Classic Christianity – Christmas P1 (12-25-23)
The Message is Jesus, Jesus is God in Flesh
~ Tell people your story. Be bold in Christ Jesus and tell them about the saving life of Christ Jesus in you. We who are born again of the Spirit of God have the Holy Spirit living in us. We are the spokesperson for God ourselves. Give the gift of Jesus to someone else. Share your story with them. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into the truth of the word of God and share with others as he would have you share with them. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you, to renew your mind especially in these last days. Time is short, don’t waste it. Many have gone out from us because they were never a part of us. There are more ways of fellowshipping today than meeting in person, because quite frankly there are fewer and fewer local churches that preach the word of God. A phone call, a shared bible study, an online teaching session shared with like minded believers can all be used by the Holy Spirit to build up the church.
~ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:35-37
~ “We live in a strange world. We live in a world today where people like to criticize Jesus and I look back and say what is there to criticize about this Jesus, a man who came to preach love to people. That’s all he talked about was love. The only thing that counts, is faith expressing itself through love. You say? What is your to criticize? Is his world against Christians? Or is it against Christ? Or just who is it against? What are people what are people thinking about? But when you realize that in this world, there’s a conflict. There’s the conflict between good and evil. And that conflict has been going on since the Garden of Eden. And so as long as we’re in this world, we’re going to be living among that conflict. A conflict between people who want to walk in the newness of life, serving Christ Jesus, or people who want to walk in the energy of their own flesh, serving nothing but their own desires. And that is going to be taking place until the Lord comes back. But we have an option. We as people have an option, we have an option as to whether we’re going to continue in our thoughts and in our sins, we have an option of whether we’re going to continue to engage in habits and activities that we know are contrary to who we are in Christ, and in activities that we know are contrary to what is good for us. And yet we have a choice, don’t we?” Bob George.
Announcer 0:04
Welcome to Classic Christianity Radio with Bob George. As we celebrate the Christmas season together, we are reminded of God’s greatest gift to you in Me, His Son, Jesus Christ, we are told in the scriptures for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. It is our prayer at Bob George Ministries that you would accept God’s gift of eternal life and know how much you were deeply loved by God. Go to BobGeorge.net online to find out how you can grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. We have many books, CDs, and other teaching materials available for your personal growth as you discover more about God’s unconditional love and forgiveness for you. Let’s now join Bob as he presents practical biblical insights as he helps people experience a life of faith, hope and love in Jesus Christ.
Bob George 0:58
We live in a strange world. We live in a world today where people like to criticize Jesus and I look back and say what is there to criticize about this Jesus, a man who came to preach love to people. That’s all he talked about was love. The only thing that counts, is faith expressing itself through love. You say? What is your to criticize? Is his world against Christians? Or is it against Christ? Or just who is it against? What are people what are people thinking about? But when you realize that in this world, there’s a conflict. There’s the conflict between good and evil. And that conflict has been going on since the Garden of Eden. And so as long as we’re in this world, we’re going to be living among that conflict. A conflict between people who want to walk in the newness of life, serving Christ Jesus, or people who want to walk in the energy of their own flesh, serving nothing but their own desires. And that is going to be taking place until the Lord comes back. But we have an option. We as people have an option, we have an option as to whether we’re going to continue in our thoughts and in our sins, we have an option of whether we’re going to continue to engage in habits and activities that we know are contrary to who we are in Christ, and in activities that we know are contrary to what is good for us. And yet we have a choice, don’t we? And how many times do we make the wrong choice. But the issue is that regardless of how often we have made the wrong choice, there’s always a new beginning for us. And with Christ Jesus, there’s always tomorrow another day. But it’s a day when we can stand to say God from this day forth. And for me in my house, I’m going to serve the Lord. I don’t care what my mate does. I don’t care what my kids do. I don’t care what my parents do. From this day forth. I am going to serve the Lord. And that’s an inner decision. It’s its guts, you say what is a man, that’s a man, he’s that he’s the man, somebody that will stand up and believe in something besides catering to their own flesh, to be able to say that there’s something more important in life than gratification. And yet we live for gratification. And so we’ve got options in this world today because, and I say we’ve got options, unlike when we’re lost. Because as we have been talking about over these