Merry Christmas, friends!!

From Chapter 2 of the Gospel of Luke, we read in verses 10-11:

10 And the angel said to them (the shepherds), “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (ESV, Bible)

The expression “good news” is also expressed as the word “gospel” in scripture. The good news proclaimed to the shepherds when Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, came to this earth and took on human form was that a Savior had come.

The following passage of scripture is from I Corinthians 15, verses 1-5:

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.” (NKJV, Bible)

The apostle Paul, from these verses in I Corinthians, chapter 15, explains the good news proclaimed to the shepherds at Jesus’s coming when He came from His heavenly domain to this earth and ushered in the first Christmas. The mission of Jesus Christ was to save us from our sins. And the wonderful news is that Jesus accomplished salvation for us. Paul says Jesus died for our sins (Old Testament scripture prophesied a coming Messiah), and was buried and arose on the third day.

Friends, there’s no better news on the planet. Forgiveness and the certainty of Heaven have been attained for us by the Lord Jesus Christ. He arose from the grave, having satisfied the penalty of our sin fully and having destroyed death (separation from God that comes by our sin).

Jesus came to that little town of Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. The good news was proclaimed at His arrival that He would be a Savior to the world. He fulfilled his mission when He died on the cross, was buried, and arose, conquering death and the grave for us. This Christmas, if you’ve never said yes to the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior — the gift of His life, eternal life — it’s a matter of taking Him at His Word and trusting Him.

John 3: 16 says:  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (ESV, Bible)

Friends, this is the Good News of Christmas. I share with my own family that our gift-giving is an opportunity to remember God’s indescribable gift of His Son, Jesus.

II Corinthians 9:15,  “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (ESV, Bible)

May God bless you and your families this Christmas and in the new year.  Merry Christmas!!