The Seldom Asked Questions

What is the very essence of Christmas? Why there is Christmas? Is it to celebrate the
birth of Jesus or to exchange gifts or to have a family reunion or any kind of party? Among all
these and other reasons of celebrating Christmas, what is the true reason behind it?
Mary (she) will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his
people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). It clearly states that Christmas is for the salvation of all
mankind. The birth of Jesus isnt for Mary, Joseph, or for God. It is for us. Thats why after how
many months after Christmas the Holy Week comes.
What is Salvation?
Salvation is when God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into
the kingdom of the Son he loves (Colossians 1:13) for it is by grace we have been
saved, through faithand this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him will
not perish and have eternal life (John 3:16). Christmas is the birth of Jesus, the birth of our
salvation. It is when we receive the greatest gift of God. It is when God gave life to His son for
His people. It is when we are saved. But any religion is not the assurance of salvation of God
through Christ but our individual or separate faith or relationship with Him.
Who needs salvation?
For who have sinned and fall short of the glory of God needs salvation (Romans 3:23)
because for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord
(Romans 6:13). Without Christ, we are weak and ungodly (Romans 5:6), sinners (Romans 5:8),
under the coming wrath of God (Romans 5:9), enemies of God in need of reconciliation and
salvation (Romans 5:10), under the judgment and reigning death that followed Adam's one
trespass (Romans 5:16-17), enslaved to sin (Romans 6:6, 16-17, 20), presenting our members
as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness (Romans 6:19), of the
flesh, sold under sin (Romans 7:14), having nothing good dwelling in our flesh (Romans 7:18),
having bodies of death in need of deliverance (Romans 7:24), hostile to God (Romans 8:7), the
fruit and wages of which are death and condemnation (Romans 6:21, 23; 8:1). We are ordinary
people even though some are rich, famous, and successful and others are not. We are all the same
in the eyes of God. We are all unperfected by the sins we have done. We all need Christ in our
life. We all need salvation. We all need a Saviour. Without Him, we are nothing in Heaven.

When is the time to acquire salvation?

The LORD God formed us from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life, and we became a living being (Genesis 2:7). People are also destined to die
once, and after that to face judgment of God (Hebrews 9:27). We are by nature children of
wrath, like the rest of mankind (Ephesians 2:3). Those with hard and impenitent hearts are
storing up wrath for themselves on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be
revealed" (Romans 2:5) For those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every
human being who does evil... (Romans 2:8-9). They will suffer the punishment of eternal
destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might... (2
Thessalonians 1:9). Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal
life. (Matthew 25:46). Therefore, NOW / TODAY or any words that can describe the
PRESENT is the definite time to acquire salvation. No one can tell when will be your day. Do
not waste time for yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. Your life is a mist that appears
for a little time and then vanishes (James 4:14).

How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me (Psalms 116:12)?
How will you start acquiring salvation?

The initial salvation starts within us. First, realize that you are a sinner. We are all
unclean, that even our good works are just likened to filthy rags in the sight of God (Isaiah
64:6). No one is perfect. Everyone has their own flaws, imperfections. Everyone is a sinner
regardless of their class in the society. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of Gods
glorious standard (Romans 3:23). Second, realize that your sin has punishment (1 Corinthians
6:9; Romans 6:23; Revelation 22:10; Galatians 5:19 - 21). Now if a person sins and does any
of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, still he is
guilty and shall bear his punishment (Leviticus 5:17).For you to avoid doing bad deeds or sins,
always remember in every bad things or acts you do, there will always be a consequence. Third,
repent and ask for forgiveness (Acts 2:38, Luke 11:4, Matthew 6:12). After you have sinned,
its time to reflect and repent. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness,
but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance
(2 Peter 3:9). Once you have asked for forgiveness, avoid doing it again. Learn from your
mistakes, or experiences. People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and
turn from them, they will receive mercy (Proverbs 28:13). Fourth, accept the Lord Jesus Christ
as your personal Savior and Lord (John 1:12; John 3:16; Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Isaiah 9:6).
Accept Him with all your heart and you will never go wrong. Accepting Him is also following
His way of life or His teachings. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes
him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to

life (John 5:24). Fifth, Study the Word of God by reading and studying the Scriptures and
develop your faith by learning (2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 10:12; Psalm 119:105.). Learn more
about God by reading Bible and living with it because so faith comes from hearing, and hearing
through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). Use the Bible to guide you especially through your
problems, and struggles in life where doing bad things becomes easy.
The progressive salvation is the journey between the initial salvation and death. Now that
you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to
holiness, and the result is eternal life (Romans 6:22), and is walked by faith with the power of
the Holy Spirit (Romans 8, Galatians 3:2-5). Every journey of a person contains struggles,
bumps, difficulties and challenges, but it is guided by the growing love for family, friends and
others and especially to God. It will always have a fight for faith, for peace and holiness
(Hebrews 12:14, 1 John 1:9). In the end, what really matters most is what you have done on
earth for the glory of God. This will give you to the final judgment that will lead you to the
eternal and everlasting life with Him full of joy united with His children in Heaven.

The final salvation is when God is saving his people at the final judgment. It is describe
as the great divide between sheep and goats, wherein sheep are being characterized by their work
of faith, love and hope to Jesus Christ. It is when people are being united with God in heaven.
Remember, this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son ( 1 John
5:11) because there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given
among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).