Grounding Faith in the Historical Reality of Christmas

 

Summary

In reflecting on the words of the Apostle Peter, we are reminded of the profound importance of grounding our faith in the concrete facts of the Christian narrative, particularly as we gather on this Christmas morning. Peter, writing as an elder statesman of the faith, was deeply concerned that the early Christian communities remain steadfast in the truths that form the foundation of their belief. He emphasized that their faith was not based on "cunningly devised fables" but on the solid reality of having been eyewitnesses to the majesty of Jesus Christ.

In our modern context, there is a tendency to demythologize the Christian faith, reducing it to mere ideas or principles, detached from the historical events that give it substance. This trend is evident in the way the world often seeks to reinterpret the Christmas message, turning it into something that bears little resemblance to its true essence. The facts of Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection are not just stories or symbols; they are the very bedrock of our faith. The incarnation of Jesus, born in Bethlehem, is a historical event that reveals the depth of God's love for humanity. It is in these facts that we see the condescension and self-abasement of God, who took on human nature to dwell among us.

The Apostle Peter underscores the certainty of these facts through the apostolic witness and the fulfillment of prophecy. The apostles, as eyewitnesses, provide a reliable testimony of the events they witnessed, and the prophecies of the Old Testament, fulfilled in the life of Jesus, offer further confirmation of these truths. This dual foundation of apostolic testimony and prophetic fulfillment assures us of the veracity of the Christian message.

Ultimately, the purpose of Christ's coming was not merely to teach or to set an example but to taste death for every person, reconciling humanity to God. This is the true meaning of Christmas: the celebration of God's redemptive act in history, where the eternal Son of God entered time and space to bring salvation to all.

Key Takeaways:

- The Christian faith is rooted in historical facts, not myths or fables. The events of Christ's life, death, and resurrection are the foundation of our belief, and they reveal the depth of God's love for us. [06:04]

- Modern attempts to demythologize the faith by focusing solely on ideas and principles risk stripping the gospel of its power and glory. The incarnation is a historical event that demonstrates God's condescension and love. [05:21]

- The apostolic witness and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy provide a dual foundation for the certainty of the Christian message. These testimonies assure us of the truth of the gospel. [19:18]

- The purpose of Christ's coming was to taste death for every person, reconciling humanity to God. This act of redemption is the true meaning of Christmas, far surpassing any superficial celebration. [28:21]

- The facts of the gospel, when combined with their interpretation, provide a solid and sure foundation for our faith. We must hold on to these truths and resist philosophies that seek to undermine them. [16:28]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Peter's Message
- [00:30] - Peter's Concern for the Early Church
- [01:10] - The Importance of Remembrance
- [02:14] - The Subtle Adversary
- [03:06] - The World's Misinterpretation of Christmas
- [04:13] - The Danger of Demythologizing
- [05:21] - The Denial of Christian Faith
- [06:34] - The Glory of the Gospel in Facts
- [08:15] - The Love of God in Action
- [10:16] - The Mystery of the Incarnation
- [12:21] - The Humiliation of Christ
- [14:25] - The Reality of Christ's Suffering
- [16:28] - The Need for Facts and Interpretation
- [19:18] - Apostolic Witness and Prophecy
- [28:21] - The Purpose of Christ's Coming
- [31:03] - Conclusion and Benediction

