"In truth, as you have often been admonished, it is good to set aside one day out of the year in which we are reminded of all the good that has occurred because of Christ’s birth in the world, and in which we hear the story of his birth retold, which will be done Sunday."

- John Calvin, Christmas sermon, 1551 (for all those folks who think they're following the regulative principle by refusing to celebrate Christmas)

It is appropriate for the church to celebrate important redemptive events in the life of Christ such as his birth, death, baptism, resurrection, ascension, and pouring out the Holy Spirit.

In the Old Covenant, there are numerous celebrations centered on the redemption of Israel, such as the Passover and Day of Atonement. Many of the evangelical feast days track closely with their Old Testament counterparts.

The reassignment of church feast days to those set by the events of Christ's life follows the example in the reassignment of the Sabbath to the first of the week.

God has created man for occasional celebration of holy days; he will always designate time to worship his highest treasure. As Christianity has waned as the dominant religion, the state has instituted new holy days in honor of our current idols (MLK day, Juneteenth), which are themselves a displacement of previous holy days (Columbus Day, Veteran's Day).

Similarly in the church, a larger highlight is often placed on Mother's Day than on Good Friday. What days a culture or church holds sacred is a clear indication of what they worship.

Now it was of the greatest importance for us that he who was to be our Mediator be both true God and true man. If someone asks why this is necessary, there has been no simple (to use the common expression) or absolute necessity. Rather, it has stemmed from a heavenly decree, on which men's salvation depended. Our most merciful Father decreed what was best for us.

Since our iniquities, like a cloud cast between us and him, had completely estranged us from the Kingdom of Heaven [cf. Isa. 59:2], no man, unless he belonged to God, could serve as the intermediary to restore peace. But who might reach to him? Any one of Adam's children? No, like their father, all of them were terrified at the sight of God [Gen. 3:8]. One of the angels? They also had need of a head, through whose bond they might cleave firmly and undividedly to their God [cf. Eph. 1:22; Col. 2:10]. What then?

The situation would surely have been hopeless had the very majesty of God not descended to us, since it was not in our power to ascend to him. Hence, it was necessary for the Son of God to become for us "Immanuel, that is, God with us" [Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23].

— John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, II.XII.I

Another year, another read through of Luke. Wake up tomorrow, knowing what the Lord has given us, and share that good news of the Gospel with all you love.

God bless you all. Merry Christmas.

"For unto Us a Son Is Given," a selection from Handel's Messiah, some of the best Christmas music ever written.

Merry Christmas one and all, He is born!

https://youtu.be/2NO_m0Qsqk0

Many Christians falsely hold that this life, material items, and our physical bodies are inherently somehow sinful or bad. Scriptural proofs to the contrary abound, but the strongest is the incarnation.

An abridged comment from a dialogue with a Lutheran over the Lord's Supper:

The Reformed objection to the Lutheran sacramentology has always been Christological. We argue Christ in his human nature has all the properties of a true human, which includes the limitations of space and physicality. Nor did the resurrection change this, as Christ took pains to demonstrate by eating and touching the disciples. So the elements cannot literally be the physical body of Christ, which is why we argue for the spiritual presence. Some Lutheran groups attempted to skirt this rebuttal by arguing for the ubiquity of Christ's physical body, although as I understand Lutheran history, this view never became very popular and the mainstream of Lutherans hand-wave this Reformed objection away by saying, "It's a mystery." Of course it's a mystery, but basic Christology should be able to get us at least so far.

Check out his channel: https://t.me/Confessional_Lutheran

Open-ended question for everyone: What are yall's thoughts on Joab? Was he a good guy, bad guy, or a mixed bag? Seems to me like he is mostly viewed as a bad guy, but I would place more in the good guy camp. Elaborate please!

RIP Uncle Ted

Neil Stewart on why Christians cannot affirm images of Christ -
This short segment that was
unfortunately cut from the Spirit & Truth film- a film explaining the Regulative Princple of Worship. In less than two minutes, Neil Stewart makes a compelling case for why Reformed
Christians (and all Christians, really) should not affirm or endorse alleged images of Christ.

@calvinismmemes

Notice the Protestant nations are far and away the most literate followed by the Catholic nations with the Eastern Orthodox nations being the least literate.

Literacy in European national subdivisions c. 1900
https://redd.it/zzqaqd
@r_mapporn

Happy New Year kings! Congratulations on your work throughout 2022, and thanks be to God for His blessings on it.

As difficult as 2022 was, 2023 will be even more so. But as the difficulty grows, may God grow our strength, resolve, and godliness to an even greater degree.

🥂— Here's to a year of mortifying our sins.
🥂— Here's to a year of success in our vocations.
🥂— Here's to a year of spreading sound doctrine.
🥂— Here's to a year of starting and growing our families.
🥂— Here's to a year of commitment to our churches.
🥂— Here's to a year of growing in wisdom and knowledge.
🥂— Here's to a year of becoming the men that God has created us and commanded us to be. May His blessings be on the year ahead of us!

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. — Romans 16:20

"When you see the year coming to completion, give thanks to the Lord that He brought you to this period of years... The days move quickly and pass by, the years come to an end, we have already traversed much of the road - but what noble thing have we done?" -St. John Chrysostom

Channels to follow in 2023:

Based & Biblepilled Effortposting:
https://t.me/ThatAncientFaith
https://t.me/stoicchristianchannel
https://t.me/DortApologetics
https://t.me/jesusfreaksbiblegeeks
https://t.me/protestantpost

Memes & Schizoposting:
https://t.me/calvinismmemes
https://t.me/FundamentalChristianity
https://t.me/toastpilled
https://t.me/AZT1483

Apologetics:
https://t.me/ChristianApologetic
https://t.me/RomeandConstantinople
https://t.me/islam_answers

Christian Homesteading:
https://t.me/SandBFarmstead
https://t.me/homesteadappalachia

Based & Redpilled Politics:
https://t.me/turnipsdigest
https://t.me/Restorationist
https://t.me/remnantposter
https://t.me/TruthGraphs

Lutheran Frens:
https://t.me/Confessional_Lutheran
https://t.me/Augsburg1517
https://t.me/LSI_LutheranScienceInstitute

It's 2023 and Christ is still King.

✝️⚔️🌎

When someone asks me what my new year's resolutions are:

https://youtu.be/v-Pfy8o5Wr4