Christmas Special Message – This is a time that the believers celebrate the giving of a very important gift. That gift is Christ, the Son of God and God the Son who died and rose again to give us salvation! This article is intended to remind those who have received this GIFT of the concept of a gift. It is free to the receiver. But more importantly, I intend to show those who have yet to receive it how to! Salvation is the gift we receive through Christ. It has to be received through faith in Him. It is at no cost to you!
John 1:1-14 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Introduction
This is a time that the believers celebrate the giving of a very important gift. That gift is Christ, the Son of God and God the Son! I understand the concerns of those who question the fact that Jesus was born on December 25th. The truth is, no one knows for sure. But whether it happened in December or in September, what matters is the fact that Christ was born, and the reason why He was born. That is what we are celebrating. As long your celebration is focused on Christ, it’s okay to celebrate His birth anytime, even in December.
But this is where I’m going, this time is when families, relatives and friends exchange gifts. As you do that this year, I want to draw your attention to the most important gift of all, the gift of salvation. We know that the giving of that gift began by the birth of Christ. And that is exactly what the believers celebrate. Every time we remember Christ, we celebrate the gift of salvation.
Now I want to remind you of the concept of gifts. A gift is something you receive without paying or giving anything in return. It is free to you because the gift giver has paid for it. Let me paint the picture with these two scenarios; the giving of a gift and the receiving of a gift.
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Illustrating the Concept of Gifts
When you give a gift, and you require the recipients of the gift to pay for it, or maybe you give them a condition that they must fulfill to keep the gift, then they will know that it’s no longer a gift since there is a catch.
Same goes with when you receive a gift. If the giver of the gift requires a price for it, or gives you a condition to fulfill in order for you to keep it, then you know it’s no longer a gift to you. It has now become something you earned. I want to assume that you’re still agreeing with me so far.
Salvation – the Greatest Gift Ever Given!
This concept of gifts works the same way with our salvation. The Bible calls it “the gift of God”. We read in the Scripture that we’re justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. That sounds like a gift to me. It is so much a gift that the Bible calls it a “free gift“.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God
Romans 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
So, my encouragement to those who have received this gift is to be grateful for their salvation. Never allow yourself to live with the mentality that you must give or do something to receive or keep it. And you are not required to pay back anything. Think about it this way, if you are to pay back, how much do you think it’s worth?
Your salvation has been fully paid for! Nothing is required on your part to receive or to keep it. The desire to do good works and the deeds themselves (done with the right motives) are the result of salvation, and not the prerequisite for or the condition to keep the salvation.
You Can Receive that Gift Today
For those who are yet to receive it. Remember the concept of a gift. You’re not required to do or give anything to receive it. The Bible says salvation is given freely “by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). What that means is that if you believe and put your trust in Christ, you will freely receive this gift of salvation – that is, the forgiveness of sin and eternity with God.
What It Means to Believe in Jesus Christ
You must first agree with the Bible that you’re a sinner who deserves to die, or perish. What the means is that you will die and go to hell where you will suffer in unquenchable fire burning with Sulphur. That’s bad news!
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Another bad news is that you cannot save yourself by anything you do or can do. This is because you’ve fallen short because of your sins. You have been disqualified. But the story did not end with the bad news. It continues!
Christ loves you enough to come and die for your sin.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Christ was the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, yours and mine included. He came in the flesh. He suffered. He bled and died, in our place. His blood was shed as an atonement for your sins and mine.
In the text above, verse 12 reads:
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name
Believe in the Gospel – Trust in the Blood
The Bible says if you believe what He did for you, your sins will be forgiven!
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures
So, believe with your heart that Christ dies for your sins, He was buried, and that He rose again the third day, and you will be saved. This is what it means to believe in Jesus Christ. Genuine believing alone is what brings salvation!
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
You Need to Decide
The gift of salvation is still available for everyone who is willing to receive it. But whether you will get it or not depends on the decision you make right now. You have the options either to accept or reject Christ’s offer of salvation.
But accepting it is the only good decision you can make today. Christ says if you believe, you have eternal life!
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.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
But if you choose not to believe, the future does not look for those who reject the gospel. Listen to the words of Christ:
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.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
If you believe in Jesus Christ, you will not perish. But if you reject Him, you will perish under the wrath of God. But you don’t have to go through the eternal suffering. The offer of salvation is still available. No work or payment is required of you! For more on how to be saved, please see How to Be Saved.
If you have believed, I congratulate you. And if you have not, consider putting your faith in Christ today and receive the greatest of all gifts, the Gift of salvation.
Thank you for reading. Merry Christmas!
