SANTA IS PRESENTED AS A GOD-LIKE FIGURE.

SANTA IS PRESENTED AS A GOD-LIKE FIGURE.
A. ETERNAL
1. Santa is an Old Man, he has always been, and he
will always be. He is Eternal.
2. Jesus is eternal. Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,
which is, and which was, and which is to come, the
Almighty.

B. HOME
1. Santa lives in the North Pole.
2. Jesus lives in the Sides of the North. Psalms 48:2
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth,
is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of
the great King.

C. CLOTHING
1. Santa wears red clothes.
2. Jesus will appear in red clothes. Revelation 19:13
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and
his name is called The Word of God.

D. HAIR
1. Santa has white hair.
2. Jesus will appear with white hair. Revelation 1:14
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white
as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

E. FLYING & GIFTS
1. Santa goes into the air and gives gifts.
2. Jesus ascends on high and gives gifts, especially
the Gift of Eternal life. Ephesians 4:7-8 But unto
every one of us is given grace according to the
measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith,
When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men. Romans 6:23 For the wages of
sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

F. COMING SOON
1. Santa is coming to Your Town.
2. Jesus is coming to Your Town. 1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

G. ALL SEEING
1. Santa sees you when you are sleeping, and knows
when you're awake.
2. Jesus sees you when you are sleeping, and knows
when you're awake. Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of man
are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all
his goings.

H. REWARDING WORKS
1. Santa gives his gifts according to whether you are
good or bad.
2. Jesus gives his gifts according to whether you are
good or bad. Revelation 2:23 And I will kill her
children with death; and all the churches shall know
that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and
I will give unto every one of you according to your
works.

I. OMNISCIENT (All Knowing)
1. Santa knows if you have been bad or good.
2. Jesus Knows if you have been bad or good. Proverbs
15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
beholding the evil and the good.

J. HO! HO!
1. Santa says Ho, ho, ho.
2. Jesus says Ho, ho. Zechariah 2:6 Ho, ho, come
forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the
LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds
of the heaven, saith the LORD.

K. OMNIPRESENCE (Everywhere at one time)
1. Santa can come in though the doors are shut.
2. Jesus can come in though the doors are shut. John
20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first
day of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came
Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them,
Peace be unto you. John 20:26 And after eight days
again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them:
then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in
the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

L. OMNIPRESENCE (Everywhere at one time)
1. Santa can be in one billion homes in a 24 hour
period; that is eleven hundred and fifty-seven homes
per second, virtually omnipresent.
2. Jesus is Omnipresent. Matthew 18:20 For where two
or three are gathered together in my name, there am I
in the midst of them.

M. OMNIPOTENT - (All Powerful)
1. Santa is powerful enough to carry presents for a
billion children. That is Omnipotence.
2. Jesus is Omnipotent. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came
and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto
me in heaven and in earth.

SANTA HAS BEEN GIVEN THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD!!
Should a Christian Lie to his Children?
· Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be
unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not
escape.
· Isaiah 44:24-25 Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer,
and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord
that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the
heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by
myself; That fustrateth the token of the liars, and
maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward,
and maketh their knowledge foolish;
· Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving,
and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers,
and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire
and brimstone: which is the second death.

