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Christmas means different things to different people. Multitudes muddle through the season without truly knowing the reason for it.

The apostle Paul shares that Christmas is when God's grace appeared in the person of Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-14). Therefore, it is important to consider what we call Christmas grace. This grace is God's plan to save the world. Paul writes to Titus, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:11-14). Here we find three elements of Christmas grace.

Christmas grace provides the emancipation of believers. Titus 2:11 reads, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men." This is not teaching universalism that all will be saved but that all can be saved. Salvation is a deliverance or an emancipation from sin, self, and Satan. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary to emancipate is "to free from restraint, control, or the power of another; especially: to free from bondage." Vance Havner, warns against "firing God." He laments as follows: "Of all the illusions and fantasies and farces of human history, the biggest mirage of all is what we call progress. Just because we split the atom and are back from the moon, we've given God His walking papers. We have decided we can work out our own salvation and that science has the answer to sin."

Christmas grace provides the education of believers. Titus 2:12a reads, "teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts." These are the negative aspects followed by the positive aspects of a Christian's education. Titus 2:12b reads, "we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age." Thus, we have what to avoid and what to adhere to.

Christmas grace provides the expectation of believers. Titus 2:13 reads, "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." C.S. Lewis explains, "A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do."

Paul reminds us of the expense of grace in Titus 2:14a, "who gave Himself for us." Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Oh, what a price He paid! Paul also reminds us about the experience of grace in Titus 2:14b, "that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." Only Jesus can forgive your sin and give you eternal life. Repent of sin and trust His finished work. Make certain that you have received the gift of God's grace. Everyone needs Christmas grace!

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, of Robertsdale, is the author of "Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah".