Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., claimed in a post on X that "white supremacy and xenophobia" are the political right's "true religion" and that the values of those on the right do not stem from Christ's life and instruction.

"It's long been known that the true religion of the right is white supremacy and xenophobia. None of their real values are from the life and teachings of the Christ of the Christian Bible..." she wrote in a post on her @SummerForPA account.

Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., fired back at the congresswoman.

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"None of us should take lectures from someone who has repeatedly demonstrated antisemitic behavior and is now condemning millions of her fellow citizens who simply want freedom, opportunity and secure borders," he declared in a tweet.

Lee swiftly fired right back at him.

"Senator, I'm condemning those who profess to follow the teachings of Christ but do not love their neighbor or do right unto the least of these. Is that you? When he's hungry, will you feed him or cut SNAP benefits? When he's a stranger, will you invite him in or build a wall?" she replied.

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Lee has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since early 2023. 

McCormick was just sworn in as a senator earlier this month.

Lee has criticized newly-inaugurated President Donald Trump's executive orders.

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"Trump’s executive orders scapegoat Black + brown communities while his billionaire donors profit off the polluted air, overcrowded detention centers, and prison labor these EOs create. Immigrants aren’t why your wages are low and costs are high—it's the billionaires," she declared in a post on her @RepSummerLee X account.

President-elect Donald Trump will have his hand on two Bibles during his swearing-in ceremony on Monday, the culmination of the 60th Presidential Inauguration.

Trump will use his Bible, given to him by his mother in 1955, to "mark his Sunday Church Primary School graduation at First Presbyterian Church, in Jamaica, New York," a press release from his inaugural committee states. 

The religious text is a 1953 revised standard version that was published by Thomas Nelson and Sons in New York. Trump's name is embossed on the lower portion of the front cover, and inside the cover are signatures of church officials, an inscription of the president's name and details of when it was presented to him.

In addition to the sentimental Bible, the Lincoln Bible, first used in 1861 to swear-in the 16th U.S. president, will be used.

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"It has only been used three times since, by President Obama at each of his inaugurations and by President Trump at his first inauguration in 2017," Trump's team states. "The burgundy velvet-bound book is part of the collections of the Library of Congress."

President Obama also took the oath of office on two Bibles back in 2013, the Associated Press reported. One was owned by Martin Luther King Jr. and the other was the Lincoln Bible.

When Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States inside the Capitol’s rotunda, he will do so facing a bust of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the federal holiday commemorating King’s legacy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Speaking to Fox News Digital just days before President Donald Trump's inauguration as 47th president, Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, expressed "gratitude to God" about Trump's re-election and his hope for the future of the country.

"I believe most evangelicals, conservative Catholics and conservative Jews all view President Trump's re-election with a feeling of relief and gratitude to God," said the faith leader in an on-camera interview. (See the video at the top of this article.)

"There's a very real sense that our country has been in a downward spiral the last four years, and mainly because of our departure from the Judeo-Christian foundation of our nation," said Jeffress. "To many people, I believe President Trump's re-election represents God giving America another chance — perhaps her last chance — to reverse this downward trajectory."

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And "I'm talking about things that have caused confusion in our country over the last four years," he said. 

"Embracing the transgender agenda, which is confusing our children. Wavering in our support of Israel, our only reliable ally in the Middle East. And following extreme environmental positions that may have actually caused rather than prevented some of the disasters we're seeing."

All of these things, said Jeffress, "have caused people of faith to lament — but they feel very hopeful now that President Trump is about to enter the White House [again] and they're going to be filled with prayers for him."

The pastor will be participating in certain inauguration events, he said, but was not at liberty to name the specifics ahead of those events.

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Jeffress said he hopes all Americans will heed the Bible and pray for all "those who are in authority" and in a governing capacity in this country.

"Now, I know some of our viewers and readers may be saying, ‘Pastor, are you a hypocrite? Would you have said the same thing about Joe Biden?’" said Jeffress. "And in fact, I wrote an op-ed piece for Fox News when Biden was elected, saying we may be lamenting his election, but we need to obey the Bible and pray for him."

Added Jeffress to Fox News Digital, "The Bible says we don't select whom we pray for. We pray for all leaders. And I would remind people that if President Trump wins in his agenda, which I think he will, then all of America wins, not just Republicans but our entire country."

He went on, "President Trump has been a good friend of mine for the last 10 years. I've talked to him recently. I'll talk to him again next week. And I really believe he wants to unite this country."