weeks, we have the power of God living in us. We have Christ Jesus, living in us, we’re told that we have the mind of Christ. If you gotta mind my mind, that is good news. We have the mind of Christ living in us. We’re in dwelt by God. We have been given everything that we need for life and godliness. And yet, folks, we put these things aside, we don’t have any priorities. This room should be filled every Sunday. Why? Because we ought to go to church? No, because God commanded us not to be unequally yoked one with another. That’s why because God says there’s a benefit to fellowshipping with other believers and especially believers of like mind. I’ve been in churches, I’ve been in big churches. There was no like mindedness, there. Because there was any mindness in most places I’ve been. But the issue is here, you’re gonna place a people of like mind that you can fellowship with and have communion with. And yet we put priorities on everything else, except doing what God says to do. And that is to be faithful, to be encouraging. I couldn’t help from thinking when I was sitting there looking at all of these decorations. Looking at Greg back in the back every week, looking at the people running the cameras, looking at Richard, and the people doing the music, I couldn’t look at me. Because I can see me as an a mirror, all of us volunteer, not a paid staff in this building. We are paid for doing People to People work. If we didn’t have Metro, we would have the identical staff that we have. We volunteer our time. Why? Because we believe in this message, and we believe in you. And we believe that there is a need for local fellowship. It says so in the Bible. I have laughingly many times at the end of this service wished everybody a Happy Easter. Because that’s probably the next time I’ll see you, folks, I’m not saying but I’m saying to put a guilt trip on you. Because you can’t be have a guilt trip unless you’re guilty. What I’m saying is, do you really believe that God meant what he said when he said, Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together? Do you? Do you want to leave that out of the Scripture? Or do you believe it God may have known what he was talking about? When he said that? Guys, I don’t want you to hear so that we say, hey, so many people were here. I want you to here because it’s good for you. Do you always feel like it? I don’t even always feel like, hey, he has to remind me sometimes you’re the pastor. Would I sometimes just as soon lay in bed, feed my flesh? Sure. Who wouldn’t? But there’s something inside of you. It says, Get up and go be with people. Do you realize it’s an encouragement? I don’t know whether any of you are interested in being an encouragement to the Richards and the Bob Christopher’s and a Bob Davis is the staff of People to People I want to tell you, when you are here, and you’re fellowshipping and you’re loving one another, you couldn’t be a deeper encouragement to us. That’s what keeps us going. It’s like the story in the Old Testament of Moses, when he he said when he held up his hands, the army was winning, and he couldn’t hold his hands up, had people there to hold them up for him. That’s what encouragement is people who hold your hands up and encourage you. Why? Because of this baby Jesus. Because of this little baby that was born in a major who was God in the flesh, in the beginning was the Word the Word was with God. And the Word was God. Now, folks, we’re not here to practice religion. I’ve been through religion. I’ve seen all of that. I want to see, are you Are we together on? I’ve seen all of that stuff. It doesn’t impress me at all. You couldn’t get me back in one of those churches if my life depended on it, I’d rather stay home and disobey God, who says I need fellowship, I just find someplace to fellowship. But to go back into that treadmill and into that phoniness. I got tired of it. I got tired of Hi there, sweetie. Bless your sweetheart. And then walking out baton your kids in the head. I want to be around sincere people. And if you’re sincerely in Christ, you should too. I want to ask the people here and within the sound of my voice that are in this in this area to think about a decision. And that is a decision to start weighing your priorities. I have people sometimes in business say well, I can’t do it because I’ve got business. Listen, if you had an appointment, if you were meeting, Paula with somebody in your business, and you’re meeting them at on 12 and one o’clock on Sunday, and I came up said I gotta get an appointment with you, Paula and you say, Well, what time do you want? I want to 12 o’clock say, What would you say? I can’t do it. I’ve got another appointment. It’s the same thing with here. This is an appointment. Say well, I’ll lose a customer. No, you won’t. Not if there’s a God in heaven. You’re not going to lose one. It’s prioritizing your life to do what God wants you to do it We will not do such a little thing is that why do you think we’re going to obey Him? In regard to the other things that we went into in life? Why do we think we will? So guys, I’m asking us from a biblical standpoint, to prioritize prioritize your life, to get some priorities in your life that makes some sense. So that because I’m not talking about some harebrained idea that I want you to do, we’re talking about what God has called us to do and what is beneficial to you when you do do it. And what is not beneficial when you don’t do it. Talk about stuff, it’s good for you to try to get a priority in your life and keep it that’s by priority. Like I say, sometimes don’t want to do it. It’s okay. You do it anyway.
