No doubt you have seen various artistic versions of the birth of Jesus Christ in a manger. Mary the virgin, gave birth to Jesus “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7) Billions had been born and died before Jesus Christ. For the first, and only, time in the world’s history a baby had been born Who would never defy His mother and supposed father. A child Who would grow but never selfishly demand attention. A teenager who would mature without once demanding His own way. A young man who would honour His mother without once being inconsiderate of her. A man who would live without any sin and so have His own right to live forever because He had no sin. God had promised this over 700 years before in Isaiah 7:14 as quoted in Matthew 1:23, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, ‘God with us’”. Billions more people have been born and died since Jesus Christ’s birth in Bethlehem but no one has lived a perfect life like Him. Peter one of the disciples who lived with Jesus Christ for three years said, “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth” (1Peter 2:22). In the same manner the disciple John said about Him, “in Him there is no sin” (1John 3:5) but that further proved the Lord Jesus to be the Son of God.
Merely A Wonderful Man
Many people look on that Man, Jesus Christ, as a wonderful example or the ideal life to strive for. His birth and His life delighted God the Father “God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.” (Romans 8:3). So the perfect life of the Lord Jesus automatically condemned the sin that is in everyone of us. However God had another reason for sending Jesus Christ into the world. “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world.” (1John 4:14). As sin has polluted God’s universe and He cannot accept sinners into His presence. Revelation 21:27 says, “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles {common, unholy or sinful and opposite to sacred}, or causes an abomination {that which is detestable}, or a lie {false teachings}, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
God had stated clearly that “The soul who sins shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:20). Therefore each one of us must face the consequences of our sin, which is death and everlasting separation from God. There can be no payment for sin without the giving of life because Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission [forgiveness for sin].”
Brought To God
Jesus Christ came into the world not just to be born and to live a perfect life, but also to die and suffer for sin, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, [He] the just for [us] the unjust, that He might bring us to God,” (1Peter 3:18). Due to Jesus Christ’s perfect life He had every right to return to heaven without dying. He had not committed anything worthy of death, not one sin. However, instead the Lord Jesus chose to allow Himself to be vilified, insulted, beaten and crucified, with all the terrible suffering that was involved. Then, while hanging on the cross, He accepted the holy God’s punishment for the sin that all others in the world had committed. Now He can fairly offer everlasting salvation, including total forgiveness of sins and being brought near to God Who loves us (Ephesians 1:7 “the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”), to whoever will change their mind about going on in sin, i.e. repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to receive it.
Just a perfect life, as beautiful as that was and is, it would not have been enough to save anyone from the everlasting consequences of their sin. But then God’s love would never have been satisfied with that. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). Would you not love to have God’s great salvation? Will you as a sinner repent of your sin and trust in Christ alone to receive the everlasting salvation that the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is now risen from the dead, offers you? He saves and He keeps.