And "I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised at the unity that he creates in our country," said Jeffress. "Not everybody's going to agree with every policy he initiates, but I think they're going to see that he wants what is best for the country we all love."

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Jeffress said there is "no official" faith advisory role on his part, but rather "an informal friendship that I've cherished for these last 10 years. I just basically like President Trump," he said. "He's a very likable person. And I can tell you, he loves our country." 

He said that "there's no sane reason he would give up a life of luxury to do this, to risk his life like he did twice in the last few months. He does this because he loves America and wants what's best for our country. 

"And I think Americans ought to be able to follow any man or woman who has that kind of feeling about our country."

Jeffress added that America's "greatness is in our goodness. And the Bible says the only goodness we can have is by our right relationship with God. And I hope we'll begin not only this New Year, but this new term of the Trump administration with a new commitment to follow God. If God blesses a nation, nothing can thwart His purpose or our success."

At the same time, Jeffress noted how important it is to recognize very real struggles and challenges — "and I know at the forefront of people's thinking right now are the fires in Los Angeles and the devastation that has caused."

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For tragedies like this, he said, "it's natural for people to ask the ‘why’ question. Why do these things happen? Why do they happen to me? And I would suggest that sometimes this is an unanswerable question. Instead, the real question we ought to be asking is a ‘who’ question. Who is in control of a world that seems out of control?" 

Jeffress shared an example from his own life.

"A few years ago, my wife, Amy, and I were driving in the night, out in the middle of West Texas, out in the darkness during a driving rainstorm — and our headlights malfunctioned and went out. And so we were driving in the darkness.

"I couldn't see six inches in front of me, but I noticed an 18-wheeler behind me and I slowed down, and I allowed it to pass me. And once it was in front of me, I focused on its taillights. And I followed it into the nearest town."

"And when we find ourselves in a maelstrom of confusion and suffering," added Jeffress, "we wonder why these things are happening. There are three lights about God that we can focus in on. First, God is loving. The Bible says God is close to the brokenhearted. Never forget God is love."

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"Secondly, God is sovereign. That means He's in control. Nothing takes Him by surprise.

"And finally, God is powerful enough to take the worst things that happen to us and use them for our own good. The apostle Paul said, ‘For God causes all things to work together for good.’"

"To those who love Him, that doesn't mean everything that happens to us is good, but it means God is so gracious and powerful that He can take the worst things in our life, like a fire, a flood, the breakup of a relationship, an illness — He can take those horrible things and use them for our good."

Added Jeffress, "If we focus on those truths about God when we pass through a storm, then God will deliver us to the other side safely."

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Jeffress is senior pastor of his 16,000-member church in Dallas and is a Fox News contributor. His daily radio program, "Pathway to Victory," is heard on more than 1,400 stations nationwide.

His weekly television program is seen in 195 countries around the world, including on Fox Nation. 

He is the author of nearly 30 books. 

"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

This verse is from the Gospel of Matthew, one of the three synoptic Gospels in the New Testament of the Bible, and is about the baptism of Jesus Christ — celebrated in the Catholic faith on Jan. 12.

Jesus' baptism "is one of the most pivotal moments in His life, revealing His divine mission, identity and relationship with the Father," David Rives, a Christian author and columnist based in Tennessee, told Fox News Digital. 

During the baptism, "the Spirit descended like a dove and the Father's voice proclaimed, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,'" Rives said. 

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This line, he said, is "a powerful declaration that resonates across time." It serves to highlight "four key truths about Christ's baptism essential to understanding His identity and mission." 

The first of these key truths, Rives said, is Jesus' "identity as the Son of God and the Messiah." 

"This declaration not only validates Jesus' identity but also announces to the world that He is the long-awaited Messiah, the Anointed One sent to redeem humanity," he said. 

With the baptism of Jesus Christ, He is "revealed as the fulfillment of the prophecies," Rives said. 

The second key truth is the "profound humility" of Jesus Christ, said Rives.

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"Despite being the sinless Son of God, He chooses to be baptized — an act that, according to the Book of Acts, is symbolic of the washing away of sins," he said. "Even this event was symbolic and prophetic of the indwelling Holy Spirit that is available to believers in Christ." 

Jesus was baptized not due to any sin — "but to fulfill all righteousness," Rives said.

"This act sets the tone for His ministry, showing that He came not to be served, but to serve and identify with those He came to save," he said. 

