The Christmas Story: A Tradition Misunderstood

Each year, millions around the world pause to celebrate what is called “the Christmas story.” It is told with reverence, emotion, and familiarity. Nativity scenes are displayed, hymns are sung, and the focus turns to the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Yet few stop to ask whether this story is truly our story today. According to the rightly divided word of God in the King James Bible, the birth of Christ is not the message that saves souls in this present dispensation of grace.

The record of Christ’s birth in Matthew and Luke is indeed precious, but it belongs within the prophetic program of Israel. Matthew begins, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). Those are covenant names tied directly to promises God made to Israel. The angel declared, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David” (Luke 1:32). This was not a message to the Gentiles. It was the fulfillment of prophecy concerning Israel’s promised King and Redeemer. Christ was born to Israel, not to the Body of Christ which had not yet been revealed.

Even the timing of His birth has been surrounded by man-made tradition. Nowhere in Scripture do we find December 25th mentioned as the date of His birth. Careful study of the priestly courses in Luke chapter 1, and the timing of John the Baptist’s conception, show that Christ was most likely born around late September, near the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. Yet the exact date is not the issue. What matters is understanding that His birth was part of the prophetic program that looked forward to a King reigning on David’s throne in Jerusalem, not a message of salvation by grace through faith alone in the finished work of the cross.

Our moment, our message, and our greatest day are not found in Bethlehem’s manger, but at Calvary’s cross. The glory of the Body of Christ is not that a child was born, but that the Son of God shed His blood, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). That is the gospel that saves today. Paul never preached Christ’s birth as good news for salvation. He preached Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23), Christ risen (Romans 4:25), and Christ glorified (Colossians 3:1–4). The birth was prophecy fulfilled, but the cross was the revelation of grace.

The world celebrates Christmas with lights, songs, and sentimentality, yet most of it ignores the blood of Christ. They gather around a cradle and never see the cross. But without the cross, the cradle means nothing for salvation. Paul wrote, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). The greatest event in human history was not the night of His birth, but the day He shed His blood for sinners.

Right division frees us from the traditions of men that blur the truth. While Israel was promised a King and a kingdom, we are promised spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Israel looked for a Messiah to rule from Jerusalem. We look for the Savior who gave Himself for us and will catch us up to meet Him in glory (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). Our faith rests not in His birth, but in His finished work.

So while the world celebrates a holiday rooted in tradition, the believer who knows the mystery can rejoice every day in the grace of God revealed through the cross of Christ. The true good news today is not that Christ was born, but that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. The manger was the beginning of His earthly ministry to Israel, but the cross was the beginning of salvation to all who believe.