Talk Tuesday-Christmas in October!

Okay, okay, I know it may seem excessive to start celebrating Christmas in October, but the truth is that I can't help it! I LOVE Christmas! I love the smell of the pine trees, the lights, the food, the feeling of warmth and togetherness, the scent of baked cookies, the songs, and the anticipation of eating lots of yummy food...but most of all I love what it is all about... the fact that, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

What does it mean that GOD sent JESUS down to earth? We are RECONCILED to GOD and we are REDEEMED from the dominion, penalty and scourge of sin by the blood of JESUS shed on the cross.

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."
1 John 2:1-2

The idea of ATONEMENT denotes both RECONCILIATION and REDEMPTION:

RECONCILIATION is the restoration of our relationship with GOD THE FATHER: Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

REDEMPTION involves JESUS paying the price for our lives, covering the cost of our sin and buying back our lives from the penalty of sin: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

So, let's not wait until Christmas to start singing, "O Come Let Us Adore Him" but let us always worship JESUS who "6 Who, being in very nature GOD, did not consider equality with GOD something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore GOD exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of GOD the Father." Philippians 2:6-11

 Merry Christmas in October! Happy JESUS day everyone!