During this season we celebrate the birth of Jesus. I seriously doubt Jesus was actually born in the time we call December but that’s a rabbit trail I am not interested in going down. The big question is, “What’s the big deal about Jesus’ birth?
In 2 John, the Apostle John writes to believers addressing a false teaching that would eventually lead to a false theology called Gnosticism, which denied the incarnation of Christ. These false teachers were basically saying that the spiritual man is all good and the physical man is all bad. They were saying that Christ, the Son of God could not have possibly dwelt in a human body because the body was all evil.
They did not deny that a man identified as Jesus of Nazareth existed but that He was not the incarnated Christ. This erroneous theology would of course discount the virgin birth, the deity of Jesus, and the eventual resurrection of Jesus. This false teaching still exists but with different names.
So the Apostle John makes this statement in scripture to counterpunch this false doctrine, “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist” (2 John 1:7 NKJV).
Here are some basic doctrines of Christ. The Son of God is eternal (see Colossians 1:15-20). He is God (John 1:1; 14). He was born of a virgin (Luke 1:26-35). The Son of God who is very God, humbled Himself and came by birth as a man (Philippians 2:5-11).
The Son of God left His eternal abode, was conceived in the womb of a virgin, and dwelt among men as a man. He was all God in all humanity. A man (Adam) committed sin and brought on the fallen nature. Sin must be paid for by death and so Christ came as a man to die for men being the acceptable sinless sacrifice thus atoning for the sin of man. Since He was God in flesh, death could not hold Him; thus, we have the resurrection.
Jesus of Nazareth is not a mere prophet, nor is he just another great teacher. He is the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Son of God and the only means of a relationship with God the Father. His own words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NKJV).
The ABC’s of becoming a Christian?
A – Accept Him in your heart as Savior and Lord, turning from your sins.
B – Believe that He was crucified, died, and resurrected the third day.
C – Confess Him with your mouth that He is Christ, the Son of God.
Here’s a sample prayer. If you really mean it, pray it in faith:
Father, I have sinned, and I have walked contrary to You. I now realize that Jesus died for my sins and rose from the dead so I could have eternal life. I know Jesus is my only hope. I accept Jesus as my Savior and my Lord. I turn from my sins and commit to follow Jesus all my days. Come into my life and live through me. Show me how I need to serve you. Today, I begin my journey of following Jesus to be like Him. Thank you for saving me and giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen
The birth of Jesus was a big deal. God came in flesh to pay for our redemption from sin. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV).
Yours on the Journey,
Harry L. Whitt
Note: This is an edited repost from 2018.
Pathway Journey 