Christmas is for Everyone - Even the Godless People
I Timothy 1:15
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
Do you remember the story of what the Apostle Paul’s life was like before he met Jesus? He was a religious zealot for the Jews. He was a “pharisee of pharisees.” But his zeal was much more than a belief system; it was a way of life. Acts 7 records for us the story of the death of Stephen. He was stoned to death for preaching the Gospel of Jesus. Acts 7:58 provides us a glimpse into the life of Saul, who would later become Paul the Apostle. It says, “When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.” A few verses later in Acts 8:3 the Bible says this, “But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.” These two verses help us to understand what Paul meant when he wrote to young Timothy that he was the foremost of sinners.
But Paul encountered Jesus and was radically and eternally saved and transformed into a Christ follower. Over the last two weeks I have written how Jesus came to save anyone and everyone who would turn from sin in repentance and trust Him by faith. That means good people, people that we think are good and never do bad things. It also means great people, people of nobility and high standing. Both of these kinds of people need Jesus and Christmas is for them.
But Christmas is also for godless people. Christmas is for people that are rebellious, scandalous and godless. Jesus came to save all people, even those who are the “foremost of all sinners.” And we find some of those very people listed in the genealogy of Jesus. Just consider some of the names listed in Matthew 1.
In Matthew 1:3 we find the name Tamar. Who is Tamar? She is a Canaanite, a gentile, who deceived her father-in-law by disguising herself as a harlot. She has an ungodly sexual relationship and ends up bearing a child. By all standards, she was a great sinner but here she is listed in the genealogy of Jesus. She needed the grace of the Lord Jesus. But she isn’t the only one.
In Matthew 1:5 we find another great sinner named Rahab. You will find her story in Joshua chapters 2 and 6. She was a harlot, a prostitute by profession. Yet, she recognized the greatness of God and she acted in faith. Joshua 2 tells us that she hid the spies of Israel and was saved when the Jews conquered Jericho. She was a great sinner that had a great salvation. She needed grace and found God amazing grace. But there is more.
In Matthew 1:9, the Bible tells us of Ahaz. Ahaz was the 12th King of Judah who brought idol worship into the people of God. He refused to listen to Isaiah the prophet of God and instead signed a treaty with Assyria that eventually led to the deportation of the people of God out of the land God had promised them. He is considered the most wicked of all the kings of Judah. Imagine, finding in the genealogy of Jesus the very king responsible for idol worship among God’s people. He was, by all accounts, wicked and evil. And yet he needed grace.
In Matthew 1:10 you will find the mention of King Manasseh, another King of Judah who brought further wickedness to the people of God. He, too, needed grace.
Now let me be clear. It is clear that Rahab worshiped God. It is clear she acted in faith. That is not true for the others. But what is true is this: they all needed the grace of God. And all were offered the opportunity to trust God by faith and turn from their wickedness. Here is the point, even the most godless of people need the grace of Jesus. And the offer of God’s free gift of salvation to all who believe extends even to the most godless of all.
I Corinthians 6: 9 - 11 says this, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor theives, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” Did you see that phrase, “such were some of you”?
The great truth is this, the gospel is for all people, even the godless, the most reprobate of sinners. If you are thinking that this blog describes you, then I have good news for you. The Lord Jesus Christ loves you, died for you, was buried for you and rose again from the grave that you might have life in Him. If you will trust Him by faith, and turn from a life of sin then Jesus will save you. I would count it joy to tell you more about Jesus who gave His life for you. Reach out to me in david@davidsmithministry.com and I will gladly respond back to you.
I leave you with another prayer challenge this week. I am sure that each of us knows someone, perhaps in our family, or at our work, or in our community that we might consider a godless sinner. Pray today for them; and pray God will open a door for you to share the love and grace of Jesus. They need grace too!