Rives said that Jesus "is the King who comes not in grandeur, but in meekness, offering His life for the redemption of all humankind." 

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Christ's baptism, additionally, marked the start of His public ministry, Rives said – the third key truth. 

Prior to this, "Jesus lived a relatively quiet life in Nazareth." 

"His baptism, however, signals the start of His mission. At this time, He begins to reveal Himself as the Savior through His teachings, healings, and, ultimately, His sacrifice for the sins of the world," Rives told Fox News Digital.

Jesus' baptism was more than just a ritual, Rives said. It was "a pivotal point where His redemptive work begins, leading to His death and resurrection." 

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The fourth of these key truths revealed in Christ's baptism, Rives said, is "the fullness of the Godhead presented: The Son is baptized in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove and the Father's voice speaks from the heavens."

This, he said, is "a powerful scene, revealing God's plan for salvation, as the Father affirms the Son, the Spirit empowers the Son for His mission and the Son humbly submits to the Father's will."

Jesus' baptism is "a beautiful reminder" for Christians as well that they should "work together to present the Good News of the Gospel with the world."

The story of Christ's baptism is a view not only into "the heart of Jesus' ministry, but also the heart of the Gospel itself," Rives said.

"God's incredible love, His redemptive plan and His invitation for us to boldly proclaim our faith in Him – symbolized through the act of baptism," he said.

Something beautiful happened late last year. As 2024 wound down, the world celebrated the rebuilding of glorious Notre Dame de Paris, which a mere five and a half years before was engulfed in horrifying flames. At the reopening ceremony in Paris, her bells rang for the first time since the fire.

The pleasing peal called to my mind a poem that raises up something no less beautiful than the French Gothic monument: her builders. This memory in turn led to an epiphany, which is fitting as the Epiphany, or Christian celebration of the revelation of God as human in Jesus Christ, fast approaches. 

"Cathedral Builders," written by Welsh poet John Ormond and published in the journal "Poetry Wales" in 1965, lyrically reminds us of a very simple truth with profound consequences. It is often ordinary people who create the most extraordinary beauty, particularly when the undertaking is grand in scope. 

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Ormond exalts the sanctifying work of countless craftsmen whose identities are known only to history, but whose toil built the great cathedrals of medieval Europe. Most of them knew they wouldn’t live to see the final fruits of their massive multi-generational endeavor. They climbed their ladders anyway.

With soaring yet simple language befitting the ethereal work of earthy men, Ormond lionizes unheralded laborers who "hoisted hewn rock into heaven" by day and then "came down to their suppers and small beer" in the evening. So understood, a cathedral is no more sublime than her humblest builder. Each is an icon to the other.

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I thought of "Cathedral Builders" as I reflected upon the 2,000 or so workers it took to rebuild Notre Dame within French President Emmanuel Macron’s ambitious five-year deadline. Unlike their medieval counterparts, the vast majority of these artisans lived to see their loving mission completed. 

Yet like these ancestors, they created lasting beauty by pledging their lives to something outside of and greater than themselves. Amidst still-burning embers in 2019, life imitated art when these cathedral builders once again chose to make art of their lives. Notre Dame is their masterpiece.

That choice, I believe, is exactly of the ennobling kind of second-century theologian St. Irenaeus had in mind when he said "the glory of God is man fully alive." Aesthetic achievement aside, is there a lesson for the rest of us, those who lack the talent to make clerestories soar? I think so.    

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Most of us aren’t called to build cathedrals of stone, but all are called to build cathedrals of our lives. Some acts will be soaring – the spire atop the cathedral – for instance, a soldier sacrificing his life in combat to save his brother-in-arms. Other acts will be simple – the mortar on a lowly footpath appearing like a smile to a passing stranger on the street.

But great and small, all are acts of love, of willing the good of the other and stone by figurative stone, they surely will build a cathedral over one’s lifetime. It may not be tangible or visible to man like Notre Dame de Paris, but it is no less real, and no less lovely. Besides, invisible to man is not invisible. 

Therein lies the beauty of "Cathedral Builders," and what is most inspirational about Notre Dame’s exemplary builders. By reminding a weary world to see both the small in the great and the great in the small, they provide a blueprint for not only a cathedral well-made, but something far more important: a life well-lived.

That is my epiphany as the Epiphany approaches. I am grateful for poet John Ormond, for the valiant laborers of Notre Dame de Paris and all who strive to build cathedrals of their lives. They remind us that there is beauty in both the soaring and the simple.

