Christmas and Sin … (December 2018 Update)
When we celebrate Christmas, sin is probably the last thing we think about. After all, “’tis the season to be jolly.” Right? Yes and no. First of all, Christmas is about sin. The reason for the season is because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Without a right understanding of sin as part of Christmas, we have no real reason to rejoice.
The Christmas story actually begins in Genesis. Adam and Eve lived in a God-created paradise. God gave them only one requirement – to not eat of the tree of life. Satan deceived Eve telling her that God’s word was not true. If they ate, they would surely not die. So they ate and God put Adam and Eve and the whole world under a curse that still affects us all today.
But He also gave then a promise. To the serpent, He said: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15). The promise was of a Savior that would come to save them from their sin by defeating Satan. This is what Christmas is really all about. Sure there is the babe in the manger, but the babe is there because of sin. That is the reason God became a man. Even before his birth, the angel tells Joseph, “You shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.” Christmas is about sin and about a Savior who came to save us from our sin.
This promise from Genesis points to Jesus and Jesus alone. The Hebrew actually contains a nonsense phrase that points only to Jesus. God says this one will be of the woman’s seed. Everyone knows that the woman bears the egg and the man the seed. But this prophecy contains the central doctrine of Christmas – the virgin birth. Jesus would not be born of the seed of man but the seed of woman. Isaiah 7:14 further developed this idea: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
So this year, as you celebrate Christmas, remember that Christmas is about sin – our sin – before it is about anything else. But it is not just about sin; it is about salvation that comes through Jesus. When the angels announced his birth they said: “Today is born in the city of Bethlehem a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” One of my favorite Christmas carols is “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” It talks about salvation but also about sin, especially if you sing the other verses. The third verse especially captures the heart of Christmas:
How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still, The dear Christ enters in.
That’s the real message of Christmas. That’s the reason we rejoice. Not because of a cute baby in a manger but because that baby came to die to pay for our sins. And “where meek souls receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.”
Time with Family this Christmas …
We have had a busy but wonderful time so far during our time in the states. We began in Florida with dear friends from Connecticut and were able to spend time with all of Debbie’s family in Sarasota over Thanksgiving week. We also got to see some old friends there that we have not seen in 20 years! Most of all, we were able to spend time on the beach with Sean and Meredith and their two girls, Haven and Harlie.
From there we headed north for a quick trip to Ohio. We left Florida at 80 degrees and by our first stop in Georgia, we were already in near freezing temperatures. By the time we reached Cincinnati, the temperature had fallen to below freezing! Still it was great to see my dad and eat some Skyline Chili. On our way back south to Arkansas, we stopped at the ARK Encounter in Northern Kentucky. It was really an amazing experience!
Since being in Arkansas, we have been busy seeing people every day and also spending time with family each evening. We are heading to Fayetteville before returning here the week before Christmas to spend with family before heading to Connecticut. From Connecticut, we will board our boat again for a winter crossing of the Atlantic. This is the last trip the Queen Mary takes across the ocean until spring because the weather can get pretty rough. We are praying for safe travel and not too difficult seas!
Pray for Ukraine this Christmas …
Things have become much more serious for Ukraine in the last month. Russian-supported forces have been continuing their attacks in Eastern Ukraine and Ukrainian troops and civilians continue to die even though the rest of the world seems to have forgotten Ukraine. Over the last 6 months, Russia has been stopping Ukrainian ships in the Azov and Black Sea in an attempt to create an economic blockade on Eastern Ukraine’s ports on the Avoz. Recently, Russia chased and openly fired upon 3 Ukrainian ships seeking entrance into the Avov Sea. They captured the ships and placed the 24 sailors in prison in Moscow. Much of Ukraine has been placed under martial law as a precaution and preparation for a possible Russian invasion.
Additionally, Russia has nearly tripled the number of tanks and attack vehicles it has on Ukraine’s borders. It is hard to know what they will do next but it is clear that the conflict will not go away. Most of the news media is saying that this is the most serious time since 2014. I think it is more serious. In 2014, Russia was trying to hide its invasions of Ukraine. Now they do not seem to care if they openly attack Ukrainian ships. Unfortunately, we could be entering a much more dangerous time.
Please pray for peace solutions and for wise actions on the part of Ukraine so that Russia will not be able to claim that Ukraine started the war. Pray also for the servicemen and women currently protecting our borders and pray for the chaplains (many friends and graduates of our seminary are serving as chaplains) as they minister to these soldiers. Also pray for our churches that we can continue to freely share the gospel even in difficult times.
We are thankful for you and your prayers and support. It is a joy to serve and to know we are being prayed for regularly!
By His Grace,
Jim and Katya
Kristina and Nadia
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