December 22, 2014

As I See It

Although we do not know the day of Christ’s birth, Christmas has traditionally been the time to remember this wonderful event. It is a time for friends and family, a time to celebrate together, and, like the kings from the East, to worship Jesus, the Christ.

Who is this Person we recognize during this season? Jesus is often seen as a cuddly baby, a buddy buddy, a charming Savior. His “matchless charms”* are extolled to the neglect of who He really is. His majesty is revered, but dazzled by His glory; His attributes often go unrecognized. A doctrineless Christ will not do; He is not a “designer god” we can meet on our terms within our comfort zones.

Who is this King of glory?

Christ, the Son of God, is a member of the Godhead, the one through whom all things were created, the Source of life (John 1:1-4). He is not simply a generic creator of this world—He is also Creator of the universe. He bent over clay and breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life. He created you and me personally and individually.

As a member of the Godhead, Christ is the God-man. He became one with us so that we might be saved from sin and death. Again, He is not only Savior of the world, He is your Savior and mine. Christ is not Savior simply because He came to give an example of love and service; He also came to live and die in our place. He was the propitiation for our sins (Rom. 3:24, 25; 2 Cor. 5:21). He was resurrected bodily on our behalf so that we might partake in the power of His resurrection.

Christ ascended into heaven to minister on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary, first in the holy place, then in the Most Holy Place. His work in the Most Holy Place is in preparation for His second coming.

Christ’s second coming will be literal and visible. The purpose of the return of Christ is to fulfill His promise that He has gone to prepare a place for us, that He intends to receive us unto Himself, so that where He is, we might be also (John 14:1-3). God’s original plan for us is brought to fruition, for He desires to dwell with us (Rev. 21:3).

The final fulfillment of the purpose of Christ in the creation of this world will take place at the end of the millennium, when sin and sinners are destroyed. Harmony will be restored to God’s universe and to our lives! We will see God face to face, bringing to a culmination God’s original intent for us.

Does it matter what we think of Christ during this Christmas season? Can we emphasize his “matchless charms and glory” apart from who He is? Is it OK to create our own “designer God”?

Christ wants us to know Him, the only “true” God (John 17:3). He wishes to betroth us to Himself forever, promising that we shall know Him (Hosea 2:19). He does not wish us to be ignorant about Him, for His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).

So, as we celebrate this Christmas, does it matter what we think of Jesus Christ? What if we celebrate Him without acknowledging that He is fully God and fully man? What if we deny that He created the world and everything in it, as described in Genesis? Suppose we tell Him that He cannot save us by dying on the cross on our behalf; that His resurrection was not physical; that He did not literally ascend to heaven? What if we reject His ministry on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary and deny that He will visibly return to take us unto Himself and finally free the universe of sin and sinners?

By rejecting His attributes, we reject who He is. If we reject who He is, we worship someone else. We celebrate a Christless Christmas.

Jesus’ “matchless charms” are the teachings about who He is. As we celebrate and worship Him this Christmas season, let’s praise Him for all He is: our Creator and Savior!


* Ellen G. White, Selected Messages (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1958, 1980), book 1, p. 403.

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