Jesus Saves!

Despite the continued secularization of the Christmas holiday, there are still many reminders this time of year about the birth of the Lord Jesus. Perhaps for some, the story of Christ’s birth is a comforting reminder of sentimental childhood memories or simply a tradition that is passed on in our culture. They like the Christmas story but really don’t believe it. There are others who do believe it. They do believe that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. They believe that Jesus was born as a Savior, Christ the Lord, just as the angel announced to the shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem. They believe the story as a historical fact. It really did happen but is it enough to believe it really happened? Does that faith save us?

I was recently reading a sermon preached by Martin Luther on the afternoon of Christmas in 1530. In this sermon Luther addressed this very subject. He said, “So there are many who have this belief and do not doubt this first belief that Christ is Lord, the Savior, and the virgin’s Son.” But is this enough? Is it sufficient to subscribe to an orthodox creed? Luther said that this is not sufficient. I agree. Being a Christian is more than agreeing with Christian doctrine. To merely acknowledge and agree to a doctrinal statement is not saving faith. It is as Luther put it “only a memory of what has been heard.” True disciples of Jesus are not those who have merely grabbed hold of a memory or signed their churches statement of faith.

The true disciple of Jesus is the one who seizes the announcement of the angels, “To you is born this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” Do you know and believe that Christ was born for you, to be your Savior? Are you ready and willing to venture everything upon the good news that a Savior was born for you? In Luther’s Christmas sermon he said, “In my sin, my death, I must take leave of all created things. No, sun, moon, stars, all creatures, physicians, emperors, kings, wise men and potentates cannot help me.” Do you believe this? Have you staked your life and eternal soul upon it? There is no savior but the One who was born in Bethlehem. His name is the Lord Jesus Christ. Until you have turned away from all other false “saviors” to the only true Savior, you stand condemned in your sin. Orthodoxy cannot save but Jesus can!