Keeping CHRIST at the center of Christmas - Part I

This past weekend I was at our camp (Sunshine Cove) for a retreat. The speaker for Saturday was by brother, Aaron Roy. He really (especially in the 2nd message) challenged us to have an exalted view of Christ. In other words, we must see Christ as high and lifted up. We must see Christ in His full splendor and might. This is important especially at Christmas as we celebrate His birth. On the Sunday of the retreat, we visited First Baptist Church of Elkhart where my friend Pete's dad is the pastor. He hit on some of the same points, as the title of his message was "Why Do We Celebrate Christmas?" His first main point was that we celebrate Christmas because of WHO CHRIST IS. I want to elaborate on this point with a 5 part blog, as I give 25 reasons to celebrate Christmas because of who Christ is. So here are 5 to kick this off...



1) Christ is God
John 1:1 = In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.



2) Christ is preeminent.
Colossians 1:18 = He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.



3) Christ created all things.
Colossians 1:16 = For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.


4) Christ is the Wonderful Counselor.
Isaiah 9:6 = For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,...


5) Christ is the divine one.
Isaiah 7:14 = Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us).