JESUS was born so we may live

                                                        MERRY CHRISTMAS                                                    
                                                   For God So Loved the World

John 3:16-18  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 
17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 
18  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 

The first Christmas Eve

                                                        The Shepherds and the Angels
Luke 2:8-11  And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
10  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Philippians 4:4-7  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
5  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving 7  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Who do you say Jesus is?

Matthew 11:2-11  Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples
3  and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
4  And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:
5  the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
6  And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
7  As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
8.....
9  What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10  This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
11  Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

John 10:24-30  So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25  Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 
26  but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 
27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 
28  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 
29  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 

30  I and the Father are one.” 

And there will be signs - The Coming of the Son of Man

                                                The Coming of the Son of Man
Luke 21:25-36  “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 
26  people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 
27  And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 
28  Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 
                                                       The Lesson of the Fig Tree
29  And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 
30  As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 
31  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 
32  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 
33  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34  “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 
35  For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 
36  But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, Now is the Time; Salvation is Near

                                        FULFILLING THE LAW THROUGH LOVE

Romans 13:8-10  Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9  For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
10  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11  Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
12  The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13  Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.