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Much of the world is preparing to celebrate. The question is, what’s being celebrated?
Children anticipate Santa Claus leaving gifts under a tree, while adults decorate homes with lights, tinsel, and ornaments. We give gifts to people we care about, attend office parties, send greeting cards, and generally make a big deal out of…what? Why do we do these things? Unless a person celebrates the birth of Jesus, this time of year holds no meaning and can bring on deep depression. Thoughts of suicide enter the mind, and many people actually follow through on those thoughts. Why? Loneliness? Maybe financially it’s hard to buy all the fun gifts for family and friends, so we feel inadequate. Santa gets the credit for those gifts anyway, so that’s depressing. There’s a major truth that is missing from the celebration, and that’s the true reason to celebrate. What is the true reason for celebrating Christmas?
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Why is it so hard to see the truth of this verse? Christians read this verse but seldom stop and think about the truth behind it. God loves each and every human being on this planet. Before He laid the foundation stone of the earth, He knew Adam would eat the forbidden fruit and that all of creation would fall. Since God is all-knowing, He had already designed the only way of salvation for all of humanity. Giving His only begotten Son to be the payment for the sins of the world was not an afterthought but shows how much He loves us. Whether you live in the darkest part of the Amazon jungle or in a very expensive neighborhood in a large city, God’s love and grace are there for you.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
The birth of Jesus Christ, God incarnate, is the true reason for the celebration of Christmas. God stepped into His creation because He loves you and wants you to spend eternity with Him. Believing the truth of what Jesus did for you is all it takes for you to become a part of the family of God. True faith in Christ’s sacrifice is the key that unlocks the doors of Heaven for everlasting life – eternally secure in the hands of our Savior.
God provided the way for everyone to receive everlasting life, and He made it easy for us. It’s important to remember that because He loves us, He gave us the freedom to choose to accept His free gift of salvation or to reject that gift. If we accept Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, we choose life. His simple plan of salvation is available to everyone. For God, Himself, there was nothing simple about the plan. God, the Son, entered His creation as a baby, born to a virgin in a manger in Bethlehem.
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).
Jesus was born in a manger and grew up just like other children. God, the Father, watched as His Son was rejected but knew that Jesus had willingly agreed to this plan, including the part about being crucified in order for His pure blood to take away the sin that separated humanity from God and eternal life. The Father watched while Jesus was spit upon, slapped, mocked, ridiculed, scourged, and finally nailed to that cross to die. That would have been anything but easy for the Father to watch. Yes, Jesus died on the cross, but the grave couldn’t hold Him. He arose from the grave, conquering death for all who believe in Him. That’s the reason Jesus was born.
In order to accept the gift of eternal life, understand that you are a sinner, believe that God paid the price for your salvation, and put your faith in the sacrifice of Jesus, knowing that the blood He shed on the cross was to take your sin away. Then, receive God’s free gift of salvation – what could be easier? That faith should change your view of the hubbub surrounding Christmas. You’ll understand that Jesus is the reason for the season… not Santa. You will understand just how important you are to God.
Believing the truth of God’s love is the only way to salvation. It’s the only way to live eternally with Him.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
Turn away from lies of evolution, Yoga, meditation, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Mormonism, atheism, and any other “ism” that is the latest fad. Only faith in Jesus will bring eternal life. Faith may not come easy for those who’ve been taught in school or at home that there is no God, or if you celebrate Santa instead of the birth of Jesus. I don’t understand how anybody can believe that all of the complexity of the world around us came from nothing. Evidence of the Creator is all around us, and by faith, we believe He was born in a manger in Bethlehem.
“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20).
We have no excuse for rejecting the truth, which points to a loving God. We celebrate His birth on Christmas.
The only thing God asks of us is faith, not works.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
There are no works involved. We don’t have to follow a set of rules and regulations to receive God’s free gift. Salvation is a free gift from God for anyone who believes. Yet we see that many Christian organizations want to add to the simplicity of what Jesus did for us. If you’re a part of a group that requires “works” to earn your salvation, then you haven’t placed your faith in Jesus for salvation.
In the days before Jesus’ birth, God gave His Law to Moses, but the religious leaders of Israel added over 600 laws to that Law. Many Christian-based organizations follow in the footsteps of the Pharisees, lording over the common people with works and rules for obtaining and keeping their salvation. This is not Scriptural. The free gift that God offers is just that, a free gift. Many religious groups require works in order for you to earn salvation, but that’s all hogwash. The “works” idea has been around for a long, long time, but when Jesus was asked about it, He said:
“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:28-29).
Believe on Him, Jesus the Christ, whom God hath sent. The decision to die for His creation was made before mankind was created. Will you accept His free gift, or will you reject it? Faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior is easy; it’s just hard for those who wish to continue in their rebellion against God. There will always be those works-based Christians who insist on placing a massive yoke around the necks of those who want nothing more than a relationship with their Saviour God. Place your faith in Him now, and let His love transform you.
God loves everybody. He knows we sin, but Jesus’ birth wasn’t to condemn us.
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:17-18).
God’s love is the same for each of us. “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34).
Whether you are a king, a pope, or a common laborer, He loves you. God doesn’t want any of His creation to perish; no matter what ethnic group or social circle you belong to, God loves you.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
God doesn’t want you to spend eternity in Hell. God loves us with a perfect love we can’t even come close to comprehending, but we can understand “…that whosoever believeth in him should not perish…” (John 3:16b).
Believing in Jesus as our God and Saviour is all it takes to gain everlasting life; Jesus paid the price for the free gift. All we have to do is receive the gift. It’s simple when you really think about it.
Salvation comes by faith, but people need to hear God’s truth. Instead of the generic “Happy holidays,” boldly say “Merry Christmas,” and then be ready to share the reason Christ was born.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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The post The Reason Christ Was Born :: By Nathele Graham appeared first on Rapture Ready.
