One of the greatest truths foundational to Christmas is the glorious fact of the incarnation, which means that God became man and dwelt with us (John 1:14). Jesus Christ was also the God-man for we know that before the world was created He was with the Father as the eternal Word (John 1:1-2) and that He was active in the creation of the universe (John 1:3). The Bible also warns us that if anyone denies the human/divine nature of Christ, he or she “is not of God” but rather is of the “spirit of antichrist” (1 John 4:3).
This problem is very real because “many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1)—that is, those “New Age” teachers, gurus, rabbis, and mullahs who deny that Jesus and God are eternally One and that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again. When talking about Jesus, as many religions do, they deny the miraculous virgin conception and His bodily resurrection.
The real message of Christmas is much more than the baby in a manger, gift-giving, celebrations, joy and good will. All these elements are their, but the ultimate foundation of Christmas is about the God-Man, who once came “in the likeness of sinful flesh” to die in our place, and thereby “condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:3). This is the true reason to rejoice. “… I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord”— Luke 2:10a &11
As we associate with people during this holiday (“Holy-Day”) season let’s interact with them about Jesus Christ because He has made Himself known to us. The Apostle John talked first hand of the incarnation when he wrote, “We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life” — 1 John 1:1
Perhaps the only way some will see the Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas will be through you. Never stop talking about Him!
In Christ Incarnate,
Dale
dale@daleebel.org