

E3 It could refer to His post-resurrection appears to the Apostles and those with them.

E4 Strictly speaking Jesus is speaking to the Apostles.

D3 Who are the ones who will see Jesus? (Those who obey His rules).

D4 Does this refer to mystical voices, visions, appearances? (No)

C10 John 14:22 What is Judas's misunderstanding? (He thought that the earthly kingdom was going to be set up shortly).

C11 John 14:23

D1 How can God live in us?

E1 We are God's living Temple.

E2 Compare Ezekiel 37:27, 2 Corinthians 6:16

D2 Who are the ones in whom God lives? (Those who obey the New Testament).

C12 John 14:24 Why does Jesus keep emphasizing obedience?

C13 John 14:25-26

D1 Who is Jesus addressing here? (The Apostles).

D2 How can we apply this to us today? (We remember a Bible verse).

C14 John 14:27

D1 What kind of peace is Jesus speaking of?

D2 Why is His peace different from any other peace?

D3 Do we disobey God when we are troubled (anxious, worried) or fearful? (No, we run to Him for help. Psalm 18:2, Psalm 61:3, Proverbs 18:10

C15 John 15:26

D1 How does the Holy Spirit testify about Jesus?

D2 What authority does the Holy Spirit have to testify about Jesus?

C16 John 15:27

D1 What are we to do?

D2 What is the method? (Bells, whistles, light show, entertainment, or preaching? Preaching 1 Corinthians 1:18-21, Acts 17:18, Acts 17:32).

C17 List some things that we must do, the Holy Spirit will do, and Jesus will do?

Hard Questions—Why worship God?

Why would God need people to worship Him (isn't that egotistical and arrogant)?


A1 Question

B1 Does God need it?

C1 God needs nothing

D1 "...nor by the hands of men is He served, as though He needed anything, for He gives to all life and breath with respect to all things. (Acts 17:25, EMTV) Nor does he need anything that we can supply by working for him, since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything else to everyone. (Acts 17:25, GNB92)

D2 Psalm 50:8-15

D3 Since He is the source of life and everything that is, He needs nothing.

D4 Since He owns everything, He needs nothing.

B2 What is worship? See below in answers

A2 Answer

B1 Reasons

C1 Being thankful--Matthew 15:36, Romans 1:21, 1 Corinthians 15:57, Philippians 4:6, Revelation 7:12

C2 Praise for good work--Luke 19:37, 1 Kings 8:55-56

C3 For a compliment--Mark 7:37, Luke 23:41

C4 Respect and honor--Matthew 2:2, Matthew 2:11, Matthew 4:9-10, Matthew 8:2, Romans 1:25, Revelation 4:10, Revelation 9:20, Revelation 22:8-9

C5 Singing for our emotional expression--2 Chronicles 5:13, Revelation 5:8-14

B2 God gives these to us

C1 Thanks--John 11:41, 1 Peter 1:7

C2 Praise--Luke 22:28-30, Romans 2:29, 1 Corinthians 4:5

C3 Compliment--Matthew 25:21

C4 Honor--John 5:44, John 12:26

Hard Questions—Is the Old Testament God different from the New Testament God?

Why does the "Old Testament God" seem different than the "New Testament God?"




A1 Problem

B1 The God of the Old Testament is angry, but the God of the New Testament is love.

B2 The Old Testament God is angry, holy, vengeful, punishing; the New Testament God is meek, mild, compassionate, and loving.

A2 Solution

B1 There is a misreading and understanding of the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament.

C1 Old Testament

D1 God is holy and punishes. Joshua 24:19, Exodus 20:5, Isaiah 27:11

D2 God is compassionate and loving. Exodus 34:6, Psalms 86:15, Jonah 4:2

C2 New Testament

D1 God is holy and punishes. John 2:15, John 18:6, Matthew 23:33

D2 God is compassionate and loving. Matthew 15:32, Hebrews 5:2, Matthew 20:34

B2 God's character

C1 His likes and dislikes.

