There are two major mistakes many Christians make when celebrating Christmas, as is happening in many places today.
The first mistake is that many Christians believe that Christmas automatically makes them saved. They feel entitled to think of themselves as God’s people, assured that they have a right to enter heaven. For them, it is enough to acknowledge Jesus as Savior, which is why many Christians celebrate Christmas without a sense of responsibility—blind to their calling as God’s chosen people. No wonder, then, that their Christian lives show no significant change from year to year. They already feel secure as God’s chosen, members of His Kingdom, sympathizers of Jesus, and confident of their salvation.
The second mistake is that many Christians think the work of salvation for the world is already finished—because from island to island, from continent to continent, songs of praise resound. It is as though the gospel has been fully proclaimed and God’s purpose of salvation for the world has been completely accomplished, leaving no struggle left to fight. Because of this mindset, Christmas is celebrated with joy but without burden. Yet every time Christmas is celebrated, Christians should be reminded of the immense struggle that Jesus endured. For mature and spiritually discerning believers, every Christmas should evoke a deep sense of responsibility, realizing that salvation’s purpose is not yet complete—it must continue until the full intent of Jesus’ coming is fulfilled.
Through the coming of Jesus Christ, those who receive Him as Savior must strive to fulfill the purpose of His coming. By His coming and victory on the cross, the first result is that the devil no longer has a foothold in heaven (Revelation 12:10–11). But the devil still has a foothold on earth—and now it is our task to bring that to an end. Most of us have heard the Lord’s command: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” But that command begins with Jesus’ declaration in Matthew 28:18: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” What does this truly mean to us? Let us seriously consider this statement and seek its original, true, and genuine meaning.
We must not associate this “authority” merely with outward or physical things. The word exousia (“authority”) indeed means “right” but also “power” or “dominion” to rule and to govern. People often associate it with healing, miracles, and casting out demons—and that is not wrong, for those are part of it—but that is not the essence.
Secondly, the world will continue to experience turmoil as it approaches the new age. These upheavals must take place before Jesus comes to establish His Kingdom (Revelation 5:5). When John was on the island of Patmos, he wept because no one was found worthy to open the scroll. But one of the elders said, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed; He can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
When the seals were opened, the white horse appeared—followed by the others. These horses symbolize the upheavals that God Himself permits. Now control rests in the hands of the Lord, for these events are part of the preparation for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ—the new world long awaited by Abraham and all the righteous of old.
All this time, we have celebrated Christmas as immature Christians. Many Christmas events turn Jesus into an object. With the assumption that He came as a helpless baby in a manger, we indulge in nostalgic reflection on a heroic historical moment. We feel as though we are expressing support and participation in His struggle—or at least showing sympathy and approval toward His heroism. Once we do that, we think we are already on God’s side.
But is the Lord Jesus truly pleased with such an attitude? It is not entirely wrong—but it is incomplete. We must view history and God’s salvation project as a whole. The saving mission of Jesus Christ did not end in Bethlehem—that was only the beginning of His struggle. If He had not continued all the way to Calvary and to His resurrection from Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb, there would have been no salvation at all.