We Celebrate Christ's Birth Because He Lives

Because He Lives by the Gaither Trio 1972



In the early 1970's, Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote a song entitled, "Because He Lives."  The couple was going through a tumultuous time in their lives.  Gloria just had their third child.  Bill was suffering from mononucleosis and Gloria was overwhelmed with all the social unrest that was taking place in our society.  America's educational system was promulgating the "God is dead" movement.  There were all sorts of protests that were transpiring in America.  There was major demonstrations taking place against America's involvement in the Vietnam War.  One evening, she felt the peace and assurance from God that everything was going to be fine.  It will be fine because He lives and sits on the throne on high.   Out of that experience, a song was born and it's been an inspiration since that time.

When you think of the verses that comprise the song, our whole reason we live and do the things we do is simply because He lives.  The reason why we have the church, the reason why the church is engaged in outreach to the community is simply "because He lives."  If Jesus' corpse was still in the tomb, then we would be the most miserable of people.  (I Corinthians 15:19)

Tomorrow we'll officially be celebrating the birth of Christ.  He came into this world over 2000 years ago to be born of a virgin that we might experience the eternal life he has for us.  However, Christ's birth into this world wouldn't be much different than the birth of any historical person with the exception that Christ lived a sinless life (I John 3:5).  Nevertheless, when we celebrate Christ's birth on Christmas day, we aren't just celebrating the birth of some historical person that lived and walked on earth and one day died upon an old rugged cross.  There's more to it.  Jesus remained the the grave three days and three nights and then he arose from the grave.  He's alive and sitteth at the right hand of the Father (I Peter 3:22).  Because Jesus arose from the grave, we have hope of eternal life.  Because he arose from the grave, He lives today.  HE's alive forevermore.  Death and hell have been conquered.  We have victory in this life because of the sacrifice he paid on Calvary along with His resurrection.  He lives today.  Because of that, we can enjoy the Christmas season in remembrance of the fact that God sent his son into this old sinful world to be born of a virgin and had to be placed in a stable because there was no room for him in the inn.  The wise men came to worship the king.  The angels were rejoicing.  What a time that was.  I know there's nothing in the Bible that compels us to celebrate the birth of Christ, but if there wasn't a birth, there would've been no death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Merry Christmas.