Archive for December 2011
What About The Term ” Xmas “?
For my Christian friends and for those who are just curious.
The term “Xmas” really isn’t bad. In short, in the Greek language the word for Christ (Khristós or Christos) is Χριστός. A variant for Xmas is “Xtemass” and it was used as early, I believe, in 1551. If you go back as far as 1100 you will find the term of “Xp̄es mæsse”. The letter X, from the Greek word of Χριστός, was used as a short-term for Christ.
Also, terms like Xpian and Xtian have been used for the word Christian, not to mention that the term Xtianity has been used for the word Christianity as far back as 1634.
Basically these terms were just short versions of saying “ Christ Mass “.
So, when we see, today, the term “ Xmas “ we are actually seeing someone saying “Christ Mass“ or “Christmas”.
After seeing how this term began and how it has been used down through the ages, I feel that so many people, in their quest not to offend anyone are actually telling us Christians that Christ does live and they are unknowingly proclaiming His birth.
And, at Christmas time, isn’t that what we are celebrating anyway?
Now, with “Xmas” in mind, I came up with an idea and I’m sending it out to you as a good suggestion. To anyone or any business that uses the term “Xmas”, thank them for proclaiming Christ’s birth, smile and then wish them a Merry Christmas. Then happily walk away and let them think about it for a while.
I think Jesus would like that… 🙂
Why A Savior?
Even if you are not a Christian, I’m sure you are familiar with the Christmas story.
The Gospel of Luke has the best account of the birth of Jesus, and in the part which describes the encounter that some shepherds had with an angel we read, in part, the following:
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior…..”
Wait a minute. A Savior? Why do we need a Savior? I mean we’re all good, right? So, why do we need a Savior and from what do we need to be saved?
Good questions, all…
In Proverbs 6 beginning at verse 16 we read:
These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
For a moment, think of these seven things. Have you ever done any of them? Odds are you have had at one time or another had a proud look about you, lied about something, devised a way to get back a someone, either hit someone or at least thought about hitting someone, told something about another person that wasn’t true, and even spread gossip to get someone in trouble.
Do you realize that just by doing any one of these has caused you to be separated from God. We all know about the Ten Commandments and we always say, “Well, I’ve tried my best to do them, and God knows I’m not perfect, but I am basically good.”
However, when you look, again, at those seven actions I’ve mentioned, just one of them will keep you out of Heaven. In 1 Corinthians 6:9 we read:
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?”
Are you “unrighteous?” If you have done just one bad thing, even a simple little white lie, you are an unrighteous person. As it stands now, you are in danger of spending eternity in Hell, not Heaven.
You will have to pay the penalty for having done anything bad. You see God will not allow anyone who is unrighteous into Heaven. That would be like pouring a sewer system into pure drinking water. It has to be purified first, just like you. The problem is, spending eternity in Hell will not purify you.
However, God has provided a way for the unrighteous person to gain forgiveness for the wrongs they have committed and to be granted admittance into Heaven. He has provided a “Savior”.
This is what we read about in the Christmas story in Luke. God has provided a Savior and His name is Jesus, and to all who believe in Him, and who submit to Him as Lord, the bad things they have done will be forgiven and the righteousness of Jesus will be placed upon that person. Because of the righteousness of Jesus they will be granted admittance into Heaven.
The thing is, you must admit that you have done wrong. You must be willing to say that you know you cannot enter into Heaven because of anything you have done. You must realize that you can only be forgiven if someone pays the penalty that you deserve to pay, because of what you have done, and the only Person who can stand in your place, to be found guilty on your behalf, is Jesus. Only because of what Jesus has done in His obedience to the Father, in His dying for sins, and in His resurrection can you have any hope of salvation.
You see, from what you need to be saved, is from yourself, because you are an unrighteous person, and that unrighteousness has caused you to be condemned to spend eternity in Hell paying for the bad things you have done.
That is why you need a Savior and that Savior is Jesus.
Call upon God now. Confess that you have done wrong and submit to Jesus as Lord of your life and, if you can do that, Jesus will be your Savior. So that when you read, “For there is born to you this day….. a Savior…..”, you can join all of the others down through the ages who can say:
“It was for me that a Savior was provided, to save me from myself, and His name is Jesus.”
When this happens the Christmas story takes on a whole new meaning. We can see why a Savior was needed and for whom He came to save; to save us from ourselves.
You see, we cannot save ourselves. We cannot be good enough to earn admittance into Heaven. We cannot do anything to be forgiven for any of the bad things we have done. We need a champion, one who will stand in for us, we need a Savior. Only Jesus can be that Savior. If you deny Him you deny yourself the only chance there is to spend eternity in Heaven.
Can you admit your wrongs? Will you submit to Jesus as your Lord, to take over control of your life? Will you bow before Him as the only Savior who can provide you forgiveness for your sins?
If you can say yes to all of these, then this Christmas will be the most wonderful Christmas you will have ever had. You will receive the best and most precious gift ever, the gift of being given a Savior to save you from yourself. His name is Jesus.
May this be a most wonderful time for you, and I pray that you will have a more meaningful, peaceful and life changing time of the year so that it will truly be, for you, a very Merry Christmas…
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