Gtcotr/ss121921
The Christmas story is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s a story of redemption … a story of salvation, a story of a loving, forgiving, and gracious God. Jesus, the Son of God, was born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem a little over 2000 years ago. Why? Let’s read:
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Jesus came to the world to save the world, one sinner, one soul at a time.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
There was a man who lived in the days of Jesus who was a member of the religious group known as the Pharisees. His name was Nicodemus. He was a prominent and well-known religious leader of the Jews. Nicodemus did not want to get caught up in the controversies concerning Jesus and cause himself problems, so he came to Jesus during the nighttime, after dark when no one else could recognize him. Nicodemus had a genuine respect for Jesus. He said, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
Jesus answered Nicodemus and said, "You’re right, and unless a person is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus replied to Jesus in earnest, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?"
Jesus answered: That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don’t be surprised or confused when I tell you that “You must be born again.”
The continuing Christmas story shows us a loving Creator whose greatest desire is to be our Heavenly Father. The salvation He offers is not based on what we have done or what we will yet do, but rather on what Jesus did. We are saved by God’s grace through our own faith in Jesus.
Salvation is accompanied by a true conversion of the soul. That person who was bound by fear, sin, and death, is gone. We become a new person.
This morning I want to make certain that I am clear about the wonderful and true Christmas message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Christmas story began in a stable in the town of Bethlehem a little over 2000 years ago. Since then, the Christmas story has continued in the hearts and lives of hundreds and hundreds of millions of men, women, boys, and girls, from every custom, culture, language, and ethnicity.
Have you been saved by Jesus? Have you allowed the message of Christmas to change your life? It can and it will today if you only believe. Take time to call upon the name of Jesus right now and invite Him to live in your heart. You will be born-again, just like Nicodemus was.
May God bless you and your family and give you a very Merry Christmas!
