Christmas Summary

The first six letters in Christmas spells Christ which is essential for all believers who know Jesus as the Christ, the anointed Messiah who came to earth as humanity deliverer.

Christ’s purpose for coming to earth was to die for the sins of the world. Christ died so that you and I wouldn’t have to die. Humanity’s responsibility is to accept Christ’s atoning work at Calvary because He paid the price and our account is marked PAID IN FULL.
C
Let’s close this discourse with the following questions, What are your views of Christmas? How do you spell Christmas? It is improper to spell Christmas Xmas because we X out Christ when we do so. Lastly, Christ is the sole reason for honoring His holy birth. Angels and the heavenly host sang praises to His birth while announcing peace had come to earth and this meant Salvation for mankind.
Christ is Christmas!

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Author's contact
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

Christmas "A and S"

The letters A and S conclude our discussion on the True Meaning of Christmas with the hopes that an enhanced understanding of Christmas has been gained.

A-Atonement means to be forgiven of ones sins, or the bringing together of two who have been at odds with one another. Atonement removes the barrier that once existed between man and God and through Jesus’ death on Calvary restored the peaceful relationship between man and God. His blood sacrifice removed the need for animal sacrifices ever again (Hebrews 9:12-18). The difference between animal sacrifices and Christ’s sacrificial death is that animal sacrifices covered over sin whereas Christ’s sacrifice done away with sin. What a difference!
Lastly, Christ’s atonement permanently removed guilt and sin thus turning away God’s wrath and reconciled humanity back to God. Thank God for Jesus----what a fellowship!

S-Salvation means deliverance from evil, the bringing safely through, or protecting from harm, and eternal life (Isaiah 12:2; Luke 19:9). Our salvation comes only through God’s grace, which He freely gives, and our faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24) which is based on His death (Romans 3:25; 5:8; resurrection (Romans 5:10) and continued intercession for believers (Hebrews 7:25). Jesus is the way to Salvation!

Salvation is described as having two sides or three stages: (1) Salvation is a gift of God’s graces that is received through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22; 24-25; 28), and it is extended to us as a result of His grace (John 1:16) (2) It is received by all believers through ones response of his or her faith (Acts 16:31; Romans 1:17; Ephesians 1:15).

Let's segway to the three stages of salvation, which are past, present and future as outlined below:
Past consists of the personal experience by which believers receive forgiveness of sin as a free gift (Acts 10:43; Romans 4:6-8) and pass from spiritual death to spiritual life. Believers have been rescued from Satan’s powers.
Present is that salvation saves us from the bondage, power and dominion of sin and brings us into a fellowship with God, the Holy Spirit. There is a person-to-person relationship with God as our Father and Jesus as our Lord and Savior (Matthew 6:9; John 14:18-23). Believers are dead to sin (Romans 6:1-14) and believers submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit (Roman 8:1-17), God’s Word (John 8:31; 14:21; II Timothy 3:15-16), an invitation to be filled with the Holy Spirit and separate ourselves from sin (Roman 6:1-14) and we are called to contend for the advancement of God’s kingdom against Satan and his demonic attacks.
Future stage of salvation is the believer’s deliverance from God’s coming wrath (Romans 5:9; 1 Corinthians 3:15; 5:5). Believers will share in Christ’s glory as well as receiving our resurrected or transformed bodies (Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:49). Lastly, believers will be rewarded as faithful overcomers as this is the goal for all Christians to achieve (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 3:8-14) (All scriptures are taken from Life in the Spirit Study Bible KJV).

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Christmas "M"

Two days from today (Saturday) many across this nation and in many other nations around the world will pause to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as He is the promised Messiah. God fulfilled His promise by sending His only Son to be the Savior of the world. As the Messiah Jesus became the sacrificial lamb atoning man's sins.

The word Messiah has a lengthy history beginning with its origin and use in OT times and continues to usage in the NT, but for today's discussion let us looks at the letter "M" which represents Messiah in Christmas.

M-Messiah means the anointed one. Therefore, Christ in the English form of the word is the anointed one. Messiah also refers to the coming Savior and this translates to the anointed one or Messiah as He came to save the world and will return to rule the world when He establishes His earthly kingdom. Christ was anointed by God the Father before creation to be the Savior of the world, as He was begotten of the Father. John 1:1-4 refers to Jesus as the “Word made flesh”, which further authenticates Christ as the Messiah. John 1:1 refers to the uniqueness of Jesus the Messiah being the Son of Man which is supported in Romans 1:4 confirmed by Jesus Himself in Mark 14:62; Matthew 26:63f; Luke22:67-70 when He ask the priests and elders "Are you the Messiah"? Being the Son of God and the Messiah gives Him the power and authority from God to carry out His divine plan of salvation reconciling man back to God.