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Peter 1:16 - "For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty."
2. Hebrews 2:9 - "But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone."
3. John 1:14 - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Peter emphasize about the nature of the Christian faith in 2 Peter 1:16? How does he describe the basis of their message? [00:11]
2. According to the sermon, what is the modern trend regarding the interpretation of the Christmas message, and how does it differ from the biblical account? [03:06]
3. How does the sermon describe the significance of the incarnation of Jesus as a historical event? [09:39]
4. What are the two main grounds for the certainty of the Christian message as mentioned in the sermon? [19:18]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the apostolic witness, as described in 2 Peter 1:16, provide a foundation for the Christian faith? What implications does this have for believers today? [19:18]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that demythologizing the Christian faith can undermine its power and glory? [05:21]
3. How does the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, as mentioned in the sermon, strengthen the credibility of the Christian message? [24:26]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the true purpose of Christ's coming, and how does this understanding impact the celebration of Christmas? [28:21]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the historical facts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. How do these facts influence your personal faith journey? [06:04]
2. In what ways have you encountered attempts to reinterpret or demythologize the Christmas message in your own life? How can you respond to these interpretations while maintaining the integrity of the gospel? [03:06]
3. Consider the dual foundation of apostolic testimony and prophetic fulfillment. How can you incorporate these elements into your conversations about faith with others? [19:18]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of remembering the facts of the gospel. What practical steps can you take to ensure these truths remain central in your daily life? [16:28]
5. How does understanding the purpose of Christ's coming as a redemptive act change the way you approach the Christmas season? [28:21]
6. Reflect on the love of God demonstrated through the incarnation. How can you embody this love in your interactions with others during this Christmas season? [11:26]
7. Identify one area in your life where you might be tempted to focus on ideas rather than the historical facts of the gospel. How can you shift your perspective to align more closely with the truths presented in the sermon? [05:21]

Devotional

Day 1: The Foundation of Faith in Historical Reality
The Christian faith is deeply rooted in historical events, not myths or fables. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are not just stories but the very foundation of our belief. These events reveal the profound depth of God's love for humanity. In a world that often seeks to reinterpret or diminish the significance of these events, it is crucial to remember that our faith is grounded in the reality of what God has done in history. The incarnation of Jesus, born in Bethlehem, is a testament to God's condescension and love, showing us that He is not distant but intimately involved in our lives. [06:04]

2 Peter 1:16 (ESV): "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty."

Reflection: How can you remind yourself daily of the historical reality of Jesus' life and its significance in your personal faith journey?


Day 2: The Danger of Demythologizing the Gospel
In modern times, there is a tendency to demythologize the Christian faith, reducing it to mere ideas or principles. This approach risks stripping the gospel of its power and glory. The incarnation is not just a symbolic event but a historical reality that demonstrates God's condescension and love. By focusing solely on abstract ideas, we may lose sight of the tangible actions God took to redeem humanity. It is essential to hold onto the truth that the gospel is not just a philosophy but a record of God's intervention in history. [05:21]

1 John 4:2-3 (ESV): "By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God."

Reflection: In what ways have you seen the message of Christmas reduced to mere sentimentality, and how can you actively preserve its true meaning in your celebrations?


Day 3: The Certainty of the Christian Message
The apostolic witness and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy provide a dual foundation for the certainty of the Christian message. The apostles, as eyewitnesses, offer reliable testimony of the events they witnessed, while the prophecies fulfilled in Jesus' life confirm these truths. This dual assurance strengthens our faith, reminding us that the gospel is not a human invention but a divine revelation. By understanding the connection between prophecy and fulfillment, we can be confident in the truth of the gospel and its power to transform lives. [19:18]

Acts 3:18 (ESV): "But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled."

Reflection: How can you incorporate the study of fulfilled prophecies into your spiritual practice to deepen your understanding of the gospel's truth?


Day 4: The Purpose of Christ's Coming
The purpose of Christ's coming was not merely to teach or set an example but to taste death for every person, reconciling humanity to God. This act of redemption is the true meaning of Christmas, far surpassing any superficial celebration. Jesus' incarnation and sacrifice demonstrate God's immense love and desire for a restored relationship with humanity. As we celebrate Christmas, it is vital to focus on this redemptive act and its implications for our lives, rather than getting lost in the commercial aspects of the holiday. [28:21]

Hebrews 2:9 (ESV): "But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone."

Reflection: How can you intentionally focus on the redemptive purpose of Christ's coming in your Christmas celebrations this year?


Day 5: Holding Firm to the Gospel Truths
The facts of the gospel, when combined with their interpretation, provide a solid and sure foundation for our faith. In a world filled with philosophies that seek to undermine these truths, it is crucial to hold firm to the gospel's message. By understanding both the historical facts and their spiritual significance, we can resist the temptation to dilute or distort the gospel. This steadfastness in faith allows us to live out the truth of the gospel in our daily lives, impacting those around us with the love and grace of Christ. [16:28]

Colossians 2:8 (ESV): "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take to deepen your understanding of the gospel's truths and protect your faith from being influenced by contrary philosophies?

