COLUMN
Stratford Church of Christ
Though the New Testament does not reveal an actual date for the birth of Christ, we are glad the world has set aside a time in which to remember His wonderful birth. The Old Testament gave prophecies concerning Jesus coming to this earth. One of those is Isaiah 9:6, 7 that says, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Because of such prophecies in the Old Testament, the coming \of Christ (the Messiah) was greatly anticipated among God’s people.
It is later in the New Testament that Jesus Himself would tell us clearly the reason He came to this earth. In Luke 19:10 Jesus said, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
All of this informs us that the reason Jesus came to this earth was to provide salvation for mankind. All of us needed salvation (forgiveness) from our sins. Every human has this need because Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
It is because Jesus came to our rescue that people can have the ability to have eternal life in Heaven. But we are instructed in the Scriptures that eternal life will come to those who obey Jesus. Hebrews 5:9 says, “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Therefore, those who are grateful for the Lord’s provision of eternal life, are also glad to respond to Jesus’ command of Mark 16:16: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Let’s consider something for a moment. What would become of our souls if Jesus had chosen not to come to this earth? What a frightening question! What if Jesus had not come to provide eternal life for obedient individuals? Thinking of these questions helps us to again be grateful that He did come, so that we might have salvation in Him. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
John 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Then, verse 14 adds, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
We are very glad that Jesus came to the earth 2,000 years ago. But consider some of the many things we would not have without Him.
First, if Jesus had not come, we would have no hope of salvation. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14). John 3:16-17 tells us, “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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” God’s love for us is so enormous that He was willing to send His Son, Jesus Christ, in order that our salvation could be obtained.
Second, if Jesus had not come, we would never have known just how sacrificial love can become. In John 15:12-14, Jesus said, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”
Christ is our perfect example of how much true love is willing to suffer on behalf of others. 1 Peter 2:21-24 tells us, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who 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.”
Third, if Jesus had not come, we would not have known the greatest example of compassion ever demonstrated. He healed the sick (Matthew 14:14). He fed the hungry (Matthew 15:32). Jesus wept for the lost (Matthew 23:37). He wept for the bereaved (John 11:35). We learn through Christ’s example that our lives must also be compassionate toward those who are in need.
All of this shows that without Jesus, we would never have known how to be great servants. We would not have known how to act when we are persecuted for our faith. We would not have had the spiritual blessings His followers have in Him (Ephesians 1:3).
We should be extremely grateful that Jesus came to provide the greatest need that mankind has. We need to have forgiveness of our sins. Without the Lord’s forgiveness, nothing else matters in this world. But to have such a blessing, we must first obey Him.
Those who became the very first Christians were given instructions on how to obey the Lord. “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38). Do you need to obey the Lord today?
