Christmas Sermon #1
Much attention is paid to the birth of Jesus Christ, and yet only Luke in his gospel mentioned His birth in detail.
Matthew hinted on the time of His birth.
Luke 2vv1-20
1. Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
2. This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3. And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.
4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
5. to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.
6. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.
7. And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8. And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
9. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10. And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:
11. for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
12. And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.
13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14. Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.
15. And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16. And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.
17. And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
18. And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds.
19. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.
Luke路加福音 2vv1-20
當那些日子, 該撒亞古士督有旨下來, 叫天下人民都報名上冊.
v1. Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
This enrolment which is linked and dated to the birth of Christ, did not take place during 1BC, 0 or 1AD. It started at 8BC.
Matthew馬太福音2v1
2:1 當希律王的時候, 耶穌生在猶太的伯利恆. 有幾個博士從東方來到耶路撒冷,
2v1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
This Judaea was when Quirinius was governor of Syria, and Herod the Great being king.
This quotation suggests that Justin was aware of the first taxing at 6 AD in Judea under Kyrenios. And he talked of the government of Kyrenios at different period in history.
This statement is consistent with Tertullian's account, that
the census of the Nativity was held by Saturninus 9 - 7 BC. (Marcion, iv.19) Sentius Saturninus might have had local jurisdiction in this matter in Judea, while Quirinus was Praeses of Syria. (Joseph. Antt. xviii. 1, Antt. xvi.9) So Saturninus and Quirinus might hold office at the same time.
The other and later census of Quirinus seems to have been known as "the taxing" (see also, Acts v.37). It was the more celebrated of the two, because in the earlier taxing (that of the Nativity) Judea had not been reduced to a Roman province, as it was after the deposition of Archelaus, under Quirinus.
Luke distinguished the first one as "the first census," and the second as "the census."
In confirmation of the above opinion it may be observed that, in the Roman provinces, Land, which could be shown to have been under cultivation for ten years, was liable to taxation. (Ulpian, de Censibus, Jus Civile, i. p.705) And the census of Cyrenius was about ten years after Jesus' birth. The census at the time of the nativity would then come into full operation. In this sense, the earlier census might well be called the first census. We may explain that as taxing was then in operation, an insurrection took place (Acts v.37).
Herod the Great 73-4BC, was around when Christ was supposed to be or age(2 years or under). Matt2v16.
So Christ could well have been born in 6BC (2+4BC).
Secular mistake in Christmas timing warns us the danger in trusting secular narration and encourages us to search Scriptures for the truth. We are to seek the Truth widely, rather than narrowly basing our thoughts in a verse.
We must not let the Word of God slip away from our mentioning and discussion. Ex13v9, Jos1v8.
Luke 2vv7,8
7. And she(Mary) brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8. And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
Christ was born then at Bethlehem, and the shepherds were in the same locality and in the field.
Winter, as in December, would be very cold and possibly snowy. It would not make sense to tend sheep in the field during cold nights.
This record suggests that Christ was born in a warm season with abundance of grass, and the shepherds were working hard right into the night.
Luke 2vv9-15 - By record, Angels came first to these shepherds, to poor workers, watchers. The New Testament story is closely linked with shepherds/overseers. Those who are to lead should come to their Master Leader - Yeshua HaMessiah.
Luke 2v16: And they came with haste, - This record tells us that 1) they did not hesitate, 2) Christ in the manger was within walking distance. 3)No mentioning that these shepherds abandoned their flock in order to come to Jesus. The manger could be just next to the field. - Christ/God is near.
Luke 2v18: And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. This 'sll' could mean more than just Joseph and Mary; suggesting that there could be other people around, such as the 3 magi.
Isaiah 47vv13-15:
47:13 你籌畫太多, 以致疲倦. 讓那些觀天象的, 看星宿的, 在月朔說預言的, 都站起來, 救你脫離所要臨到你的事.
Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
47:14 他們要像碎稓被火焚燒, 不能救自己脫離火燄之力, 這火並非可烤的炭火, 也不是可以坐在其前的火.
Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.
47:15 你所勞神的事, 都要這樣與你 (.無益.). 從幼年與你貿易的,也都各奔各鄉, 無人救你.
Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.
Lv19v31, 20v6,20v27.
Magi are Astrologers, people who do curious art, and are condemned and forbidden in the Old Testament. Yet Angels came to them. Why?
