MERRY CHRISTMAS!

FORGIVENESS and THE STORY of CHRISTMAS

There is a connection between forgiveness and the story of Christmas. It all began thousands of years ago in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve committed a sin-they disobeyed God, their Creator. God knew then that the world would be in dire trouble and He had to do something to forgive save His creation.

He promised a seed (Genesis 3:15). The Old Testament prophets, (Isaiah 7, Micah 5. Hosea11) prophesied about Jesus’ birth and Jesus birth was fulfilled in the New Testament. (Matthew and Luke 1 & 2). The promised seed, Jesus was born and Christmas is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus. Although there are contraversaries about the correct date of Jesus’ birth, I think it is a great opportunity to celebrate His birth. This is my favorite time of the year, because I am grateful to God for giving His son to die, so that my sins are forgiven.

God sent His only son into the world to die for our sins. Jesus died for our sins, yet He Himself never sinned. He was perfect. He asked God to forgive the people who hurt and sinned against Him. We have been summoned to be like Jesus, follow His example and obey His Words which is the Holy Bible. One of the commands given in the Word is that we must forgive.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15).

Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matthew 6:14-15).

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).

(taken from: http://netwebmarketer.com/pauline/wordpress/2008/12/11/forgiveness-and-the-story-of-christmas/)