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As we prepare for 2025, we must remember that we are running a spiritual race. 

The Apostle Paul often uses the analogy of a runner in a race throughout his letters, emphasizing perseverance, focus, and purpose. As we enter a new year, we must ask ourselves: what does it mean to run this race faithfully in today's world? 

Running the race of life well is a pursuit of faith, purpose, and closeness to God. It's a journey where the finish line is not marked by worldly accolades or achievements but by how faithfully we have lived for Christ. When running for a gold in this race, we can’t settle for mediocrity as a follower of Jesus. 

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However, the Apostle Paul notes that our "opponents" are not fellow Christians. Our competition is between the things of this world, the desires of the flesh and the devil's distractions. 

The world offers many shortcuts, false promises and temporary pleasures that seem appealing at the moment but ultimately slow us down in our pursuit of God. To run the race well, we must continually evaluate what's influencing us and whether it's leading us toward the prize or away from it. 

It's easy to get distracted or discouraged by life's challenges, it can often feel like we're running through a crowd of obstacles with no end in sight. That’s why it’s essential to recognize the subtle ways we can be distracted so we can re-direct our minds. When we focus on glorifying God in everything we do, the race becomes meaningful, regardless of our difficulties and setbacks.

One of the greatest hindrances to running the race of life well is our tendency to look back. In Philippians 3:13–14, Paul says, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." 

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Our past mistakes, regrets, and shame often become weights that hold us back from running freely. Instead, we're called to focus on the present and future—what God has in store for us and how we can press forward in His grace. 

So, how has your race been in 2024? Have you gotten off track or are you running for the gold?

The moment you believed in Jesus Christ, this race began for you. Some of you are just beginning, while others have been running for quite a while. 

My son Christopher has already finished his race, and his old dad is still running! As I get older, I think about completing this race more than ever. 

Remember that it's not about how fast you run but how faithful you are in every step. 

I know some who have not finished their race joyfully (see Acts 20:24). I also know others who seemed strong in the faith but have "crashed and burned" in the race of life. They got off track or, in some cases, even self-destructed. 

We see this in the Bible as well. 

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King Saul was tall, handsome, charismatic, and anointed by God to be the king. Prophesying with the prophets, he had incredible potential. 

But because Saul disobeyed God repeatedly and allowed pride—and eventually paranoia and jealousy—to consume him, it led to a series of sins, causing God to reject him ultimately. 

He started his race well but his finish was a disaster—he didn't keep the faith. 

Or consider the mighty Samson, supernaturally blessed with super-human strength and able to vanquish his enemies with relative ease. 

But, like all people, Samson had his vulnerabilities. A series of compromises took place in his life, and he, too, did not finish his race well. 

Paul, however, wanted to be in the company of those who "finished their race with joy," joining the ranks of those who finished in God's winners’ circle. Men like Caleb, whose incredible story is found in Joshua 14. Or Daniel, who wouldn't compromise, even in his 80s. 

Let's commit ourselves to finishing what we have begun, remembering this: the race of life is not a quick sprint but a long-distance run. 

Run well this new year and every year after. Maintain a heavenly mindset with every mile marker you pass, remembering that the gold we chase after is not for earthly gain but eternal glory. 

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As tributes pour in from all corners for former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on Dec. 29, 2024, at age 100, faith leaders across the country are sharing thoughts and insights into Carter's religious beliefs and the ways he demonstrated them.  

In 2018, Carter himself published "Faith: A Journey For All," sharing the lessons he learned throughout his life.

"The most important example of faith in my life has been the marriage vows I exchanged with Rosalynn," Carter wrote in his book.

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"At the time of our marriage, we could have said, ‘I love you now, and I believe I will always love you and be faithful.’ Instead, we both took an oath before God ‘to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death us do part.'"

Carter also shared that their love and faith made it possible to triumph over differences and challenges they experienced.

Carter taught Sunday school at his home church at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. 

He continued teaching from time to time throughout his life and, in 2019, Carter spoke from the pulpit on the day of Pentecost.

"After He was crucified and resurrected, He is still with us through the Holy Spirit," said Carter about Jesus Christ. 

"So whenever we feel the presence of Jesus in our heart, that's the Holy Spirit."

He added, "And whenever we feel God in our hearts, that's the Holy Spirit. So it's the easiest thing to explain, but it's easy to forget also."