History & Customs of Christmas
December 25
The reason for choosing the day of December 25th as
Christ's birthday is usually held that the day was
chosen to correspond to pagan festivals that took
place around the time of the winter solstice, when the
days begin to lengthen, to celebrate the "rebirth of
the sun". Northern European tribes celebrated their
chief festival of Yule at the winter solstice to
commemorate the rebirth of the sun as the giver of
light, warmth, and life. The Roman Saturnalia (a
festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture,
and to the renewed power of the sun), also took place
at this time, and some Christmas customs are rooted in
this ancient pagan celebration. The early church did
not celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Christ.
The Gospels indicate neither the month nor the day on
which Christ was born. Although Luke places the birth
in a historical perspective, even the year cannot be
determined with exactitude. If the date of Christ's
birth were of real religious significance, then the
day and the month would have been given; as was given
in the first Passover. Some of the early church
fathers, including Origin, stated for the record that
it was blasphemous to celebrate this festival.
Most Christian churches except the Armenian Church
observe the birth of Christ on December 25. This date
was not set in the West until about the middle of the
fourth century, and in the East until about a century
later. The Armenians follow the old Eastern custom of
honoring Christ's birth on January 6, the day of the
Epiphany, commemorating in the West chiefly the visit
of the Magi to the infant Jesus, and in the East,
Christ's Baptism. Some churches hold their most
elaborate festivals on January 6, and in parts of the
United States this date has been celebrated as "Old
Christmas" or "Little Christmas". This time, over a
century after the beginning of the Roman Catholic
Church would account for much. The Catholic practice
of assimilating the rituals, images, festivals and
even gods of pagan religions, into their brand of
Christianity by giving these all "Christian" names or
purposes, would explain these dates and their
significance. Christmas even in more modern times has
not always been remembered with gaiety and good cheer.
Excessive frivolity has always been frowned upon by
some, and Christmas was not celebrated by the Puritans
or Calvinists. When the Puritans came to power in
England under Oliver Cromwell in 1642, Christmas
celebrations were banned as evidences of anti
religious sentiment. Penalties were exacted for
celebrating Christmas, and for staying home from work
on Christmas day. The Puritan tradition was brought to
New England, where Christmas did not become a legal
holiday until 1856.
Yule Log
The burning of the Yule Log was adapted to an English
custom from the ancient Scandinavian practice of
kindling huge bond fires in honor of the winter
solstice. This helped the dying earth to regain
strength and allow the rebirth of the sun. The log was
cut from a red oak, and burned all of Christmas Eve
and some would burn it all day on Christmas Day also.
All of this is taken from sun worship rituals.
Nativity Scenes
Shortly before Christmas 1223, St. Francis of Assisi
wrote to his friend, John Velita, the Lord of Greccio,
"I would fain make a memorial of that child who was
born in Bethlehem, and in some sort behold with bodily
eyes His infant hardships; how He lay in a manger on
the hay, with ox and ass standing by." St. Francis
organized a group of people to go on Christmas Eve and
created the first live nativity scene that year. It
has become a greatly practiced custom. Also from this
re-creation came the celebrating or honoring of the
cr`eche, the wooden model of the feeding trough
holding the Christ Child. In some Catholic countries,
this elaborately carved cr'eche, often taking years to
complete and much wealth to buy, is placed as the
center of the Christmas festival, replacing the
customary Christmas Tree.
Mistletoe
In ancient Britain it was the sacred plant of the
druids. The arch druid and his priests performing
elaborate ceremonies around it at the winter solstice.
Because of the pagan associations, the mistletoe has
seldom been sanctioned in church decorations.
Traditionally, a girl would stand under it, when a
male would approach and pick a berry and kiss the
girl. When the berries were all gone then there were
no more kisses.
Christmas Cards
Sir Henry Cole, the first director of the Victoria and
Albert Museum, and royal academician John Calcott
Horsely, thought of and designed a card in 1843. By
1846 they were selling 1000 of them for one shilling
each. In 1844, painter, W. Dobson sent out hand
painted Christ-mas cards to friends instead of writing
his usual letters. Also, in 1844, Mr. Braadley, a
Newcastle vicar had his cards litho-graphed and
circulated to his friends. In neither of these cases
were any of them sold. Another English artist, William
Egley, designed and printed a card either in 1842 or
1849. He was 16 in 1842. German emigrant, printer
Louis Prang, designed and sold colored Christmas cards
in Roxbury, Mass. in 1874. In less than ten years his
shop was putting out more than five million cards per
year.
The Twelve Days
Christmastide extends from the anniversary of the
birth of Christ, officially established as December 25
by the Western church, to the Feast of the Epiphany
twelve days later, which celebrates the manifestation
of Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi.
This joyous period was popularly called the "Twelve
Days". It included New Year's Day, traditionally a
time when midwinter fertility rites were performed as
the season moved from barren winter toward burgeoning
spring. The Twelve days also embraced more somber
religious occasions such as the anniversary of the
martyrdom of St. Stephen and the Massacre of the
Innocents. But even these are overlaid with festivity,
and generally speaking the time is one of revelry,
mumming, the exchange of gifts, and feasting, with
vestiges of pre-Christian fertility magic such as
decoration with evergreens, kisses under the
mistletoe, and lighting new fires. In short, the
events and customs usually associated with Christmas
are spread across the Twelve Days.
Christmas Tree
The Christmas Tree which is decorated with lights to
celebrate the nativity of Christ and on which
offerings are made to Him; is a survival of pagan tree
worship and of early Christian rites which celebrated
the winter solstice with tree and lights. This tree in
Germany was an oak, which fostered the custom of the
Yule Log which is oak. The Druids in England worshiped
the evergreen because it had eternal life, it did not
brown and die in the winter. Our modern Christmas Tree
is a cross between the two ancient forms of pagan
worship. This is the equivalent of the May tree (May
pole), a fertility symbol. The tree even dates back to
Baal worship in the old Testament. Jeremiah 10:1-6
"Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O
house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the
way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs
of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For
the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a
tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the
workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and
with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers,
that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree,
but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they
cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do
evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Forasmuch
as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art
great, and thy name is great in might."
Caroling
A well-loved Christmas custom is the singing of
Christmas carols. The word "carol" is thought to have
originally denoted a dance accompanied by singing.
Thirteenth century Italy is considered the birthplace
of the real Christmas carol, and St. Francis of
Assisi, who led songs of praise to the Christ Child,
is thought to be the father of this custom.
Wreath
The evergreen holly was wor-shiped as a promise of the
sun's return, and some say that Christ's crown of
thorns was made of holly. Legend tells that the
berries were once white, but when the crown was
pressed upon Jesus' brow, the drops of blood turned
the berries bright red. The Christmas wreath is
thought by some to have originated from this legend.