I never liked mowing, my lawn either. But I want to tell you, if I didn’t, it’s gonna look pretty bad, then my neighbor’s gonna have to come over and mow it. But there’s a lot of things in life that we don’t like to do sometimes. But guys, again, make it a priority in your life. And I’m not saying this stuff, so that we could have counting nickels and noses. That is not the issue. I’m saying these things so that we can come together as a group, and praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as a group, every week, every day of the week. That’s one day of the week, a couple hours of the week. Don’t tell me that we cannot work our priorities here. We have people that drive here every Sunday from Waco. We got people that drive in from Austin, if you 200 miles to find a fellowship, and yet we have people who won’t drive 15 minutes. Too far away. So you’re not walking are you? I’ve heard all these silly excuses. That are nothing but silly excuses. And the whole issue is we haven’t prior to prioritize our life. Get a handle on your life, prioritize it. I don’t want life to run me. I want to run my life. And the only way I’m gonna do that is there’s some things I’m going to sit down and say this day, I’m going to do this and then we’re going to do this. We’re going to do this. When we were first married. Amy had never been a housewife before. But she prioritized her life. Every Monday we’re going to have hamburger. Every Tuesday you’re gonna have hamburger. Every Wednesday, we were gonna have hamburger, prioritized she knew that on a certain day was washed day. You know, there’s we have songs like voiced, that was washed day. So she wouldn’t sit in there said well, I’ll wash later, I would have said that. Not her. Because guys, when I’m talking to you about I’m talking sometimes about my very own weaknesses, because I have to force myself or did have to force myself to become disciplined. Amy was always discipline, she was good for me. Sometimes I thought she was bad for me, because it didn’t wanna get outta bed. She was good for me. And so I didn’t mean to get off on that. It’s not exactly a Christmas message. But maybe it is a Christmas message. If God loves you and me so much that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. Why should we do less?
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Announcer 13:48
Classic Christianity Radio is a listener funded program and because of your generous donations, we are able to be on the air during this Christmas season. Remember to go to BobGeorge.net to find many gift ideas to give to your family and friends. The best selling book Classic Christianity by Bob George in his newest book, Jesus changes everything are perfect gifts to give to people. The greatest gift we can give to others is to share the good news of God’s forgiveness and love for them. Bob George Ministries has many other books and teaching materials available for you to share the gift of Jesus with the people you love and care about today. You can also visit BobGeorge.net For additional information on how you can join us financially to help support the radio ministry. With your prayers in support, we can continue to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Let’s continue now with our Classic Christianity Radio program.
