Jr. Tree of Life
12/13/2020

Christmas Lesson
Part 2

Eternity Past, Age of Gentiles, Age of Israel, Hypostatic Union, Church Age, Tribulation, Millennium, Eternal future

Before you begin this Bible study, If you have never believed in Jesus Christ as your Savior, John 3:16 tells us: “ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life.’ Simply have faith that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and you will have eternal life and be saved. If you have believed in Jesus Christ as your Savior; then 1 John 1:9 tells us; “If you confess your sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Simply privately tell God the Father your sins to be filled with God the Holy Spirit and He will teach you Bible truth. (Rebound)

Promise Memory Verse
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
None of us have any idea about when Jesus was born, but we celebrate His birthday on December 25th every year. This year, it’s important not to get so caught up with getting presents; decorating trees, baking cookies and family parties that you forget about the greatest gift of all Jesus Christ. His gift of eternal life to us is way better than the latest video game, Lego set, Hover board, doll, roller blades, tablet or smart phone.
There are three parts to the Godhead, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This is called the Trinity. One day God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit decided that they wanted all of us
to be able to live with them in Heaven forever; but there was a problem. How could we go to live with perfect God, when we constantly think, say or do bad things? Nothing is impossible for God and He found a way.
God the Father set a plan in motion. God the Son decided that He would come down from Heaven and become a human being so He could pay for our sins. God the Holy Spirit made it all happen when the virgin Mary got pregnant with baby Jesus.
Baby Jesus was unique. He was both God the Son and a person who was perfectly righteous. Can you even imagine God coming down to be a person? Let’s try and think of it this way so we can understand. What is a really disgusting insect? How about a cock roach? Would you agree to get turned into a cock roach to save them all? Of course not, how gross! It’s a good thing that God didn’t think of us this way even though we do some disgusting things.

Baby Jesus who was also the Son of God was born in the city of David which is Bethlehem. Mary wrapped Him up in cloth strips and laid Him in a manger. Mangers were feeding troughs for the animals. They also had another use as well. In several places around Bethlehem the sacrifice sheep would be kept. The shepherds took great care of them.
When a little baby lamb was born, it would be wrapped in cloth strips and laid in a manger after it was born to keep it safe so that it wouldn’t get any defects. Those little lambs would grow up and a year later and would be sacrificed on an altar to God during the Age of Israel.
This was a picture of how Jesus would take our place to pay for our sins on the cross. We don’t sacrifice lambs today during the Church Age because Jesus paid for our sins when He lived during the Hypostatic Union.
After Jesus was born and placed in the manger, an angel of the Lord came down from Heaven to share the good news about Jesus’ birth to the shepherds near Bethlehem.

Luke 2:9-14 “And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.”
Luke2:15-20
The shepherds were a little freaked out and afraid at first, but the angel of the Lord assured them that he had nothing but good news to share with them. Next a huge group of angels started singing and praising God. The shepherds were so excited that the Savior was born so they hurried to Bethlehem to find baby Jesus.
After they got there, they shared the wonderful news with Mary and Joseph! Mary treasured everything they said in her heart. As the shepherds left they started praising and glorifying God! Let’s sing “Oh little town of Bethlehem” to praise our savior.

Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.