The Purpose of Christmas

Once an active and enthusiastic young pastor was transferred to a village. The new pastor visited a house on the first day and met the lady of the house. In the evening when her husband came home, the wife said, “The new pastor visited our house today.” “What did he say?” asked the man. She hesitated for sometime and then replied, “He asked, ‘Does Christ live here?’” “What did you say to him?” asked the husband. “I didn’t know what to say.” replied the wife. The man became very unhappy and said, “Why didn’t you tell him that we are good Christians and attend the church regularly?” “He didn’t ask me about it. He only asked, ‘Does Christ live here?’” “ Then why didn’t you tell him that we pray and read the Bible regularly.” “That was not what he asked. He wanted to know whether Christ lives in our house.” “Why didn’t you tell him that we give our tithe regularly to the church?” The poor woman broke down and said, “He didn’t ask that. His simple question was ‘Does Christ live in your house?’” The couple considered the question of the new pastor for some days. Soon they found out that they were very active Christians but had never given a place to Christ in their home and their lives.

You also may be like this couple. You may attend the church, read the Bible and say your prayers regularly. You may even give a part of our income to God’s ministry. But they are not enough. Christ came to the world to live in you and meet all your spiritual needs. In this Christmas season, examine yourselves to see whether the Lord Jesus Christ lives in you.

The Bible says about the birth of Jesus, “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7. There was no place for Jesus Christ in the inn. The inn had room for many people. But there was no place for Jesus in the inn. Dearly beloved, have you given Jesus your home? If so, is He the Lord of your life? In case you haven’t given a place for Jesus Christ in your life why don’t you give a place for Jesus in your life in this Christmas so that Jesus Christ can be born in your life.

The main purpose for which Jesus came into the world was to deal with the problem of sin. We have sinned and have come under the wrath of God. So we have to die for your sins. By our efforts we cannot save ourselves. So God sent His only begotten Son into the world because of His love so that He can pave the way by which we can obtain forgiveness and be brought back to God. This was done by the death of Christ on the cross. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from sin and gives us eternal life when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Will you believe that Jesus was born as a babe in Bethlehem to save you from your sin? Then you can celebrate the Christmas meaningfully and joyfully.

The Bible gives the following purposes for the incarnation of Jesus Christ:

1. To save you from your sins: “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.
2. To destroy Satan’s works: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Heb.2:14.
3. To give you eternal life: “I have come that they may have life, and they may have it more abundantly… And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:10,28.
4. To reconcile you with God: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Rom.5:10.
5. To make propitiation for your sin: “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Heb.2:17.
6. To die as a ransom in your place for your sin: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45.
7. To be the Mediator between you and God: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. 1 Tim.2:5.

The supreme purpose of Christmas and the death of Jesus Christ was to settle the problem of your sin. The penalty of sin is death. Jesus paid the penalty of your sin by dying on the cross in your place. Remember that the Christian faith is rooted in the incarnation of Jesus Christ and in the conviction that Jesus came into this world to reconcile you with God. To believe in Jesus Christ means to trust that Jesus Christ came into this world and died for you on the cross for your sins. This belief on the work of Christ on the cross gives you eternal life. “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. 

(Taken from True Discipleship, December 1998)