With Christmas just around the corner, it makes sense to understand the REAL REASON why God became flesh.
To start, we can first define the wrong reasons; the following are NOT the reasons why Jesus came 2008 years ago:
- To balance your checkbook
- To improve your marriage
- To make you famous
- To help you find a parking space
- To be a good moral teacher
- To break bad habits (scratching your head, biting your nails, leaving your dirty socks in the floor, etc)
- To make your business successful
- To end poverty in Africa
- To help you pass a final exam
- To be just a religious leader
- To give you material prosperity
- To keep your kids from trying drugs
- To give you the best husband
- To end the world’s financial crisis
- To fulfill all of your dreams
- To fix global warming
- To give you the best life… now
If you think that Jesus came for any of the above reasons, I invite you to keep reading. You have a wrong understanding of the gospel and your eternal fate may be at stake.
The glorious gospel has been perverted and degenerated into a life-enhancer instead of being a life-saver.
Jesus came to the World to: “Seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
- THE LOST. The Greek word ‘apollumi’ means to be in permanent state of lostness, to be ruined, destroyed. The reason why humanity is lost, is because we stand condemned before a holy God who sees hate as murder and lust as adultery; who won’t allow any liar into the Kingdom “…the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars; their place will be in the fiery lake…” (Revelation 21:8). God’s standard is -perfection- and it is reflected in His holy Law (Ten Commandments). We are ruined, as criminals waiting for the death penalty. One day we will die, face God and will receive our sentence: eternity in Hell.
- SEEK. From the Greek ‘zeteo’ that means to pursue, to look for, to search for. Since the beginning, God looked for Adam when they sinned; he is still looking for lost people. God does the first seeking and we must respond by seeking Him back.
- SAVE. The Greek verb ’sozo’ means literally to save, rescue from danger or destruction. God, who us rich in mercy, is willing to save us from the destruction to come. “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). He sent Jesus to step in and pay our fine so that out case can be legally dismissed and our file can be closed. The death and resurrection of Jesus satisfies the justice of a holy God. “The next day [John] saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
Jesus came to save humanity… from eternal damnation, from the wrath of a just Judge, “ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). He is gracefully offering forgiveness of sins, justification and eternal life.
In response, we must repent (turn from our sins) and put all our trust and life in Jesus Christ.
This is the real gospel!
This is the reason why Jesus came! This is the reason why we should celebrate Christmas.
Now that you know “The Reason”… share the truth.
“… Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners– of whom I am the worst.” (1 Tim 1:15)
[This post was published for Christmas 2008 and was entitled “The Reason”. Since “The Reason” hasn’t changed, I decided to re-publish it]
