Christmas in Four Words

Christmas has come and gone. We’re into a new year. The truths of Christmas though are not simply reserved for December. The truths of Christmas are needed every day. So, here is a reflection on the truths of Christmas from John 3:14-21:

John 3:14-21 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.” Christian Standard Bible (Jn 3:14–21). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

1. The Verdict
   God’s Word is clear, the verdict is in, we need a Savior. And this is not just in a we need “help” kind of way. This is in the strongest sense of the word. We are lost and dead without Christ. The world wants us to believe everyone is generally good and a good God wouldn’t punish anyone for wrong doing, but God’s Word is clear. We stand guilty before a holy God. We’ve all sinned and we all sin against God. The truth is we would all perish apart from Christ.

2. The Love
   How does God react to this act of rebellion? In the most astonish act, God’s response to our sin and rebellion is love, mercy, and grace. Instead of responding in anger, instead of responding in rage, instead of wiping us off the face of the earth, God God is patient and kind and responds to our wickedness with love and grace. Not only that, He gave. He sacrificed and sent gave His one and only Son to die in our place, that we might live. Jesus took on the penalty and punishment for our sin so we might be saved. In an unexpected and fully undeserved gift, God’s response to our sin was love. That’s why He sent Jesus!

3. The Response
   Our response to this amazing news and gift is repentance and faith. Repentance means more than feeling sorry for our sins. It means agreeing with God that we are sinful. It means turning from our sin and pursuing and living for Christ instead. Faith, or to “believe”, comes from the Greek word “pisteo” and it means to believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance.In the book, “The Essential Church”, this is all summed up really well, “True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Repentance is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, and making a conscious choice to turn from sin (Luke 13:3, 5; 1 Thessalonians 1:9), pursue Christ (Matthew 11: 28-30; John 17:3), and obey Him (1 John 2:3). It isn't enough to believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (James 2:19), but they don't love and obey Him. True saving faith always responds in obedience (Ephesians 2:10).”This is our only right and saving response to the message of the good news of Jesus the Messiah… We respond with repentance and faith!

4. The Light
   This isn’t the end. We are now called to live and walk as children of light. Jesus, the light of the world has come into the darkness. He’s come into the darkness of our own heart and lives. And now, our calling is to walk in the light as He is in the light. Once a person has genuinely come to Christ, they are a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come. They are not perfect but they are trusting in and walking with Christ. Their job is to continually allow the sin of their lives to be brought into the light, allow their hearts to be transformed, and to become more and more like Christ, the light of the world. Ephesians 5:8 rightly says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”

This is the good news of Christmas! It’s not about presents and parties, although those are nice. It’s about something much deeper and much bigger. You and I are in need of a Savior. God’s response to our sin is love. Our response to His gift is repentance and faith. Our joy and calling is to now walk and live as children of light, displaying and shining the glory of Christ as we walk with Him. This is the message of Christmas!