The Christmas Story (Luke 2) (1991)
A modernization of a writing by Bruce M. Humbert
And there were in the same country, husbands and
fathers keeping watch over their homes by night ...
and going to work every morning to make lots of money.
And lo, the smooth voiced TV announcer came upon them
and the glories of many fine possessions shown round
about them, and they were sore afraid they would not
be able to buy all the things their families wanted.
And the TV announcer said unto them, "Fear not, for I
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to
all fathers and mothers and children and relatives.
For unto you this day, in the city where our store is,
a saviour is born, who is our credit manager. And this
shall be a sign unto you: you shall find this
wonderous one wrapped in red clothing, with a big
stomach, and sprouting white whiskers called, SANTA
CLAUS." And it came to pass as the TV actors faded
away, the fathers and mothers said to each other, "let
us now go even to this store which the TV announcer
made known unto us." And they came with haste and
found glittering wrist watches and fur coats, Nintendo
video games, CD players, and the new Home Alone
Version of the Bible, micro-wave ovens, and, of
course, the wonderous one dressed in red, sitting by
the cash register saying, "Ho, Ho, Ho!" They made
known among all their neighbors how they were going to
have one of the best Christmases ever. Santa Claus
pondered all the interest he was going to collect.

A Christmas Poem
By Mark J. Gostlin
(First Baptist Church 302 West Main P.O.Box 127
Spencer, OH 44275)
Relative Hypocrisy! Venial Dismay! Insignificant
Magnitude! The sun shines every day!
The heathen fear, but we do not he yule log burns
away; And in the morning all is well, The evergreen's
in place.
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, such a pretty
show. Now kiss the blessed virgin down beneath the
mistletow.
Winter soltice, what is that? Superstitious? Who?
Carry on these grand traditions, That is what we do!
Fundamental! Separatist! Labels born with pride!
Confess your sin, you hypocrites. Get off this pagan
ride.
That Romish, Popeish man of sin The one you loathed so
long You gather at his bidding And sing his birthday
song.

