Pastor's corner - Who is the Real Christ of Christmas?

As we come to the Christmas holiday season, any question that addresses the true identity of Jesus Christ may seem immaterial or meaningless to some.

But when you consider the fact that Jesus warned His disciples repeatedly that there would be “false Christs” and “false prophets” that would come on the scene (Matt.

24:24)… and when you consider that the apostle Paul also warned about false teachers who would come along, preaching “another Jesus” by way of “a different spirit” and “a different gospel” (II Cor.

11:4), it would behoove us to identify the true Jesus Christ for who He really is, as He is revealed in the Word of God.

When someone says to me, “I believe in Jesus”, my instant response is, “which one”? Just who is the Christ of Scripture…the Christ of Christmas?

The Bible does not present to us a Christ who was merely “a good man” or “a prophet” (though He certainly was a good man, as well as Prophet). Nor was He “a god” (as if there’s more than one) or a man who “became a god…who “attained god-hood”), as some cults teach today. The Bible’s answer is very clear…

The prophet Isaiah was given the most vivid description of the One who would come into the world, which he then penned in His prophecy, in two different passages:

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Immanuel.” ~ Isa. 7:14

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government

will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful,

Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” ~ Isa 9:6

That word/title “Immanuel” is no small thing. Matthew described for us what the meaning of Immanuel is: “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). Notice…God would be coming to us and be with us. He wouldn’t BECOME a god after being with us over time. He was the timeless God who would become a man…the miracle of incarnation. He is, among many things, “the Mighty God”…the Word made flesh, who, for a while “dwelt among us” (John 1:1, 14).

That is why the angels came to those lowly shepherds who were watching their flocks by night…declaring, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14). God was taking on human flesh so that He might take our sin and our shame and then die in our place so that we can be reconciled to God (John 3:16; II Cor. 5:19-21).

You might ask, “How can Jesus and the Father BOTH be God?” This is a great mystery that we may never comprehend this side of eternity.

God declares that His ways are so far beyond our own, we may never understand (Isa.

55: 8-9).

But we know that there is only ONE GOD (Deut.

6:4; Isa.

43:10-11); and yet there are three distinct Persons who are referred to in Scripture as GOD: the Father (II Pet.

1:17); the Son (John 1:1, 14; Exod.

3:14 w/ John 8:56-59; Isa.

44:6; Rev. 1:17-18); the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4).

The Bible says, “These three are one” (I John 5:7).

Therefore, we can conclude that there are THREE DISTINCT PERSONS who “make up” the ONE God (NOT “three gods in one”).

The miracle of the incarnation is that THE SON left heaven, became a man and then DIED IN YOUR PLACE! You might ask, “why is it so important which ‘Jesus’ you believe in?” Simply this: There’s only ONE Jesus who died for you and rose again.

Jesus said, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24).

As you celebrate Christmas this year…may you and your family bow down in simple child-like faith to the One to whom shepherds and wisemen have already bowed…and to whom ALL will one day bow (Phil 2:5-11).

Have you put your faith in Him alone for your salvation? “Another Jesus” cannot save you…

Dean Ellis,

Pastor of Evangelism

First Baptist Church