LET THE BIBLE SPEAK.

THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTMAS By: - Bro Benjamin Yamah INTRODUCTION: The world today believes that “Christmas” is the birthday of Jesus Christ. But it should be noted that the word “Christmas” is derived from two words – “Christ” and “mas”. We Christians know that the word “Christ” means the Messiah or the One sent to redeem us from sin. On the other hand, the word “Mas”, according to James Gibbons, a Catholic scholar, is derived from the Catholic sacrifice of Mass (during Eucharist or Holy Communion celebration). Candles are usually burnt during the process. (See Faith of Our Fathers, page 355). Thus, it is clear that the word “Christmas” has nothing to do with birthday. The word is therefore a misnomer for our Lord’s birthday as Christ and Mas do not connote Christ’s birthday. We Christians must therefore separate our Lord (Christ) from Mass as the term, apart from lacking support of scriptures, does not mean birthday. ORIGIN OF CHRISMAS: Before the advent of Christianity, the Roma

JESUS AND JEHOVAH BY WAYNE JACKSON “Jehovah’s Witnesses” argue vehemently that it is never proper to refer to Jesus Christ by the name “Jehovah.” Their literature states: “Jesus is not Jehovah” (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1989, p. 198). As was pointed out in a previous article (see A Brief Study of the Angel of Jehovah), however, the designation “Jehovah” simply denotes the self-existence of deity. If it is the case, therefore, that Christ is self-existent —thus an eternal being —then it follows that it would be entirely appropriate to refer to Jesus as “Jehovah.” Reflect upon the following line of evidence. That the Second Person of the Godhead is eternal is clearly affirmed in the Scriptures. The prophet Micah declared that the person who was to be born in Bethlehem had an existence “from of old, from everlasting” (Mic. 5:2). Additionally, the apostle John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word...” (Jn. 1:1). The imperfect tense form of the verb “was” (Gr. en) denotes a “con

IMMANUEL — GOD IS WITH US WAYNE JACKSON Names are of great importance in the Bible. Some names have historical significance. “Adam,” for example, may derive from the Hebrew adama, “the red soil”—thus suggesting something of his physical origin (Gen. 2:7). And “Eve” (“living,” “life”) was so designated because “she was the mother of all living” humans (Gen. 3:20). Sometimes names were symbolically descriptive of character. During his earlier years, Abraham’s younger grandson was denominated “Jacob” (“heel-catcher,” “supplanter,” “trickster”), for ever attempting to achieve success by his own cunning—sometimes with unethical devices. But after his experience with Jehovah’s messenger, i.e. the pre-incarnate Logos, at Peniel, his name was changed to “Israel,” indicative of the transformation of character that was henceforth to characterize him (Gen. 32:28). Names could also be prophetic. “Abram” (“exalted father”) was changed to “Abraham” (“father of a multitude”) because God intende

IS JESUS JEHOVAH? WAYNE JACKSON “Jehovah’s Witnesses” argue vehemently that it is never proper to refer to Jesus Christ by the name “Jehovah.” Their literature states: “Jesus is not Jehovah” (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 198). As was pointed out in a previous article (see A Brief Study of The Angel of Jehovah), however, the designation “Jehovah” simply denotes the self-existence of deity. If it is the case, therefore, that Christ is self-existent—thus an eternal being—then it follows that it would be entirely appropriate to refer to Jesus as “Jehovah.” Reflect upon the following line of evidence. That the Second Person of the Godhead is eternal is clearly affirmed in the Scriptures. The prophet Micah declared that the person who was to be born in Bethlehem had an existence “from of old, from everlasting” (Mic. 5:2). Additionally, the apostle John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word...” (Jn. 1:1). The imperfect tense form of the verb “was” (Grk. en) denotes a “continuous timel

WAS JESUS CREATED BY GOD? WAYNE JACKSON “Is there a possibility that before the Universe was created that God, the ‘Ancient of days,’ was all alone, and that out of his own being he brought into existence the Word, who eventually became Jesus Christ?” No, that is not a concept that can be harmonized with Bible truth. Consider the following: No other God before or after Jehovah God explicitly declares that no other God existed — either before or after him. Note the testimony of Isaiah: “[B]efore me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no God” (Isa. 43:10-11). Christ is eternal Eternality is a prime characteristic of one who possesses the nature of deity. God is “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psa. 90:2). He is the “high and lofty One who inhabits eternity” (Isa. 57:15). Now, inasmuch as it is clear that the divine Word (Christ — Jn. 1:1, 14) possesses the nature of deity, one must conclude that he is intrins