Finding gifts & baking cookies 🎅 Christmas from Paul's perspective

1 Timothy 1:15-17

“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Normally, when we talk about Christmas in Biblical terms, we get our information from the books of Matthew, Luke and John. 

However, today, we’re going to look at it from Paul’s perspective.  And as you might imagine, Paul’s perspective is a little different. 

So, why are we looking at Christmas through Paul’s eyes?

Well, before I answer that question, I want you to take a moment and think of the worst sinner that comes to your mind.

Is it a family member, maybe a neighbor, or a co-worker? Perhaps it’s a public figure that you don’t even know personally.

Now, what about your name…?

Did YOU put your name at the top the list? Was your name even on the list?   Probably not It’s always much easier to recognize sin in the lives of others, then admit or see our own.

But let me be brutally honest:

If any name other than your own, topped that list… then 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 – the more we tend to feel pretty self-righteous as we compare our life to the lives of others.

In contrast, the closer a person is to Christ, the more we are aware of our sinfulness.

The more we realize that we will never measure up to Christ’s sinless standard as we compare our lives to His.

It’s incredibly humbling to realize just how badly WE NEED a Savior. 

Now, back to why we are looking at Christmas through Paul’s eyes and how all this comes back to Paul and the Christmas story.

For as we read in today’s scripture verses… Paul wants us to realize that the reason Jesus was born in Bethlehem… was to save us from our sins.

Of which Paul saw himself as the chef among sinners…  So, as we look at Christmas from Paul’s point of view, let’s remember that Jesus was born in Bethlehem to become our Savior.

And That baby would grow up and live a sinless life so that He could pay the penalty for all our sins – big, small, and in-between… for there are no degrees of sin and 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 that is the reason we celebrate this Christmas season! 

Life Happens… and let’s remember - God’s unequaled love, compassion, and mercy for all people…  And yet, the REASON that the Jesus was born was to save you and me from our sins… …Jesus was born to die – for mankind.