Christmas emphasizes the glorious truth that salvation is provided apart from us, that into this sin-cursed world came One whose supreme mission is to save sinners. We cannot save ourselves because we cannot deliver ourselves from the guilt, the power and the consequences of sin. Those in rebellion against God have no terms of peace to offer that are acceptable to God. Only God Himself can make peace, and this He has done through the atoning sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Through the merits of Christ's life and death, we are offered full and free forgiveness.
Christmas tells us what it cost God to save the world: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). Christ is God's great Christmas Gift to the world: "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15). Christ does for us what no other has been able to do: He removes our guilt and reconciles us to God. He raises us from the death of sin to the life of righteousness. He reconciles us to life and to our fellow man. He implants within us new hopes, new aims, new enthusiasms. He regenerates our affections, our desires and our energies, and strengthens our wills.
Prayer
Lord, as we look to the beginning of the next year, help us to turn to You to save us from the consequences of our own sin. Teach us how to walk with You and live the new life we have as Christ lives in us and renews our hearts. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Scripture quotations are taken by permission from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright ©1979, 1980, 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers, Nashville, Tenn. From Billy Graham: "Decision" magazine, December 2011, ©1991 BGEA.
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