This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:9-10).

Hear this good news.

The Child in the manger is for you.

He came for you. He was born, lived, suffered, and died as a sacrifice for your sins—to make atonement for all the things you’re genuinely guilty of—and He rose again from the dead. Because of Jesus, the gap between you and God has been closed.

Jesus did this not because you’re worthy or lovable, or because you finally got your life together. He came because God decided, once and for all, to love sinners—which means you. And there’s nothing you can do to change God’s decision to love you.

Everything else this week may feel like a two-way transaction—an effort to maintain or earn conditional love through giving and receiving gifts with plenty of strings attached.

But know this and believe it: the real meaning of Christmas is God’s one-way love for you. Jesus came to give you the gift of Himself, so that He could give you the gift of salvation, simply by believing in Him (cf. Eph 2:8-9). No strings attached!

So for once in your life, stop trying to earn it. Listen up. Rejoice. Be thankful. Say, “Thank you, Lord. What an amazing gift!”

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Send your questions or comments to shawn@freegrace.in.

Read his latest book, Once Saved, Always Saved? A Free Grace Defense.