AHBC - Jesus The Reason For The Season

THE TRUE REASONS FOR THE SEASON

(extracted from a message by Rev. Charles Bronson, Jackson, MS.)

Let's face it, the Christmas season is a time that is loved by many and hated by just as many. Yet, regardless of which side of that issue you fall on, this much is true… the Christmas season is a time filled with many mixed messages and with pagan and worldly rituals.

This is supposed to be the one time in the year when the world remembers the

birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, and every year we muddy the waters of truth by

allowing the Scriptural meaning of the season to be mingled with other

messages that have their origin in the world.

While we may enjoy Christmas as much as the next person, be aware that

there are some terrible misconceptions surrounding the true meaning of the

season. For many it is all about money, commercialism and greed. Others see

it as a time for parties, meals and get-togethers.

Many children know Christmas only as a time for Santa, Rudolph The

Red-nosed Reindeer and other equally foolish fairy tales. As a result, some

children have no idea what the true meaning of Christmas is all about.

Thank God for the Bible! In His holy, inspired, infallible Word, God sets the record straight where Christmas is concerned! He gives us, in no uncertain terms, the true reasons for the season. Many say that "Jesus is the reason for the season”. And, He IS the primary reason, but He isn't the only one! Here are some of the “other” true reasons of the season.

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR GIVING

For God To Give His Son To Men - When those shepherds heard the words of the angel, they were told that a Saviour was coming into the world. This child who was born in Bethlehem was no ordinary baby. This is proven by the angelic announcements prior to His birth (Luke 1:26-33; Matt. 1:20-23).

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He was literally God in

human flesh (John 1:1; 14)! All through His life, He proved

His distinctiveness. He taught like no other man. He

performed miracles that nobody else could ever duplicate.

He healed, He preached, He loved, He reached out. His life

was one miraculous event after another.

However, none of those things qualifies Him to be Saviour.

It wasn't enough for God to send His Son into the world,

but that same Jesus had to be "given up". When John 3:16

tells us that God "gave His only begotten Son", that is the

precise meaning.

God gave Jesus up to die on the cross for you and me so that our sin debt might be paid and so that we might have the opportunity to be saved from an eternity in Hell. Thank God for giving the greatest gift!

For Men To Give Their Souls To God - Nobody likes to receive a gift and then give nothing from themselves in return. God gave His Son to die for sinners. If we are to give a gift to the Lord, what would it be?

We all have that someone on our gift list who seems to have everything already. They are hard people to buy for. What do you give someone who has everything already? Think about it, what can you and I give God? He doesn't need our money. He can get by without our talents. He doesn't need a fruit basket, or a new tie, or some socks or handkerchiefs.

In fact, when you get right down to it, none of us really possesses anything anyway. You say, "I own my house!" Just stop paying the taxes for a few years and see who owns it! You say, "I own my cars!" Again, stop paying the insurance and the taxes and see who controls that car. You say, "Well, I own my money!" Just let the economy crash and then think about what you have left.

There is only one true possession that we each have and

it is our soul. I have control over it and if I want to give

something to the Lord, then it must be my soul. It is the only

thing I have that I can honestly give. This is the intent of

Mark 8:36-37. Now, the question arises, have you given

your heart to the Lord? If not, there is no better time than

today to make that happen (2 Cor. 6:2).

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR

GOOD TIDINGS

The angel came to a group of shepherds in a field with a message of "good tidings”. Literally, this phrase comes from the word from which we get our word "evangelize." The message of the angel was a message of salvation. He came to proclaim the glorious news that a Saviour had been born in Bethlehem!

This message is a message of hope!

These shepherds were social outcasts. They were considered unclean by their religion and were typically uncouth, dirty, and possibly even vulgar men. They were the type of men that no one wanted to be around. They were generally forgotten by some elements of their society. However, they hadn't been forgotten by God!

How wonderful that these wretched, sinful men who gave their lives to raising sheep for the Temple services were the first to hear the good news that the Lamb of God had been born into the world. It was a message of hope! They were forbidden from seeking God in the Temple, but God brought salvation to them!

The message hasn't changed! The Gospel is still a message of hope. You may be one who has committed some really terrible sins. You may feel that God wouldn't save you. You may feel that you have no hope. You may think that you are beyond the scope of God's saving power. Well, the door of salvation is standing wide open and whosoever will, may come in and find salvation for their soul!

Here's the deal, if you are lost and know you

need a Saviour, then know that Jesus is who

you need. And, just as the message was one of

hope for those men that night, it is a message

of hope for you this day.

It is a chance to begin life again. It is an

opportunity to have your sins washed away.

It is an opportunity to come to know God and assure yourself of Heaven when you die.

Thank God, there is still hope in the Gospel!

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR AMAZING GRACE

In a very real sense, we are the reason for the season! Before you think this heresy, notice Luke 2:11, also

Isa. 9:6. These lowly shepherds did not deserve to be the first to hear of Christ's birth, but it was God's grace that reached out to them in their need. Just as it was with those shepherd's in that field, if there is salvation in your life and mine, it is there by grace and grace alone!

There is not a single individual who deserves anything from God! In fact, if we got what we deserved, we would all be in Hell this moment, screaming in the flames of torment (Rom. 6:23)! No, we do not deserve to be saved, but God in His great, matchless, marvellous, unspeakable grace reached out to us in the midst of our sins and called us to come to Him!

Dear lost friends, if you ever experience salvation, it will

not be on the basis of any good which you might have

done. It will not be on the basis of church membership,

baptism, attendance, etc. If you are ever saved, it will

be by grace and grace alone (Eph. 2:8-9).

Therefore, do not presume upon the Lord! If He is

calling you to come to Him, please do so, and do so

today! There may never be another opportunity

(Prov. 27:1; Gen. 6:3).

Christmas is a time for giving, for good tidings and a

time for grace. Reflect upon what God has done for

you and think about what you can give God today.