Christmas Is God Shining In (Bible Study)

Christmas as God's Epiphany from Eden to Bethlehem.
The text emphasizes that Christ's first coming was not just at Bethlehem 2,000 years ago but began in the Garden of Eden over 6,000 years ago. Christmas signifies the coming of Christ into the world, especially the virgin birth, which is a supernatural event marking God's shining into a dark world (epiphany). The Old Testament contains many appearances of Christ, the preincarnate God, culminating in the Incarnation. Man was created in God's image to enable Christ's coming in human flesh. The fall of man in Genesis 3 explains the world's brokenness and the need for salvation. God's search for man began in Eden, and the first Christmas gift was the clothing of Adam and Eve with animal skins, symbolizing sacrifice. Christ's coming is about seeking and saving the lost, calling believers to live godly lives while awaiting His glorious return.