10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
As we celebrate this Christmas holiday, let us believers take the time to reflect on what this holiday should mean to us. It’s the time that we should celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I’m totally aware that Jesus might not have been born on December 25th. I also am aware that this holiday could have actually evolved from pagan traditions. Yet, as a pastor I am glad that we have a day set aside that we can celebrate the birth of Jesus. That should be the focal point of this holiday for us as believers.
All of humanity was in need of a Savior since the fall of Adam. Adam’s disobedience caused all of us to be sinners (Romans 5:19). We were not sinners because we sinned, which we all have done, but we were sinners because of what Adam did. Some might cry, “Unfair! How can I be responsible for what another man did?” Well, that is the way that God designed it, not to be unjust or unfair to us, but it was actually for our benefit. The verse that I referenced above states: “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One Man shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19) Yes, because of Adam’s sin we were all made sinners, but the better news is because of Jesus’ obedience (the One Man of that verse) we who believe in Him have been made righteous. We have been made righteous, not because of our obedience but because of Jesus’ obedience. How awesome is that!!
As the angel proclaimed in the above verses, he brought good tidings of great joy! Jesus’ birth was the birth of the Savior that mankind needed. We cannot save ourselves. Many have tried and failed. We cannot break the power of sin in our lives in our own strength. Many have tried that as well. There is only one way to be saved. There is only one way for the power of sin to be broken in our lives, and that is through the Savior that was born in Bethlehem. There is only on way for man to be righteous before a Holy God, and that is through putting faith in the work that Christ has accomplished for us.
Let us rejoice this Christmas season! Let us have great joy because our Savior came and did for us what we could not do for ourselves. The Greatest Gift that has ever been given to mankind was born, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. That Gift was not placed under a tree but one day was nailed to a tree. Because of what He has accomplished through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension we have forgiveness of sins, peace, joy righteousness, deliverance from the penalty and power of sin, and the list goes on. Praise God for that Baby that was born!!!!
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