Wed, Dec 15th - 8:37PM

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS ALL ABOUT?

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS ALL ABOUT?

Luke 2: 1 – 19.

Christmas is the day that has been set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Millions of people around the world celebrate Christmas  but they do not believe what the Bible tells us about Jesus.

When God created the world He had all of us in mind. In fact He had every person who has been born and who will be born in mind. The apostle John says of Jesus in the book of Revelation, …the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world (13: 9).

The Bible informs us that Jesus is the Son of God and that he was born into the world to die for our sins because God loves us. We read : For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (John 3: 16-18).

Approximately 700 years before Jesus was born the prophet Isaiah wrote about him. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isa. 9: 6).

The date of the birth of Jesus is not really important. What is important is the reason why Jesus was born.

The Christmas tree was introduced approximately fifteen hundred years after the first Christmas. Christmas is not about a tree, decorations, gifts, food, celebrations or even Santa Claus.  Christmas is not about ourselves. Christmas is about GOD. Christmas is about a light shining in darkness to break the power of Satan. Christmas is about a relationship. A relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Christmas is not about the celebration of a day. Christmas is about thanksgiving. We should regard every day as Christmas day, giving thanks to God for his gift of love. The apostle Paul declared, Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift (2 Cor. 9: 15).

God did not use a silvery box,

Or paper red and green.

God sent his precious Son to us,

In a manger scene.

Why should people believe in Jesus and put their trust in him? People should  believe in Jesus and put their trust in him because of God’s great love for us.

God does not compel people to believe in Jesus. We can believe in him and receive him as our Saviour or we can reject him. But the Bible warns us that there will be a day of judgment. Those who believe in Jesus will one day live with him forever and those who reject him will one day live in punishment forever  (Rev. 21: 1-8).

We read: ... This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed ... (2 Thess. 1: 7-10).  

God has a plan for your life. Surrender your life to him and trust him fully. God will accomplish his plan for your life. If you are not a born again believer, receive Jesus into your life and become a child of God (John 1: 12).

Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14: 6).

If you are a child of God, then the following poem will be relevant to you.

My life is in Christ,

I will not despair.

My strength is in Christ,

I will not grow weary.

My faith is in Christ,

I will not give up.

My trust is in Christ,

He will direct my paths.

My eternity is in Christ,

I will live with him forever.

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Sun, Jan 6th - 2:32PM

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD ... (JOHN 3: 16).

The Bible declares that there is one God (Deut. 6:4) but He is revealed in three persons - God the Father (Matt. 3:17; John 17:24), God the Son (Jesus Christ) (John 1:18; John 3:16) and God the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2; John 14:26; Eph. 4:30).

The first man and the first woman, Adam and Eve, were created to live forever but they gave in to the temptation that Satan, the devil, brought to them, thus causing death, spiritual death (separation from God) and physical death. You see when they gave in to Satan they broke God's commandment (Gen. 2:17; Gen. 3:6). Thus sin came into the human race. The sin of Adam and Eve has been passed on to all mankind; so whether we live good lives or not, do kind acts or not, we are still sinners because we cannot do anything to rid ourselves of this inherited or original sin.

King David said that he was sinful from the time he was conceived (Psalm 51:5). The Bible clearly teaches that all have sinned (Rom. 3:23) and that all will die because of sin (Rom.6:23). However, there is good news!

God has provided a way out for mankind because He loves us. God the Father sent his one and only Son (John 3:16), who is himself God (Isa. 9:6; John 1: 1-3, 14; Heb. 1:8, 10), to die for the sins of the world so that those who believe in Him will have everlasting life (John 3:16; John 3:36).

We are informed that Jesus' death for us is a gift (Rom. 6:23). This means that we do not have to work for the salvation that his death on the cross provides. We are saved by grace (God's unmerited favor) through faith and not by works (Eph. 2:8, 9). Jesus died for us while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8). He died for our sins and rose from the dead for our justification (clearing us from blame or guilt) (Rom. 4:25). Once and for all times the death of Jesus on the cross paid the penalty for sin (Heb. 9:28). This included all original or inherited sin as well as all the sins that have been committed, that are being committed and that will be committed by all human beings.

Listen to the testimony of the prophet, the angel, the apostles and Jesus himself.

1. The virgin's child (Jesus) will be called Immanuel (Isa.7:14). Immanuel means God with us (Matt. 1:23). This prophecy was recorded in about 700 B.C.

2. The son (Jesus) will be called - The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). Prophesied in about 700 B.C.

3. Jesus will save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21).

4. Jesus died for the sins of the world (Rom. 5:8).

5. Jesus is the end of the law so that there is righteousness (righteous standing before God) for everyone who believes - Jews and Gentiles (see John 3:16-17).

6. Jesus answered: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). Jesus said to Nicodemus: I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3: 3).

7. Jesus will judge the living and the dead (Matt. 13:36-43; 25:31-46; 2 Tim.4:1).

The Bible teaches that although there is death, one day all human beings will live eternally.The righteous will live with God in great happiness (Rev. 21: 3-4) and the unrighteous will live with Satan in torment (Matt.25:41; Rev. 14: 9-11; Rev. 20: 10, 15).

Anyone who receives Jesus, that is, believes and puts his/her trust in Him, becomes a child of God (John 1:12; John 3:16). As a child of God, He seals you with his Holy Spirit (Eph. 1: 13-14). He is the only one who can save you (Acts 4:12). Jesus said: I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life (John 6: 47-48).

Dear friend, will you receive Jesus or will you reject him?

Perhaps the following prayer or one like it will be fitting. Remember, what is important is the faith that Jesus will save you.

Almighty God, I thank you that you sent Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. I believe that you raised him from the dead as the Bible declares. Jesus, I now receive you as my Savior and Lord. I am sorry for my sins and I turn away from them. Lord Jesus, please fulfill your plan for my life. Amen.

What follows your acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Saviour (Messiah)? Your faithfulness to Jesus is important.The Holy Spirit who seals believers (Eph. 1:13-14; Eph. 4:30) can enable you to be faithful to God. Jesus said: Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved (Matt. 24:12-13).The author of the Book of Hebrews wrote: We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first (3:14).

FAITHFULNESS

You can show your faithfulness by:

1) Praying regularly (1 Thess. 5:17).

2) Reading the Bible daily (Psalm 119:105,160).

3) Making Jesus Lord of your life (Prov. 3:5-12).

4) Meeting with believers (Heb. 10:25).

5) Doing the good works which God has prepared for you to do (Eph. 2:10).

6) Giving to God's work (Mal. 3:8-10; Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-8).

7) Soul winning (Prov. 11:30; John 15:8,16).

8) Loving others (John 15:12; 1 John 3:18).

As Christians, we are not perfect. We still make mistakes. When we do, we can confess our sins to Jesus and He will forgive us (1 John 1: 8-10).

REWARDS

When Jesus comes He will give rewards to believers for faithfulness (Matt. 10:42; Luke 14:13-14; 1 Cor. 9:25; Rev. 22:12).

ETERNITY

With whom will you spend eternity? Will you spend it with God experiencing happiness or with Satan in torment? Remember, God loves you and He wants you to spend eternity with Him (1 Tim. 2: 3-4; 2 Pet. 3:9).

May God use this tract to bring honor and glory to His name.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright c 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Rev. Joseph E. Mahabir, Toronto

Please email this message to friends and relatives. Thank you as you share the good news about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. May God bless you richly. 

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