C - H - R - I - S - T - M - A - S Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama) December 22, 2015 The Bible does not tell us to observe the birth of Christ. It tells us to observe the Lord's Supper which is a memorial of the death and resurrection of Christ. But yet, without the birth of Christ there would be no crucifixion of Christ. If there is no crucifixion, there is no salvation. God also inspired Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to tell us all the details of his birth. They spent whole chapters describing in detail how he was born and the facts surrounding his birth. The birth of Christ is one of the major doctrines of the four gospels and it has a place of equal importance with his death. I might also mention that even though Christ was not born on December 25 he was conceived on that date and born around the last week in September. In this article each letter in the word Christmas stands for a different name, title or attribute of Christ. "C" Christ The Lord The angel said to the shepherds; For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord. They called Christ the Lord. Why is that so important? Isa. 26:4 says; Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord JEHOVAH is ever lasting strength. The Lord is Jehovah, Christ is the Lord, there is one Lord and he is Christ therefore, Christ is Jehovah. When all men bend the knee to Christ and confess that Jesus is Lord, they will confess that he is Jehovah God. "H" Holy Isa. 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy. Why his name is Holy? Because he was born without sin and he also lived without sin. Heb. 4:15 says; For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. He was not only born holy without sin but he lived that way too. He lived up to his name. "R" Redeemer Psa. 19:14 says; Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. How did he redeem sinners like us? By his death and shed blood. Eph. 1:7 says; In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. When it comes to salvation and forgiveness of sins our works don't count. Only the death and shed blood of Christ can redeem and deliver us from sin and hell, for his payment for sin matches the penalty of sin. "I" Intercessor Rom. 8:34 says: It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. An intercessor is a mediator between two people and he is the one and only mediator between God and men. Why? Because he is both. He is the best possible mediator for he is both God and man. He is the God man. As God Christ understands what it is to be God and as man he understands what it is like being a man. "S" Spirit of Christ Gal. 4:6 says; And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father. God put the Spirit of Christ in every believer because he made a promise that he would never leave us nor forsake us in Heb. 13:5. Jesus Christ is in and with the believer around the clock, 365 days a year because his Spirit lives in us. His Spirit in us also makes us members of his body. "T" Teacher In John 3 Nicodemus said to Jesus; We know that thou art a teacher come from God. What makes him such a great teacher? Because he knows everything. Col. 2:3 says that in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. It does not matter what the subject is, he knows everything about it. The so called new discoveries in science are old to him for he is the architect of the universe; he wrote the laws of true science. "M" Mary's Son Matt. 1:16 says; And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. The Spirit was very careful to say that Jesus was Mary's son and not Joseph's son. Why? Because Christ's Father is God. Christ was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit of God. His birth was a divine, miraculous birth. There has never and will never be another birth like his. Isa. 7:14 says; Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel which being interpreted is, God with us. "A" Alpha Omega In Rev. 1:8 Jesus said; I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come the Almighty. Only God can say this. The person we call Jesus Christ is from everlasting to everlasting. "S" Saviour In Matt. 1:21 the angel of the Lord said to Joseph; And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins. In 1 Tim. 1:15 Paul said; This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. He didn’t come to build a kingdom or start a revolution. He came to save sinners by dying for their sins. He was predestinated for death before the foundation of the world and marked for death at birth and spent his life on earth moving toward a cross where he died. The cross was his destiny. Is he your Saviour? When did he save you?