HO! HO! HO! (A Sermon Outline)
A. HO! Number 1.
Ruth 4:1-6 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him
down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz
spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn
aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat
down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city,
and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. And he
said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out
of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land,
which was our brother Elimelech's: And I thought to
advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants,
and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt
redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it,
then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to
redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he
said, I will redeem it. Then said Boaz, What day thou
buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy
it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead,
to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself,
lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right
to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
1. Boaz Loved Ruth.
2. Boaz wanted to marry Ruth.
3. The nearer kinsman wanted the property.
4. The nearer kinsman wanted the wealth.
5. The nearer kinsman did not care about Ruth.
· Psalms 142:4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld,
but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed
me; no man cared for my soul.
1. People want your money.
2. People want your knowledge.
3. People want your status.
4. People want your popularity.
5. People want your support.
6. People want your friendship.
BUT NO MAN REALLY CARES FOR YOUR SOUL!
1. Ho, world, who will lay down his life for you to
live?
2. Ho, world, who will shed his blood to save your
soul?
3. Ho, world, who will give up prestige honor and
riches for you?
4. Ho, world, who will be beaten, spat upon, laughed
at, and his hair pulled out for you?
5. Ho, world, who would be stripped naked and openly
shamed for you?
6. Ho, world, who would be nailed to a cross for you?
7. Ho, world, who would go to HELL for you?
· Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
· 1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his
own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins,
should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye
were healed.
· Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus,
whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
· Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the
curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is
written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
HO, WORLD, ONLY JESUS CARES FOR YOUR SOUL!
B. HO! Number 2.
· Isaiah 55:1-3 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye
to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye,
buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without
money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money
for that which is not bread? and your labour for that
which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and
eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight
itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me:
hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an
everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies
of David.
1. We all have a thirst that can be quenched
temporarily.
2. We have no true satisfaction in temporary relief.
3. We all have a thirst that cannot be quenched, with
or without money.
4. People try to satisfy that thirst, with all their
wealth and time. * Education * Drugs * Sex * Work
5. Nothing satisfies this thrist.
6. Jesus CAN Satisfy that thirst.
· John 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her,
Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
· John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give
unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.
· Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
7. How can Jesus satisfy that thirst?
· Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God;
· Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
· Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart
that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation.
· Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name
of the Lord shall be saved.
· Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
HO, WORLD, ONLY JESUS CARES FOR YOUR SOUL! HO, WORLD,
ONLY JESUS CAN SATISFY YOUR SOUL!
C. HO! Number 3.
· Zechariah 2:6-10 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from
the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have
spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven,
saith the LORD. Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest
with the daughter of Babylon. For thus saith the LORD
of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the
nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you
toucheth the apple of his eye. For, behold, I will
shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil
to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of
hosts hath sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of
Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst
of thee, saith the LORD.
1. The third HO is addressed to God's people.
2. The third HO is a double HO, it is certain, God
wants our attention.
3. First, Flee from sin (Babylon). Ephesians 4:27
Neither give place to the devil. James 4:4 Ye
adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy
of God. 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of
God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth
them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the
name of Christ depart from iniquity.
4. Secondly, God will dwell with you. John 14:17 Even
the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye
know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in
you. Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in
the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in
you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he
is none of his. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye
are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you?
HO, WORLD, ONLY JESUS CARES FOR YOUR SOUL! HO, WORLD,
ONLY JESUS CAN SATISFY YOUR SOUL! HO, CHURCH, FLEE SIN
AND DWELL WITH CHRIST!