C2 Heaven is where God "lives." God does not like liars, adulterers, haters, bullies, abusers, covetousness, murder, thieves, etc. So in heaven He does not want these things happening, and they will not happen.

C3 Israel is a nation, a DNA people, chosen by God to be a special people for a special mission. Because they are to represent Him, they must be like Him in their thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. They were and are not, so God becomes angry just as He said.

C4 This is all summarized in the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20).

C5 Of the 10 Commandments, 9 are repeated in the New Testament.

Old Testament	New Testament
Do not have no other gods besides me	Matthew 4:10, 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1 John 5:20-21, 1 Corinthians 5:11
Do not make any graven image	Romans 1:23, Revelation 9:20, Matthew 4:9-10
Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain	Matthew 5:33-37, Colossians 3:8, 2 Timothy 3:2
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
Honor your father and mother	Mark 10:19, Matthew 19:19, Ephesians 6:2
Do not kill	James 2:11, Matthew 5:21, Matthew 19:18, Romans 13:9
Do not commit adultery	James 2:11, Matthew 5:27, Matthew 19:18, Romans 13:9
Do not steal	Matthew 19:18, Romans 13:9, Ephesians 4:28
Do not bear false witness against your neighbor	Matthew 19:18, Romans 13:9, 1 Timothy 1:10
Do not covet	Romans 13:9, Romans 7:7, Luke 12:15, 1 Corinthians 5:11, Colossians 3:5

C6 No sinner will be in heaven.

B3 All people are sinners and will face God's wrath.

C1 God reveals His character. His character reflects His rules.

C2 He warns what will happen if disobedience occurs.

C3 He provides a plan for forgiveness.

C4 Image

C5 Need God

A3 Further study

B1 Is God different?

B2 Isn't the God of the Old Testament Harsh, Brutal, and Downright Evil?

Hard Questions-- Why does God remain so hidden?

Why does God remain so hidden?




A1 Problem—If God exists, why can't we see Him?


A2 Notes

B1 The skeptic's view

B2 The Christian view

A3 Solution

B1 Many people have said, "Just let God show Himself, and I will believe."

B2 Response, "If you saw someone who claims to be god, how would you know?"

B3 What are the characteristics of God? (just a few are given).

C1 Omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent

C2 Always existed, just, love

B4 Nevertheless, why doesn't God reveal Himself today?

C1 "Didn't He publicly reveal Himself during the giving of the 10 Commandments, all the wonders to Israel and Egypt, and Jesus on earth doing miracles in the sight of many people? It seems as if He was advertising Himself."

C2 Sin Isaiah 59:2, Isaiah 64:7, Habakkuk 1:13.

D1 God likes some things and dislikes some things. The things that He hates are called sin.

D2 Some examples--lying, murder, hate, adultery, idolatry, covetousness.

D3 There are seven things that the LORD hates and cannot tolerate: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up wicked plans, feet that hurry off to do evil, a witness who tells one lie after another, and someone who stirs up trouble among friends. (Proverbs 6:16, GNB92)

D4 These are a few of the reasons that God hides Himself.

C3 Even if God was to reveal Himself to people, most would reject Him anyway. They would not worship and love Him.

C4 Miracles bring the conversion of a few if any. Jesus and the Apostles did many miracles, yet most people rejected.

B5 Evidence of His being. A number of articles dealing with witnesses, clues, and questions about the evidence of God's existence.

Sunday School Lesson—The Savior is born

Sunday School Lesson

20 Dec 2015

The Savior is born.


A1 Text

B1 Luke 1:26-45

B2 Luke 2:1-7

A2 Outline

B1 Luke 1:26-45

C1 Jesus's birth foretold Luke 1:26-38

D1 The angel comes Luke 1:26-28

D2 The angel's message Luke 1:29-33

D3 Mary's question Luke 1:34

D4 Angel's answer Luke 1:35-37

D5 Mary's response Luke 1:38

C2 Mary visits Elizabeth Luke 1:39-45

B2 Luke 2:1-7 Jesus's birth

C1 Background of Jesus's birth Luke 2:1-3

C2 Journey to Bethlehem Luke 2:4-6

C3 Jesus born Luke 2:7

A3 Questions

B1 Luke 1:26--what does sixth month refer to? (Elizabeth's pregnancy).

