The Birth of Christ

"And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years."
Revelation 20:2

"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"
Genesis 3:1

"…the serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."
Genesis 3:13

"And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou (art) cursed above all cattle…upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life."
Genesis 3:14

"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
Revelation 12:9

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
2 Corinthians 11:3

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
Genesis 3:15

"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly…"
Romans 16:20

"LOOK UNTO ME, AND BE YE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: FOR I (AM) GOD, AND (THERE IS) NONE BESIDE ME."
Isaiah 45:21

For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The almighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6

"And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man (child)."
Revelation 12:13

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:10,11

The Real Story…

It is very hard to be objective at Christmas time. For hundreds of years we have become used to the fantasy stories of Christmas and enjoyed its time of festive cheer. But, that is all they are - stories. The REAL story of the birth of Christ is vast and glorious, encompassing all of history, from the creation to the end of the world and beyond. It is not a mere fairy story, but a gritty and hard-nosed true account, rooted solidly in real history and the deception of Satan, the 'dragon', the 'serpent'. Satan had his schemes from the time he was in heaven. But God has had His plan in place for eternity. The glittering Christmas cards are not a part of this grand view of God's creation! You will now have a summary, a quick glance at the reality behind so-called 'Christmas'…

Roman Catholic Wizardry

The 'Christmas' we are now all so accustomed to was unknown to the early Christians. They did not celebrate the birth of Christ as we do today, nor did they have a special festival. Christmas came about much later, an invention of the Roman Catholic church. In its long and cultic history, the Roman Catholic organisation has masqueraded as a church. Not only that, it has pretended to be 'THE' Church. It has persuaded Christians the world over for centuries, that Christmas is a holy festival to be held at the time prescribed. The word 'Christmas' was originally 'Christ Mass'…a time when the Romanists held two masses for the Christ. Mass is a blasphemous cultic rite, as all Christians know. Yet, every year, most celebrate this Roman Catholic festival, albeit without attending the Mass. (But is this all that different from having a 'reformed' 'Christmas' communion service, which is, really, just a sanitised substitute version of the Roman rite?)

The Truth

So, if this is not the real story, what is? As always, if you want the truth, go back to the Bible! It is packed with references to a coming Saviour and His rule. Very soon after the angels were created, just hours before the creation of man and woman, Satan, the chief angel in heaven, was thrown out for his desire to be a god himself. He was cast down to inhabit the earth and its skies. Remember that all this took place only about 10,000 years ago, not millions.

Very soon afterward, this same Satan, in the guise of a serpent or 'dragon', approached Eve. At that time Adam had complete mastery over all animals on the earth. (The TV series showing the planet dominated by huge animals, with no human in sight, is false). But this serpent was not what it seemed to be…

We can see from the text that, at the time, serpents or dragons (possibly akin to the Kimodo dragons/large lizards we see today?) probably stood erect or at least on four legs. The serpent spoke to Eve…maybe, also, some other animals spoke at that time. Or, because Eve was herself 'new', she did not realise animals did not speak, so accepted it naturally.

Satan insinuated that God did not really mean what He said, and that she could eat the fruit off the forbidden tree. So she ate it and offered some to her husband. That one act of disobedience threw the whole of creation in to turmoil, because God then condemned her, and Adam, to a life of hardship and increasing degeneration, physically and mentally. Spiritually, they were cut off from direct contact with God. Sin was now the driving force behind Adam and Eve and all mankind were lost and condemned to hell. That judgement would remain unless God gave a solution, though He was not obliged to do so. This is where the account of Christ really begins…

The Prophesied Saviour

As you can see from the quote from Isaiah, the birth of the Christ was prophesied several thousand years before Jesus was born. So was His death. And both are involved in Christ's birth. He was born to die. A number of prophesies speak of the Christ, of His rule and of other factors surrounding His life, death and resurrection, so the account rolls onward through all ages.

The Birth

Some months before Mary received the astounding news of her coming pregnancy, her cousin, Elizabeth, also received news of another birth, that was itself significant. She would give birth to a son, who would be named John. Elizabeth was married to a priest, Zacharias. Both were holy people who loved and obeyed God. Elizabeth was barren and was, physically, too old to bear children. One day, as Zacharias was at the altar an angel appeared to him and told him that his wife would bear a son. John was to be the last great prophet and preacher of the old order of Israel. He was born to 'make way' for the Messiah, so he was great in God's eyes. As part of his task he was to preach repentance to the Jews and many thousands listened and obeyed.

A few months later, the unmarried Mary, about 14 years of age, received an even greater promise - she would bear a child who would be the Saviour! She was 'betrothed' (a more formal engagement than we have today) to a man named Joseph, who was either a carpenter or a mason (today's 'local builder').

At first Joseph wanted to end the betrothal, because a baby born before marriage was a dreaded sin. But he was made to understand the matter and he decided instead to marry Mary. Before this, he did not have any kind of physical relationship with her, and remained celibate until after Jesus was born.

On the day of Jesus' birth an angel appeared to the shepherds who were watching their flocks of sheep on the mountains above Bethlehem. We instantly know from this that Jesus was not born in December. The clues tell us He was born in late autumn (September/October) or in spring. Shepherds would not have been in the mountains in winter!

They went to see this Messiah, who was in a stable belonging to a local inn. This was not a drinking place as such, but was a place where travellers stayed - a big block building with a door and no windows. Inside was a large raised platform on which everyone slept, without luxury or heat. But even this stark place was full. The Roman soldiers and officials had the best rooms, as they travelled Israel to count the people ('tax').

