Hark! The herald angels sing,Glory to the newborn King.
Peace on Earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
My favorite Christmas music of all time is the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack. I put it in my truck’s MiniDisc player as soon as the snow flies in the fall, and leave it in until the snow is gone for good the following spring. The verse that jumps out at me, the impact of which I never realized until I became a Christian, was the four words “God and sinners reconciled.” It’s those four words I have to share with you now.
You see, the reason for the season is the birth of Christ. But inseparable from Jesus’ manifestation is his mission. Let me make a few brief points:
1- Everyone on this planet is a sinner (Romans 3:10, Psalms 14 and 53). We’re cursed from Adam’s sin. Jesus came to pay to live a sinless life despite being tempted just as we are (Hebrews 4:15) and pay the penalty for our sins (Romans 6:23). The fact that he came is no more or less important than the reason WHY he came.
2- As sinners, we are enemies of God. No, not everyone is a child of God as Oprah says. Without being redeemed and reconciled to God, as in the last line of that song verse at the top of this post, we’re destined to hell. We need to be forgiven. That brings us back to Jesus, and his work of reconciling us to God. Here are a few verses, look ’em up for complete context:
I Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
II Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
II Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Colossians 1:20-22 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Ephesians 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby
To get even a feeble glimpse of what those four little words means should stop a person in their tracks. All your sins forgiven through belief in Jesus Christ. A home in heaven, purchased by Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself in your stead. Guaranteed, because His work is final. That’s powerful stuff!
I’m not going to give you some deep doctrinal thesis on being born again. I’m not going to give you text from a church statement of faith, either. I’m going to put it in my own simple words and hope I make sense while typing at midnight:
-You need to realize that you are a sinner. I am too. We all are, that’s the point.
-Jesus paid the penalty for your sin (and mine, and everyone’s), living a sinless life yet taking on the sin of the world. He suffered, died, and rose again in victory over sin, death, and hell.
-You need only believe that Jesus is the Son of God (in other words, that he is God manifest in the flesh), that the price that he paid on the cross is sufficient for the forgiveness of your sins, the only thing that could ever be sufficient.
-Pray today and confess these things to God. Simply tell Him that you realize you’re a sinner who needs to be saved, that you believe Jesus is the Son of God, and that His sacrifice is sufficient to forgive you of your sins and give you eternal life.
I ask that you ponder these things today as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. If you’re not a Christian, it’s my hope that you take these things to heart. Pick up a Bible and explore the verses I’ve given. Use the “Contact Me” link on the top right of my website if you have any questions. If you are reading this on one of the sites that syndicates my blog, you’ll have to come to my website directly to get the link. It’s my sincerest hope that everyone who reads this would be born again. Then you’ll know how exciting a time Christmas really is, and the joy behind those four little words at the end of A Charlie Brown Christmas.