B2 Luke 1:26--who is Gabriel?

C1 Archangel Daniel 8:16, Daniel 9:21, Luke 1:19

C2 Stands in God's presence. This might indicate greater authority. Two groups of angels are seen in God's presence at His throne.

D1 Seraphim Isaiah 6

D2 Cherubim Ezekiel 1 and 10

B3 Luke 1:27--Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Why was Joseph important?

C1 Descendant of King David.

C2 Promises made to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-13, 1 Kings 8:25, Psalms 132:11, Luke 1:69

B4 Why Nazareth (Natsrat)?

C1 Home of Mary and Joseph. The existence of the town was in question for a number of years but archeology has shown its existence in the first century and earlier. See here and here.

C2 Prophesied. Read Isaiah 9:1.

C3 Why did God choose this city? It is not written.

B5 Was Mary really a virgin? Yes, because it is most reasonable. She would know. Her character was blameless. Others testify it so. Joe believed it. The angel told Joe that it was so. It is a fulfilled prophecy. Isaiah 7:14. Many translations use the term "young woman" in Isaiah 7:14, which would imply she may or may not be a virgin, but it does not have to be translated young woman. When the Septuagint was translated approximately 200 years before the Lord Jesus was born used the Greek word strictly for virgin--parthenos. See here and here.

B6 Does the angel's greeting in Luke 1:28 seem strange? Mary was troubled by his words (Luke 1:29). The Greek word for troubled is διαταράσσω which means acutely distressed, greatly disturbed. We might feel that way if we receive a letter with the return address of the IRS.

B7 In Luke 1:30 what might have Gabriel picked up on that this news started or distressed Mary. (body language and facial expression).

B8 Why did God pick Mary for this blessing in serving God?

B9 How many times is the future tense used in Luke 1:31-33? (Seven. They are "will conceive, will bear, will call, will be great, will be called, will give, and will reign").

B10 What is the significance of the name Jesus? It means "Yahweh saves", "Yahweh is salvation." Joshua of Old Testament fame has the same name (Joshua 1:1).

B11 What is the significance of the word "forever" in Luke 1:33?

B12 Is Jesus still "King of the Jews? Hebrews 2:8, 1 Peter 3:22

B13 Is Mary disputing with Gabriel in Luke 1:34? Compare Luke 1:18-20. Wilbur Pickering in his translation noted writes

Zacharias expressed doubt, but Mary simply requests some necessary information. She has understood that God wants her to be the Messiah's mother—she was doubtless highly intelligent and perceptive.

B14 Anything special about Jesus being called holy?

C1 The Greek word holy is ἅγιος. This means

hágios – properly, different (unlike), other ("otherness"), holy; for the believer, 40 (hágios) means "likeness of nature with the Lord" because "different from the world."

The fundamental (core) meaning of 40 (hágios) is "different" – thus a temple in the 1st century was hagios ("holy") because different from other buildings (Wm. Barclay). In the NT, 40 /hágios ("holy") has the "technical" meaning "different from the world" because "like the Lord."

[40 (hágios) implies something "set apart" and therefore "different (distinguished/distinct)" – i.e. "other," because special to the Lord.]

HELPS Word-studies copyright C1987-2011 by HELPS Ministries. HelpsBible

C2 It has the means of sinless, separated from something (in this case separated from evil), and devoted to god (in this case YHWH).

B15 Is anything impossible with God (Luke 1:37)? Can God lie?

C1 Luke 1:37 in Greek is οτι ουκ αδυνατησει παρα τω θεω παν ρημα (Luke 1:37, Byz). "For not will be impossible with the God any word."

C2 So anything that God says will happen, will happen.

C3 I translate this as "Because with God every spoken word will not be impossible."

