The Good News of Christmas

Some Christians angrily protest the practice of celebrating Christmas. They scold those who do about the pagan roots associated with the holiday and insist that Christ never meant for his followers to commemorate his birth. Perhaps they haven't discovered that Christmas is a time of joy. As followers of Jesus Christ, the resounding message in our Christmas celebrations echoes with notes of joy—joy to the world, joy to you and me!

The Bible basis for this celebration is Luke 2:10-11, when the Angel Gabriel announced:

"I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!" ( NLT)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

The gospel message is about the greatest gift of all time—God gave us Jesus Christ, his Son, who brings great joy to everyone who receives him. The purpose of Christmas is to share this gift. And what a perfect opportunity!

Christmas is a holiday that focuses on the Savior of the world. There could be no better reason to celebrate Christmas. We can share the most wonderful gift of Jesus so that others may experience the great joy of salvation. If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and you’d like to experience great joy, you can receive his gift of salvation right now, and join in the celebration of Christmas. It’s very simple. Here’s how:

• Admit you are a sinner. (Romans 3:23; 10:9-10)
• Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from sin and death and give you eternal life. (Romans 5:8; John 3:16)
• Recognize your sin before God and let him help you turn from your old life to a new life in Christ. (Acts 3:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
• Receive, by faith in Jesus Christ, his free gift of salvation. (Ephesians 2:8)

If you’ve just received Jesus, Merry Christmas! A great way to begin celebrating is to tell someone about your experience.

The Gift of Salvation

• Why Become a Christian? The Bible presents several convincing reasons to consider becoming a Christian. It won't make your life easier. God won't magically solve all of your problems, but knowing Christ will allow you to experience freedom, joy, peace, purpose, relationship, the greatest of loves, and eternity with God.
• Learn more about taking one of the most important steps in your life by becoming a Christian. This resources will give you the scriptural foundation for your decision to accept Jesus as your Savior.
• There's no special prayer formula for praying a prayer of salvation. You only need to speak from your heart to God, and He will save you. If you don’t know what to say, try this salvation prayer.

What’s Next?

You might be wondering how to get started on this new life in Christ. These four essential steps will help you build a relationship with Jesus Christ:

1. Read your Bible daily. Find a Bible reading plan and begin to discover everything God has written in his Word for you. The best way to grow in the faith is to make Bible reading a priority.
2. Meet with other believers regularly. Getting plugged into the Body of Christ is essential to your spiritual growth. When we meet with other believers regularly (Hebrews 10:25) we have the opportunity to learn more about God's Word, fellowship, worship, receive Communion, pray, and build one another up in the faith (Acts 2:42-47).
3. Get involved. God has called us all to serve in some way. As you grow in the Lord, begin to pray and ask God where you should get connected in the Body of Christ. Believers who plug in and find their purpose are most content in their walk with Christ.
4. Pray daily. Again, there's no magical formula to prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. Just be yourself as you incorporate prayer into your daily routine. This is how you build your relationship with God. Give thanks to the Lord daily for your salvation. Pray for others in need. Pray for direction. Pray for the Lord to fill you daily with His Holy Spirit. Pray as often as you can. Involve God in every moment of your life.