What is the essence of Christmas?
Christmas is one week away and every seems to be celebrating the season. I wish I could say the same.
It all started when someone called Christ came to earth several millennia ago. According to scholars he was born during the summer months of Aviv or April not during the cold months of December. He was born because was God's gift to mankind. The saviour to save every one -- that is -- everyone who desires that God save him. Of course God could not force himself on someone who doesn't need to be saved from Hell's fire, right?
So Christ was born that night with just the starry heaven as his "Christmas lights" and probably the whispering of the wind. As God gave Christ as a gift to save man, Christmas should remind us of that very same thing. Why was Christ born?
Was Christ born so that we could just celebrate Christmas?
Christ was born so that we can turn to him for salvation. Salvation from what you may ask? Salvation from sin and hell. All sinners are doomed to hell, whether you believe me or not, that is what the Bible says in Romans 3:10, "For all have sinned" and Romans 3:23 where it says, "There is none righteous, no not one."
How can we face such a penalty for sin? The Bible has has two answers: escape it or face it. If you choose to face it, just wait until you die and go to hell. You will pay for it every single day of your immortal life. If you decide to escape it, simple. Just read on.
Admit that you are a sinner who is hellbound without a Saviour. Realize that you need Christ to save you and ask him to save you from your sin. This means trusting Christ with your entire life including your choices: who decides right and wrong? If you accept Christ, you will have to give him that choice and you will have to follow him as your spiritual Dad. It is no longer you who lives, but Christ will live in you (Galatians 2:20). Of course, you will still be committing sin, but you will be sinning less as opposed to being sinless.
Trusting Christ involves faith. Faith is a requirement to salvation. Working for it is not. Faith says that I believe in God and his ability to save even if I have not seen him. Faith is taking God at his word. "He said, that settles it," should be our attitude.
The Bible says, without faith we cannot please him (Heb 11:6)
So if you admit that you are a sinner, trust Christ with your life through faith and turn from your old wicked ways (called repentance) you will be saved.
Here is a prayer that can guide you through it.
"Jesus, I know that I am a sinner that is incapable of saving himself. I understand that my efforts at saving myself will not work and that my religion is vain without a proper relationship with you. I know that you can save me and I trust that wou will. So please, father, save me from my sin. I repent of all my sin and ask you to start me off with a clean slate. I pray that you will give me eternal life in heaven with you. I make this decision in faith and totally commit my life to you.
In Jesus' name, amen."
Once you've said a prayer similar to this or followed this prayer, please tell me about your experience. I would love to hear from you, brother/sister!
