The Feast of the Nativity of our Lord

2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.”

In sending Christ into this world, God has caused His saving grace to be made visible, to be made incarnate! Our Epistle for this Christmas morning goes on to speak of how that changes us, as we seek purity and put away ungodliness and evil lusts. It sounds like Law, and yet, grace and salvation through faith in Christ are the starting point.

How often do we hear someone seek to justify their foibles, or even their blatant sins, by saying, “I’m only human!” But that’s not our problem. Our problem is that we are fallen humans, less than the holy, perfect creatures that God intended us to be. Christ is not born into this world to save us from being human. Christ has come to make real human beings out of us again! So, as He assumes our flesh, He proceeds to lead a holy, sinless life on our behalf. He sacrifices that life for us, that He may clothe us in His righteousness. As recipients of that saving grace of God in Christ, we rejoice to strive to live up to the righteousness in which we have already been clothed, to live like complete human beings once again.

Collect: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the new Birth of Thine Only-Begotten Son in the flesh may set us free who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of sin; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.