The Christ Of Christmas

(Matthew 1:21) "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (ESV)

The name Jesus means the LORD saves and Christ or Messiah means anointed one.  He is Immanuel which means God with us (Matthew 1:23).  It is important to understand that Jesus is not celebrating another birthday.  Jesus did not come into existence when he was born to the Virgin Mary.  He has always existed, he is eternal (John 1:1).  All three persons of the Godhead have always existed (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  In Jesus, God became man and dwelt among us (John 1:14).  The focus then should be on the incarnation and not on a birthday (Philippians 2:1-11).  

Christ came to save his people from their sins.  We are all sinners who have broken God's law (Romans 3:10,23).  Because of our sin we face the wrath of a Holy God (Ephesians 2:3).  But Jesus lived a perfect life without sin providing perfect righteousness on our behalf.  He died on the cross paying the penalty for the sins of his people.  It was a propitiation which means he turned away the wrath of God from us and took it on himself (Romans 3:25, 1 Thessalonians 1:10).  Jesus was raised from the dead victorious over sin, death, and the devil (1 Corinthians 15).  The resurrection proves that he is God (Romans 1:4).  

God commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).  We must repent which means to have a change of mind and place our faith in Christ alone for salvation.  Salvation is by grace and not by works, you cannot earn it (Ephesians 2:8-9).  God makes those who were dead in their trespasses and sins alive (Ephesians 2:1-5).  Salvation is totally the work of God.  We receive the righteousness of Christ while he takes our sins on himself (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).  We must receive Jesus as Savior and submit to him as Lord.  We must believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31).  Those who reject Jesus go to hell for eternity, while those who believe in him spend eternity in heaven (Matthew 25:46).