“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” – 1 Timothy 1:15-17
The New Testament books of Matthew, Luke, and John are the usual sources of the Christian’s story of Christmas. But today, we’re going to look at it from Paul’s perspective.
This may seem odd because Paul wasn’t around when Jesus was born –– nor was he involved in Jesus’ earthly ministry. And he most certainly didn’t see Jesus on the cross or witness the empty tomb.
Suffice it to say that Paul’s perspective is a little different.
So, you might be thinking, “Why are we looking at Christmas through Paul’s eyes?”
Well, before we answer that question, take a moment to think of the worst person you know. It might be a family member, a neighbor, maybe a co-worker or a classmate; perhaps it’s a public figure you don’t even know personally.
Did your name top the list? Probably not.
I’ll be honest with you: If any name other than yours topped the list, your heart might not be in tune with God.
Why?
Because the farther a person is from God, the more we tend to feel pretty good about ourselves, especially as we compare our life to the lives of others.
In contrast, the closer a person is to Christ, the more we’re aware of our own sinfulness.
It’s incredibly humbling to realize just how badly we NEED a Savior.
Okay, back to the Apostle Paul. In 1 Timothy 1: 15- 17, Paul wants us to realize that the reason Jesus was born was to save us from our sins.
There are a multitude of things that Jesus’ coming reveals to us:
- God’s character and personality
- God’s desire that we live a Godly life
- God’s unequaled love, compassion, and mercy for all those hurting and in need.
Still, the REASON that Jesus was born was to save you and me from our sins.
He was born to die – for mankind.
So, as we begin to look at Christmas from Paul’s point of view, remember that Jesus was born that night in Bethlehem to become our Savior. That baby would grow up to live a sinless life so that He could pay the penalty for all of our sins – big, small, and in-between.
With Jesus, there is no sin hierarchy. We’re all guilty.
Thankfully, God loves us so much that He sent His Son to save us from ourselves.
And this, my friends, is the real reason we should celebrate this Christmas season!
