CHRIST IS THE WORD "has come in flesh" "WHY CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS" by Howard Watson

Jesus Christ is the Word made/become flesh. "And the Word was made flesh..." (John 1:14). Jesus Christ is meant here because verse 17 says"...but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Verses 1 through 17 build meaning around the term "Word." Verse 1 leads to the identity of the Word with Jesus Christ, who had been rejected by His own; note verse 11. The Greek text has (logos), translated as Word in the KJV which means: divine revelation, word, speech, prophecy, decree.

Jesus Christ is the revealer of God the Father. John 14:9 reads:"...he that hath seen (horakos), perfect tense, active voice) me, hath seen the Father..."KJV. Phillip and the disciples had seen God the Father in action in Jesus Christ, by their observances of Jesus in miraculous activity. Therefore, they had witnessed the perfect work of the Father in the Son.

In His wilderness temptations (Mt. 4:1-11) verse 4, Jesus responded to Satan "...Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out out of the mouth of God" (Deut. 8:3). God's Word is our heavenly manna which nurtures us with spiritual strength. It gives strength in temptation. Even as Jesus rebuked Satan in the power of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 6:17 instructs the Christian to take up"...the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God...." God's Word is our high tower, our rock of defense and our sword of offence against Satan's darkness or wiles.

In our fleshly bodies, we are dependent upon the foods of the soil and the pure water of the well or stream. We are what we eat and drink. Consequently, we must eat and drink to physically survive. In the same way, we must feed upon the Word of God; the water of life, in order to grow spiritually into Christlike stature.

In the Gospel of John 6:53, Jesus told His audience that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood: "...then Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, ye have no life in you." Verse 54 reads: "whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day" KJV. Clearly we can live the abundant eternal life with the nourishment of Christ Jesus Himself, to our spirits/souls. Why then, do we Christians neglect the daily living bread of the Word of God? Many have put diverse things ahead of spiritual nurturing from God's Word. That is the reason for much spiritual confusion and successful deceptions of Satan.

The Holy Spirit's ministry to our minds and hearts is ground in the Holy Word of God, our Bible; notice 2 Timothy 3:15f"...all scripture is God-breathed..." (graphe theopneustos)NIV. the HOLY LIVING BREATH OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD GAVE THE SCRIPTURE to the writers. The same Holy Spirit guides us into rightly understanding the message of the Holy Scriptures. Even now, the Holy Spirit gives the same Holy Scriptures as the living Word to create US into living epistles, read of all men/people (II Cor.3:2ff). Colossians 3:16 admonishes us to:"...the Word of Christ (logos tou Christou) let dwell in you richly..." (literal translation). This guarantees the rich fruitfulness of Christ in our daily lives.

"WHY CHRISTIANS REMEMBER THE BIRTH OF JESUS"
In the USA we celebrate official holidays including Christmas. Few people have to work while most of us spend our day with our loved ones. Our people remember their beloved family members, many who have passed from this life. Because of their Christian profession of faith in Christ Jesus, we think of them as being with Jesus in a blessed heavenly state awaiting the full blessing of a new body at the resurrection of all believers. Then we shall see them again, never to be parted from them because we will be together as part of the body of Christ, His resurrected Bride the Church.

We Christians celebrate Christmas because He came to the earth and was born in the hill country of Judea in a lowly stable for cattle. Although the angels rejoiced and sang Hallelujah songs, Jesus was not born of the Virgin to save angels from their sins and to give to them abundant life instead of death. He was born to save us human beings who would turn from our sins to God through Jesus Christ.

At this time we who know Jesus as Lord can sing our own Hallelujahs for we have received the new-born Child into our lives. He now gives to each of us a new birth of spiritual, eternal blessing in the Holy Family of God.