Christmas – Everyone Needs Forgiveness and Compassion

What Does Christmas Declare?

Everyone needs forgivenss. That is the message of Christmas.

This morning I found it difficult to sleep, so I was up at 4:00 AM. I spent over an hour reading until I came to Luke 1:76-79. Some of the words leapt off of the screen: Salvation, Forgiveness, Tender Mercy (Compassion), and Peace. This is what it says…

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:76-79 ESV

Luke 1:76-79 ESV Forgiveness of their sins!

What does Luke’s gospel declare about Christmas?

Christmas declares need: There is the shadow of death and darkness. Why? Because all have sinned.

Christmas declares compassion: God has tender mercy. He doesn’t want you or me to perish in our sins.

Christmas declares forgiveness: God has provided for salvation through the finished work of Jesus.

Christmas declares solution: God is mighty to save in the salvation he has offered. He offers peace with God. He is mighty to conquer death. This is forever. Not just for this life, but for the life to come.

Christmas demands a response: Belief. Trust. Confidence in the work that was started on the first Christmas morning when God set in motion the final pieces of the promises made in the Old Testament from Genesis through Malachi.