Glad Tidings, my brethren! Grace and Peace to you in the name of our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, redemption for man and the Light of Life have come!
Grace and Peace
These tidings are in every New Testament book except the four gospels, Hebrews, and James. These tidings are far from meaningless- they compose two core evidences of the salvation of Christ upon men! Without them, there is no salvation- and still more, without them, you cannot know your salvation.
It would be no waste of time for me to preach the full measure of God’s grace upon man for many months to you- and still you would not comprehend unless the Spirit of Christ lifts the veil from your eyes.
The Grace of God is as full as all the deity that rests in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself! In fact, Jesus Christ is the grace of God. He embodies God’s favor upon man, for no man can come before the throne unless they are cleansed by the blood of the lamb. He is the fullness of God’s love- offering even Himself for our redemption in obedience to the will of His Father. Because of Christ we are led by His Light, and even become Lights for the world so that others may see and follow Christ.
In a phrase, His “grace is sufficient for you”. It leads us into repentance, and therefore, life- it strengthens us when we are weak, and therefore causes us to endure to the end and thus be saved.
And what is to be said of His peace? His peace is blessed and righteous! Indeed, Peace Christ gives, but not peace like the world’s peace- which is empty and fleeting. The world declares peace while building up arsenals in reserve. God declared peace through His Son while He was dying on the cross!
It’s because of this peace that we become like Christ: taking on His suffering, and dying in like fashion so that we can be resurrected with Christ into eternal glory with the Holy Father. If sword or famine come upon us, though our bodies will mourn, our Spirits are at peace- and why is this?
Because the Peace of Christ is rooted and uplifted in the Hope that is to come in His appearance and revelation in the end of times.
When we declare, “grace and peace to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ”, we are blessing our brothers and sisters in Christ with a whole lot more than a mere greeting. Such tidings declare the message and hope of Christ in a couple words to those who already have the Word of God dwelling richly within them!
And the things these tidings speak of point to one singular event: the birth of Christ.
The birth of Christ begins with this message from an angel to Joseph:
Matthew 1:20-21
“For the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.“
The single testament of Christ, and the tidings of Christmas, is that the precious Lamb has come, the RIGHTEOUS FOR THE UNRIGHTEOUS, so that the many would be saved from their sins by the One.
All our Tidings celebrate the Light that has come into the world!
Whether it be “Merry Christmas“, for we are very merry because of the Joy of Christ, or it be “Peace on Earth and good will towards men”, because Christ has come and stilled our souls and anointed our heads with grace. These tidings celebrate Christ!
And so I say to you this day, Merry Christmas! Peace on Earth and good will towards men!
Biblical Reasons 