Message summary: L et us never forget the main reason Jesus came into the world was to save sinners. He was born to conquer the grave.

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"She (Mary) will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15).

Most of our readers will be attending special services at Christmas and for many it will include a Christmas Eve service. We will pray, sing praises, hear Scripture readings and a Bible-based message. Foundationally, we will declare our belief that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners".

On Sunday our service began with a newer song simply titled "Christmas Day". It's a joyful song proclaiming our Lord's birth with this chorus:

But the line that especially gripped my heart were the words we sang: "He was born to conquer the grave". What a glorious truth to consider the entire redemption story when celebrating Christ's birth. (A link to the song as sung in our church this last Sunday is below.)

At first glance the epistles seem to give little emphasis regarding the birth of Christ. Apart from the historical record in the narratives in Matthew and Luke we have no other such information on our Lord's birth. It's not mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles or in any of the epistles with any detail. There's simply no record of the early church celebrating Christ's birth as we do today, the greater focus was placed on the Resurrection.

But they certainly believed in it! Paul introduces a saying that apparently was an early creedal statement of the primitive church. Today we encourage you to see it as a Christmas verse.

It begins: "Here is a trustworthy saying", literally a "faithful word".  This simple, easily memorized statement was perhaps used to teach and reinforce the faith in the earliest believers. It was at the time and always will be an absolutely trustworthy saying!

"That deserves full acceptance". Although surely most of the world's population has not accepted this truth; from its earliest declaration, to this day and throughout eternity it nevertheless deserves full acceptance. Brooksyne and I have both accepted this truth and we trust that each of you have as well.  It is the very heart of the Christmas message.

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners". This is an absolutely trustworthy statement that impacts the lives of every human born into this world. It is the real meaning of Christmas and it is always good news because it is trustworthy and true!

Today and everyday let us not forget the reason Jesus came into the world and consider the difference His coming makes in our lives. It's not fake news, it's the genuine good news!

B e encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13