Carter was a long-serving member of the Southern Baptist Convention until 2009, when he sent a resignation letter to the convention.

In media interviews, Carter cited the increasingly "rigid" views of the organization.

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"I have finally decided that, after 65 years, I can no longer be associated with the Southern Baptist Convention," he wrote.

"Our prayer is that we can avoid this divisive action, and adhere to the traditional beliefs that, for generations, have sustained our ancestors and us in a spirit of unity and cooperation."

He continued as a deacon and Sunday school teacher.

Reverend Franklin Graham, CEO of both Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said others should pray for the entire Carter family.

"He served as our nation’s 39th president during a turbulent time in the '70s and '80s when we were facing inflation and an oil shortage, and a hostage crisis in Iran," said Graham in a statement shared with Fox News Digital on Sunday evening, which he also posted on his Facebook page.

"He and my father, Billy Graham, had a close relationship, and we were honored to have him join us for the dedication of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte in 2007," Graham added.

"Jimmy Carter grew up going to church and was baptized at age 11," said Pastor Jesse Bradley of Grace Community Church outside Seattle, Washington. "His parents were devoted, but he later admitted that his relationship with God was superficial."

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Added Bradley, "There was a renewal in his life in 1967, and he began reading his Bible consistently, becoming an earnest follower of Jesus."

He also said that the former president "lived out his faith as a courageous and inspirational proponent of racial reconciliation. He was also passionate about taking practical action, with a commitment to providing for people in need. Since 1984, President and Mrs. Carter were advocates of affordable housing for everyone through Habitat for Humanity."

Said Bradley, "Carter's life reminds us to be intentional with unity. Build authentic friendships, as we genuinely enjoy and appreciate each other … Remember that there is nothing more important than to know Jesus as your Savior and love your neighbor daily."

Rabbi Pinchas Taylor, director of the American Faith Coalition and based in Florida, told Fox News Digital on Sunday evening, "Carter was the first American president to publicly light a Hanukkah menorah, inaugurating the National Menorah ceremony in 1979."

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At the time, added Taylor, "the United States was grappling with the Iran hostage crisis, yet Carter found inspiration in the Hanukkah message of hope and resilience, emphasizing the universal values of freedom and faith. His impromptu words during the ceremony reflected a profound understanding of the menorah's symbolism — that even in the darkest moments, light and unity can prevail."

He continued, "This act not only marked a milestone in religious pluralism — but also helped popularize public menorah lightings worldwide."

Walker Wildmon, vice president of the American Family Association in Tupelo, Mississippi, and CEO of AFA Action, the government affairs affiliate of AFA, told Fox News Digital, "Throughout his life, President Jimmy Carter has exemplified the heart of a servant. His contributions in the arena of humanitarian and disaster assistance are abundant."

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He added, "He has also modeled the importance of family throughout his life and career. We pray that God grants President Carter and his family peace during this time."

Everyone loves Christ in the cradle. The image of baby Jesus in the Bethlehem barn warms our hearts. Each December we recreate the moment on our lawns and beneath our Christmas trees. Stores sell plastic donkeys and wooden mangers. People collect hand-carved images of Mary, Joseph, and the newborn child.

We love the Christ in the cradle.

We are fine with Christ the gentle Messiah. Children sitting on his lap. Sheep gathered around him. The apostle John reclining on his chest. Mary anointing his feet. No one has an issue with a pleasant rabbi who offers sage advice, feeds crowds, and replenishes wine at a wedding. 

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Christ in the cradle? Wonderful. Christ the kindhearted? Delightful. But Christ the coming King? On a stallion? Roaring out of heaven? Crowned with the crowns of his enemies? On a mission to destroy those who destroy his children? 

The world is less familiar with this view of Jesus. Yet this is the Jesus the world will soon see.

Did you know that the second coming is mentioned more than three hundred times in the Bible, an average of once every twenty-five verses?

Scripture gushes with the news of Christ’s return like water in full spate. To the depressed disciples Jesus assured, "I will come again" (John 14:3 nkjv). When Jesus ascended, the angel told the witnesses, "[Jesus] will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). Paul referred to "the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Tim. 6:14). Peter affirmed, "The day of the Lord will come" (2 Peter 3:10). Jude announced, "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones" (Jude14). 

We are in the season of Advent. Advent leads us to the beautiful culmination of Christmas, where we celebrate the incarnation of God.

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Are we ready for the hope of what will come when Jesus, the very child born in Bethlehem will once again come to reign for eternity?