God in His divine wisdom knew that man would need a deliverer and His Son Jesus was prepared by the Father-God for this mission--His birth, death, burial and resurrection. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us. What a deliverer- Jesus the Messiah.

Please note that on Tuesday, December 28, 2010 will conclude our discussions on Christmas with the summary as I will have posted the remaining letters (A and S). These discussions were taken from my booklet The True Meaning of Christmas. As always your comments are welcomed.

Author's contact:
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com/

Christmnas "T"

Our discussion letter from our Christmas discussion is "T" and its meaning in relation to Christ and Christmas.

T-Temple is the body of Christ and all baptized believers are part of His body. Jesus Christ embodies the meaning of the temple and the church which is His body, then members of His body are designated as “temples of God,” being indwelt by Christ and His Spirit (1Corinthians 3:16; II Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21-22). The Spirit of Christ lives in His church-believers; this requires His body-the church to be holy. Our bodies are to be holy as God cannot live in an unholy place because He is holy.

God left His temple-the church in the midst of an unholy/corrupt world, but we as His body of baptized believers must remain separated from the world and all its forms of immorality. II Corinthians 6:16 ask a profound question and provides the answer, which read, "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." Verses 17-18 give specific reasons why all believers are to separate his or herself from the world. This is because believers are sons and daughters of God. What a blessing it is to be sons and daughters of the Almighty God?

It is noteworthy to say that each believer has become a member of "the household of God" as each believer fits jointly together with each other building the temple of God--the congregation/church (Ephesians 2:21-22).

Jesus Christ embodies the true meaning of "the temple" His body. Then all believers of Christ's church are "temples" where Christ lives. We are a holy nation, a peculiar people consecrated for service to Him.

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Willie White, Author

Christmas "S"

Continuing our discussion on the True Meaning of Christmas, today's letter is "S", which means Christ our Savior.

S-Savior is one who delivers or saves. In OT times God is the deliverer of His people. Also, in the OT, Savior applies to the Messiah, but in the NT it is used both as God the Father and Christ the Son. God the Father is the Savior, for He is the author of our salvation which He provided through Christ (Luke 1:47; 1 Timothy 1:1; 2:3; 4:10; Titus 1:10; 2 Peter 1:1; 2:20; 3:2, 18; 1 John 4:10). Mary the mother of Jesus recognized Him as her Savior (Luke 1:47). At the birth of Christ, the angels announced Him as “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Lastly, salvation that Christ brought into the world for all mankind makes Him “the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14). Believers wait for a future work of Christ as Savior when He comes again to consummate our salvation and the transformation of our bodies (Philippians 3:20). Christ is the Savior of the world.

Christmas "I"

This week's focus letter in Christmas is "I".

I-is for Immanuel which means God with us (Isaiah 7:14; 8:8; Matthew 1:23). Both scriptures support each other as Isaiah prophesied of the virgin birth and Matthew 1:23 record the prophecy as being fulfilled. The importance of Jesus’ virgin birth was for the Redeemer to qualify as the Savior and provide salvation to all He must be without sin, and the only way for Him to be sinless was to be conceived by the Holy Spirit thus He would be human and divine. This means God was His Father. The name Immanuel takes on a newer and deeper meaning with Christ's birth because He is the begotten Son of God. Christ being the begotten Son of God incorporates John 3:16 as it depicts the heart of God and the assurances of our salvation.

Isaiah 8:8 looks forward to a time in the future when all God's people who remain faithful to Him has no reason to fear because He through His Son Immanuel would be there watching over God's people. This includes past, present and future generations. This authenticates the meaning of Christ's name Immanuel-God with us as God the Holy Spirit is present in all believers.

It is noteworthy to say that the virgin birth of Christ our Savior cannot be overemphasized and its importance in God's plan of salvation. Christ-Immanuel our Savor is born.

Comments are welcome.

Author's contact:

wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com.

Christmas R

Romans 1:4

The "R" discussion in Christmas will focus on resurrection and the righteousness of God and how man is made right with Him through Christ's atoning works.