Bob George 14:44
You see, I want to be able to say to the world through testimony or whatever it might be when I’m out with people when you’re out with people. I want to be available to give an account for this hope that is within me. Why? Because there is a hope within me If you’re in Christ Jesus, and I’m assuming you are, do you fear death? I don’t mean fear dying. None of us don’t want to go through that. I’m talking about fear the ultimate thing of death. Because you shouldn’t, if you believe that, when we close our eyes for the last time, that we are merely absent from the body and present with the Lord. So there really is not a lot to fear with this. Well, if that is true, is that worthy in conversation to say to people? Yeah, it is. I can remember the first heart attack that I had. to I have to laugh. If you ask me a question, Bob, Are you healthy? Man, I’m healthy as a horse. However healthy that is. Yeah, I’m healthy. And well, what’s the evidence of your good health? Well, I’ve had two heart attacks, prostate cancer, melanoma. I’m healthy. You know why? Those things don’t bother me. I wouldn’t bother with any of them, didn’t bother me. Like I told the doctor who wanted to do open heart surgery on me, but ultimately had to do it. But at that time, said, I’m not having open hearts or having stents put in? Well, there’s a little place down there that if that still doesn’t go in just right, you will die of cardiac arrest. My comment to him, because why? Because it was true. His Doc, I cannot think of a better way to die. Than cardiac arrest. If I could choose how I’m going to leave this place. That’d be it. Snap like that. He thought I was crazy. Talk to Amy and thought she was crazy. But the issue is that was truth. Don’t try to play a big deal. That was just truth. We have eternal life, we have assurance of salvation.
I talked to a gentleman that I had not met with any length of time before, the father of a bride that we were marrying a couple of weeks ago. And one of the first things he said to me, I have eternal life in Christ Jesus. I know where I’m going when I die. I mean, just as bold as I understand that what annoys the case. But something’s happened to him. He’s gotten a hold of something. And brother, he is not afraid to step out and say I have eternal life. How are we going to reach people with this message of Jesus outside of going back to Santa Claus, if we haven’t had a change in our life? And I don’t care how big the change is, if you’ve had a change in your life, talk about it. Talk about it. Let people know. This is what Christ has done and hasn’t done a lot yet, but this is what he has done. To know that you’re saved to know that God gave you a life. Called what? Eternal life, that you have an inheritance called what? An eternal inheritance. Now you have people in religious, they want to bomb they want to get rid of that talk. You tell people you have eternal life. You tell people you have eternal inheritance, they’re gonna go sin. I say they’re gonna go sin whether they know that or not. They’re gonna be sinning till the day they die. Why do you think Jesus went to a cross? If people could stop sinning? Just why do you think that he went to a cross to take away the sins of the world? If he thought there was some way that men could quit sitting? He came to give you life. What kind of life? Eternal life. Is that good news guys? This baby Jesus that grew up to walk on this earth for some 33 years, went to a cross to do what? Take away the sins of the world. I know that semantics sometimes get in the way and and and I know I probably shouldn’t be as critical as I am with it. But I tell you, I get so tired of listening to these pastors. People that I know on radio talking about the atoning death of Christ Jesus. He didn’t come to atone for sin, the blood of bulls and goats atone for sin, He came to do something far greater than that he came to take it away from the eyes of God never to see it again. Do you understand that guys? He grabbed every sin that you and I will ever commit in this world and put it upon himself. And there he who knew no sin became sin for you so that you could become the righteousness of God in him. Is that good news? Is that worthy of praise? Is it worthy of celebration? I think so. I really do. I think so. That’s what we have. But we get off on saying, Hey, I got a new car, or I got a raise, or got a bonus. So private joke I got were more thrilled with that didn’t we are with this marvelous gift of eternal life. Why? Because we’re humans. And that’s why we have to continually be renewing our what? Minds. Be not conformed to the world, but transformed how? By the renewing of our minds.
