God's Entry into History -- Christmas

EMG radio for today's culture and timeless truth come together it's reasoned relevant content apologetics worldview and answers to the questions that you need to know from Alex McFarlane ministries. This is true for a new generation radio and now the man who preached in 50 states and 50 days weaker writer, and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarlane Isaiah chapter 9 verse two says the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Welcome to truth for new generation Alex McFarlane here and I agree you at this Christmas time.

If you're hearing this program. Christmas is getting very near and you know it's interesting how the arrival of Jesus we find it in the pages of the New Testament.

The four Gospels tell the birth and life of Jesus, but so much of the Christmas story does come from the pages of the old testament and when we do this program today I want to talk about some facts related to God's entry into human history. Christmas now is 2020 winds down. This is been on for a lot of people.

A rough year and may be 2020s been hard on you. I know people are struggling economically. People are struggling emotionally.

One of the things that we're noticing and so much of the correspondence were getting from you, dear listeners, B+, and pray for us can't see our loved ones godparents in a nursing home and were not able to go visit a lot of people I know that have had friends or loved ones, you know, in surgery, and they couldn't go and pray at their bedside before their wheeled into the operating room. Look, it's been a tough year but you know the good news is, Christmas is a reminder that God is in control. Christmas is a reminder that God loves us.

Christmas is a reminder that God is able to meet you easy but all that the Lord accomplished through Jesus and through the coming of Christ. I am sure that the devil thought he had God and the human race in checkmate God is holy man is fallen, God doesn't let sin get swept under the rug.

Man is therefore irrevocably lost and yet the Prince of darkness was defeated by a baby in a manger in Bethlehem a baby was born, and an infant would be laid in a manger, and the Bible tells us so many things working to get to it. But Jesus came into the world to be victorious over death to pay for sin to rescue humanity and to destroy the works of Satan. According to first John and so will talk about this. The facts about God's entry into human history in out recently I was asked you did this really happen.

Did this really happen and I want to say an absolute, unequivocal yes it happened I was on the radio yesterday and it was my privilege to interview my friend Jay Warner Wallace, now you've seen Jay Warner Wallace on dateline and he's on with Keith Morrison is the number one most frequently re-invited guest on dateline with Keith Morrison because Jim Wallace was for many years, the Los Angeles cold case detective he solve the crimes that nobody else could could solve and he would crack those cases and unsolved murders and I love this guy and he was an atheist for much of his adult life, but he became a born-again Christian. He's written a number of books, probably most well-known is called cold case Christianity and Jim Wallace was with me on the radio yesterday and he said you know, if you look at the life of Jesus like you would look at any other historical event.

The evidence is compelling eyewitness account multiple eyewitnesses, even hostile eyewitnesses that document exactly what we read in the Bible about Jesus is prophesied coming miraculous life miraculous deeds crucified at Passover raised from the dead, validating what he taught, vindicating who he was confirming that he is indeed the Savior. Now think about this because I know you know we live in a time of skepticism. There was an article that was posted the third week of December. National review by American children no longer believe in God. Now what do you think that is a in 1981, Carl Sagan, the physicist who was in an agnostic, at best, and pretty much an atheist Carl Sagan once said, if there is a God, its nature, it's the earth and the physical laws. If there is a God. It's it's the creation. Sadly, he didn't know the true and living God, Carl Sagan, 1991, as he had that famous miniseries on NPR because Mohsen he talked about billions upon billions of stars, the Carl Sagan said modern science has eroded belief in God and really eliminated the need for God faults and I was talking two weeks ago with Gary have amassed the world expert on the resurrection. Now listen to this as Henry's not sure this is because props over Christmas. You have a chance to talk to somebody about Jesus. Maybe you you can see a family member or friend and you can talk about the gospel.

Dear have a mass PhD Michigan State brilliant scholar. He told me that after 40+ years of research he's working on his three volume magnum opus on ancient evidence for the life of Jesus that you tell me if this seems historically credible.

How many pages of evidence for Jesus Jewish, Greek, Roman sources that validate that Jesus lived. He was born he came he did the miracles he taught the words of God crucified at Passover rose again Christ of Christmas is really the Savior and historically this happened. How much evidence we have have amassed alone is publishing 5800 pages of ancient evidence for the life of Christ. Now I've had a number of atheist who said me well you know Jesus didn't exist or it wasn't really real. In the New Testament is not trustworthy. Now I believe it is much like have a mass I've spent the last two and half decades writing and by God's grace.

18 books and hundreds of articles and 50 states five continents and two and half week trip to the holy land to visit the sites but some telling you this is real.