R-The resurrection established Jesus as God’s Son with power. Resurrection of Jesus Christ which is the Easter miracle validates Christ’s deity as the Son of God and is the heart of the Christian faith. Romans: 1:4 supports this and validates this belief. Christians, God is not simply God, but He is the God who raises the dead, (Romans 4:16-17; Ephesians 1:19-20; I Peter 1:21). More importantly, the Christian’s faith in the resurrection on Easter Sunday morning transforms the tragedy of Friday’s cross into the Gospel message of Christ---He is alive.

“By virtue of His resurrection, our Savior entered upon His ministry as High Priest, presenting His own sacrificial blood to the Father, performing the functions of intercessions” (Romans 8:34 Zondervan’s Pictorial Bible Dictionary).

Christ's resurrection bring into focus that all believers died with Him to sin and was raised with Him to a life of righteousness. Righteousness is the rightness of God's standards, by which all is measured (Isaiah 41:10; 2 Corinthians 5:21), which includes His justice and fairness. All believers are made right with God only through Him in Christ Jesus. In being made right with God, the spiritual divide that once existed is now restored and all who believe is no longer an enemy of God, but has been born into the family of God. Being in the family of God man now has the ability through the Holy Spirit to live according to God's commandments.

If the question were raised, How can mankind match his life with that of God's commandments, His love and purpose? This is accomplished through man's (humanity) love for God and our relationship with Him. With the bridge of reconciliation now planted firmly in place, man can reciprocate God's love and obey His will in carrying out God's design purpose for each believer. As each believer lives the life of holiness the world can see the brightness of God's glory in us. Thank God that He raised His Son Jesus so that all who believe is raised to a life of righteousness and will live forever with Him-Christ.

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Author's contact
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

Christmas "H"

Luke 2:13-14

Today focus letter from Christmas is "H", which explains the role the angel and the multitude understood in their singing praises to the birth of our Savior.

H-Heavenly Host; “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God saying Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men” (Luke 2:13-14). If the heavenly host can sing praises to His name why can’t you and I. Yes we can. We thank God the Father for what He done to reconcile mankind back to Himself.

The heavenly host (angels and the multitude) understood the full magnitude of Christ's birth on this glorious day that the peace of God had come to earth to save mankind from his sins. Verse 11 provides the reason why the heavenly host as well as all believers mankind can sing praises to His holy name. This is because glorious day in the "city of David a Saviour which is Christ" the Lord is born.

Christ is the Savior because God fulfilled His promised of sending the Messiah. As our Savior Christ was born to die for man's sins and deliver humanity from the clutches of Satan's demonic powers and deliver all who believe in to the family of God. Christ was the anointed Messiah from the beginning of time, which bring into focus the popular phrase, "Christ was slain from the foundation of the world", which means His birth, death and resurrection was necessary to restore harmony between man and God and bring peace to all who believe. This is what the angel and the multitude understood.

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Author's contact:
wwhite@goodshpherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

Christmas

In preparation to honor the birth of Christ our Savior let us look the true meaning of Christmas. This holiday is more than giving and receiving gifts it is symbolic of the greatest gift ever given-God gave His Son and the Son gave His life for the sins of the world. In order to give His life Christ must be born.

Therefore, over the next several discussions we will focus on each letter in Christmas beginning with "C".

C-Is for Christ as He is the Savior of the world. Christ is the Son of God. Christ is God in the second person. He is divine and the last revelation of God Himself. Christ's birth was prophesied many years before His birth. Isaiah 7:14 prophesy reads as follows, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Christ's name means God with us. God fulfilled this prophesy 42 generations later as recorded in the gospels as indicated in Matthew 1:23 which gives humanity assurances that God always keeps His promises.

One cannot overemphasize the importance of our Savior's virgin birth, because in order to fulfill God's requirement as our Redeemer to pay man's sin debt and bring salvation to all who believe in Him, the person must be fully human and divine while remaining sinless. Christ's virgin birth satisfies all three requirements, because He was born of a woman and conceived by the Holy Spirit thus He became divine---God as His Father. Christ's conception was of supernatural means and He is revealed to humanity as one divine person with two natures--God and human, but sinless.

Christ's two natures qualify Him to be the perfect human sacrifice for the sins of the world; we must accept Him in faith and His atoning work. Through His birth and death He became our high priest who makes intercessions for us. Christ our Savior.

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Author's contact:
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com