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Nehushtan:Nehushtan:“A Thing of Brass”“A Thing of Brass”

Numbers 21:4-9Numbers 21:4-9

2 Kings 18:1-42 Kings 18:1-4

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The Bronze SerpentThe Bronze SerpentNumbers 21:4-9Numbers 21:4-9

• Sin of complainingSin of complaining• Many killed by fiery snakesMany killed by fiery snakes• God had mercy on IsraelGod had mercy on Israel• Bronze serpent on a poleBronze serpent on a pole• Faith to look and be healedFaith to look and be healed

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NehushtanNehushtan 2 Kings 18:1-42 Kings 18:1-4

• Superstitious reverenceSuperstitious reverence• Object of idolatrous worshipObject of idolatrous worship

– Israel burned incense to itIsrael burned incense to it

• Destroyed by King HezekiahDestroyed by King Hezekiah• OnlyOnly “a thing of brass” “a thing of brass”

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Jesus on the CrossJesus on the CrossJohn 3:14-15John 3:14-15

• Must be lifted upMust be lifted up• Believers will not perish Believers will not perish

– – John 12:32-33John 12:32-33• Have eternal lifeHave eternal life

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Veneration of the CrossVeneration of the Cross• ““It must have very soon It must have very soon

become in the eyes of the become in the eyes of the faithful a sacred symbol of the faithful a sacred symbol of the Passion, consequently a sign Passion, consequently a sign of protection and defence”of protection and defence” (St. Paulinus of Nola, (St. Paulinus of Nola, Catholic Encycl.Catholic Encycl.))

• Only a piece of wood! Only a piece of wood! – – 1 Peter 2:241 Peter 2:24

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The Birth of JesusThe Birth of JesusLuke 2:1-20Luke 2:1-20

• Coming of Son of God Coming of Son of God – – Luke 1:30-35; 2:11Luke 1:30-35; 2:11

• False worship of His birth False worship of His birth – – John 4:23-24John 4:23-24

• Men have turned it into Men have turned it into another another “Nehushtan”!“Nehushtan”!

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The Christian and ChristmasThe Christian and Christmas

• Is the religious observance of Christ’s birth Is the religious observance of Christ’s birth authorized (approved) by God?authorized (approved) by God?

• What is the history of this religious holiday?What is the history of this religious holiday?• What is the Christian to do at this time of What is the Christian to do at this time of

year?year?• What are we teaching our children?What are we teaching our children?

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Christmas: God or Man?Christmas: God or Man?• Bible affirms virgin birth of JesusBible affirms virgin birth of Jesus

– Announced by angelAnnounced by angel• To Joseph,To Joseph, Matt. 1:23 (Isa. 7:14)Matt. 1:23 (Isa. 7:14)• To Mary,To Mary, Lk. 1:31-35 Lk. 1:31-35

– Accomplished, Accomplished, Lk. 2:1-7Lk. 2:1-7– The Word became flesh, The Word became flesh, Jno. 1:14; Jno. 1:14;

Phil. 2:7-8Phil. 2:7-8

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Christmas: God or Man?Christmas: God or Man?

• Bible gives no date Bible gives no date (Matt. 2:1; Lk. 2:1)(Matt. 2:1; Lk. 2:1)– Days of Herod the Great (37–4 BC)Days of Herod the Great (37–4 BC)– Days of Caesar Augustus (27 BC–14 AD)Days of Caesar Augustus (27 BC–14 AD)

• Shepherds in fields,Shepherds in fields, Luke 2:8Luke 2:8– Summer monthsSummer months– Winter: Cold & wet, Winter: Cold & wet, SS 2:11SS 2:11– Not born in DecemberNot born in December

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Christmas: God or Man?Christmas: God or Man?

• Speculation on date of birthSpeculation on date of birth– Clement of Alexandria: Nov 18, 3 BC / Clement of Alexandria: Nov 18, 3 BC /

May 20May 20– Hippolytus: Jan 2, Mar 25 or Apr 2, Hippolytus: Jan 2, Mar 25 or Apr 2,

finally, Dec 25finally, Dec 25– Others: Jan 6; Mar 28; Apr 18 or 19; Others: Jan 6; Mar 28; Apr 18 or 19;

every month has been proposedevery month has been proposed

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Christmas: God or Man?Christmas: God or Man?““But the exact time of his birth is But the exact time of his birth is unknownunknown; ; there is no way to ascertain itthere is no way to ascertain it. By different . By different learned men it has been fixed at each month in learned men it has been fixed at each month in the year. Nor is it of consequence to know the the year. Nor is it of consequence to know the time; if it were, God would have preserved the time; if it were, God would have preserved the record of it. Matters of moment are clearly record of it. Matters of moment are clearly revealed; those which he regards as of no revealed; those which he regards as of no importance are concealed…”importance are concealed…”

(Albert Barnes, (Albert Barnes, Commentary on Luke 2:8Commentary on Luke 2:8))

Deuteronomy 29:29Deuteronomy 29:29Deuteronomy 29:29Deuteronomy 29:29

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Christmas: God or Man?Christmas: God or Man?

• Speculation on date of birthSpeculation on date of birth– ““No sufficient data, however, exists No sufficient data, however, exists

for the determination of the month or for the determination of the month or day of the event.”day of the event.” ((The New Schaff-Herzog The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious KnowledgeEncyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Reprint 1977, III:47), Reprint 1977, III:47)

Jesus Christ was Jesus Christ was notnot born on born on “Christmas Day”!“Christmas Day”!

Jesus Christ was Jesus Christ was notnot born on born on “Christmas Day”!“Christmas Day”!