Now, as the kids already have gone through with their little presentation here, the details of the birth of Christ, there is no need necessarily in going through that we know the details of that. We know that, Joseph, and we know again, how we were told that Joseph did not have intercourse with Mary, until Jesus was born, that’s told in the Bible. And yet you have denominations, huge denominations that teach that Mary was a virgin on her life. Where did they come up with this? And why do people tolerate it? I’ll tell you why. You don’t know what the Scripture says, you err because you what?. Know, not the scripture. But the scripture lists, Jesus brothers and sisters. So Mary wasn’t some kind of a freak that came along. She was a virgin girl, probably 15 years of age, who was impregnated by the Holy Spirit of God, not through the loins of Adam, as we were all born. If that was the case, Jesus would have been born to the sin nature. Because we guys get the privilege to pass it on that sin nature. So Mary, was a unique, young lady. But she was a virgin, at conception of Jesus. After the birth of Jesus, it says that Jesus had brothers and sisters, she didn’t remain a virgin throughout her life, only up until Jesus was born. Now guys, we have allowed again, in Christianity, teaching to come in. That is totally contrary to that. I don’t mean to be hard on Catholicism, as I say and talk about on the radio, I’m not angry at Catholics. I’m angry at Catholic teaching, because it’s erroneous, and it’s based upon tradition, rather than the Word of God. When you teach that Mary was a virgin all of her life, you are negating what the Scripture says, in regard to the truth of that. Are you trying to tell me something? No, no, when you when you’re going like this, I’ve made a mistake. So please down the line. Okay, whatever I said, forget it.
Now, what I want us to do is this, as we take a look again, at this marvelous birth of Christ Jesus, His birth was how he got here. It’s how he became man, perfectly God in an earth suit. It says in the scripture, that Jesus found himself in an appearance as a man in an appearance as a man, but he was God. He was always God always will be God always has been God. That was God in an earth suit. I am an earth suit indwelt by God, He was God, clothed in an earth suit, world a difference in the two, between him and me. Only the flesh, and the sacrifice of God Himself was of such a consequence, that it was capable of not covering sin, the blood of bulls and goats did that, atoned, but capable of taking away your sin from the eyes of God never see it again. Now, folks, sometimes people will say you can’t teach that. Why not? Well, because you’re teaching that even the lost their sins were taken away. Yeah. You telling me that Hitler’s sins were taken away? Say you tell me that your sins were taken away? Of course they were. But he wasn’t saved any more than you weren’t saved. When your sins were taken away. You see, guys, we keep hearing and hearing and hearing and we must get beyond this, that you are not saved by the cross. That was what prepared you for salvation, you are saved by the resurrected life of Christ. The emptiness that is inside of lost man, that awareness that something is missing. Something’s wrong inside does not come from being sinful. It comes from being lost. It comes from being dead spiritually. And that’s why Christ Jesus had to enter into my death with me, in order that I could enter into His resurrected life with Him, Jesus Christ, our objective for you and me was not to get man out of hell into heaven. It was to get himself out of heaven into you and me. And there’s where salvation came in. All of this took place have had to take place at the beginning of this whole plan of God at the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But His birth was what enabled salvation to occur. There isn’t any salvation in his birth. That’s just how he got here. Miraculously, miraculously. But after he got here, it’s what did he do is what saved us. And so folks as we enter into this holiday season, attitudes toward giving. This is another thing we’ll study next week is the wise men because the wise men didn’t come in the manger. When the wise man came, they were in a house. So they came later. Tradition has them all covered with the shepherds that didn’t occur in the scripture. But they came with gifts. That’s why we give gifts I guess today. They came with gifts. And those gifts had significance to them. We’ll talk about that next week. But the thing of it is, is what did God want us to know about giving? That it’s more blessed to give than it is receive. Do you find that to be true in your life? More blessed to give in to receive. It’s a wonderful thing when you see people whose lives have changed where giving is a part of their life.
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Listen to the Salvation message today!
Stand on the firmness of truth. Don’t keep going back and forth. Thank Him that the forgiveness issue is settled.
Let’s pray together:
- Lord Jesus,
- I thank you for taking away my sins on the cross,
- never ever to see them again.
- Having done that, I now thank you for giving me eternal life,
- through your resurrection.
- I now receive that life.
- And I am going stand in the fact that I am a child of the living God.
- In Jesus Holy name I pray.
- Amen
All believers are now brothers and sisters in Christ.
John 3:3
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”