Want List for Christmas

Matthew 1:21

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Dec 22, 2021 – Little Derrick sat on the lap of the department store’s Santa Claus. Derrick shared his “want” list for Christmas, had his picture taken with Santa, and was given a peppermint candy cane.

His grandmother wanted to emphasize the importance of saying, “Thank you” so she said, “Now, Derrick, what do you say to Santa?”

Without hesitation, Derrick told Santa, “Charge it!”

When I was nine years of age I looked at the cross of Calvary and I said to the holy God of heaven, “Charge it! Charge my sins – all of them – to the cross of Jesus Christ.” I did not know everything there was to know, but I knew that Jesus wanted to take away my sin and save my soul.

What did God the Father do? God “laid upon Him the iniquity of Tom Swartzwelder” (Isaiah 53:6). God made “Him (Christ) who knew no sin to become my sin or my sin-bearer” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “Therefore, King David says of us who believe, ‘Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.’”

In brief, God charged my sin to the account of His Son Jesus Christ. “My sin, o the bliss of this glorious thought. My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, O my soul! It is well with my soul!”

God then charged the righteousness of His Son to my account and to the account of all of us who believe. The Apostle Paul explains it like this: “Abraham believed God, and it was credited or charged to him as righteousness” (Romans 4).

The theological terms for this account adjustment are justification and imputation. The simple man’s explanation, though, is that God has issued a ruling in His courtroom that I am as righteous as He Himself because He has charged His OWN righteousness to my account. Thank God, “the old account was settled long ago!”

I can enjoy every Christmas season because I know the status of my account with God. Can you say the same? Ah, you can! 

Tom Swartzwelder

Sep 4, 2024 – On September 3, 2024, Tom Swartzwelder completed the race that God had set before him. He is now with Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith.’

 Hebrews 12:1-2A

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles

 He provides practical how-to-do-ministry resources for the disciples of Jesus Christ at http://www.godsgreenhouse.net. Tom’s latest book is “God Speaks–Today!”

Image by DEEPAI