B16 What attitude does Mary have that we are must have? Luke 1:38

B17 How would you/I deal with something that seems impossible?

B18 What are somethings that we need God's help to do?

B19 How does the Holy Spirit help us? (He gives wisdom, He is sovereign, He comforts, etc.).

B20 Can we answer like Mary when we read something in the New Testament that God requires of us?

B21 Many calculate the journey from Jerusalem to Nazareth to be 5 days journey by walking.

B22 Does the activity of the baby in Elizabeth's womb have any bearing on abortion? Luke 1:41

B23 In Luke 1:42 Elizabeth calls Mary blessed. The Roman Catholics have at least for 1600 years called Mary, the Mother of God. Is this correct? Why or why not?

C1 Jesus is God. Mary gave birth to Jesus, so Mary is the Mother of God.

C2 Problem. Jesus has always existed. Psalms 90:2, 1 Timothy 6:15-16, Philippians 2:6-7, John 1:1

C3 Problem. Jesus is always superior to any human. (Mother would imply, at least for a while, to be superior).

C4 For further information see here, here,

B24 Most critics claim that the tax and census of Quirinius was in 6 AD, which would be too late for Jesus's birth. How to we reconcile this?

C1 Long after the conversion and death of Rahab, she was still referred to as the harlot. Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25

C2 At the time of Luke's writing, Quirinius was a common name. After Quirinius was governor, he would have been identified as governor to distinguish him from other Quirinius's.

B25 What is better God's plans or ours? What happens when our plans cannot, for whatever reason, happen? Do we somehow try to force it to happen or accept it for a better plan that God may work out later? Give some examples is your life?

B26 How do you/I react to changes in plans, delays in plans, plans that do not work out?

B27 Who is the giver of wisdom? God see James 1:5

B28 Who is the helper? John 14:26

B29 What is our duty to be when plans do not happen that way we wanted them to?

Hard Questions—How can a loving God send people to hell?

How can a loving God send people to hell?




A1 Briefly

B1 Two choices

C1 God doesn't love

C2 God does love

C3 Love is defined as

D1 Choice rather than emotion

D2 Has the characteristics of kindness, firmness, commitment, tenderness, gentleness

D3 Is described as (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

E1 Patient

E2 Kind

E3 Without envy

E4 Without conceit

E5 Without arrogance

E6 Good behavior

E7 Not selfish

E8 Calm, no hateful anger

E9 Doesn't bring up the other person's faults over and over

E10 Doesn't rejoice when bad things happen to someone

E11 Rejoices in the truth

E12 Forbears

E13 Has the attitude to believe (one would especially see this in their spouse or child. They listen and take what they say seriously. It does not imply blind faith or believing something that is questionable).

E14 Faith, hope, and patience do not fail.

C4 God does love.

D1 His character is love. Exodus 34:6-7, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:12

D2 He sent His only, begotten Son to die for the sins of humanity. Matthew 16:21, Hebrews 2:9, 1 Timothy 2:6, Romans 5:8

B2 Why not just annihilate them?

C1 Not showing love to the victims. Punishment is needed for their sake to pay back the evil others did to them.

C2 Not satisfying justice. Is there justice in the world? People cry out for justice. If there is no justice, then there is no satisfaction of equal treatment. Bribes, bullying, threats, etc. would be much more common that already exist.

C3 Incentive. What incentive would there be to live peacefully in society, it there was no punishment whatsoever?

B3 Humans exceptionalism

C1 We are created in the image of God, so we live forever.

D1 Created Genesis 1:27

D2 Resurrection Daniel 12:2, Matthew 25:46, John 5:29

C2 Moral and responsible for others. This results in that we have duties to perform. See here and here
(also see links on those pages). Genesis 2:15 (some would include Revelation 11:18, for we are to take care of the earth), Psalms 8:6

B4 God has warned about disobedience. Ezekiel 18:4, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Exodus 20

B5 God has given the solution. Acts 16:30-31, Acts 10:43. See Need God.