I’ve been pondering the wondrous truths God reveals about His saving gift. I once asked Him, “What are believers in Christ saved from, exactly?” If anything brings me to my knees in humble gratitude within this year’s suffering Christmas, it’s His answers throughout Scripture.
Handel’s Messiah echoes the truth, the very bad news about what will come to unbelievers on the last day. We hate to think or talk about it, but if we don’t, how can the good news of Jesus’ birth be such a song of His gift to us?
What are believers in Christ saved from?
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth (Rom. 1:18 ESV).
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him (Jn. 3:36 CSB).
Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: Yet once a little while and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations; and the desire of all nations shall come. The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts (Hagg. 2:6-7; Mal. 3:1).
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God (Rom. 5:9 ESV).
But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He
appeareth? For He is like a refiner’s fire (Mal. 3:2).
From [Jesus’] mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty (Rev. 19:15 ESV).
Purified and refined in our suffering Christmas, God’s gift of ongoing grace at work
What’s all the wrath about? Sin.
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (Mt. 1:21 ESV).
Sister in Christ, we are God’s beloved, those who have been saved and are already clothed in the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ! Saved from our sin and its resulting deserved judgment! We may be suffering, but we are not experiencing and never will have to experience God’s wrath for sin.
Jesus completely satisfied it all in our place already! It is finished! This is His wondrous gift of the gospel!
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (1 Jn. 2:2 ESV).
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 Jn. 4:10 ESV).
What immensely good news! What a gift to re-open this Christmas season, for this is why Jesus was born!
He saved us,
not because of works done by us in righteousness,
but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5-7 ESV).
Even more amazing, He’s right now purifying, sanctifying, and refining us as He conforms us to the image and character of our beloved Savior and holy Lord (Rom. 8:29).
Today.
In our suffering Christmas.
And He shall purify the sons of Levi (Mal. 3:3)…
God’s gift of Christ’s imputed righteousness to us, God’s gift of ongoing grace to us in a suffering Christmas. Wow…
that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness (Mal. 3:3).
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered (Heb. 5:7-8 ESV).
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him,
since he always lives to make intercession for them (Heb. 7:25 ESV).
How are we being saved as we suffer this Christmas?
Now may the God of peace himself
sanctify you completely,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He who calls you is faithful;
he will surely do it (1 Thess. 5:23-24 ESV)!!!
Hallelujah! Halleujah! Hallelujah! King of kings and Lord of lords! Hallelujah!
A sung offering to Jesus in this suffering Christmas
It’s an overwhelming gift we’ve received, isn’t it? We are suffering on earth, but we are “saved” sufferers in union with Christ Jesus, our Lord and King, who is praying for us to endure it as we become “sanctified completely” people!
This is mind-blowing good news amidst all the world’s bad news. The bad news when our sin grips us in fear of His judgment...because we forget that Jesus has already satisfied (propitiated) God’s wrath in His coming judgment for sin.
The bad news when the enemy lies and tries to make us think we’re not believers, have weak faith, or are being punished because we’re suffering.
NO!
Let’s sing the always-good news of His gospel gift, back to our Lord, as we remember what He’s doing in us. As we suffer this Christmas, He is purifying us. He’s transforming us as part of His saving plan, in our hearts…all the way to the end!
This week’s playlist is a sung offering to Jesus, bringing our very real pain to Jesus who knows every molecule of every kind of pain, remembering what He’s done for us, giving us hope in what He is doing within this suffering Christmas, and humbly rejoicing in His saving gift to us now and forever.
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Maybe weekly playlists are just too much right now? Here are some other resources of our ministry as gifts to suffering sisters in Christ.
To hear Scripture devotional with calming hymns and encouragement, click here for YouTube podcast.
For symptoms of chronic illness, chronic pain, depression, or anxiety, here’s a longer podcast of Scripture and music therapy-inspired hymn playing
Devotional Bible study prayer journals as we suffer, available on Amazon. Click for details.
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