MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!
“But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for ALL OF THE PEOPLE; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)
The birth of Jesus is good news of great joy for “all the people”. Both Jew and Gentile are included in this salvation. And the savior would later tell how he would save us...
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." (John 12:32)
We should not celebrate the birth of our Savior without celebrating his love for “all the people”, which amazingly includes the "ungodly" for Paul tell us in his letter to Rome...
“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly...God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” (Romans 5:6-9)
The wrath of God upon sinners is finished in death for we are told in Scripture...
“For all have sinned” and “...the wages of sin is death” and "it is appointed until men once to die” (Romans 3:23a; 6:23a; Hebrews 9:27)
But this little baby, born in Bethlehem of Judea over 2000 years ago, grew up and saved the world in His death, burial and resurrection. That is the true joy of Christmas, the gospel for "all the people", including his enemies.
“While we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life...For it is by Grace you have been saved and not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God...the FREE gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 5:10; 6:23b)
ALL YOU PEOPLE - HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!
The birth of Jesus is good news of great joy for “all the people”. Both Jew and Gentile are included in this salvation. And the savior would later tell how he would save us...
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." (John 12:32)
We should not celebrate the birth of our Savior without celebrating his love for “all the people”, which amazingly includes the "ungodly" for Paul tell us in his letter to Rome...
“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly...God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” (Romans 5:6-9)
The wrath of God upon sinners is finished in death for we are told in Scripture...
“For all have sinned” and “...the wages of sin is death” and "it is appointed until men once to die” (Romans 3:23a; 6:23a; Hebrews 9:27)
But this little baby, born in Bethlehem of Judea over 2000 years ago, grew up and saved the world in His death, burial and resurrection. That is the true joy of Christmas, the gospel for "all the people", including his enemies.
“While we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life...For it is by Grace you have been saved and not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God...the FREE gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 5:10; 6:23b)
ALL YOU PEOPLE - HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!
And Happy New Year! In it may you come to "a knowledge of the Truth"!
"This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension." (1 Timothy 4:3-8)