Christmas Is Not A Pagan Holiday

At this time of year, we often hear of a circulating belief that Christmas is a pagan holiday and that all who celebrate it participate in witchcraft. I want to make a presentation to you to separate the fiction from the fact to enable you to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with joy this season.

The Word of God instructs us to be sensitive to our consciences when choosing our actions. If your conscience guides you not to celebrate Christmas, that is fine. It is equally fine if you choose to celebrate. What I want to address is the notion that Christians hijacked a Roman pagan holiday on the 25th of December.

The truth is, this Roman pagan holiday started 200 years after Jesus’ birth. The early church did not choose December 25th to replace a Roman holiday. They chose it in accordance with Old Jewish traditions that they believed a great man of God died on the day they were conceived. Jesus was conceived on March 25th, which was the same date He was crucified on during the Passover. And to counteract a heresy that was proliferating, claiming Jesus’ birth was not fully divine, the early church made a celebration of His birth as fully divine, as heralded by the angels (Matthew 1:18-21).

The Power of Grace

Sin is stronger than you, but grace is stronger than sin.

“You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)” Romans 5:17

“So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.” 2 Samuel 9:13

Sin is stronger than human effort, good intentions, and willpower.

To be saved from your sin, you must understand that your sin is stronger than you, and that God’s grace is stronger than your sin. The lie humanity has believed is that we can be stronger than sin and we can overcome it if we try harder. That is a lie and a form of self-righteousness that comes from pride.

“Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” Romans 5:20

Hell isn’t God being cruel; it’s sin collecting wages. Share on X

Our Condition:

Our condition is similar to that of Mephibosheth in the passage we read.

1. Bad genes. Mephibosheth’s grandfather, Saul, was tormented, unstable, and rebellious. He was born into a broken spiritual lineage. The same applies to us; sin didn’t start with us.

“In sin my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5)

2. Deep trauma. He was dropped as a child while fleeing for his life and became crippled in both feet (2 Samuel 4:4). Wounded by something that was not his fault

3. Bad environment. Living in Lo-debar — a place with no pasture, no fruit, no future. A name that means “no word” or “no thing”

4. An Enemy to the King. From a political and legal standpoint, Mephibosheth was: a potential rival, a threat to the throne and someone who should have been eliminated, not invited. 

Sin never stays private; it always has a blast radius. Share on X

What Grace Does?

“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son…” (Romans 5:10)

1. Grace restores what was lost (2 Samuel 9:7).

Sin is to blame for what we have lost in life through sin. The Bible says the wages of sin is death. Jesus didn’t throw away our paycheck; He paid our paycheck of death in full Himself, so we didn’t have to. You were not just forgiven; your debt was paid in full. Grace restores access to God.

2. God’s grace gives more than enough (Romans 8:32)

3. Grace brings you close (2 Samuel 9:7)

4. Grace gives you a seat at the King’s table

“As one of the king’s sons.” (2 Samuel 9:11)

5. Grace covers what hasn’t changed

You need a Bible-believing church to help you continue to grow in your relationship with God. We have received an abundance of grace, and there is more grace for you to continue to be changed. It is God’s will for you to reign in life. That is amazing grace.

Sin is stronger than you but grace is stronger than sin. Share on X

Watch The Full Sermon Here: