The Greatest
It’s the month of December! The first thought that comes to my mind as a Christian (a born again believer); is the day that is set aside to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son. Even though December 25th is probably not the actual date of His human birth we know He was made flesh and dwelt among us. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, His birth is truly something to rejoice at.
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highestshall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning or before the creation of the world, He was the Word, He was with God, and He was God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made 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.
The Word; Jesus was made flesh through his human birth.
The Bible declares in John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The Greatest Love! “For God so loved the world,…” There is no love that can exceed God’s love. God loved the world, which means He loves you, He loves me and He loves all of mankind. God even loves those who would refuse His love though they perish.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (righteous satisfaction) for our sins.
The Greatest Gift! “that he gave his only begotten Son,…” God demonstrated the greatness of His love by sacrificially giving us His only begotten Son. God gave His Son, Jesus Christ; to die for a sacrifice for our sin, to die in our place. There is no greater gift that has ever been given to us.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth (demonstrated) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
The Greatest Invitation! “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,…” God invites whosoever believeth, any and all who believe in and accept God’s love and sacrificial gift of His only begotten son who died for our sin and in our place. To trust in Jesus Christ and His death for your sins.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The Greatest Reward! “but have everlasting life.” Dear friend, as you respond to the Greatest Love, the Greatest Gift and the Greatest Invitation you have the Greatest Reward of everlasting life now. You have eternal life here and now.
2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
When we celebrate Christmas in our house we give and receive gifts. It’s nice to know there is a gift waiting for me. It makes me feel good, but it’s really of no use to me, if I just leave it there and never receive it and unwrap it. God loves you and gave you the gift of his only begotten Son. It might make you feel good, but it’s really of no use to you if you just leave it there and never receive the gift of salvation.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Won’t you take Jesus to be your Lord and Savior? Admit you’re a sinner; Believe Jesus died, was buried and rose again for you and Call (ask) Jesus to be your Lord and your Savior.
The second thought that comes to my mind is my own birth which is celebrated on December 31st. I didn’t grow up in a Christian home. My parents didn’t attend church, though they had in the past at some point. They weren’t young when I was born and I know I was a challenging child. I’m so thankful they had some good moral and really biblical values which were imparted to me. I never once heard my parents tell me they wished I’d never been born. My parents valued my life and having an abortion would never have entered their minds in the day and age they lived. Though man’s moral values have changed, God’s values have never changed.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; …
The Greatest Value! When you begin to comprehend the meaning of John 3:16, you soon realize God places immeasurable value on a human being’s life. God is the creator and giver of life. God is Life!
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
An unborn baby is a human being, a person. The LORD declares that life begins at conception. The LORD knows the baby before He forms the baby in the mother’s womb. Before the baby is even born, he has a perfect plan and purpose for the baby’s life.
Jeremiah 1:4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Psalms 139:13-14 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Dear friend, perhaps this December you will respond to the Greatest Love, the Greatest Gift, and the Greatest Invitation and receive the Greatest Reward of everlasting life. As you consider the Greatest Value God places on a human being’s life, perhaps you’ll reconsider your position on abortion and align your values with God’s values.
Submitted by Mr. Edwin Walter
Member of the Board, BFLW
First Baptist Church, New Lisbon, WI