CHRISTMAS A TIME TO REMEMBER GOD’S GRACIOUS GIFT OF SALVATION (JOHN 3:13)

Dear Members in Christ,                                                                                                

Christmas a time to remember God’s gracious gift of salvation (John 3:13)

As we celebrate Christmas, it is customary to take time to visit one another, and for some families, an opportunity to exchange gifts with friends and loved ones. This is the way in which many of us remember Christmas. I remember as a child, our neighbor was a very kind family that celebrated Christmas by giving out gifts to us little children. And how we loved it! Every Christmas was a time of great expectation. We knew Christmas was round the corner because the radio stations would begin playing Christmas carols as “filler” material between radio broadcasts. Yes, those were the days when the radio was still a common feature in many homes. The windows of certain shops in our neighborhood would display posters of the nativity scene, Christmas trees and other decorative items. Though we did not celebrate Christmas, we felt the festive mood, and we were the beneficiary of the kindness of others who shared their Christmas goodies with us.

As I grew and mature, I looked back to those days with nostalgia. But better still, with maturity and understanding of the Gospel message of salvation, I began to see that Christmas as more than just a festive season. This is what we should consider in the Christmas season- that Christmas is a time to remember God’s gift of His beloved Son Jesus Christ in order that sinners may be redeemed and justified. The most commonly quoted verse in the Bible I believe is, John 3:16 which reads, 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Thinking back, we had often wondered, what is this Christmas festival all about? And what about the giving of gifts? Is it simply a gesture of kind-hearted generosity or is there a deeper message behind this? The answer is in the verse which we have read. God loved and gave. 

A. At Christmas, we remember God’s gracious gift of salvation

Indeed, the Christmas message is about God’s love for the world. A world that had fallen into sin is separated from God. The Bible teaches us in the Book of Genesis how our first parents Adam and Eve had disobeyed God. Having fallen into the corruption of sin, they were unable to restore their broken relationship with God. This theological truth is later exposited upon by Paul the Apostle when he wrote the epistle to the Romans,

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10-12

The fallen nature of man seeks to estrange himself further from God. When Adam and Eve sinned, the immediate instinct was to hide themselves from God. And this is so true even to this day. In their natural state, man and women will reject the gospel of salvation. However, God did not leave man in their fallen nature. That is the state of eternal condemnation and separation from God, the state wherein man will naturally reject the grace of God. The Bible teaches that, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18

So, what did God do for the fallen man? How and why did God reach out to man? The Bible tells us how God’s loved for the world is demonstrated. God gave His only begotten Son. Loving and giving goes hand in hand. Remember those kind hearted neighbors who gave Christmas gifts to children in the neighborhood? It is about demonstrating God’s love towards us. So at Christmas, we give gifts to others because we remember God’s greatest gift towards us. This is a good lesson to teach our children, an object lesson to make the association between loving and giving. For God so loved us, that He gave us His only begotten Son. What else can we do with this knowledge?

B. At Christmas, we reflect how we can share God’s gift with others

We can share the knowledge of God’s love for us with those who are still in darkness. You see from John Chapter 3 when Nicodemus approached the Lord Jesus to ask about being born again, he was puzzled and he did not understand the meaning of being born again. The Lord explained to him that this is a spiritual knowledge, “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” John 3:12

The son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ was about to tell Nicodemus this heavenly message, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” The Lord Jesus is the bearer of this message of salvation.

Dearly beloved, the natural and carnal person cannot know God, neither can he or she come to the knowledge of God. However, we can reflect God’s love by giving them the precious gift of the gospel. This Christmas, make it your service to the Lord Jesus, by sharing the Gospel with someone. Perhaps, with God’s help, an unbelieving loved one or a friend may come to know the joy of salvation. In that way, we too can be bearers of the message of salvation to others. May God’s name be praised. Amen

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor