Christmas is about redemption

SAN FRANCISCO – I imagine that if Christ wasn’t born on Christmas Day, we probably would still be pagans or non Christians celebrating around this time of the year. It is a good time to celebrate after a year of hard work, a year of joys and sorrows. And it is coming to an end… so we pause and celebrate with family and friends.

Indeed, many questions have been raised about Dec. 25 being the actual date that Christ was born. According to biblicalarcheology.org, the Bible itself offers little clues.

“The Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide well-known, but quite different accounts of the event – although neither specifies a date. In the second century C.E., further details of Jesus’ birth and childhood are related in apocryphal writings such as the Infancy Gospel of Thomas and the Proto-Gospel of James. These texts provide everything from the names of Jesus’ grandparents to the details of his education—but not the date of his birth.”

The same website informs us that “By the fourth century, we find references to two dates that were widely recognized—and now also celebrated—as Jesus’ birthday: Dec. 25 in the western Roman Empire and Jan. 6 in the East (especially in Egypt and Asia Minor).

“The modern Armenian church continues to celebrate Christmas on Jan. 6; for most Christians, however, Dec. 25 would prevail, while Jan. 6 eventually came to be known as the Feast of the Epiphany, commemorating the arrival of the magi in Bethlehem. The period between became the holiday season later known as the 12 days of Christmas.”

Whatever the exact date our Savior Jesus was born is not as important as Jesus Christ being born – the Son of God taking human form to be the ultimate sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. Otherwise, we would all continue to live in the darkness of sin.

A popular Christmas carol we have sung from childhood captures the essence of the moment: Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn…”

But why should the Son of God come to this Earth?

John 3: 16-17 explains: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

And why should we perish without Christ?

Romans 3:23-24 says: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Another website, gotquestions.org explains sin and why we need to be liberated from the clutches of sin by Jesus… explaining why Jesus is called Savior.

“It is a clear biblical truth all are born in sin and all have a sin nature. Scripture says God created humankind originally good and without a sin nature…

“However, Genesis 3 records the fall of Adam and Eve, and with that fall sin entered into the two previously sinless creatures. And when they had children, their sin nature was passed along to their offspring. Thus, every human being is a sinner.”

The same website continues: “Saints, on the other hand, are not born saints; they become saints by being reborn. Because we have all “sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), we are all in need of spiritual rebirth, without which we will continue in our sinful state throughout eternity.

“But God, in His great mercy and grace, has provided the (only) means for turning a sinner into a saint—the Lord Jesus Christ, who came ‘to give His life as a ransom for many.’ When we confess our need for a Savior from sin and accept His sacrifice on the cross on our behalf, we become saints.”

In other words, if Christmas didn’t happen, mankind would continue to fall short and would always remain sinners. We all have the natural inclination to follow the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. We were, thus, subject to God’s anger. But by coming to believe Jesus is the son of God and developing a relationship with Him, we are given the chance to repent and be saved.

Ephesians 2:8-10 sums up what happens after we accept God’s purpose for sending Christ into this earth:

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

This is what Christmas is all about. That Jesus Christ was born so our redemption process can begin. It could be Dec. 25 or Jan. 6, or some other date in the northern spring season. It doesn’t matter. It matters Jesus came and we now have the choice to step out of darkness and live in the light of His love.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @boochanco