Christmas 3 How Christmas Continues

[HKHaugan]

Christmas 3 How Christmas Continues

Jesus came “…to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins…(Lk.1:77)”

People had to know that salvation was available; that they had access to it and that there was someone who would provide it. That was the task of John the Baptist. Again, as we have said, that is our task as well. John is the model, the example of being a forerunner. We lay out the knowledge that salvation is possible, that anyone can have it and that Jesus is the One who provides it.

The hard part comes next, bringing the awareness of what it means to ‘be saved.’ Salvation is the issue. What is it? It is accepting Jesus in mind and heart to transform us, to go from self-centeredness to God-centeredness, from first pleasing self to first pleasing God and seeing the real needs in others as opposed to satisfying our perceived needs. First, it has a starting point, the forgiveness of sins. Second, it is an ongoing process. Third, it is a personal experience. Let’s look at these three factors.

First, the starting point.
Forgiveness is necessary because without it we are blocked from any kind of personal relationship with God. He will always be a distant question mark, an unresolved blank in the search for purpose, meaning and significance.

But what are we to be forgiven for? This has to be made very clear. There is a dark ugly unseen spiritual force that dominates human beings within, sin. Sin has very deep ingrained roots from birth. Sin is more than a casual error in behavioral judgment. Sin makes the ego central, a pretend god without God. It keeps an individual so self-absorbed that he lives only for the moment. It urges concentration on perceived needs as opposed to real needs. It is the spiritual crevice that separates us from understanding ourselves, others and existence itself. It is a spiritual disease that maximizes self above all else. In other words, life is all about me, who I am, what I want and where I’m headed in this world. Sin invites pride, fear, aloneness and the source that promotes them, the devil.

As we go through life sin plants seeds of selfishness that become strongholds behind which we hide day after day in a kind of survival mode. What may seem like progress in the world is really a slow disintegration of the ego into remorse, guilt, regret and eternal isolation. Sin is what needs forgiveness and it can come from only one source, God and God has provided the cure, a relationship with His Son Jesus, the One who forgives. Even as He was dying on the Cross Jesus said, “Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing (Lk.23:34).”

Forgiveness is not just for me. That would simply extend my self-centeredness. Forgiveness is a way of life. It is a quality of God we are given to offset sin and practice its living reality toward others. Jesus said this, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven (Lk.6:37).” Jesus considers it so important for us that we are to pray this daily, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…” Paul says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Col.3:13).”

Christmas has no end. It begins and continues as we open our hearts to be forgiven and open our hearts to forgive others. That’s when it becomes real for someone else needing the Lord to save him from his sin.

Much more can be said about forgiveness but for now see it as the starting point of salvation which is an ongoing process of recovery as long as we live in this world. Next, the ongoing process. Stay tuned……..