Merry Christmas dearly beloved!

Christmas is about a God Who loves us so much, that He refused to allow us to die and go to hell without an opportunity to miss it.  All of Christmas can be summed up in one verse:

• For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given…(Isaiah 9:6)

Isn’t it amazing that both of these things happened at one time?  A Child was born and a Son was given.  The Child was JESUS in His humanity, because we know God cannot be born.  He walked this earth as a man, even though He was 100 percent God and also 100 percent man!  

Beginning in the book of Genesis, I think it’s so important that we remind ourselves about THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS ~

Very quickly, God created man.  Then, He gives the man a woman.  Everything in the garden of Eden belonged to them.  They had no needs.  God then tells them that there is one tree in the center of the garden that is off limits.  God told them that if they partake of it, they will surely die a spiritual death, which meant separation from God.  They partook of that which was forbidden and the moment they did, they died spiritually.  They received Satan’s nature and would have to pay a penalty for what they did, which was eternal death.  Someone had to pay the price.  Someone had to die.  So, God found a virgin girl named, “Mary” who was willing to receive what God said to her.  The seed of God took root in her womb and that which was born of her was JESUS, without the nature of sin.  Now, God has Someone qualified to carry all the sin of mankind.  

I thank God for the manger, but I’m so glad JESUS great up, because unless He gave Himself to be beaten and hung on that cross, there would be no remission for our sin.  JESUS died and went to hell on our behalf, so we don’t have to go.  

God’s gift of redemption is better than a BMW or getting a diamond ring.  It’s better than anything you can think of.  God redeemed you from eternal damnation.

JESUS bore the penalty for everything you’ve ever done wrong.  That means that you are free form all the result of Adam’s mess-up.  God made you free physically; He’s made you free financially; He’s made you free spiritually; He’s made you free in every single way.  He did it because He loved you from the beginning.

So, this Christmas, think about these things ~ Know that you are saved, healed, delivered, and provided for.  Know that you are filled with the power and the strength of God.  Know that you are forgiven, because unto us a Child is born ~ Unto us a Son is given.  Jesus was born on Christmas Day, but He grew up and won the biggest battle of all time ~ and it was all for YOU!  Now, that’s THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS to me!

With a grateful heart,

Lisa Gordon

Assistant Pastor

Jesus City Church