When I was a young boy growing up, I was always excited about Christmas. This, along with my birthday, were the only two times in the year I was able to receive gifts. One was given because I was a year older, while the other was given because of some jolly old fat man that enjoyed sliding down dirty chimneys and placing gifts under the trees of his “believers.” I was always curious as to how one man could do this to every house on the planet in one night, but over and over, I was reassured that Santa was some sort of magician. After all, how did he get into the homes which had no chimney? It’s magic, and since Santa only visits those who “believe,” you better be careful. Eventually, I grew old enough to see the absurdity of the story, and as I grew older, the real Christmas story was presented to me.
The First Christmas
It happened a long time ago in the nation of Israel:
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7 KJV)
The Birth of a Savior
Why was this baby so special? Listen to what some angels told some nearby shepherds:
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11 KJV)
When God created the first man and woman, they were perfect and without spot or blemish. Satan, however, in an attempt to destroy God’s new creation slithered into the Garden of Eden in the form of snake and caused Eve, the first woman to eat a fruit they were commanded not to eat. Adam, the first man, decided to eat it as well. At this point, sin entered them, and they became sinners. To make matters worse, they would now procreate more children which would also inherit this new “sin” nature. Since we would all be procreated from Adam, the entire human race would forever be cursed with this sin nature (this is known as the Doctrine of Original Sin):
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12 KJV)
Satan though he had won, but God, when he pronounced judgment on him in the Garden of Eden, promised a savior that would destroy him and reverse this curse:
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:14-15 KJV)
And now on December 25, we celebrate the birth of this savior into our world.
The Greatest Christmas Present of All
He gives us a new birth:
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. (John 3:3-7 KJV)
Since our sin nature is inherited by birth, our only release is to be born again into a spiritual kingdom with Jesus as the king instead of Adam. To be born again of the flesh as Nicodemus proposed, even if possible, would only cause one to be reborn back into the same sin nature as previously. Therefore, to fix the problem, a new birth is required, and with this new birth comes new life:
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)
Summary
I am so thankful that on a Sunday morning in May of 1980 with Dr. Paul Jackson preaching a revival at Northside Baptist Church, I was born again into the kingdom of God. The new life I received that day has had its ups and downs, but now after 35 years, I can say it was worth it, and I would gladly do it again if necessary (of course, it’s not). Thank God for the greatest Christmas present of all, and all I had to do was ask:
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13 KJV
My question to you is this: have you received the greatest Christmas gift of all? Have you been born again? If you need more info, then click here.
