December 2022

callnamejesusMerry Christmas! Above all, let this Christmas be a celebration of the birth of Christ. Jesus is the Savior of the world, the sacrifice for sin, and the only source of salvation.

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.” 1

A Concerned Teenager…

Ixia wrote: “I was happy to receive your letter; it was really nice!”

“I’m in my senior year of high school and all I hear from several people is how much they dislike Christ and Christians. To me, it’s scary. I usually never come across people who love Christ anymore. My generation seems to have more hatred toward Christ. I respect others’ beliefs, but it seems Christianity is constantly hated.

“The world seems to be falling apart more and more every day. Life just seems like a rat race sometimes. Of course, I have all my faith in God and the love He gives, so I spend time alone with Him to pour out my emotional tiredness, focusing on what really matters. It’s hard to find good people to surround yourself with. My so-called best friends openly tell me how God isn’t good and make jokes about Christianity. I did nothing but stay quiet to keep the peace, but I can’t stand it anymore to be honest in such a difficult and cruel world.”

“I checked out The Life Recovery Bible you recommended, and it was helpful. I didn’t mention it before, but I used to have an addiction to all kinds of pills and drinking. I had a pretty harsh childhood! It made me really sick and destroyed my life until I reconciled with God. When I started building a strong faith towards Christ, that’s where I got my independence (because I never felt free before), inner peace, and joy. I know life isn’t going to be perfect, but Christ keeps me sane.

“I thank God every time I am able to connect with like-minded people like you, Charles. When you said that you never felt like you couldn’t be saved, that helped me keep going. I have hope because of you. Being in a younger generation, there are a lot of things that can make you shift your love for Christ towards something awful. I’ve seen it happen a lot of times. I pray God’s light shines on those men hurting in prison. I always have you in my daily prayers, asking God to keep you safe. God bless, Ixia, CA.”

“And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” 2

Jesus: The Savior of the World…

Ixia said, “I hear from people how they dislike Christ… my so-called best friends make jokes about Christianity.” This is nothing new! Though Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, “He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” 3 “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” 4 We need nothing but a willing heart to receive God’s power and forgiveness.

In another letter, Ixia mentioned how she was reading the e-book Christianity for Fools on the site. It shares how “God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.” 5 As a result of being right with God through the finished work of Christ at the cross, we begin to experience God’s peace, joy, love, hope, glory and blessings that only come from our relationship with God! I pray that God will give you the desire to read, study and meditate the scriptures that are offered in this book.

Jesus: The Sacrifice for Sins…

Often, I hear from those condemned by past sins, when God’s Word says, “…there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” 6 Having received right standing with God through Jesus’ sacrifice for sins, we are able to stand in the presence of God without fear, condemnation and inferiority. Because of the blood of Jesus, we are 100% forgiven of all sin, past, present and future. No matter what the accuser says, “It has come at last—salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.” 7 That is, their testimony of Jesus.

Many of us have pasts that we are ashamed of, but when the devil brings it up, remind him of his future in the lake of fire. Our childhoods may have not been the best, but now we are reconciled to God like Ixia testifies about. She wrote, “When I started building strong faith towards Christ, that’s when I got my independence (because I never felt free before), inner peace and joy.” She had returned recently from visiting her father and grandfather in Mexico, where she experienced great salvation and power through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Jesus: The Source of Salvation…

Therefore, as the scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 8

“And she [Mary] will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 9

“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.” 10

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved... For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 11

It is such a blessing and joy to help further Ixia’s testimony of Jesus to the world. I thank God for her new life and future ministry as her vision for souls increases.

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 12

A Prayer for You…

Heavenly Father, I thank You for making this the best Christmas season of my life. I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus, and I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. I receive Your free gift of eternal life. I thank You that when You died for me, Your blood cleansed me from all unrighteousness and the sins of my entire life; past, present and future. In all my trials, I give You thanks, knowing that giving thanks for Your love and grace notifies the devil of his defeat at the cross. I commit my life to You 100% from this day forward. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

Scripture References (NLT):

1) Isa. 9:6,7
2) Acts 10:38
3) John 1:11,12
4) 1 Cor. 1:18
5) 1 Cor. 1:30
6) Rom. 8:1
7) Rev. 12:10b, 11a
8) 1 Cor. 1:31; Jere. 9:14
9) Matt. 1:21
10) 1 Pet. 3:18
11) Rom 10:9,10,13
12) 2 Cor. 5:21