consider the context of the verse in question. This is one of the primary rules of Bible interpretation. In verse 26 we find the testimony, “For ye are all . . . in Christ Jesus.” This doesn’t mean we lose our identity; male and female are kept the way God intend ed them when they were brought into the world. This has reference to our spiritual status, and in that case, with God, we are all one. Q. Los Angeles, Calif. — “Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th? I understand that Jesus Christ may have really been born in the spring of the year.” A. Some people have drawn this con clusion because we read in Luke about the shepherds keeping their flocks out in the open by night. Since winter can be quite cold, the assump tion is that December could not be the date. Anyone who has ever lived in California (which has weather similar to the Holy Land) knows that the temperature is mild throughout the year. There can be cold snaps or heat waves, even in winter. Specula tion concerning the exact date of our Lord’s birth came in about the third century. The Spirit of God evidently didn’t consider it necessary that such specifics be given. It was Clement of Alexandria, a godly man and a close student of the Word of God, who suggested a date of May 20. The general celebration of Christ’s birth as a general feast didn’t really become an actuality until the latter part of the fourth century. It may seem strange to us that such a long period of time was allowed to go by before a definite notation was made of the coming of the glorious Re deemer into the world. December 25 was first observed in 336 A.D. That date, contrary to what some would have us believe, was probably chosen to offset a pagan feast already in existence. We believe that the actual date is not the significant thing, or else the Holy Spirit would have told 24
us. It’s the fact of His coming that’s so significant and that which we need to keep in mind. Q. San Diego, Calif. — “Could you please discuss the matter of having a Christmas tree in one’s home?” A. We would respect the convictions of those who are opposed to such cus toms. Their own conscience should be their guide. Actually, the argu ment that such practice stems from pagan origin is erroneous. The use of a tree came from England and Germany. The Christians several centuries ago on the continent made the tree a symbol of the cross, includ ing the aspect of Christ’s death and resurrection. Then we need to re member that colors in Scripture are very significant. Yellow or gold speaks of the purity of our Saviour, green speaks of the eternal spring time of the Christian life, blue speaks of heaven itself, and so the list goes. Just because the world takes these things and promotes them through the abuse of commercializa tion doesn’t mean that we can’t maintain our spiritual relationship to these symbols of the incarnation and appreciate their real significance. Especially for the sake of the chil dren Christmas can have real mean ing. Take the time during this im portant season to talk about our wonderful Lord who came to be God’s supreme gift to mankind. Q. Denver, Colo. — “Is it reaUy neces sary to believe that Christ was born of a virgin?” A. This is a part of His coming to this earth to redeem men from their sins. A supernatural birth was nec essary for the eternal Son to become manifested in the flesh. It is reason able to believe in the virgin birth as every true born-again child of God would testify.
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