THE TRUE CHRISTMAS STORY*By the late Pastor Vernon A. Schutz

THE TRUE CHRISTMAS STORY*
*By the late Pastor Vernon A. Schutz *
*
The Christmas story is indeed true, but do you really know the true
Christmas story?
What do you see in the manger? For many the manger is filled with
brightly colored ribbon girding a box wrapped neatly with beautiful
Christmas paper. Others see tinsel, ornaments, spruce, cookies, candy
and an assortment of other seasonal things. But empty the Crib of all of
these, for they do not belong there, and see what the Crib really contains.
Now that all has been taken away, what do you see? Do you see only a
babe? It is sad how many know about this babe, but do not know who He
is? Zacharias knew, for he praised God that He had visited His people
(Lk. 1:68). Yes, this babe was God in flesh. This Jesus is Jehovah (Lk.
1:76); and His descent to earth was to deal with sins and their
remission (vs. 77). Paul says, "Great is the mystery of Godliness: God
was manifested in flesh." And of this Jesus he said, "Christ came, who
is over all, God blessed forever."
Why should God take upon Himself human flesh? Ah, this is the
Christmas story: the Crib and the Cross. His taking flesh at Bethlehem
was only a means to an end, which end was Golgotha. This babe, God's
eternal Son, Himself God, was born in order to die. The wooden Crib in
Bethlehem in which He lay was to become the wooden Cross of Calvary on
which He was to hang. We have heard and read often about His being born,
but this is only the Christmas birth. God's Word always puts the Crib
and the Cross together, and this makes the true Christmas story.
*
*"He hath appeared (the Crib) to put away sin by sacrifice*
*of Himself" (the Cross), Heb. 9:26. *
*"The Son of man came ... (the Crib) to give His life a ran-*
*som for many" (the Cross), (Mk. 10:45). *
*"And ye know that He was manifested (the Crib) to take*
*away our sins" (the Cross), 1 Jn. 3:5. *
*
On the night of His birth, the Shepherds praised God for a Saviour. A
Saviour must be one who is capable of dying (God took flesh), yet at the
same time one upon whom death has no claim (Christ was sinless). Christ
died for us because we were incapable of paying the debt we owed to
God's holiness. His holiness demands that sin be punished. Sin's penalty
is death: physical, spiritual, and eternal. We could not pay it without
being eternally ruined, so Christ redeemed us, i.e., He paid our debt
(damnation) on the Cross. Only God Himself could satisfy the demands of
His holiness without being eternally ruined, but only man owed the debt.
None could pay it but God; none owed it but man. Therefore, if the debt
were to be paid, it must be God that pays it; but it must be God as man,
since it is man alone who owed it. Would God Himself, because of His
love for us, bear the penalty of our sin? Yes! God became man at
Bethlehem's Crib, in order to become our Saviour at Calvary's Cross. God
took flesh (the Crib) and died for us (the Cross) so that whosoever puts
his trust in this for the remission of his sins should never perish but
have eternal life.
Remember, the Bible is God's Word to us. He cannot and will not lie.
Take Him at His Word. Read these Scriptures and believe what He says:
*
*"To Him (Christ) give all the prophets witness, that*
*through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall*
*receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43). *
*"Through this man (Jesus) is preached unto you, the for-*
*giveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are justified *
*from all things" (Acts 13:38,39). *
*
Do not just believe about Christ as a historical figure, but believe
on Christ as a personal Saviour. Believe on Him as the only way you can
be saved.
*
*"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" *
*(Acts 16:31).*
*"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none*
*other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we *
*must be saved." (Acts 4:12). *
*
The Crib was the preparation necessary to accomplish the wondrous
plan of redemption. His holy, sinless life was the prelude to becoming
the spotless lamb to be slain for our sins.
The Cross and its suffering was the purpose for which He came into
this world. There He bore our sins "in His own body on the tree." The
condemnation we deserve He suffered, "the just for the unjust, that He
might bring us to God."
The Crib and the Cross give us the true Christmas story.
May it
bring true joy to your heart at this important season of the year.