The Message of Christmas is About FORGIVENESS

Posted on Dec 4, 2024 in Devotions |

Introduction: Do you know what our greatest need is? It is forgiveness! The Lord Jesus does not “love us” to “forgive us,” but He “forgives us” because He “loves us”!

Do you feel loved? Unconditionally loved? Have you been forgiven? Do you feel forgiven without trying to earn it? Perhaps this is what is so glorious about our God:

His Amazing Grace
His Great Love
His Undeserved Forgiveness

Plain and Simple:

1. God Promises a Savior Who Will Bring Forgiveness! (Isaiah 7:14) – “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Mary had a little lamb! By the way, Jesus was born to die; He was predestined to pay our sin debt in full. Because we are all guilty of disobeying God (sin), He provided a way for complete payment for the penalty of sin, which is eternal death. However, in order for man to exchange this penalty for a substitute—which was Jesus Christ—He had to be born of a virgin, become a man without sin, and ultimately lay down His life as a ransom for sin. He became a perfect sacrifice that met the righteous demands of a holy God. Blood had to be shed—innocent blood.

2. God Keeps His Promises in Sending His Son to Forgive Our Sins! (Matthew 1:21-23) – “…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. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

This, among hundreds of other prophecies, has already been fulfilled in Jesus Christ’s first coming. By the way, this was prophesied approximately seven hundred years before it happened. The Word of God is 100%—not 99.9%—accurate! That is why we should trust the Bible!

Conclusion: Since the Bible is a great “love story” about a God who loves and forgives, it only makes logical sense to receive this perfect gift of forgiveness.

Have you? Will you? And lastly, will you give it away?

Love y’all,

Pastor Randy Reese