Each year our family, along with Christmas cards, sends out a newsletter, part of which is a Gospel presentation. As in the past, I decided to post the Gospel part of our newsletter.
A famous Christmas carol starts: “What Child is this who, laid to rest, On Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping?”
Who was that
child in the manger? God! We see that clearly now. But why would God become a
man, be born in such a lowly manner, and let men treat Him the way they did?
Why would Jesus, while existing "before all things" (Colossians 1:17) and holding "first place in everything" (v. 18), agree to
come to earth as a baby, suffer the abuse He suffered, and die such a painful
death? The apostle Paul is clear: "It was the Father's good pleasure ...
through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the
blood of His cross" (vv. 19-20).
He did it to
make peace between God and man. God is justifiably angry at humanity's sin. All
of us have sinned--and done so repeatedly. Yet He loves sinners enough that He
gave His own Son to live on earth, die on a cross, and bear our sin in His own
body, suffering the full weight of God's wrath--wrath deserved by sinners. He
paid the penalty to restore peace between God and sinners. It could not have
been done any other way.
So Christmas is
primarily a celebration of God's love toward mankind. The babe in a manger is
more than just a tender child. He is the express image of God. He took on a
body of human flesh so He could bear in that body the sins of the world. He
made possible the gift of God--eternal life (Romans 6:23). That is the sum of the Christmas message. And this message of
Christmas is for you: He who entered this world and took on human flesh died on
a cross to bear your sin, to pay your penalty for iniquity, to remove your
guilt.
That pardon
from guilt He offers to you. Jesus came to forgive sinners and bring them into
His presence by virtue of His own sacrificial death. Do you desire His forgiveness
and long to know God's loving embrace?
You must
respond.
Specifically,
God calls you to respond in faith. Turn from your sin to follow Him. Believe He
has forgiven your sin and trust Him with your life (John 3:18, 36). Follow Him without reservation. Jesus Christ must
take His rightful place as Lord--first place in everything (Colossians 1:18). Submit to Him and He who created everything will make you a new
creature, remolded in His image, with new desires and a new heart (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Should you
respond to God's offer of forgiveness in Christ, this Christmas will truly be a
time to celebrate, for you will have the greatest gift you can ever receive,
"being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in
Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).
2 comments:
I applaud your blog,the letter was moving.
Jehovah's Witnesses reject all holidays even benign Mother's day,exception being the Lord's evening meal also called the Last Supper or Good Friday.
WHY-Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t do Thanksgiving,and other holidays.
I was born Jehovah’s Witness 1957 3rd generation,we didn’t celebrate Christmas.
The reason JW’s don’t do Christmas is because their Watchtower leaders say so,the holiday has pagan aspects to it and by rejecting it the Watchtower appears “pure”.
This “demand for purity” is one of the 8 marks of a cult....Now the Watchtower can use this purity diversion to distract from their own false dogmas.
Jesus was not born on Dec 25th,but he also did not have his second coming in the month of October 1914,which is the core doctrine of the Watchtower religion.
The Watchtower leaders want us to be 'different' for the sake of being different.Jehovah's Witnesses are not 'happier' and are just as dysfunctional as families who do holidays.
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Danny Haszard FMI dannyhaszard(dot)com
Hi Danny
Thanks for your feedback. I wrote three blogs about JW’s and Holidays: “Why are JW’s not allowed to celebrate b’days and other holidays?” Part 1 (Nov. 1, 2009), Part 2 (Dec. 1, 2009) and Part 3 (Jan. 1, 2010).
I just answered this question from a family who’s daughter is a JW, “Would you list all of the normal holidays and events that JW’s are not allowed to attend.”
I plan to put the answer in a blog for January 1, 2013.
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