GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY

“The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 WEB)

 

About 2000 years ago, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to some shepherds who were living out in the fields around Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 

It was indeed an unusual and awesome night, for the glory of the Lord shone around them and a multitude of the heavenly host joined them, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:13-14 NKJV).

 

What a holy and memorable night!

 

What was the divine visitation and celebration all about?

 

Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world was born!

 

The Mediator between the holy God and estranged sinful men had come to abolish once and for all the enmity between God and men, and to reconcile estranged men to God!

 

The Lamb of God had manifested to take away the sin of the whole world!

 

Hallelujah!

 

While the sudden appearance of the angel to the shepherds brought great fear to them; however, his message did not.

 

His message was good news of great joy, not just for the Jews but also for the Gentiles, not just for the rich but also for the poor, not just for few people but for all people.

 

Hallelujah!

 

Luke 2:10-11 – WEB

 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.

 11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

 

Why was the birth of Jesus good news of great joy for all mankind?

 

Because we all are sinners by birth and acts, and so in a dire need of a Saviour!

 

By the disobedience of the first man, Adam, the entire human race became a slave of sin and thus a slave of Satan.

 

For the Scripture states, “Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin…” (John 8:34 NKJV) and “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning…” (1 John 3:8 NKJV).

 

We all were born spiritually blind, lost and dead in sins, being alienated from the life of God (Eph. 2:1, 4:18). We all are condemned sinners on a death row awaiting eternal death or separation from God in hell fire.

 

But God demonstrated His pure and selfless love towards us by sending us the Saviour to redeem and save us by laying down His life on the cross in exchange for ours.

 

Romans 5:6-8 – NKJV

 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 – NKJV

 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 

If God did not send us the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, we would never be free from the slavery or bondage of Sin and Satan. Without the Saviour, we would all perish in our sins!

 

Without the Saviour, we would forever be separated from God. But God was merciful to us, He sent us the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to save us from sin and its penalties.

 

Glory to God in the highest!

 

It is indeed good tidings of great joy that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. No news could be better than that!

 

Paul testifies, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1 Tim. 1:15 NKJV).

 

The Lord Jesus, the Saviour, came into the world to bear all our sins and all the terrible effects of our sins in His own body on the cross.

 

John testifies, “And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.” (1 John 3:5 NKJV).

 

Peter also states that Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Pet. 2:24 NKJV).

 

Jesus came into the world to remove the sin-barrier between us and God and thus reconcile us to God. Jesus came to break down the middle wall of separation between us and God, thereby giving us an unrestricted access to God (Eph. 2:13-18).

 

Thank God for the Saviour!

 

Beloved, the coming of the Saviour, Christ Jesus, into the world is good news for you because He came to offer you eternal or everlasting life as a gift.

 

John 3:16-17 – NKJV

 16 “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.

 17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

 

You can never earn the eternal life that Jesus came to offer you freely by your self-righteousness, performance or good works.

 

An Intimate, loving and eternal relationship with God (eternal life) is God’s gracious gift to all mankind. You can never deserve, merit or earn it. All that God expects you to do is to believe in Jesus Christ, whom He has sent to be your Lord and Saviour.

 

Jesus said to the Jews who wanted to know the work to do to earn God’s salvation, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:29 NKJV).

 

Salvation is not a reward for good works. It is purely the gift of God!

 

You can never work for your salvation. It is purely by grace alone through faith alone in Christ Jesus and His finished work that you can be saved.

 

Paul aptly attests to this truth.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9 – NKJV

 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

 

Friend, the gift of salvation is the best Christmas gift you can receive this special day. Christ purchased it for you with His precious blood. It is a priceless gift!

 

There is no other gift you can receive on this special day or any other special day of your life that can be more expensive, valuable or precious than the gift of salvation. Even if you get the whole world as a gift, it is still nothing in comparison with the salvation of your soul.
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Mark 8:36-37 – NKJV

 36 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

 37 “Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

 

Therefore, as you celebrate another Christmas today, why not receive by faith today the precious gift of salvation that Christ purchased for you with His precious blood?

 

You don’t need to deserve, merit or earn it by your performance or work; it is a free gift to you. All you need to do is to believe and confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

 

Romans 10:8-10 – NKJV

 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

I wish you and all your loved ones a Merry Christmas!

 

 

Prayer: Glory be to God in the highest for sending me a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to save me from all my sins and to give me eternal life. I believe, confess, and surrender to Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour, in Jesus’ name. Amen.