Five Facts About Christmas

With Christmas in America becoming heedlessly commercialized, secularized or even outright banned, I want to share five key facts about Christmas and the One whose very name is incorporated in this blessed day.

1. Jesus was God “manifest in the flesh” - 1 Tim. 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. His birth was the realization of Old Testament prophecies which told of the coming of God to earth in human form. Jesus stated this Himself in Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Jesus came to earth in the most humble of circumstances, being literally born in a manger, linking Himself with the most common of peoples, indicating that His love is available to all.
2. Jesus was born of a virgin - In fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel, God came in the personhood of Jesus. This prophecy was fulfilled when Mary “found favor with God” (Luke 1:30), and she conceived in her womb “the Son of the Highest.” This is important because Jesus was the God-Man. He could not have retained His heavenly claim if he had been born of man, or born into sin with the nature of a mere man. Throughout His life, Jesus remained blameless so that He could fulfill His purpose.
3. Jesus came to earth with the sole purpose of dying for our sins - The name of Jesus means “Jehovah Saves,” signifying that “by His very name and nature” Jesus is “the Saviour.” Sin alienates us from God; and we all have sinned. But Jesus’ death and resurrection bridged the gap between heaven and hell for us. This is the beauty of the Christmas story. The King of Kings willingly came to earth as a humble servant to save you and me.
4. Jesus was real - Jesus’ life is not a fable or an allegory. The New Testament accounts of Jesus’ life are written by four eye witnesses to His earthly ministry. Josh McDowell states, “The New Testament has more manuscript authority than any piece of literature from antiquity.” So we have reliable historic evidence of the fact of Jesus’ life. Further, He was seen by hundreds of people (I Corinthians 15:5-8) following His death on the cross, meaning that His resurrection, his conquering of the tomb, was indeed factual. He lived. He willingly died. And He lives again! And through faith in Him, we too are freed from the awful power of death.
5. Jesus is reaching out to you - This is the most important message of Christmas. No matter your race, creed, heritage, background or station in life, His love is available to you. Just as Jesus was born in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago, if you don’t know Him, He can be born into your heart and life. The most well known verse in the Bible, John 3:16, tells us the way to know Jesus Christ as your Savior: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

May the love of Jesus Christ be real in your life this Christmas and throughout the year.

Excerpt from The Falwell Confidential, 12/21/07