It is that 1) God looks into the heart. We are not to judge by appearance, but judge righteous judgement. 2) People and sinners may trust God and revere the Almighty in their lives and in their deeds regardless of professions. Afterall, even prostitutes may enter the Kingdom of God by coming to trust in Christ. No scripture mentioned that prostitutes have shaken off their profession before or after coming to Christ. No scripture mentioned slaves became free men before or after they came to receive Christ. Yet God judges the secret things of the heart. 3) We are to exercise love, to have patience in helping people coming to Christ. 4) There is a difference trusting in ones own profession and ability and in idols, and trusting in the Almighty.
Deuteronomy 29v29
29. The secret things belong unto Jehovah our God; but the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Christ is affirming His Divine Nature and Authority when He tells people(His listeners) the other side of the written law. (It is written . . . but I tell you . . .)
He is expounding the secret things.
Mankind has been laboring to extend knowledge and understanding. What is made known falls under the jurisdiction of men. But there are always things that we do not know. Even when we eventually see God face to face.
Now, seeing is not understanding. Scripture does not teach that we will one day understand every single thing.
There is, for a start, things in ages past, before our conception that we have not comprehended.
It is good that Christ Jesus will always be our firstborn, our elder brother, and our Lord. All praises and glory be to Him. Amen.
Our aim should be to do all the words of this law, which is righteousness.
Our primary and cardinal aim should be - to love the Lord our God with all we have.
2 Thessalonians 2vv6-10
6. And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.
7. For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.
8. And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming;
9. even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10. and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Do not trust human interpretation, scholarship, and reinterpretation more than the/our trust for scriptures.
Do not be deceived by power, signs and lying wonders; the mystery of lawlessness that is already at work. -v9
The restraining person is described as 'he', and the church is described as 'she'. -v6
This passage/prophesy does not primarily refer to the church being taken out of the way. -v7
The mystery of lawlessness is not just about the anti-Christ - the lawless one. -v8
The anti-Christ is yet to appear and take authority and power; yet the mystery of lawlessness was told to be already at work. -v7
v8 does not tell us that the Anti-Christ is not around with us working through the mystery of lawlessness. It merely tells us that his real identity is to be revealed after the removal of the one whe restrains. This one could be the Holy Spirit, and hence the church He dwells in. He could not be a great prophet/servant of God similar to the 2 prophets of God; for he was present while Paul was writing, and is still around today. He may also be a mechanism. This mechanism could be the church.
Revelation啟示錄12v5:
12:5 婦人生了一個男孩, 是將來要用鐵杖轄管萬國的. ((轄管原文作牧))他的孩子被提到神寶座那裡去了.
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
This man child is rightly described as 'he', representing the New Testament church that is to be caught up to God - the doctrine of Rapture.
So, this answers the question of the mechanism that is described as 'he' that was around at the time of Paul and is in our time.
Revelation啟示錄12v5:
12:3 天上又現出異象來. 有一條大紅龍, 七頭十角, 七頭上戴著七個冠冕.
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Earlier in v3 we see the appearance of the red dragon representing the Devil - Satan. Rev12:9 大龍就是那古蛇, 名叫魔鬼, 又叫撒但, 是迷惑普天下的.
The red dragon fought in heaven with Michael and the angels in v7.
Revelation啟示錄12v17:
12:17 龍向婦人發怒, 去與他其餘的兒女爭戰, 這兒女就是那守神誡命, 為耶穌作見證的. 那時龍就站在海邊的沙上.
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The children(Christians) of the woman(the church) represents another picture of the offspring of the church. The child - the early fruit was caught up to God. And now we have the children of God, witnesses of Christ, the remnant of her seed, fighting with the dragon.
This means the church taken up is having another representation on earth. Another earthly church appears.
The sand the dragon stands on may represent the multitude of her supporters.
The Anti-Christ, the beast has not come out yet in Rev13vv1-6 but a beast形狀像豹, 腳像熊的腳, 口像獅子的口. .
The Christians mentioned in Rev13v7 refers to the remnant of the woman's seed.
Rev13vv11-15 The Anti-Christ with horns like a lamb then comes out另有一個獸從地中上來. 有兩角如同羊羔, 說話好像龍. . And there are non-raptured Christians around.
I, Rev. David C S Lim, 林志誠 牧師, can be reached by internet 也在互聯网﹕
http://www.interlog.com/~dlim/Preacher.html
http://www.geocities.com/hkl0014
e-mail 電郵 
jesussaves91@hotmail.com
And remember - - God answers knee mail.
耶穌基督的救恩將人從根本而終極的惡中救出來，藉著救主，死亡不再是終極的惡，它已被置於生命的力量之下。
完全的善是由耶穌而來。
在天上和地下只有耶穌基督的救恩是唯一使人的罪得赦及與神和好的途徑。