This is rough. Hey, fables and fairy tales don't yield 5800 pages of evidence someone that's a myth or a legend or nonexistent wouldn't yield nearly 6000 pages of confirming evidence and that's only one scholar, and I could name. So many more folks. When Charles Wesley Road veiled in flesh the Godhead see hail the incarnate deity.

This is reality. Do you know him this Christmas at a time when we exchange gifts. Have you given God. The greatest thing you could ever do the right thing. The best thing you could ever do for your own welfare is to give your part to Jesus Christ on this addition of truth for new generation. We encourage you to do that and will be back with more about Jesus Christ. Right after this Alex is written many books to help you defend your faith. One of them answers questions from skeptics it's cleverly titled 10 answers for skeptics today. Skeptics are looking for authenticity, integrity, and straightforward truth and in the book Alex McFarland identifies the 10 most common types of see if this is of the lake doubters minds. It offers believers proven strategies for connecting intellectually and spiritually with those who are skeptical about the claims of Christianity. Learn how to answer intimidating questions.

Identify the root issue behind those questions and dismantle the spiritual bombshell dropped by atheist plus find encouragement to face hostility by persevering in love. The ultimate apologetic Christians could offer as a witness to our loving God, check out 10 answers for skeptics. When you visit Alex McFarland.com. If you're a Christian parent. You of course want to instill a biblical view of life in the hearts of your children, your pastor, you want to offer ministry that draws young families to your church. This is Alex my file and encouraging you to check out my new book and video curriculum. The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask about Christianity.

I interviewed hundreds of children ages 5 to 12 and we address actual questions from actual children. The spiritual issues that are on the minds of your kids Jesus everything the book and video lessons are great for groups of any size and was produced with the goal of equipping kids to stand strong for Christ in any situation.

The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask the book study guide and video series. You'll find it@afastore.net that AFA store.net for apologetics, resources, books by Alex McFarland and to find out where Alex is speaking. Visit Alex McFarland.com program eligible for own signature here and were talking about God's entry into human history Christmas giving several facts to think about number one it was compassionately planned. Isaiah 28 is just a fascinating passage as it was written about 750 years before the birth of Christ and the Lord had spoken to the people of Israel and said that because they arrogantly said God's judgment will never touch us. The overflowing scourge will pass through it will not come for us in the Lord. We can live and we will escape the scrutiny of God. The judgment of God will. God warned Israel in Isaiah 28, 14 to 15 that you have made lies your refuge and hidden yourselves under falsehood, scornful man and God said listen, if you think sin is not serious. If you think that you can save yourselves if you think there is no God, or if it turns out there is you can somehow talk your way out of accountability with God.

This is relevant for our days. Folks God says look you have made a covenant with death, and you are in agreement with the grave and Jesus came, it was compassionately planned those we needed a Savior now all the way through the Old Testament. There are many clues God seem to sprinkle throughout his Scriptures of the Old Testament compassionately planned and only back in Genesis chapter 3 Adam and Eve had sinned, they they fell in because of their sin were all in need of a Savior because we are the children of Adam and Eve and their unrighteousness was imparted on the entire human race. And in Genesis 315 called the Proto even gallium, the first gospel, God promised that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent is not something that the serpent, the old devil book of Revelation calls him that that old serpent, and that Dragon Satan while his head is going to get crushed. And that happened on the cross, Jesus came in first John three and four says that Jesus was manifest to destroy the works of the devil. Okay, that promise. And it's interesting that even in the first book of the Bible, the virgin birth is alluded to Genesis 3, the seed of the woman not the seed of the man which is what normally might have been referenced, but the seed of the woman.

Isaiah 714 says that a virgin will conceive and bear a child. This will be assigned to the whole house of Israel and his name will be what Emmanuelle meaning God with us. Isaiah 9 verse one through seven in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light verse six for a new us a child is born into us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulder and his name will be called wonderful Counselor, mighty God, the everlasting father, the Prince of peace.

Verse seven says of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. Now, second Samuel seven says that his throne and his kingdom would be established forever as a right now, this moment as 2020 draws to a close as we've we've seen illness.

We've seen COBIT.

We've seen riots we've seen political upheaval we've seen the beginnings of again of the rise of Isis and terrorism. We've seen corruption in the lives of people, and let me say the black lives matter. Website said that we are in the post family era, heaven forbid, look at this, folks, you need to understand Jesus is still on the throne very often.

