What shepherds first heard continues to be repeated – even in a world more and more hostile to Christianity: “The good news is for all people. A Savior, the Messiah, God in the flesh has been born ... and there is peace on earth among those with whom God is pleased.” Those who trust what God has revealed about Himself in His Word, please God and enjoy that peace that was announced over 2000 years ago. Our glut of information in this age has not replaced the need nor the source of real personal peace. That is what Christmas is about.
Pastor Bob Hendrick, Lake Chapala Baptist Church
Christmas is a wonderful time of year when we celebrate the birth of Christ, the Saviour of the world. During this season he was born; but he was born to die to take away the sins of the world. We celebrate his birth so we can celebrate his death so we can be born again.
Larry Andrew, Little Chapel by the Lake
Anslem, the archbishop of Canterbury around 1100 A.D., wrote a book entitled Cur Deus Homo, or Why God Became Man. The problem is that we as humans have broken God’s holy law in thought, word, and deed. God’s justice required our punishment, which would be eternal death. However, since the beginning, there was the possibility that a perfect human capable of bearing our sins could die in our place.
Herein lies the dilemma. As sinners, none of us could offer ourselves in sacrifice for the sins of others. Also, God is immortal and cannot die. Following the biblical teaching, Anslem explained that the incarnation solved the dilemma. God assumed full humanity, not merely to put forth a shining example of a perfect man, but to die a death capable of paying the penalty for our sins. The Redeemer had to be man to be able to represent us. The Redeemer had to be God to be able to offer a spotless and sufficient sacrifice in our place. Why did God become man? Ultimately to die and rise again to save those who trust in Christ.
We celebrate the incarnation in December and the crucifixion and resurrection in March or April. However, if we separate these events in our faith, we end up with either sentimentality (Christmas without Good Friday) or mere martyrdom (Good Friday without Christmas) or even failure (Good Friday without Easter). Keeping these events together in our faith, we have salvation by the God who became man.
Pastor Larry Trotter, Christ the Redeemer Presbyterian Church
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