No matter the exact date of the birth of Jesus Christ, the important fact is that he was born, lived, died, and now lives for eternity. Luke recorded the birth of our Lord in Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. The words are rich in meaning and deserve a close examination to get the beautiful truth of what God did for us. Saviour means above all and the author of all salvation accomplished in Christ himself. A true gift to mankind that needed salvation and still does: that salvation which remains to this day and is as effective as the day sin was put to death on the cross if people will but believe it.

It isn’t easy to discern the mind of God, but the scriptures through the words of Jesus reveal some of the deep questions about our Creator. Jesus said as recorded in John 14:7-9, If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. [John 14:8] Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. [John 14:9] Jesus saith unto him, have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Jesus Christ is the Son of God who had all the attributes of His father and still does. Yet people, who like Phillip, can’t see God in Jesus Christ and continually seek salvation through all kinds of ways except through the Savior born over 2000 years ago.

God purposed to bring Jesus into the world for salvation years before he was born. 1 Pet 1:19-21 tells us, But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: [1 Pet 1:20] Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, [1 Pet 1:21] Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Then in Ephesians we find the words of Paul: [Eph 1:4] According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Not only did God choose Christ before the world began, he chose us to be saved in Him at the same time. Then Paul said, [Eph 1:5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, [Eph 1:6] To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Through Jesus Christ we are accepted by God as his children. People through the force of sin would become alienated to God, but through the work of Jesus on the cross, they would become cleansed and wholly acceptable to the God of unlimited grace. The gift of Christ Paul expressed as [2 Cor 9:15] Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.  Also Paul wrote of the gift of salvation that came due to God’s grace shown in Jesus thusly: [1 Cor 15:57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

It doesn’t matter when Christ was born since the greatest gift of all time, that is celebrated on the day called Christmas, is the gift of salvation in the risen Lord; such evidence of which that began to be shown to the world at his birth. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  Amen and Amen.  © 12-18-2005 DEC

Merry Christmas to all for year 2005. 

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