While Christmas is celebrated in many cultures, it is not accurately understood by all who participate. Attention is generally focused on the Nativity scene and a plethora of colorful lights displayed in neighborhoods and business districts. Special church services, parties, and family gatherings are held in urban and rural areas even by people who are not genuine Christians.
Unfortunately, many Christians focus more on the world’s way of celebrating Christmas than on what God’s word has to say about the birth of Christ.
Because God is holy, His holiness is integrally related to the virgin conception and birth of Jesus Christ. Also, God’s holiness demands that sin be condemned and eternally destroyed. That’s why He destroyed wicked mankind except for Noah and his family by a global flood (Gen. 7:23) and Sodom and Gomorrah by brimstone and fire (Gen. 19:24). But, God’s holiness is also manifested by His attributes of love, grace, and mercy. He loves His entire creation which is an expression of His general grace, for creation is not existing because it deserves to be. The creation of holy angels and holy humans are also manifestations of God’s general grace. However, God’s special grace and mercy (withholding deserved punishment) are only for humans. Why? Angels are spirits, having never had a physical body (Ps. 104:4; Heb. 1:7). Some sinned against the Lord (2 Peter 2:4). Since God’s holy nature is totally spiritual (non-physical/incorporeal), death for the sin of angels is impossible. No spirit can actually die. But, Adam and Eve sinned in their physical bodies. Therefore, Jesus Christ’s holy physical body was capable of dying and thus necessary to die for man’s sin and resurrect from the dead.
Jesus was holy at His conception (Luke 1:35), and He was born holy (Luke 2:23).
He saves sinners by His grace (Eph, 2:8-9), and “He has now reconciled you in His (holy) body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach” (Col.1:22). To reinforce that point, Jude v. 24 says, “ Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy.”
Therefore, focusing more on the holiness of Jesus Christ during the Christmas season should help us celebrate it in a way that’s pleasing to Him. He’s still holy and always will be. So should we (1 Pet. 1:15-16).
Blessings!
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