The coming of Jesus in Bethlehem, born in a manger 

The acceptance of Jesus in the heart of the believer

The anticipation of Jesus one day, coming again.

Luke 1:68 (NLT)

68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. 

Luke 1:69–70 (NLT)

69 He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, 70 just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. 

Malachi 3:1 (NIV84)

See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. 

Luke 1:76–80 (NLT)

76 “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.

Luke 1:17 (NIV84)

17 And he will go on before the Lord . . . to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 

Isaiah 40:3 (NIV84)

3 A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 

Luke 3:7 (NIV84)

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 

Belief that our salvation can be earned and/or sustained by doing good works.

Luke 3:7-9 (MSG)

When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God’s judgment? It’s your life that must change, not your skin.

And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as ‘father.’ Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and flourishing? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.”

Luke 1: 77 (NLT)

You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. 

John 1:17 (NIV84)

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 

Psalm 103:12 (NLT)

12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 

Micah 7:19 (NLT)

19 Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! 

Isaiah 43:25 (NLT)

25 “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. 

Hebrews 10:17 (NLT)

17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” 

Luke 1:78 (NLT)

Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, 

Malachi 4:2 (NLT)

2 “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. 

Isaiah 9:1–2 (NLT)

1 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. . . 2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. 

Isaiah 60:1–3 (NLT)

1 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. 2 Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. 3 All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. 

Luke 1:79 (NLT)

79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

John 8:12 (NLT)

12 . . . “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” 

We must love someone very much to stay awake for his coming.

A.W. Tozer

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;

cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!