Quotes


The Apostle Peter here was writing as an old man he realized that his time on Earth was drawing to an end and he was very concerned about these Christians these early churches these young immature Christian communities should be certain after his departure of the things on which alone their faith could rest and stand the buffeting and the trials and the troubles and the persecution that were certain to come to them. [00:33:33]

The Apostle you see reminds these men he says I know that you know these facts but though I know that you know them I'm going on he says to remind you of them why well because he knew very well that we are confronted by a very subtle adversary who is Ever ready to make us misinterpret what we know to put a new Edge onto it to attach a new meaning to it and eventually to reach a point in which we have evacuated the truth of its real meaning and have turned it into something else. [00:39:40]

The whole world seems to have entered into a great conspiracy to turn this glorious message of the New Testament into something that is entirely different and rarely Bears very little relationship if any at all to that which is actually the truth and in particular it is doing so at the present time in this way it is putting all its emphasis upon ideas and withdrawing attention from the facts. [00:49:12]

The latest fashion in religious circles is to say that really the facts don't matter very much doesn't matter very much we're told whether the facts are true or not they call them myths and a myth is something which isn't actually effect but more or less represents effect and seems to carry the meaning of effect and that is the latest Vogue. [00:54:00]

Our Christian faith is based upon facts solid concrete facts and indeed if that isn't the case we simply Evacuate The Gospel as I say of its Central glory and of the thing that makes it most wonderful of all now if there are special occasions when we should remind ourselves of this it is on these days in the church's calendar when we remind ourselves of the Cardinal facts concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and here is the first his birth the fact of his birth in that little town of Bethlehem in a stable and how they put him there in a Manger as his CRI. [01:01:06]

The facts that are recorded in the four gospels and there is no doubt at all that that is why the church was led by the Holy Spirit to write the four gospels and to record them there were so many uh fables being circulated about our lord and there were others who were denying the facts altogether and saying that he rarely did not take unto him human nature but that he had had just a Phantom body that the Incarnation really didn't take place all those heresies and false Notions were already current in the first century. [01:07:08]

It is in the facts that the love of God is rarely displayed to us it would I admit be a wonderful thing if God were to give some great phenomenon in the heavens in order to attract our attention that would be a great Act of condescension on God's behalf if God had sent his son into the world as some kind of apparition it would have been a wonderful thing if the Son of God had come into this world in a Phantom body it would have been amazing. [01:23:59]

The Eternal Son of God substance of the very Eternal substance letter and actually entered into the virgin's womb and there literally physically materially took unto himself human nature now it's a great mystery it's a great Marvel of course we don't understand it how can we understand something like this we are never meant to understand it we are meant to believe it but that is what it what that is the fact that that is what we are told. [01:31:48]

The Christian message is not merely an idea about love it isn't a mere teaching about Brotherhood and friendship and fellowship it is that but it's infinitely more than that it's this action of God taken Once In Time the unique event the turning point of all history when God sent forth his son into the world on a particular date and time and place hold on to the facts I say and let us be aware of this specious philosophy that presenting itself in the form of a Christian message is a final denial of the real glory of It All. [01:42:39]

Our faith our position is finally entirely dependent upon the apostolic witness and testimony now that is something that needs to be said very frequently during these present days with this Folly that seems to have gripped us all which leads us to think that every year is an advance upon the previous year and that every century is an advance upon the previous Century we in our ignorance and blindness tend to think think that because we are in the 20th century we know more about these things and have a profounder understanding than the apostles had because they only lived in the first century. [01:59:51]

The prophets were four tellers as well as fourth tellers of course the fin the the fashion today is to say a prophet is not rarely a man who foretells he's just a man with great Insight who gives a message for his age I agree he does that but he does something much more wonderful he sees ahead he for tells and centuries before this event happened in Bethlehem these men inspired mov by the Holy Ghost for told his coming. [02:29:40]

The primary object and purpose of his coming was that he might taste death for every man he came into this world deliberately to die in it why because it is the only way whereby men whereby men can be reconciled to God he was made a little lower than the Angels who was eternally above them as the sun because it was essential that if he was to rescue and redeem Fallen sinful human nature he should in human nature take our sins upon himself and bear their punishment and thereby reconcile us to God. [02:56:48]

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Transcript
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