10 Great Doctrines of Christmas…. Matthew 1:18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.” The divine revelation of the birth of Christ, as given to man through God’s holy written Word, contains some of the great doctrines of the faith. To love the birth of Christ, to love His holy, eternal, inerrant written Word, is to love the great doctrines of the Word. A solid grounding in doctrinal teachings is essential for one to be a “good servant of Christ Jesus,” as instructed by God the Holy Spirit in 1 Timothy 4:6 “In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” In 2 Timothy 4:3, God the Holy Spirit warns us, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine…” These men will begin using phrases such as “cold doctrines” and belittle churches and ministers who adhere to sound doctrine and teach doctrine clearly from the pulpit. By contrast, when speaking of those things which are spiritual, of which the Christmas revelation would be at or near the top, we are to “speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine,” as taught by God the Holy Spirit in Titus 2:1. We are not to be caught up in myths or spiritism but shape our understanding of the Christmas revelation from the doctrines of Holy Scripture, as taught by God the Holy Spirit in Titus 1:9 “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.” In contrast to false teachers who belittle grounding in sound doctrine, God the Holy Spirit goes on to say that we are not only to know sound doctrine, we are not only to teach sound doctrine, we are also to be able to refute those who contradict sound doctrine. It is timely to reflect, “What are the great doctrines of Christmas?” 1. Holy Scripture Without the doctrine of the eternal and inerrant nature of the written Word of God, the multitude of prophecies foretelling both the birth of Christ and the events surrounding His birth would be meaningless. Notice the statement in Matthew 2:5 “They said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet.’” It is the “written” revelation, the “written” doctrines which guide us in our understanding of Christmas. A sampling of the books referenced in the Christmas revelation are… Matthew 1:1 – 17 covers the entire Old Testament from Genesis to Matthew Matthew 1:22 & 23 = Isaiah 7:14;8:10, 9:6 & 7 Matthew 2:6 = Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:15 = Numbers 24:8; Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:18 = Jeremiah 31:15 Luke 1:17 = Malachi 4:17 Luke 1:50 = Psalm 103:17 Luke 1:53 = Psalm 107:9 Luke 1:71 = Psalm 106:10 Luke 1:76 = Malachi 3:1 Luke 1:79 = Isaiah 9:2 Luke 2:23 = Exodus 13:2 & 12; Numbers 3:13; 8:17 Luke 2:24 = Leviticus 5:11; 12:8 If the prophecies of the written Word of God are not eternal and inerrant, then the revelation of the birth of Christ is also suspect. All that we know of Christ is derived from Holy Scripture. The doctrine of the holy, eternal, inerrant written Word of God is inseparable from the Christmas revelation.
2. Angels The doctrine of the existence of angels as God’s messengers and servants is also an integral aspect of the Christmas revelation. Matthew 1:20 = An angel appears to Joseph and instructs him to take Mary as his wife. Luke 1:11 = An angel appears to Zacharias and instructs him on the naming and ministry of his soon to be conceived son – John the Baptist. Luke 1:26-31 An angel appears to Mary and instructs her on her immaculate conception, pregnancy and birth of the Messiah. Luke 2:8-9 8 = Angels instruct the shepherds on the birth of the Messiah and where to find the baby Jesus.
3. Holy Trinity The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity--that God is three Persons yet One, is also part of the Christmas revelation. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are all at work and revealing themselves throughout the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. The Book of Matthew both opens and closes with direct references to the Holy Trinity. Matthew 1:18 - 23 (God the Son) “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, (God the Holy Spirit) before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. (God the Father) 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." Matthew 28:19 " Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit…”
4. Covenant The doctrine of the Old and New Covenant, that being the fulfillment of the Old Covenant and its replacement with the New Covenant, is also found in the Christmas revelation. From the incident at the temple with Zacharias, to the dedication of Jesus in the Temple, the Old Covenant is in constant reference and context. The prophecies quoted, the instructions of the angels and the Incarnation of Christ all point to the Doctrine of the New Covenant as both fulfillment and replacement of the Old. Luke 1:72 “To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant ,’ Jesus would later say Luke 22:20 "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.’”
5. Depravity The message of Christ’s Incarnation is about being saved from the depravity of sin. Mankind needs salvation from sin, that sin which results in spiritual blindness, death and ultimately the judgement of God experienced in an eternity in Hell. Matthew 1:21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Luke 1:79 “TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace." By depravity, we mean that man is totally helpless in his sin. It is in this context that Christ came into the sinful world-- a world at enmity with God and awaiting His judgment. Christ’s immaculate conception, virgin birth and perfect life make possible peace with God through His perfect sacrifice on the cross. Those without Christ are at enmity with God. They dwell in spiritual darkness and await both His wrath and judgment. The message of Christmas brings the hope of peace with God to a lost and dying world. Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” Ephesians 2:15-18 “15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity , which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity . 17 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”
6. Incarnation/ Virgin Birth Matthew 1:18 – 23 is the clear teaching of the incarnation of Christ, the virgin birth. The virgin birth is inseparable from the doctrines of salvation. The virgin birth of Christ is not simply a miraculous event which gives legitimacy to Christ’s ministry. In fulfillment of prophecy, it is the doctrinal necessity for Christ’s perfection. This is seen in the next great doctrine – Imputation.
7. Imputation a. Man is born with the imputed sin of Adam. (Romans 5:19) b. By Christ’s virgin birth, He bypassed this and was born perfect and sinless, being conceived of the Holy Spirit and not of man. (Matthew 1:18 – 25) c. It was Christ’s perfect nature as God that made possible His perfect sacrifice on the cross, whereby our sins were imputed to Christ. (Isaiah 53:6; II Peter 2:21) d. The final stage of this doctrine occurs when we are born again and we receive the imputed righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:21 & 22; II Corinthians 5:21)
8. Redemption Luke 1:68 " Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,” Luke 2:38 “At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” By His incarnation and by being perfect and sinless, Christ was able to offer up Himself as the perfect sacrifice, shedding perfect blood. Christ had no part in the imputed sin of Adam, thus we are purchased by the blood of Christ, we are redeemed. Ephesians 1:7-8 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
9. Salvation From the beginning, the message of the birth of Christ was the message of salvation--being saved from the judgement of God and the resulting fires of Hell. Matthew 1:21-22 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Luke 1:77 “To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins…” Luke 2:29-30 "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation…” Jesus Christ, God incarnate, born of a virgin, perfect in every sense, is able to offer Himself up as a perfect sacrifice. It is this that makes our salvation possible. Romans 5:8-10 “9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
10. Mercy Mercy is “not receiving what is deserved,” which is the judgment of God and an eternity in Hell. The glorious doctrine of the virgin birth of Christ is the message of His perfect birth, resulting in His perfect sacrifice which makes reconciliation with God possible by His great mercy. Luke 1:54 "He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy…” Luke 1:72 “To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant…” Luke 1:78-79 “78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, 79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace." May a fuller understanding of the great Doctrines surrounding the birth of Christ bring you joy during Christmas and aid you in your worship of Jesus.
By His mercy, II Corinthians 4:1 Rev. John S. Mahon / Grace Community Int. – Preparing to depart for Russia January 17th For further reading – “Things Which Become Sound Doctrine” by J. Dwight Pentecost and “Angels, Elect and Evil” by Dickason To test yourself in terms of both your historical and doctrinal understanding of the scriptural teachings surrounding the Incarnation of Christ, take the Christmas test on our website. Just follow the link and look under “Keeping Christ In The Holidays” http://gciweb.org/2011/07/holidays-resources/
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