"To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father." (Colossians 1:2)
This is a verse that is often skipped over, but one which holds a huge truth. Every christian is a saint and a member of the family of God. When we meet together as Christians, it’s a time to celebrate this fact. In doing so, we celebrate something that the reformer Martin Luther called The Great Exchange:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”. Salvation is a one step process: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”. (John 3:16)
As the Gospel community, living within the kingdom of God, the Church should seek to prioritise the kingdom purposes. These kingdom purposes are the Invitation to join the Kingdom (Evangelism), the Participating in the Kingdom (Edification), Sharing the Kingdom (Social Concern), and Celebrating the King (Worship). These four purposes are the primary priorities of the Church.
A Christmas without Christ would just be another holiday. Yet for many, even in our western society that still claims faint allegiances to the biblical story surrounding this season, Christmas will be little more than a break from the regular routines of life – a time for family, feasting and festivity rather than of heart-felt worship and thanksgiving to the God of heaven for the gift of His Son.
