Christmas By D. Ippolito
The Message of Incarnation!
As we celebrated the last Christmas of this Millennium.
I trust that it was a even greater celebration than the
New Year Celebration. Karl Barth, a noted theologian was
asked on the B.B.C. in England: "What is the greatest
message of the Christian faith?" or "if you
had only one message to preach what would it be?"
Without hesitation he answered "The Message of Incarnation."
Of course we fully agree. For the Incarnation means that
the Eternal God, the Creator God of heaven and earth,
broke into our world to rescue His creation. That’s what
Christmas is all about.
Isaiah the prophet, prophesied about
how it would happen and how a sign was to be given: "Therefore
the Lord himself shall give you a sign; "Behold,
a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call
his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14. The Angel that appeared
to Joseph seven hundred years later told him of the miraculous
conception and mysterious birth of the Saviour that "shall
save his people from their sins" and "they shall
call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God
with us." Matthew 1:21-23.
Without the Incarnation we would never
know God or the Grace of God; the mercy and compassion
of a loving Father God. There would be no Lamb of God,
no sacrifice for sins, no forgiveness of sins, no peace
with God, no reconciliation with the Father, no hope of
heaven, no eternal life, no resurrection.
The Apostle John tells it this way: "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." John 1:14. We can sing
with the song writer: "Joy to the world! The Lord
is come; Let earth receive her king; Let every heart prepare
Him room, and heaven and nature sing..."
Thank God for the Incarnation. God has
made Himself known to a lost and dying world. The Babe
of the Manger was the glory of God. He was the Christ
of the Cross, and the Risen Redeemer of us all. The Father’s
heart is Revealed - Redemption has been provided - Reconciliation
is possible. The Ruler of our hearts and the Coming Ruler
of the Nations, Who is God’s King, has come to save and
to bless His people and usher in The Kingdom of God.
When we say "Good-bye" to the
old year and to the 2nd Millennium; it would
be wonderful if we could say "Goodbye" to all
the ills of mankind; to all the sin and sorrow, to all
the sickness and suffering, to all the discouragement
and darkness and to all the doubts and despair, to all
the degradation and the last enemy death. But the end
of a Millennium will never bring an end to earth’s sorrows.
As the New Year ushers in the 3rd
Millennium, a troubled world will still sigh and groan,
giving clear evidence that we still live in a fallen world.
Our newspapers and the media will still spew out Bad news
and more Bad news! Thank God for His Good News! The Incarnation
is the Good News. The greatest message that the needy
and lost sons of men can hear, the only one message worth
preaching. Thank God for the Good News. "God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever
believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting
life". John 3:16; that "
Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners." I Timothy 1:15. Yes! A Loving Father sent
His Son to rescue the sons of men. Jesus Christ still
lifts the fallen, strengthens the weak; gives men new
life, a new nature and new freedom from the bondage of
sin and the tyranny and oppression of Satan.
What a message we have; a message of
forgiveness, of peace with God, of hope of salvation,
of deliverance, of eternal life and heaven. Christmas
is the message of the Incarnation; a message of joy and
hope and peace on earth, good will toward men. It’s the
world’s best message. May we preach it by every means
possible and share the good news of salvation with all
men everywhere till Jesus comes to set up His glorious
and eternal Kingdom. This message will make every New
Year a Happy, Joyful, Bright and Prosperous New year and
declare to the world that the beginning of the Third Millennium
still proclaims and celebrates: "Anno Domini"
- "In the year of our Lord."
May you experience the presence of
the living Christ all year around. If you want to know
more, write us at: clti@clti.net
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