What does Christmas mean to you?

 

 

Due to the personal nature of the question posed, it means the answer will be personal too. For many it means memories (both good and bad, and happy and sad) and experiences, many of which are closely related to family.

 

But what was the first Christmas all about, and is it still relevant? The main theme of the first Christmas was salvation, as discovered by the main characters of the event, and salvation is still relevant today.

 

Let’s think about the shepherds and Mary, and Joseph

 

.    1.  The shepherds were told by the angel that came to visit them on the first Christmas day,‘ Behold I bring you glad               tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour which is             Christ the Lord. (Luke 2 v 8 & 9). They heard the wonderful news of the Saviour that had just been born, a Saviour               for them and ‘all people’ and therefore a Saviour for you.

 

    2. Joseph was told by an angel concerning the expected baby ‘Thou shalt call His name Jesus for He shall save His                 people from their sins’ (Matthew 1 v 21). Now we discover that the salvation being provided is from the judgement               of God against all of us because of our sins.

 

    3.  Mary was told that her baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit and that the baby was to becalled Jesus, which                     means Jehovah a Saviour or God a Saviour. (Luke 1 v31). Before the baby was born she expressed the fact that ‘God           was my (her) Saviour’ (Luke 2 v 47). From this we learn that the baby was God in perfect holy manhood, and that               He is a personal Saviour.

 

So, at this Christmas time, where are you in relation to God’s salvation? Everyone is guilty before God as He states in the Bible ‘there is none righteous, no, not one’ (Romans 3 v 12). This great salvation required God’s son, the Lord Jesus Christ, not only to be born, but also to die at Calvary and there provide His blood as the only way by which all our sins can be eternally eradicated. The Bibles says‘ the blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanseth us from all sin’ 1 John 1 v 7.

 

To receive this Salvation, which is truly the greatest gift you can ever receive, you need to repent of your sins and place your faith and trust in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us in Acts 20 v 21 ‘repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ’. Why don’t you make this Christmas the one that will always be the best Christmas you could ever have, by accepting the greatest gift that you will ever be offered?