angel—but God Himself disguised in human form, has stepped into this world! “ The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” How glad we are that He did not forget to bring His testimonials from the heavenly country! By His virgin birth long foretold and literally fulfilled to the last detail; His stainless life; His miracles which even His worst con temporary enemies could not deny; His everlasting words, which, in spite of criticism, satire, burning and ban ning, abide for ever; His atoning death, the innocent for the guilty; and, above all this, His mighty resur rection, so well proven that not even the devil himself can disprove it—all show without the faintest shadow of doubt, the importance of Christmas, that Christ is none other than the Son of God. It is the fact that God was in Christ (2 Cor. 5:19) that makes Christmas so important in the first place. In the second place, the cause for which Christ came denotes the impor tance of Christmas. “ God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” This affects you and me. God sent His Son to us that we might re ceive Him and be reconciled to Him. Our whole being is affected by Christ mas. If we believe and receive the Saviour whom God has sent, we shall be saved from our sins here and now, and spend the long years of eternity in Heaven with Christ and with those of our loved ones who have the same glorious, precious faith. If we neglect, disbelieve, refuse, ignore the Saviour God has sent, we shall remain lost, and that forever. It is bad enough to see some one who has lost an arm or leg; to meet those who have lost home, money, or loved ones, in the time of war, poverty or sickness; to behold in an asylum those whose minds are gone. What then must it be to look into hell, the prison for those who have lost their souls? Oh, the impor tance of Christmas for you and me? Be sure you receive the Saviour this day. The Challenge of Christmas I ET me ask you a simple question: j Have you been in spirit to Bethle hem to gaze upon your Saviour? The shepherds came to Jesus as soon as they knew He was there. They came with haste. How long, friend, have you known about Jesus without com ing for yourself ? I don’t mean attend ance at church or chapel. I mean, sin cerely, simply and speedily, coming to Christ to accept, adore and acclaim Him as the Son of God and your Sav iour. The shepherds came to Christ Page Eleven
“EVEN UNTO BETHLEHEM’
By Marshall Shallis, Evangelist o f
London, England
Bethlehem from the south showing belfry of the Church of the Nativity.
1 ET us now go even unto Bethle hem,” cried the startled, but be- ■“* lieving shepherds, ‘‘and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made knoum unto us. And they came with haste . . .” (L(uke 2:15, 16). The Gladness of Christmas J ESUS has come at last! After all this time, He is here! The promises of God given by His Spirit to holy men hundreds, and even thousands, of years previously, have come true, as indeed every promise of God must— for “ the scripture cannot be broken.” “ The Saviour promised long” has quietly but surely arrived. “ And sud denly there was with the angel a mul titude of the heavenly host praising God.” What a glad thing the gospel is! What happy, what blessed, what good tidings they are! Jesus is here! Jesus, the Saviour, Jesus, the Re deemer, Jesus, the Lamb of God, has come. Now there is a message to proclaim to a sin-sick, sin-spoiled, sin-ruined race. Now men can be saved, sinners can be forgiven and transformed; the weak made strong; the slave of lust set free; the selfish life emptied and refilled with the Spirit of unselfish ness, even with the Spirit of Christ D E C E M B E R , 1 95 0
Himself. Now the brokenhearted can be comforted, the lame, the maimed, the halt and the blind can be blessed. Now! Oh, how glad the Christmas tid ings are, “ For unto you is born this day . . . a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” This is for you, dear reader. You can know the power of Christ in your life this day. You can be saved, and know it, this day. Your life can be filled to overflowing this day, with the fragrance of the life of Christ. You can be set free this day from sin ful habits that bind, degrade and prove you guilty before God. You can, this day, enter into the joy of God’s salvation. Oh, the gladness of Christ mas! This day, if you are a member of the human race, no matter what your past, your fears, your doubts, your circumstances, your sorrows, your pains, your nature, your tem perament—your sins, you can this day be forgiven, freed and filled with God’s Holy Spirit—for Jesus has come—the Saviour, your Saviour, the only Saviour, the long-promised Sav iour has come, even Christ the Lord. The Importance of Christmas C HRISTMAS is important for two good reasons: First, because it is Christ Himself who has come. Not a substitute, not a delegate, not an
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs