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December 2017
Plan of Salvation: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever shall believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For unto you a child is born
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
A Message From Good News Press
What is the Meaning of Christmas for Christians Christmas is the most commercial season in our society, but for a significant percentage of the population it is also a holiday packed with meaning. For Christians who take their faith seriously, Christmas is the celebration of one of the most important events in history. Christians consider Christmas to be the celebration of the day Jesus Christ was born as a baby. Known in theology as the "Incarnation," it signifies that God became human and entered into His own creation. According to the biblical nativity narratives, Jesus was born to a virgin named Mary in the town of Bethlehem in the Judean countryside.
In fact, Christmas has been celebrated on a variety of different dates throughout the history of the Christian Church. In fact, even today Christians in some parts of the world celebrate Christian on different dates. December 25 is simply an arbitrary date chosen to celebrate the birth because the exact date is unknown.
The date is non-consequential, anyway, since the true significance of Christmas for Christians is not found in the coming of Jesus. It is in why He came. The Bible explains (and Christians believe) that Jesus is (and was) divine, and that He came into the world for the primary purpose of eventually giving up His life as an expression of His love and grace. Though most people identify Christ- Ultimately, it was part of a grand mas with the date of December 25, plan to offer forgiveness and life to Christianity does not actually claim all who would willingly choose to that Jesus was born on December 25. place their faith and hope in Him.
Did this Incarnation really take place? Or is Christmas a celebration of a birth that never took place? Christian apologists (defenders of the faith) argue in defense of the Biblical accounts. Ultimately, it is up to each person to examine the evidence and decide if they believe or not and if they will accept his free gift offered to the world. Either way, there is no denying the impact that this Christian holiday has had upon society and upon the faith community that celebrates it for reasons of faith. While many people complain about the holiday’s modern emphasis on consumerism, Christians throughout the centuries have recognized that Christmas represents a turning point in history when the Savior entered the world.
5 Ways to Share Christ During Christmas e-mail, choose cards with Christ centered images and messages. Include a Have you ever been to a birthday party scripture verse about the real meaning where no one talked about the main of Christmas. You never know. A simguest? Of course not. Yet, some people ple card or personal don’t even realize that Christmas is a Idea 1: Send Christ-centered Christmas note might encourage someone to think celebration of Christ’s birthday! cards. more about the meaning behind the Christmas is also a wonderful time to Remember that Jesus is the reason for trees and lights. reflect on the many blessings that God the season and not Santa Claus. If you has bestowed upon Cont’d on Next Page send Christmas cards in the mail or via By Rev. John B. Sorensen
us, especially God’s grace through Jesus Christ. And it provides natural opportunities to share the Gospel. Here are a few ideas:
The Christian message is often referred to as the "Gospel," which means "good news." Specifically, it is the good news about Jesus—who He is, what He has done, and what He offers. Essentially, the message is that Jesus was God in the flesh, that He came into the world to reconcile humanity to Himself, and that his salvation is freely offered to each person who will respond in faith. The Gospel message explains that salvation is only possible through the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus. Through his sacrifice, Jesus paid the price for our sinfulness (rebellion against God), thus offering us forgiveness. Then through his Resurrection He conquered death, removing it as the penalty for our sin and replacing it with the offer of eternal life that is only available from Him to all those that place their faith in Him.