I think the human race is like a roomful of kindergartners, wreaking havoc pulling hair spilling Kool-Aid on the carpet. Throwing things that the teacher standing in the doorway in a minute about to call the room to order and you might think the world is so chaotic. Even God himself could not rein in the chaos faults the government. One of the things about Jesus is that of the increase of his government.

That means structure order, justice, morality, truth where we were living really in a time of an un-governed era of world history I think about the rise of of the LGBT worldview and and now just as the US Supreme Court has failed the American people failed the vision of the founders because they built this country on moral truth: natural law objective ethics and morality in the Supreme Court for 40 years plus has adjudicated decisions that are not based on unchanging moral truth but have been based on fluctuating fluid relativistic human trends rather than objective, divine truth, but I want to say this, the government of God is still in force. The jurisdiction of Jesus is still in place.

He's coming back one day and he wants you to be ready and you can be ready through a born-again relationship with Jesus. The Bible says in Jeremiah 3131 that Jesus came to make a new covenant with people. That was the old covenant with Israel.

Hey keep these ordinances and the sacrifices trust me. One day the Messiah is coming, but the new covenant is that God will take away our heart of stone. Our deadness will give us a living heart, a heart of flesh.

John chapter 3, Jesus presented this new covenant to Nicodemus and said you can be and you must be born again, born from above. Now let me just parenthetically insert this about the compassionate planning of Christmas. This is for all people. Everyone can be saved must be saved in the way you are saved is the relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Is this for Jewish people as well as Gentiles absolutely never remember the new covenant. Jeremiah 3131. The new covenant was originally with the house of Judah. That's why Romans 116 Paul said, I'm not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first and also to the Greek and salvation to the Jew first and then it says in Matthew 26, 28, Jesus taught that his blood was shed for the remission of sins. The blood of the new covenant and Hebrews 1320 says it was the everlasting covenant. In other words, it is forever and it's it's for all people, to the Jew first and also to the Greek now. What a beautiful thing that this was God's compassion for loss brought me think about it. God was the offended party. We sinned against God and yet in love. He sent his own son that we could be saved stating looking to come back after this brief break going to continue more and I look at the facts regarding God's entry into human history. I.e. Christmas don't go away you know Alex is been writing for many years, and one of his classic books is still great.

Today is a basic introduction to the Christian faith. It's called stamp corkscrews must know for the unshakable faith. This book will help you help your teens get off the roller coaster of doubt onto solid ground will read about the six pillars of biblical Christianity. They are one inspiration of the Bible to the virgin birth. Three.

The deity of Christ for atonement. Five.

Christ's resurrection and six Christ return. You know Alex mixes it up with humor and stories gleaned from decades of working with youth and encourages things to build a foundation of faith that will stabilize their lives and help them take a stand for Christ. Simple and straightforward stand for truth. You must know for an unshakable faith available wherever Christian books are so American today is like a patient struggling to live yet is being forcibly euthanized by her quote doctors.

The life force within the patient fighting for survival is the honest citizens like yourself team of quote caregivers are the local and national leaders actually contributing to the demise of patient economy is crashing crime is exploding. The Constitution is being abolished the assault on America how to defend our nation before it's too late. By Alex the farmer has one single purpose to get you prepared the real source of America's current problems that no one else is talking about and what you can do now to face tomorrow. Regardless of what tomorrow brings. The assault on America how to defend our nation before it's too late. Available now at Amazon or Barnes & Noble and local Christian bookstores in the midst of a culture obsessed with relativism. Alex McFarland is a voice you can trust to speak the timeless truths of Christianity in a timely way.

You're listening to the truth for a new generation radio back to the program were talking about Christmas and we do wish you a very Merry Christmas. We thank you all for listening and for your encouragement. You know, we a lot of emails throughout the year. You can email me alex@alexmcfarland.com it will come right to me and I will do our best to answer in a timely way. Alex and Alex and found that, most on Facebook rev. Alex McFarland that are easy rev.

Alex with and of course daily on the American family radio network, and I do want to say that I would love to see you next June at the Cove. June 25-27.

I'll be teaching through the book of acts.

The seminar is spiritual awakening and revival from the book of acts. The principles of revival. Can we have revival in our times, and if we could have a great move of God's Holy Spirit. How might we go about praying for that and seeking that and so I would love to see you, please register the Billy Graham training Center in Asheville.

The Cove.org is their website, you will be refreshed to your time there and we look forward to studying the book of acts together while let's talk more about Christmas. It's compassionately planned.

