CHRISTMAS - GOD'S GREATEST GIFT! (MATTHEW 1:18-23)

From the Board of Elders

Dear Members in Christ,

Christmas - God’s Greatest Gift! (Matthew 1:18-23)

As the country is now in the economic National Recovery Phase, December is much anticipated. There is a sense of hope that the Covid-19 pandemic will gradually “go away”. As in the times past before the pandemic, and even now, December is expected to bring much joy and happiness to many as this will be the holiday and festive season many in the world would look forward to. Travels, gifts and presents, food and drinks, parties and celebrations etc fill the air. Shopping malls (inclusive of e-shopping), bars and restaurants etc are expected to be busy. Indeed, the month has low productivity for the real economy except for the retail, food and beverages outlets. Shopping and celebrations will reach glittering and dizzying heights! Money flows freely and easily. There will be much gluttony of food, drinks and parties. There will be much rejoicing but sadly without really understanding the significance of 25^th December other than Santa Claus and his “Ho, Ho, Ho” gifts delivered with his reindeers drawn sleigh.

25^th December: Christmas is celebrated traditionally, since the mid 3^rd Century AD, through the Reformation years until this day. 25^th December was the day chosen to commemorate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. There may be objections, disputes, confusions and disagreement on the actual date, month and reasons for the origin of Christmas. However, 25^th December is celebrated globally since the early centuries. We continue to rejoice and celebrate Christmas to this day. However, the extent, way and intensity of the celebration evolved over the years as worldly practices and influences crept into the Church.

Why does the Lord Jesus Christ have to be born into the world? Many do not seek to know the reasons why He came. What about you? The Bible tells us the reason why.

The Lord Jesus came to save sinful mankind from sins. He has to be born on earth to take on the body of a man. God sent His angel to tell Joseph “He shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Have you ever known, believed and said, “The Lord Jesus came to save me from my sins”? If this is your confession, Christmas is very meaningful!

Who is the Lord Jesus Christ? There are many who confess that they believe in the Lord Jesus but they do not believe that the Lord Jesus is God. What about you?

To know Him, you need special revelation of God through His Word because God’s Word is Truth (John 17:17). You are truly blessed if you know the Truth. God’s Word declares that the Lord Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16). He is with God and “All things were made by him” (John 1:1-3), and “God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16), and His Name is “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23). The Lord Jesus is God.

Why does the Lord Jesus Christ have to become a man? The Lord Jesus came into this world to be born of the Virgin Mary, died and rose again to save mankind from their sins. The Lord Jesus is God, the second person of the Triune Godhead. As God, the Lord Jesus is eternal and He has to humbly become a man.

Many think that by doing something good, on their own merit, they can cleanse and save themselves from sins. The Truth is that no man can save himself. God’s Word says, “There is none righteous, no, not one: ...For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 23).

“All have sinned” means that man cannot save himself nor save others. Thus, do not trust man for salvation as man himself is a sinner and cannot save himself.

God’s Word reveals that all sinners will be condemned to Hell after death (Luke 16:23-24) and in the Lake of Fire after the Final Judgement (Rev 20:15). Only God can save sinful man from his sins and from Hell and the Lake of Fire.

How does the Lord Jesus Christ become a man? The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus was not born of an earthly father and mother. The Lord Jesus’ birth is a supernatural birth, a miracle, born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary is thus used of God, as the holy vessel for the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Consequently, the Lord Jesus is perfect and sinless. As a perfect and sinless man, He is able to live, die, resurrected and save all sinners.   

What does the Lord Jesus Christ save man from? Man cannot save himself or others from sins on his own good works or merits. Man can never be pure and holy because he is not able to stop sinning nor able to put away his sinful nature as he inherited the sinful nature from birth. Only God can save mankind from their sins. Mankind may try their best with all their effort through self-discipline, self-denial, self-control, self-restraint, abstinence and separation from the world in seclusion to flee from temptations and sins. Yet, they still cannot save themselves or others.  

The Bible says “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” Jeremiah 17:9-10. Who can know it? Sadly, many do not know that their heart is so deceitful and wicked! Thus, man cannot save himself from sins. Only a righteous and holy God can.

Rejoice and thank the Lord Jesus Christ: The Lord Jesus Christ came to save sinful man from sins. We must believe, accept, follow and trust in the Lord Jesus who alone is able to save us from sins and our sinful nature.

Have you experienced the deliverance from sins? If not, call and cry upon Him. The Lord Jesus will hear and answer your cry for deliverance. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us ” 1 John 1:9. Our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ alone is able to save. 

The Good News: All men are sinners and come short of God’s glory and holy standard. The Bible says that no man, born of a human father and human mother, can save men from sin and men cannot save themselves either. This is why God sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, conceived of the Holy Spirit, to this world to save sinful mankind.

May God help us to understand the Lord Jesus’ earthly birth and life, sacrifice, resurrection and salvation. Do believe in Him, trust in Him, depend on Him and accept Him as your personal Lord and Saviour. This is the glad tidings and gospel message during Christmas. Share this message with others. By knowing this, Christmas will be more meaningful and impactful. This will be the greatest and best Christmas gift of salvation you can give to your loved ones and friends who are still outside the kingdom of God.

May the gospel message of salvation be shared not only in December and Christmas but everyday. May God bless you with a meaningful and joyous Christmas. Amen.

In Christ, Eld. Choe Tong Seng