The Truth of Christmas | Genesis 3:15

Christmas is the one holiday when seemingly the entire world gets into the spirit of good cheer, festive decorations, carol-singing and gifts under a tree. It’s a day that is commonly celebrated, but what is Christmas really about? Genesis is the book of beginnings, including the origin of Christmas. As we understand the true meaning of Christmas, we can then fully appreciate the blessed hope and joy of the season.

Christmas is all about God. God planned, initiated, and accomplished salvation in Jesus Christ. (Jn 3:16) He is the only true and living God, the only One who can save man, the eternal God who is full of glory. (Ex 3:13-14, Is 42:8, Is 43:11) Christmas displays God’s attributes for us to behold.

– God is powerful– all are lost, but God alone is Almighty. By His power, Christmas exists for man’s salvation.

– God is holy– If all were lost, who can judge righteously? Man is blind to the bottomless depths of his corruption- only Jesus was without sin. God is the only Judge, and He is the One who made Christmas to redeem us.

– God is full of grace– Christmas is at the pinnacle of God’s grace. The perfect birth of Jesus Christ is at the center of Christmas- a gift that no man has ever deserved. Our gift exchanges during Christmas dimly reflect the grace God had for us on Christmas Day.

Christmas is all about the plight of man. The original setting of Christmas is bloody, because it is all about sin. (Gen 3:14) In this fallen world that is continually ravaged by the curse of sin- incessant wars, hatred, and animosity- there has never been a day of peace since the Fall. God sent Jesus to this world to resolve man’s plight of sin, but Jesus was rejected by the world since the day of His birth, for the nature of sin is to always reject what is good and pure. Jesus endured the most excruciating pain during his crucifixion as He bore the full suffering and perfect wrath of God for the sins of man.

Christmas is about sin. This day provides the context to reflect and ponder on our own sinful nature and the seriousness of sin. Even as Christians, our lives are not marked by having no sin, but grief over sin. Our sin are blatant attacks against God, who is fully righteous and just to condemn us. If God’s grace did not intervene, we would continually increase to the darkest, most perverted depths of sin, for our depraved hearts are fully set in enmity against God. We need God; we need a Savior. Christmas is a time for repentance.

Christmas is all about Jesus. Jesus is the true and only reason for this season’s joy. Man can not save himself by Old Testament laws and rituals- the Old Testament sacrifices themselves point to Christ. Christmas is all about Jesus, who was God, who became man, who came to us through the virgin birth. The doctrine of the virgin birth is absolutely essential, because Jesus was born without man’s original sin. (1 Tim 3:16) Jesus came to save us. Do you love Christ? If you do not love Christ, you do not know the true meaning of Christmas. If you love any other more than Christ, you do not yet understand how sinful you are. (Lk 14:26, 33) Christmas reminds us of our former sinful lives that we’ve forsaken, and the life of Christ we now have because of Him who loved us.

Christmas is all about the gospel. “…He shall bruise your head…” Jesus’ resurrection was the final blow to Satan. The invisible God became visible, suffered and bled on the cross, rose again, and crushed the power of Satan. (1 Cor 15:3-4) Hallelujah, what a Savior. This is God’s most important gift to us- the gospel. The gospel is all we can boast of, and it is what every man needs. Christmas shows us the power, love, and salvation from God, and it is an opportune time to share this gift with those around us. In the midst of this bustling season, above all, let us remember God, our sin, and Jesus. Let us remember the gospel.