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LESSONS OF CHRISTMAS (2) – The Reason for His Birth

“…you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.” – Matthew 1: 21(MKJV)
This was the message from an Angel of the Lord to Joseph, declaring the PURPOSE of Jesus’ birth. Simple as it sounds, this properly captures the whole essence of Jesus. Scanning through scriptures (like 1John 3:8, Isaiah 61:2-3 etc.), we may find several other ‘purposes’ of Jesus’ coming; but this, to me, sums up all of them.
A full understanding of the full nature of sin will make us understand the gravity of this purpose. Just to throw some light, we present the two aspects of sin that Jesus came to save us from. One is the GUILT of sin; the other is the POWER of sin.
The GUILT of sin is what drives us to God AFTER we have sinned. That is what prompts us to ask God for forgiveness. Now, God not only forgives us; HE goes further to cleanse us from our iniquities! This is only possible because of the blood of Jesus shed for us on Calvary. So, John tells us, “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (1John 1:7 (MKJV))”
The POWER of sin is what makes us commit the same sin(s) we have previously confessed. This is more deadly, for not only that it makes us seem like we’re taking God for a ride (when sincerely we aren’t), it also discourages us from running to God for forgiveness, thereby gradually deadening our conscience.
To deal with the power of sin, Jesus had to offer His body to be crucified. So Paul tells us, “knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin (Romans 6:6 (MKJV))”
Jesus was born unto us to save us from our sins. His blood and body was given to save us from the guilt and power of sin. As we celebrate Christmas, key into this great offer of God, for the salvation of your soul. Make these words of the Hymn writer (Augustus M. Toplady, 1776) your prayer:
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the DOUBLE cure,
Save me from its guilt AND power.
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