Christmas has come to mean and come to be many things for many people, but I would like to focus on the original purpose for the holiday — commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Bible gives the explanation for the significance of Christ’s birth as well as historical accounts of the event.

In Romans 3:23, it says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Three chapters later, the plight of mankind without Christ is further established, as Romans 6:23 cites, “For the wages of sin is death…”

But thankfully, God came up with an amazing plan to give humanity a way of escaping eternal separation from Him in hell, and His plan is outlined in the very familiar verse that has the reference John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Matthew 1:21 says that Mary “will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Someone still had to pay the wages of those sins, and Jesus did that. We simply need to trust in Him for our salvation. Evidence that we have done that will include having a desire to obey His Word, the Bible.

In that Word, Luke 2:8-20 gives a historical account of Christ’s birth:

“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“‘Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’

“When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.”

Knowing the significance of Christ’s birth — knowing the stakes involved for us — helps give clear understanding, indeed, why His coming was such ‘good news of great joy’ for all!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Titus Mohler is the sports editor for The Farmville Herald and Farmville Newsmedia LLC. His email address is Titus.Mohler@FarmvilleHerald.com.