GOD’S CHRISTMAS GIFT
The most famous verse in the Bible is John 3:16 and it says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God loved the world so much He sent Jesus to save us. Jesus came to save all souls not just certain ones.
Jesus came for everyone. He loves all people. The classic children’s song has these words, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world; red, brown, yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”
Christmas reminds us of this salient truth: Jesus loves everyone and came so we might have a relationship with God. God does not discriminate, He is not prejudiced, He reaches out to all people of every race and ethnicity. Jesus wants everyone to be saved.
John 3:17 tells us, “For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” The reason Jesus came to this Earth is because we all need salvation. He didn’t come to condemn us but to save us. Maybe you think you don't need to be saved, you don't need to be rescued, you don't need any help. But the Christmas message is we are in need of salvation.
God gave us the greatest gift in Jesus. This is what Christmas is all about. God's gift is a Savior. Jesus changes the relationship between a holy, perfect God and an unholy, imperfect human race. Enmity is replaced with friendship. Jesus saves us. He changes the nature of the relationship. It's not because of anything we do. This is why it is called grace.
Christ makes us acceptable to God. Jesus offers His grace and forgiveness to any person that would simply accept it. We are saved when we receive Jesus Christ into our lives. You are saved when you confess that Jesus is your Savior, that He saved you from your sins, that He's the leader of your life.
We are saved from our sins by having faith in Jesus, by believing in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His death on the cross, His resurrection victory. When we confess that, when we agree with that, when we say that is true then we are saved.
Any person young or old, a man or a woman, of any race or ethnicity - anyone can be saved. All we do is accept God’s Christmas gift of Jesus.