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Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. This article explains the significance of

Christmas to Human Life and Happiness.

 

warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

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This article is emailed to you by Ram Chandran ( rchandran )

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

Miscellaneous

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Religion

 

 

Christmas, the good news of great joy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI, DEC. 25. Joy is a key theme of the Christmas event. In the Bible, joy

is consistently the mark of both individually and corporately of the people of

God. It is a quality, not simply an emotion, grounded upon God Himself and

derived from God. God has made known to His people the path of life and fills

them with joy in His presence. He blesses them with inexpressible and glorious

joy and peace, as they trust in Him. In the Old Testament, joy is related to the

national and religious life of the people of God.

 

In the New Testament, joy is related to the Good News. The Good News is Jesus

Himself. The whole purpose of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ was to

secure salvation for the sinful, lost man and woman. He was named Jesus,

``because He will save His people from their sins.'' The Biblical terms for sin

are varied. Sin is iniquity, trespass, transgression, unrighteousness etc. The

most characteristic feature of sin in all its aspects is that it is directed

against God. God created man and woman in His own image as spiritual and

rational beings, and gave them the free will, the power to choose good and evil.

But they misused their free will by disobeying Him. The consequence of sin is

devastating. The sinful man and woman lost the fellowship of the holy God. By

His death on the Cross, as the Bible points out, Jesus Christ gave Himself as a

sacrificial offering for our sins to God who was pleased ``to reconcile to

Himself all things, whether on earth or things in heaven by ma!

king peace through His shed blood on the cross.'' But the life of Jesus Christ

did not end up there at the Cross. He rose from the dead. The resurrection of

the crucified Christ makes our acceptance of Him in faith and repentance a

contemporary, dynamic life-transforming experience. The exalted and reigning

Jesus Christ offers us the forgiveness of sins and the liberation gift of the

Holy Spirit, and empowers us to share His transforming love with all. This is

the Good News of joy, the Christmas message.

 

How this joy is manifested in our daily life? By keeping in mind that it does

not depend on our position, status and possession, but inner relations and

attitude, by starting each day with pleasant words. Just be pleasant to every

one, including our dear ones at home, whom we take for granted. Be pleasant and

cheerful in your disposition. By smiling very often.

 

Christmas has brought to us the Good News of great joy. Let this be our

experience now and always.

 

Dr. Francis Sunderaraj,

 

Hyderabad.

 

 

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