As the Christmas season comes and goes over a world that seems much different in 2021 than it did only a few short years ago, the devout and nominal Christians alike speak of hope, joy, and dispense words of honor commemorating the coming of God as a man some 2000+ years ago (2027 by my calculations to be precise, but that is not the focus of this conversation). Despite the usual (and appropriate) celebration of Christmas and the birth of Christ by those who identify with Christianity, a shadow of doubt crosses my mind as ponder WHY God came to earth as the man Jesus Christ. As I read what the scriptures say about the WHY of the man Jesus Christ and study my own heart regarding that while observing the conversation of my brethren in Christ, I am disturbed by what I find.
The world has always been fairly tolerant of the idea of God as a baby, symbolizing salvation, hope, peace on earth and good will toward men – though occasionally a municipality or school district may raise objections to demonstrations of religion trespassing into boundaries of the state as it were. That Jesus is no threat to anyone’s sense of self and well-being. However, to the world and even MOST of Christianity itself, the conclusion of Jesus Christ shedding His own blood to save sinners who cannot on their own be good before God and right with Him, is a different matter. Most of Christianity attempts to straddle the fence of man’s depravity as clearly stated in the scriptures and advocates that some mix of Jesus and good decision making that every sinner is capable of is what it is all about and that what the scriptures actually say about Jesus Christ in relation to the individual person.
It is a wonderful and marvelous thing for we who have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and risen for our justification to ponder how He came, the miraculous and yet meek circumstances of His birth and his full humanity, how that was necessary for our salvation. There is no denying the love demonstrated to us by God in the plan that culminated with the bloody death of His Son on the cross FOR OUR SINS, and in His triumphant victory from the tomb over sin and death. Yet, if we ourselves at some point, as unbelieving sinners, heard the gospel and turned from our sinful state of being without Christ to believing on Him unto salvation, if that is HOW we were born again and availed of the salvation provided by Jesus Christ, what about those who have not received Him? If we really believe what we say we believe, what God’s word says about our salvation – why, how, when, what- then how is it we passed a dozen, two dozen, fifty, a hundred people this December 24th of 2021 and wished them “Merry Christmas” without a thought of the fate that awaits them? A fate that any student of biblical prophecy will surmise is very likely to be sealed even sooner than it would be were those living now to fulfill their natural lifespan?
There are two possible answers to this unpleasant question. The first is that we simply do not really believe what we say we believe. In that case, the rest of this short query is not worth anyone’s time and we should continue to focus our energy and time on other things, things like politics, COVID, liberty, social issues, the pursuit and securing of our own happiness…you know, traditional American virtues that lead to a pleasant, “full” life. If we really don’t believe what God says, ALL of what God says about us and His Son, then believing the parts we like and pretending God was wrong the parts we don’t is no big deal, we may as well continue as we were in our comfort and security, delusion or not we’ll not know until it is too late. But…
If we really have been saved, really do believe what the scriptures say on this topic…then we MUST confess the world is no different this Christmas of 2021 than it has been for the last 2000 years. Covid, governmental overreach, politics, the economy, and everything else is not mentioned as being what WE should be focused on at all in the scriptures, in fact, a strong argument can be made citing Paul’s epistles and Jesus’ prophecies to His followers that those things are not our business at all. What is our business is the souls around us currently in a state of having rejected Jesus Christ (there is no middle ground as per scripture, if a person is aware of Jesus Christ crucified for their sins and has not come to Him in faith to receive that from Him they ARE facing eternity under the condemnation of having rejected Him). The lost souls around us MUST be the supreme focus of our lives, if we really believe what we say we believe. While there may be adjacent undertakings that are worthy in the sense that they are necessary supports for reaching these lost souls (learning the scriptures, prayer, related ministries, walking in the spirit, fellowship with the brethren) it can never be emphasized enough what the mission is. The mission has not changed since Christ gave “the great commission” a few years shy of 2000 years ago. 2021, 2020, Covid, “stolen” elections, and the like have not changed the world, as it for us, not the slightest bit…IF we really are who we say we are and IF we really believe what we say we believe.
Supporting Scriptures of Note:
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matt. 1:20-22)
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:17-21)
Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:44-48)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Rom. 3:23-26)
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Rom. 8:34)
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? (Rom. 10:8-15)
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Cor. 1:17-21)
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Cor. 4:1-4)
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Cor. 15:3)
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thess. 2:10-12)
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15)
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