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Christmas: God or Man?Christmas: God or Man?• No Bible authority for celebration of birthNo Bible authority for celebration of birth

– Historical record does not authorize it Historical record does not authorize it (Num. 21:8-9; 2 Kgs. 18:4)(Num. 21:8-9; 2 Kgs. 18:4)

– Baptism of Jesus? Walking on water?...Baptism of Jesus? Walking on water?...– Silence is not consentSilence is not consent

• Religious observance based on human Religious observance based on human authority, authority, Matt. 21:23; Col. 3:17; 2:20-23 Matt. 21:23; Col. 3:17; 2:20-23 (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Jno. 9; Gal. 1:8-9)(2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Jno. 9; Gal. 1:8-9)

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History of ChristmasHistory of Christmas

• ““Mass of Christ” (1038 AD)Mass of Christ” (1038 AD)• Designed to counter pagan festivalsDesigned to counter pagan festivals

– Roman Saturnalia (Dec 17-24): Roman Saturnalia (Dec 17-24): • Honored Saturn, a pagan god of harvestsHonored Saturn, a pagan god of harvests• Marked by gluttony & licentiousnessMarked by gluttony & licentiousness

– Roman feast of Mithra (Dec 25):Roman feast of Mithra (Dec 25):• Sun god; god of light & wisdomSun god; god of light & wisdom• One of the great religions of Roman EmpireOne of the great religions of Roman Empire

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History of ChristmasHistory of Christmas

• ““There is no evidence of the existence of a There is no evidence of the existence of a Feast of the Nativity before the 4th century.” Feast of the Nativity before the 4th century.”

( (Encyclopedia of Religion and EthicsEncyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, III:601), III:601)

• ““There is no historical evidence that our There is no historical evidence that our Lord’s birthday was celebrated during the Lord’s birthday was celebrated during the apostolic or early post-apostolic times.” apostolic or early post-apostolic times.” ( (The Schaff-Herzog The Schaff-Herzog EncyclopediaEncyclopedia, III:47), III:47)

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Selecting December 25Selecting December 25• Declaration of Liberius, Bishop of Rome, Declaration of Liberius, Bishop of Rome,

in 354 ADin 354 AD– ““There can be little doubt that the There can be little doubt that the

Church was anxious to distract the Church was anxious to distract the attention of Christians from the old attention of Christians from the old heathen feast days by celebrating heathen feast days by celebrating Christian festivals on the same days.”Christian festivals on the same days.”

((Encyclopedia of Religion & EthicsEncyclopedia of Religion & Ethics, , III:607)III:607)

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Selecting December 25Selecting December 25

• Liberius, Bishop of Rome (354 AD)Liberius, Bishop of Rome (354 AD)– ““The indications are, that the Church in The indications are, that the Church in

this way grasped the opportunity to this way grasped the opportunity to turn the people away from a purely turn the people away from a purely pagan observance of the winter pagan observance of the winter solstice to a day of adoration of Christ solstice to a day of adoration of Christ the Lord.”the Lord.” ((Collier’s EncyclopediaCollier’s Encyclopedia))

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Christmas:Christmas:The Mass of ChristThe Mass of Christ

““Human in its origin, arbitrary and Human in its origin, arbitrary and irrelevant in its time, and Pagan in its irrelevant in its time, and Pagan in its ceremonies, it clearly has no claims ceremonies, it clearly has no claims whatever upon the true Christian.” whatever upon the true Christian.”

W. K. Pendleton W. K. Pendleton Millennial HarbingerMillennial Harbinger, 1848, p. 22, 1848, p. 22

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Christmas: What about Christians?Christmas: What about Christians?• Cannot take part in religious error Cannot take part in religious error

2 Jno. 9-11 (1 Cor. 10:18-22)2 Jno. 9-11 (1 Cor. 10:18-22)– Observing OT days as religiously Observing OT days as religiously

binding was (is) wrong, binding was (is) wrong, Gal. 4:8-11Gal. 4:8-11– What about 4What about 4thth century additions?! century additions?!

(Matt. 15:7-9)(Matt. 15:7-9)– Don’t join in with religious error Don’t join in with religious error

2 Cor. 6:142 Cor. 6:14– Teach, Teach, Matt. 5:13-16 (11-12)Matt. 5:13-16 (11-12)

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Christmas: What about Christians?Christmas: What about Christians?

• Can Christmas holiday be Can Christmas holiday be observed non-religiously?observed non-religiously?– Circumcision could be,Circumcision could be, Acts 16:1-3Acts 16:1-3– Vows of purity could be,Vows of purity could be, Acts 21:20-26Acts 21:20-26

– Meat that had been sacrificed to idols Meat that had been sacrificed to idols could be eaten without defilement,could be eaten without defilement,

1 Cor. 8:4-8; Rom. 14:1-31 Cor. 8:4-8; Rom. 14:1-3

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Christmas: What about Christians?Christmas: What about Christians?

• Things that violate God’s word Things that violate God’s word do notdo not belong in belong in Romans 14Romans 14– Religious observance of birthReligious observance of birth

• Things that do not violate God’s Things that do not violate God’s wordword– Season of goodwill, gifts, Season of goodwill, gifts,

seasonal traditions… seasonal traditions… Rom. 14:5, 23Rom. 14:5, 23

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ChristmasChristmas• Mass of Christ’s birth: Human origin, Mass of Christ’s birth: Human origin,

Lev. 10:1-2Lev. 10:1-2• Seasonal holiday of joySeasonal holiday of joy (Romans 14)(Romans 14)• Do not turn Do not turn the truththe truth about the birth about the birth

of Jesus into of Jesus into NehushtanNehushtan (“a thing of (“a thing of brass”)!brass”)!