Titus 2:11-14 Transforming Christmas

Some believers want to transform Christmas. They complain that the name is not appropriate; that it has become too commercialized; they don't like the use of Xmas; condemn the use of trees; and state that December 25th is an unlikely date for Christ's birth. (If you want answers to these issues, go to answers.org)

Unbelievers are already at work transforming Christmas. They have emphasized Santa Claus, and elves, and reindeer with many gifts as the main thing of the holiday. Some oppose the nativity scene and the expression of faith in the public square.

Instead of transforming Christmas, we should allow Christmas to transform us. The story of Christmas teaches us what we are supposed to be transformed into. Christmas is the grace of God piercing time and history in the person of Jesus Christ to walk upon this earth to teach the kingdom of God and bring salvation to humanity - salvation from our sins, from our selfish nature, to restore in us his image and likeness. To make us godly people - people like God. Not like him in his divine nature, but like him in his character.


Godliness is not the result of my personal efforts, but the result of God's Grace (in Jesus Christ) at work in my life. To take credit for godliness - how much we conform to the character of God - is like taking credit for the growth of the tomatoes in your garden. You certainly take good care of them, but you cannot make them grow. God gives the growth and you provide the watering and fertilizing. 

The grace of God (Jesus Christ) appeared! Christmas is all about celebrating this appearance (epiphany) in the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The grace of God saves us! Christ came to pay the ransom for our foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved life. The grace of God trains (instructs, encourages, and corrects) us to renounce ungodliness through self-control, righteousness, and true godliness while we await the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The grace of God has the power to transform us into godly people by purifying us from our past lives (sins), pronouncing us justified (rendering us innocent), and making us eager (zealous, devoted) to do what is good (good works).

We should not try to transform Christmas into what we want it to be. We must submit, yield, surrender and allow Christmas to transform us. The grace of God that appeared saves me, trains me to transform me. Let's not forget 
"Now there is great gain in godliness..." (1Tim. 6:6). Let us not give up on our garden of godliness.

Psalm 98 Christmas - Let's Celebrate!

How do you celebrate Christmas? Maybe you go out on a shopping spree or decorate a tree or cook a succulent festive meal or bake some delicious cookies. Many gather together with family and friends, eat together, play games, watch movies, and have a great time. But what is the best way to celebrate Christmas?

Psalm 98 is a Messianic psalm that teaches us how to celebrate the coming of our awaited King. It begins by saying "Oh sing..." Song and music are languages of the soul. There are certain things you cannot express very well with a sentence or a phrase. There are certain things that you need to express in a more poetic fashion. The lyrics of a song or poem are charged with emotions and much energy in trying to express the innermost feelings and desires.


But the Psalter is clear that we are to sing to the Lord. Our songs are to be directed to one person alone. Our songs should not have us as the center of the song, or our feelings, or our circumstances. It should have the Lord Almighty and all that he has done for us as the center of what we want to express. After all, that is what worship is all about - singing the praises of God, exalting God for his deeds, admiring God for what he has done, etc. A song of praise should not be evaluated for what it makes us feel, but for what we are saying about God! The culture teaches us to appreciate the beat, the sensuality, the moves, but the lyrics are of outmost importance.

What are we to sing? A new song! This does not mean that I can’t sing the old songs anymore, or that I must compose new ones all the time, or that I must make a new arrangement for it. Or that a song for God is outlived after the first performance - No! It means it must be spontaneous and fresh as we give it. God wants our praise to be the result of an inner impulse - sincere and honest. God does not want our praise to be canned, frozen, or even preserved. He wants it fresh! It speaks more of the attitude with which it is sung than the content of the song itself.

Why are we, his people, to sing to him? "...for he has done marvelous things." We are to sing to our God

for the many things he has done, among which are: The working out of salvation and making it known motivated by his steadfast love and faithfulness to his people. God has done many things in my life, but nothing compares to the work of salvation he has brought to the world through Jesus Christ our Lord. That should be the greatest motivator to sing his praises.

How are we to sing? We are to sing with JOY! The concept of joy in the Scriptures is misunderstood because many believe that the Scriptures are telling us to be happy even if we don't feel like it, to smile even when we are eating sour grapes. Not at all! Joy is to have a sense of happiness because of our faith, hope, and love. We have a reason to celebrate, even in the midst of our darkest hour, because we have a God who loves us and we can trust him, we have promises we know he will fulfill one day, and our future is totally in his sovereign hands. Musical instruments become a channel for the expression of our joy to others.

Notice that the call is not only for God’s people, but for all peoples and all of creation! Even unbelievers are called to praise God because he is the Creator of all things and he deserves to be praised even by those who don’t believe. At the end of times, when our Lord returns and establishes his kingdom upon the earth, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that he is Lord! Everyone is supposed to worship him because he comes to judge the earth.

The first time he came in humility

The second time he will come in glory!

The first time he came to suffer

The second time he comes to celebrate!

The first time he came to die

The second time he comes to judge!

Christmas is God with us!

Christmas is the coming of our King to save us!

Christmas is celebrated with worship!

In light of the personal, physical, and imminent return of Christ - we must celebrate by worshipping our God during the Christmas season and every day of our lives.

Merry Christmas!