As a consequence of this fact, we must take advantage of the season. For believers, Christmas offers us the opportunity to engage in disciple-making with our families and our friends. Christmas provides us with a vehicle to share with the lost and educate the saved on the heart of the Christmas season. As we engage in our holiday activities, let us commit ourselves to sharing the true reason for the season.
How can we do that? Well first of all we must be willing to ask our children, grandchildren, friends, co-workers, and neighbors, "Do you know why we celebrate Christmas?" Be prepared for some wild answers and keep your composure. That question allows others to share their thoughts, and no matter how crazy those may be just smile. Then we must be willing to ask them, "Would you like to know what the Bible has to say about why we celebrate Christmas?" In answer to this question, we are then given the opportunity to share four key reasons that we celebrate Christmas, the memorial celebration of the coming of the Christ.
Reason #1 Man’s Sin: Romans 3:23 caps off Paul’s theological argument regarding the universal nature of sin in the lives of all of humanity. Every one, whether they are Jew or Gentile, Black or White, Rich or Poor, has violated the law of God and is enslaved to sin. Sin is a terminal disease that has infected all of humanity, as a result none are exempt from its presence or its power. This sin makes us God's enemies.
Reason #2 God’s Love: Romans 5:8 is the motivation for God’s action in sending his Son, the Lord Jesus. We were unable to do anything about our sinful condition. We were helpless in our sins, yet because of the love of God for all of humanity the Lord Jesus entered into the human race to provide a means for us to be reconciled to God. This reconciliation is not predicated on our love for God, but rather on the fact that God loved us first and took action with regard to our sin for us.
Reason #3 God’s Justice: Romans 6:23 expresses the universal consequence of sin in the life of humanity. The universal law of God has been written within heart of all of humanity and the universal rebellion of humanity against that law has earned us a just punishment from a good and perfect judge. What we have earned is death and eternal separation from the grace and goodness of God. However, through the love of God expressed in the death of Jesus Christ the justice of God has been satisfied. God could not simply look the other way with regard to our sins because his justice could not allow that so the justice of God was fulfilled by the love of God in sending Jesus Christ to us.
Reason #4 God’s Mercy: Colossians 1:13-14 shares that though Jesus Christ we can be rescued from our sinful state and placed within a reconciled relationship with God. We can leave our post as God’s enemy and become God’s friend. We can evacuate our residence within the domain of darkness and find citizenship within the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the coming of the Lord Jesus we can find both redemption from our slavery to sin and forgiveness for the penalty of our sin.
The joyous season of Christmas is not simply a time to celebrate family and friends. This is not simply a time to share gifts and laughter. This is a memorial of God’s activity in human history through the person and work of the Lord Jesus. As disciples of Christ, we are called to remember that and to share that with others. Take some time this season, and do your part to help make disciples of others by sharing with them the true reason for the season.
"we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved" Heb 10;39 The most precious gift we can give in any season of life is the God given breath to share his life, love, kindness so all may have the gift of eternal life with Him and it's already been paid for! Thank you Pastor Dean for sharing you gift of words and love.
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