Joseph, with his heavily-pregnant wife ready to give birth, needed a place to stay, so the inn-keeper offered the stable. This was not a pretty place at all. It was a cold stone cave, or low rough building, containing animals. It was cold, without lighting or windows, and the smell must have been atrocious. Nevertheless, the shepherds visited and worshipped Jesus in awe. A week after this birth, Mary dedicated Jesus to God in the Temple, giving the sacrifice of a poor woman. Then, the small family returned home to Nazareth.

Two years later - not as the 'Christmas story' tells us! - the three Magi went on their search for the Saviour. They were local princes who lived in the country we now call Iraq. They knew how to read the stars and may even have been astrologers. They travelled toward Israel, guided by a special star. When they reached Jerusalem, they decided to ask the king, Herod, where this new Saviour and King was living. They assumed that he knew all about it!

Herod, always crafty, pretended to know and asked his own priests where Jesus was born. Then he asked the Magi to find Jesus and report back, so that he, too, could worship Him. Or so he said! His plan was to discover Jesus' whereabouts to kill Him.

The Magi dutifully went out and located Jesus, in Nazareth, where, by now, the family were living and working, in their own house. There, they worshipped Christ and gave Him gifts. The gifts may, or may not, have prophetic meanings. We cannot say for certain, because we are not told.

Then, the Magi returned to their own land, having been warned by God not to go back to Herod. A while later, when he realised he had been tricked, Herod was furious and his true nature erupted in an explosion of violence. The Romans were battle-hardened people who thought nothing of slaughter. They ruled Israel with an iron fist and tolerated no defiance. Herod ordered them to scour Israel to kill every male child of two years and under. If he could not find the exact Saviour, then he would make sure He had to be amongst the dead!

The soldiers went out in force and tore babies from their mothers' arms, killing them by any means they had and hacking them to pieces. This infamy heralded the reality of the birth of Christ. Warned by an angel of this coming slaughter, Joseph took his family at night and escaped to Egypt, a long and arduous journey through mountains and desert regions. There he stayed until Herod died.

A Summary

Satan's deception of Eve was the reason why Jesus was born, so the birth was not just a sudden act of God. Mankind was made perfect and pure. Adam walked with God in the Garden of Eden and spoke with Him, face to face. He could do this because he was, as yet, sinless. When Satan wrought his evil, Adam, Eve, and all his descendants - all of us - were doomed to damnation and hell. Yet, God already had a plan (predestination & election) to save men and women from their judgement. At first, this consisted of obeying the rites and beliefs recorded in the Old Testament. They still had to love and have faith in God. When the people became rebellious and did their own thing, God judged them with tough anger and Israel was often attacked and destroyed by enemies.

When they returned to holiness, God again was amongst them, giving victory over others and peace. But, they still had to obey rites and approach God through the priests. And only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple. Men could not, then, at that time, approach God directly. The birth of Christ brought a revolution in how men and women could come to God. Christ Himself obeyed the old ways but when He died this all changed. He ordered a new way. This meant priests were no longer needed and we did not have to carry out endless ceremonies, rites and sacrifices.

Instead, we just needed to repent and obey Christ, doing whatever He commanded. He died so that He could save us. And He made sure this would happen by raising Himself on the third day. Without this resurrection (physically, not just spiritually), the whole life and purpose of Christ would be useless. That is what the Apostle Paul told us.

The new way to God is now established and we can approach God directly in the name of Jesus Christ. Only those who are saved can do this - all others are lost for eternity. God chose those who would be saved, way back before the world was made. Then, He saved them, one by one. This process will continue until God finally ends this world. Everyone who has been chosen by God will be saved, with no exceptions! As we read in the Book of Revelation, Satan will persecute the people of God until God throws him in to hell forever. But, even so, those who are saved by God will know inner peace and joy, no matter what comes. There is only one way to God, and that is through Jesus Christ. And only those who are elected by God to be saved, will be saved and enter heaven.

Today, following the great tragedy and murder caused by Muslim extremists, we are being led to believe that all roads lead to God. We are told that Islam, Buddhism, Roman Catholicism, Hinduism, and all the other religions, can lead us to God. This is a lie…a lie spread by the same serpent, Satan, to destroy God's word.

ALL OTHER RELIGIONS ARE FALSE!

Only the way given by God is true. His words are found in the Bible and cannot be altered. The promises made to extreme Muslims, of all kinds of temporal pleasures forever, is a lie. They have died for nothing and will find themselves in hell for eternity. Their 'god' is false, as is their prophet. The same goes for all religions that are not of Jesus Christ. So, in the birth of Christ we have not a cute story, but a very real account of how God deals with this world and how Satan is trying to steal away people from God by deception and falsity. Christ was born into a world very much like that of today - occupation by hardened soldiers and a cultic empire, violence at every corner and belief in false gods and in human activity. One day it will all come to an end and all who reject Christ will be in hell, for eternity. The birth of Christ triggered a new era for mankind. Only those who are called by God will recognise it as such. Do YOU recognise it?

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin into salvation." Hebrews 9:28

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

THERE IS NO WAY TO GOD EXCEPT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS GOD

Today, in the interests of social harmony, Christians are joining with all kinds of religions in acts of friendship. This ought not be happening, because God has no friends in false religions! If you do not believe His word, then you are an heretic and lost to hell. Only those who believe in Him through Jesus Christ, are acceptable to Him and will enter heaven. That is what Christ's birth is about!

Bible Theology Ministries

By: K. B. Napier