It was beautifully structured. The manger the star the wise man. I mean, these things are so precious. These are incredible images and memories that we cherish that Hadrian was a historian writing about 120 to 125 A.D. and he said that the location was quote a certain cave in Bethlehem, the location of which had been long known. End of quote now if you go to Bethlehem today, the Church of the Nativity and I believe it was Constantine's mother that had a church built there, but they mark that they took note of this me think about it is Jesus was crucified around 30 A.D., but for a century 9200 years they had taken note of the place where Jesus had been born. Now early authors are Jerome and another one Pauline us had said that the side of Jesus's birth was marked or known. And in Luke two 7012 unit. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes laid him in a manger, for there was no room in the end, what a beautiful picture of the bread of life being born in the town, house of bread and laid in a manger when I was a little boy going to Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. I remember one Christmas, and I do not, five, six years old. I was just so so captivated by the lyrics of the song away in a manger in a crib for his bed and and that's what happened God from the palaces of heaven came into this world to be born poor and in a manger for you and for me. Numbers 2417 said that a star would come out of Jacob and a scepter will rise out of Israel. Now the star led the wise men to Jesus in Matthew 2122 wise men came saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews.

Matthew to said we've seen a star in the East and have come to worship him and a scepter says Numbers 2417 well who holds a scepter king calls a scepter and you know I've got to give one more Old Testament reference to Jesus how Christmas was beautifully structured to remember in Isaiah 11 verse one Jeremiah 23 five Zechariah 383 times the Old Testament calls this coming Savior, the branch, Brent Knight may think what what is that the branch okay Zechariah 38 my servant, the branch now by Zechariah 911. You'll recall Palm Sunday and Zechariah 13 how Jesus rode in.

They took palm branches.

They said hosanna, King of the Jews and ultimately by Zechariah 13 when Christ returns at the end of the battle of Armageddon. They say were these wounds in your hands and your feet while the branch Jesus later would call himself the true vine is not something and so God took his arm and reached down to humanity through Jesus to be our Savior. And if you are connected to Jesus.

You are connected to the true vine, the vine of life. The tree of life was sequestered away from Adam and Eve after they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil so they wouldn't live forever in some horrible, unredeemable state and wonder. The Bible says that we will eat from the tree of life, and in heaven.

One day the leaves of the trees will be for the healing of the nations. Right now you can connect today to the tree of life. Jesus, my friend Stu Epperson wrote a great book called the words of life from the tree of death.

Jesus was nailed to a cross really a tree of death, but he is the vine, the branch the Lord of life and in Christ. You are saved and you have eternal life will how beautifully structured it was and all of these things that the Old Testament promises he be born in Bethlehem, he would flee to Egypt and that was a reference to the fact that they would in Matthew 213 and 14. They would go to Egypt. Tradition says they went to the city of Heliopolis in Egypt. Well, who was from Heliopolis, Joseph in Genesis 41, 45, Joseph, who was a picture of Christ in the Old Testament. Remember Joseph, who was betrayed by his brothers and he was over 20 pieces of silver in his day Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver in his day, Joseph had dwelt in Heliopolis while when Mary and Joseph fled from Herod, they went.

History says to Heliopolis beautiful structure and he would be a Nazarene and he would be in Galilee.

Luke 239 that was prophesied by Isaiah 91 into amazing.

Careful meticulous structure of all the prophecies being fulfilled. Carefully accomplished and it says in Galatians 4 for in the fullness of time, God did all this while it was meticulously cast from the wise men to the shepherds to the Angels to the Savior to you. Hebrews 10 verse five sacrifice and offering would not do the job but a body you have prepared for me, God sent forth his son to be your Savior and his is caused by is a prayer to grow in Christ to live for Christ to represent Christ.

And one day we will see Christ and that's one of the great promises of Christmas on a thank you for listening again. You can go to my website Alex McFarlane.com would love to hear from you.

We can help you in anyway please I hesitate to ask without a heart. I want to thank you for your prayers, your interest in what were doing. I would encourage you to share the faith with somebody be a witness for Jesus and without our heart, we want to say that we love you would give God the praise for all that is doing and we say Merry Christmas. TMG radio is made possible by the friends of Alex McFarlane ministry, PO Box 10231 is Burrell, NC 27404.

That's PO Box 10231, Greensboro, NC 27404 call us at 877 yes God one that's 877 yes, God, and the number one or give online@alexmcfarlane.com while you're there, listen the program archives. Read Alex's blog invite Alex to speak at your event or contact Alex with a question or comment, Alex McFarlane.com. Thanks for listening today and join us again next time.

As we bring you more true for a new generation TMG radio