Christmas

Through Christ, all sin was atoned for, all sin past, present, and future.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

 The question –​​ How can one be born again? ​​ 

The answer – Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ.

The explanation –​​ For God so loved the world. ​​ The reason we can celebrate Jesus’ birth is God’s love for mankind. ​​ We are imperfect, we mess up, we make the wrong choices, we even do bad things – this is called sin. ​​ No matter how hard we try we are unable to break​​ through the bondage of sin on our own. ​​ God knows this,​​ so out of His perfect love for us,​​ God gave His only begotten Son. ​​ Jesus, born in human flesh, God​​ incarnate, lived among us. ​​ Jesus – Teacher, Healer,​​ Perfect in all His ways,​​ Savior of the world, came to earth so we​​ might live​​ free from the power of sin now and free from the presence of sin in the future. ​​  ​​​​ 

Do you believe? ​​​​ 

The promise​​ –​​ Whoever​​ believes in Him should not perish. ​​​​ Everyone​​ who​​ genuinely​​ places their complete faith and trust in Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection​​ will absolutely not perish; we will not be under the hand and power of sin’s destruction. ​​ We will not be separated eternally from God. ​​ Faith and trust in the things of this world is transient. ​​ Disappointment will meet us at every corner. ​​ However one thing remains constant​​ – faith and trust in an all-powerful and perfect God. ​​ Through Christ, all sin was atoned for, all sin past, present, and future. ​​ No one is ‘good enough’ however, everyone is welcome. ​​ Because​​ God​​ loves​​ you​​ – not​​ based​​ on​​ your own​​ merit – but based on His choice,​​ you can choose to believe.

The result –​​ Eternal life.​​ ​​ Consider –​​ perpetual​​ suffering​​ and​​ destruction​​ versus eternal joy​​ in God’s presence.

The​​ answer to Nicodemus’ question, ‘How can one be born again’ is Christmas. ​​ Through the greatest gift ever given, the birth of a Savior. ​​ Through God’s grace alone, through faith​​ and trust alone, in Christ alone, we are saved from sin to eternal life.​​ 

Celebrate Jesus’ birth. ​​ I pray you are filled with the joy and peace of the Gospel.​​ 

 

Author: Sharyn Balogh

You know it's difficult to write about yourself. The most important fact I can disclose is that I'm saved by God's grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. My desire is to live a life honoring to God in response for the gift of salvation I've been given. This is so much easier said than done! I struggle daily with right choices, right words, right thoughts, and right actions. My best and only defense against sin is the power of God in me and for that I am inexpressibly thankful. I have three amazing grown-up children who have responded to God's call in their lives along with their spouses. One of the great joys of my life is knowing my children and their families strive to serve and follow God. My grandchildren are another wonderful joy in my life! My husband and I are blessed with four beautiful grandchildren to date with another expected very soon on September 12th. We also are thankful for the comforting knowledge that an additional three of our grandchildren, a set of twins at three months gestation and a little boy, Isaac, at four and a half months gestation, are in our Savior's presence. I have attended the same church since the day my eyes were opened to Truth over thirty years ago. How fortunate it is to have been led by God’s hand immediately to a church body that follows the Bible, no man-made doctrines, just the Word clear and strong. My husband is my best friend, my confidant, my encourager, and I still can't believe how blessed I am by his example of love and generosity towards everyone around him. He is God-fearing, compassionate, and kind and I have learned so much from him. I am a daughter to my almost 92 year-old mother, sister to three brothers, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, neighbor and friend. That means, whomever is reading this, we probably have something in common! I love every unique role I have been placed in. I'm frequently stretched and sometimes feel like silly putty that wants to bounce right back into my comfort zone. My greatest ambition is to be a follower of Jesus; a light that shines for Him at all times, in all circumstances. So, there it is, a bit about me. I guess I was able to write about myself after all! However, my existence cannot be defined without Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior. His love has permeated my life to His glory and my eternal thankfulness.