Merry Christmas!

The birth of Jesus
Luke 2
1: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

2: (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

3: And everyone went to his own town to register.

4: So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

5: He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

6: While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

7: and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

9: An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10: But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

11: Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

12: This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15: When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

17: When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,

18: and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

19: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20: The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Why does mankind need a savior?
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin (is) death, but the gift of God (is) eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9-10: If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Why did God send a savior?

John 3
16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Are there other ways to salvation?
Acts 4
11: (Jesus) is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.'

12: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

What does Jesus say about his role in salvation?
John 14
1: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

2: In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

3: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

4: You know the way to the place where I am going."

5: Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

6: Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."