Good news for Christmas

If you are already  a Christian, you can use this message to witness to your family, relatives, associates, and neighbors.

If you are not yet a Christian, this good news is for  you on this day.

 

The story of Christmas

Luke 2:1-20
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2  This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 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 the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 " This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 " Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

This is the great story of Christmas –

that baby born in a manger 2,000 years ago, in Bethlehem,

treasured by His mother and his father,

under the great star,

visited by shepherds,

angels giving glory to God in the highest.

 

The meaning of Christmas

And this is the meaning of Christmas – who that baby really is!

Gal 4:4-5
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

The baby Jesus is the Son of God. He is God in the flesh.  

He is also our Savior.

Titus 3:3-7
3  For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6  whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

He was born to die for us, so that He could redeem us.  We were lost sinners, hopeless, doomed, until Christ came to rescue us.

He came and He died, on the cross, so He could reconcile us to His Father.

And right now, you can be embraced by God Himself as His beloved adopted son or daughter. Imagine that.

So if you have never believed in Christ, now is the acceptable time.

 

The good news at Christmas

I have good news to proclaim to you,  just like the angels did on that first Christmas near Bethlehem.

Christ the Lord is your Savior too.

The good news is this : that while you are a sinner, hopeless and dead in your sins, nevertheless Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and raised again on the third day.

So that whoever – you, here and now – whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will receive eternal life.

 

This is what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

 

It's a gift from God

Think of it!

We all deserved to perish under the wrath of God.  All of us, every human person, fell short of the glory of God.

The only way we could ever be reconciled to God was if He gave this to us as a gift.

And God did!

Rom 3:21-25
21 But now apart from the Lawthe righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the  righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.

 

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ

We receive that gift when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 16:30-32
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

31 They said, " Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.

Right here, right now, you can believe in Christ too.

2 Cor 5:20-21
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be  sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

God is not counting your sins against you.

In fact, God the Holy Spirit is with you right now  to help you.

2 Cor 6:1-2
And working together with Him,  we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain —  2 for He says,

"AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,
AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU."
Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION" —
 

Just let this good news stir your heart.

The Holy Spirit is making sure you understand what is being said here, and He is even nudging your heart toward believing.

Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you WILL be saved.

This baby came so He could die for YOU.

Simply believe in Him.

Receive this gift just like a child would.

Believe in Jesus, God's Son, your Savior.

Believe in Him NOW.

You'll  have the merriest Christmas ever!


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