References
The Real Meaning of Christmas
The real meaning of Christmas is contained in God’s Word, and we must tell men and women the real meaning of Christmas. It is not just that He came to us as a baby. It is not just about the gifts of the magi or the shepherds watching the flocks by night. It is not just about Mary and Joseph struggling to find a place for Jesus to be born. Yes, Jesus was born of a virgin and was laid in a trough. His earthly father was Joseph, and they could not find room in the inn. But we as Christians are being mediocre if we neglect to tell the entire story of Jesus.
John chapter 1 says:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
Jesus ministry on the earth didn’t really start until after he was an adult. Isn’t it strange that we know almost nothing about Jesus while he was a youth? The account of Jesus’ birth is crucial and to be understood, but little time, compared to the entirety of scripture, is spent on it. I believe we are missing something if we neglect to tell people the real reason for celebrating Christmas: that God became flesh as the true light to enlighten everyone; that in the beginning, He was with God and He was God; that Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life we could never live; and that He redeemed us so that we can also be legally declared righteous in God’s eyes.
In a culture where Santa is more “relevant” to children and adults than Jesus, it is not enough to present the Christmas story without telling the whole story of redemption and of God’s plan:
1. God is Holy, perfect, sinless, just, righteous, and angry at the wicked every day
2. Natural man is God’s enemy and deserving of hell because they have broken His commandments and sinned against Him
3. That the penalty of sin is eternity in hell because God is eternal and the one whom we have ignored is eternal
4. Hell is eternal punishment – it never ends and is not pleasant
5. That natural man is unwilling to seek God, unable to do good works, and unbelieving at his very core. He is spiritually dead.
6. That God so loved His elect that he sent Jesus to die and He paid the eternal penalty we deserve and did so because He is love and He is God.
7. That Jesus lived the perfect sinless life we should have lived, but couldn’t ever live
8. That Jesus was in God’s perfect will and that he pleased the Father
9. That Jesus died a terrible death on the cross
10. That Jesus dying on the cross was God’s plan and perfect will and it pleased God to crush him in this way
11. That Jesus paid the price by enduring the full wrath of the Almighty God and became sin who knew no sin
12. That God accepted the payment
13. That Jesus defeated death and that He was raised from the dead
14. That Jesus could pay the eternal price because He is worth more than any man who ever walked the face of the earth or ever will
15. That Jesus sat at the right hand of the Father and that redemption was completed, God’s wrath was satisfied for every man or woman who will believe
16. For those who repent, put their trust in Jesus, and whom God saves, will stay saved until the very end when Jesus returns
17. When He returns He finally throws sinful men and women into hell along with Satan, and sets up His perfect Kingdom in heaven, where Christians will be worshiping Him for ever and ever.
When we preach and teach these truths to carnal men and women, the Holy Spirit convicts them of sin, God gives them repentance and faith, and saves them. When they are saved, God gives them a new heart with new desires. They begin to hate the sin they once loved, and love the commandments they once hated. They become doers of the Word. They love fellowship with other Christians. They love to hear the Word preached. They love God and they love the salvation message, no matter how many times it is preached. They know Jesus is God. They don’t deny the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They don’t live perpetual, sinful lifestyles. They don’t need external promptings to think about godly, spiritual matters. They have the law of God written on their hearts. They don’t declare themselves to be sinless, but they have an overwhelming desire to walk like Jesus walked. They truly love their fellow Christians. They read their bibles anticipating that God will speak to them. They intercede in prayer. They are not ashamed of Jesus and His words. The world and worldly things become putrid. They are peacemakers. They want others to know the truth about Christ. They are sensitive to sin in their own lives. They mourn over their own sin. They are humble before God and fear Him. They will do anything to seek out God’s righteousness. They desire to live in peace with all men.
Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”