Christmas Message: The Heart of Our Faith

December 25, 2025

jesus teachings

We remember that the Savior of the world was not born into power, property, or privilege.

He was born of nothing— to a poor family, without shelter, laid in a borrowed manger.

“She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.” - Luke 2:7

God did not arrive above us, distant and untouchable, but among us— vulnerable, dependent, and unseen by the powerful.

“The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.” - John 1:14

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.” - 2 Corinthians 8:9

This is not incidental to our faith. It is the heart of it.

We do not save ourselves through strength, success, or righteousness. We are saved only through His grace.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9

The story of Jesus reminds us that God’s glory is revealed not in domination, but in humility; not in wealth, but in love freely given; not in ascent, but in descent.

“Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.” - Philippians 2:5-8

To follow Christ, then, is to resist the illusion that comfort is holiness and to remember that grace meets us precisely where nothing else can.

We look not upward for escape, but outward and downward—to the manger, to the cross, and to one another— trusting that salvation is God’s gift, not our achievement.

“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” - Matthew 25:40

The announcement came not to the powerful, but to shepherds in the field:

“The angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.’” - Luke 2:10-12

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