(John 3:16) "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." I want to extend this time to wish all the bloggers and blog readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope your Christmas is a very joyous time today as we remember the birth of our saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. Even though Christmas is on a Sunday this year, it's still very important to be in attendance at the House of God. What a better way to celebrate Christmas than to celebrate it in the House of God today. Even though many people will be gathering at their families' houses today, it's still important to be faithful to church.
During the Christmas season many people go shopping to and fro to retail stores to purchase Christmas gifts for their loved ones. One of the busiest times of years in the retail market is during the Christmas season starting with Black Friday the day after Thanksgiving all the way to December 26, the day after Christmas. Christmas is a very commercialized time of year. There's so much emphasis upon gifts and what we desire for Christmas that we don't take time to ponder the most important gift ever given to us in this world. That gift is none other than Jesus coming down to this earth in a robe of flesh to be born of a Virgin named Mary. There's no greater gift. Jesus came to this earth as God incarnate--both God and man without sin. That's a mystery because there's no way that man can be born naturally without sin. That's why Jesus' birth wasn't natural. Mary wasn't impregnated through the means of mortal man. Mary was impregnated through the Holy Ghost, which isn't naturally possible. However, with God all things are possible. Jesus couldn't have been born as a spotless lamb had he been born through natural means. That's why he was born through the Holy Ghost. This process of conception is known as the Immaculate Conception. Jesus would've been a sinner had he been born through Joseph or any other mortal man. Ever since the fall of the human race, the seed of sin is passed down through man every time a woman conceives. The Psalmist David says that in sin did my mother conceive me (Psalms 51:5). Every child is born in sin through conception. However, Christ's conception was supernatural and as a result he was no natural man. He was robed in flesh and understood the temptation that man had undergone but yet he was without sin. That made him the perfect candidate to walk up Calvary's hill and die upon a cross so man could be redeemed from sin.
I've heard preachers preach for a number of years that Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving. That is very true. He is the gift that keeps on giving. Out of all the gifts that mankind has received throughout the ages, there's no greater gift than God sending his Son Jesus to this world so that one day mankind would be redeemed from sin. There's not a greater gift given than Jesus laying down his life for mankind. He willingly gave his life for us so that we might one day know the free pardon from sin. As a result of the fall of Adam, mankind was plunged into sin and for four thousand years the high priest had to offer animal sacrifices in the Holy of Holies as a means to cover the sins of mankind. However, animal sacrifices weren't meant to be a permanent solution to atone for the sins of mankind. Animal sacrifices only covered the sins of man. They were sacrificed once a year. This process had to be offered continually. However, when Jesus died, he paid the price for our sins only once (I Peter 3:18). Jesus doesn't have to continually go upon Calvary's cross to die on a yearly basis for the sins of mankind. Once was enough for Christ. His sacrifice is sufficient for time and eternity. Jesus will never again have to come down to this earth as a mortal man to die for the sins of mankind. That's what Christ did at his first appearing. When Jesus comes the second time, he will be crowned the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He will be king the second time he comes. Those that are saved will live with Christ forever and ever. What a blessing!
There's no greater gift than you can receive than Jesus. All the material goods of this world will one day fade away. However, the gift of Jesus still stands. It's still just as good today as it was when he died on Calvary. Jesus still today saves sinners and any man that will come to him, he will in no wise cast out (John 6:37). The gift never grows old. Most of the gifts we receive today in a materialistic form will one day be worthless. The gifts in this world pale in comparison to the gift that God gave to this world over two thousand years ago. The gift of God is still good today. Jesus is still as relevant today as he was yesterday. Jesus will never grow old and He will still be just as sufficient a thousand years from now as He is today. There's no greater gift that has ever been given to mankind than Jesus. Nothing compares to Jesus. The gift of God will endure for eternity.
an outdoor Christmas tree