Church Update
December 24, 2025
Dear Church of the Open Bible,
Christmas comes every year. And so does Easter, for that matter. Now, before you call me “Captain Obvious,” let me explain why that matters. A few weeks ago, I shared how, sometimes during this season, I wonder whether I can say (or type) anything that you haven’t heard (or read). On the surface, it can feel like the same old things in the same old way. But as we’ve gone through Colossians during this Advent season, I’ve been rebuked for thinking like this. And the simple reason for this is how little I actually realize what we celebrate at Christmas means.
The “reason for the season” is the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who humbled Himself, becoming human, living a perfect life, dying for our sins, and being raised by God the Father. We also celebrate hope, peace, joy, and love. These are all incredible. But our time in Colossians has helped me to see a missing piece in all of this. How does the truth of who Christ is and what He’s done produce hope, peace, joy, and love in my life? This comes about through an incredible mystery, a tremendous and glorious hope. Christ did not just come to dwell among us. He went further. He came to dwell within us.
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. - Colossians 1:27
When we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become united with Him, so much so that it can be said that He lives within us and that we live in Him. This is how we can experience hope, peace, joy, and love, because Christ produces these, and He lives within us. This is how we can say, “No,” to sin, because we live in Christ and are no longer slaves to sin. This is how we can become more like Christ, because His life is being lived out in us, by His Spirit. And this is only scratching the surface. These are only a few of the riches of the treasure of being found in Christ.
As I shared, I’m now convinced that there are not enough Christmas’ to tell of this mystery. Even if Christmas came every week, a lifetime wouldn’t be enough to learn about this reality. And, I suspect, even eternity won’t be long enough to marvel at these riches. Christ born, yes! But further and greater still, Christ born again in us!