We wait but we must be ready.

Ready for the arrival of our coming King. Ready. Waiting. Vigilant.  Like the soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The men and women who stand guard there display a level of unparalleled fidelity. They devote eight hours to the preparation of their uniforms. Gloves are worn wet to improve the grip on the rifle. Shanks are attached to the inside of each shoe so the soldier can click his or her heels.

The sentinel repeats the same walk over and over: twenty-one steps, then a twenty-one-second pause, the rifle is shifted to the other shoulder, then twenty-one more steps. He or she repeats this until being relieved at the changing of the guard. 

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During the summer months, the soldier is on duty for thirty minutes. During the winter, 60 minutes. They fulfill their task in the heat of August and the chill of January. The routine never varies, not even at night when the cemetery is closed. When Hurricane Isabel moved through the area in 2003, the soldiers never stopped. Not once. Trees fell and the wind-whipped, but they kept their post.

They have maintained this vigilance every day of every year since 1921.

Remarkable. 

Question: If they can display such allegiance rightly given to unknown, dead soldiers, can we not do the same for our living, coming, ruling King? If these sentries are willing to patrol in honor of those who sacrificed, can’t we do even more for our King, who gave the greatest sacrifice? We are members of his battalion. We are enlisted in his regiment. We are returning with him someday. Can we not serve him on this day?

Let me be specific. What can you do today in honor of your King? What kindness can you perform? What offense can you forgive? What temptation can you resist? What gift can you offer? What discipline can you begin? What sacrifice can you make? What act of love can you show? 

Let’s behave like the people we have been called to be soldiers in the returning army of the King of kings.

The Christ of the cradle is now the Christ with the crown. He is coming soon.

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"When Christ came into the world, he said: 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, "As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God"'" (Hebrews 10:5-7).

These verses are from the New Testament's Epistle to the Hebrews. They're Jesus' first words at Christmastime, Jeremiah J. Johnston, PhD, told Fox News Digital. 

This Sunday marks the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the final week in the preparatory period before Christmas. 

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Johnston is an elected member of the New Testament scholarly guild Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, president of the Christian Thinkers Society and pastor of apologetics and cultural engagement at Perstonwood Baptist Church in the Dallas area.

"The scriptures reveal a conversation between Jesus and God at His incarnation," he said. "Quoting Psalm 40:6-8, the author of Hebrews portrays the preexistent Christ speaking through the psalmist."  

Jesus' birth was during a time of "religious and political exhaustion," Johnston said. 

"Late Second Temple Judaism had expanded God's commandments into 613 laws of which 248 were positive ('do…') and 365 negative commands ('do not…')," he said.

This, he said, turned the practice of religious faith into a mechanical "burden of endless rules" that lacked heartfelt devotion. 

Additionally, the situation was bleak for most people living in the Roman Empire during Jesus' time, Johnston noted. 

The average life expectancy was just 20 years, he said — and about a quarter of the population was in dire need of medical attention.

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"As much as 40% of the population lived in slavery," Johnston said. "The much-celebrated 'Pax Romana' failed to deliver true peace." 

True peace was achieved in the world not through religious rituals or political power, but because Jesus followed God's will on behalf of humanity, he said. 

"His first recorded words, as echoed in Hebrews 10:7, reveal this mission: 'Then I said, "Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, O God."'" 

During Christmastime, "these words remind us that God desires wholehearted obedience, not empty rituals," he said. 

In the verse, the use of the phrase "in the scroll" is a show of Jesus' commitment to scripture, Johnston told Fox News Digital. 

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"From His first words to His final moments before death, Jesus consistently upheld the fulfillment of God's Word," he said. 

"Unlike the four Old Testament sacrifices mentioned in Hebrews, which often lacked accompanying faith, Jesus' sacrifice was voluntary and wholehearted." 

God, Johnston said, "repeatedly rejects hollow religious acts without sincere devotions." 

Unlike the animal sacrifices, "Jesus willingly gave His life to fulfill God's eternal will, as planned before the world's foundation," he said.

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This, he said, is evidence that "what God desires is not outward performance, but inward faithfulness," Johnston said. 

As the world prepares to celebrate the birth of God's son, people should "reflect on the deeper meaning of Jesus' words and actions," Johnston said. 

These verses, he said, "capture the essence of Jesus' mission." 

"Only through the incarnation could Jesus do away with sin and accomplish God's will in His death, burial and physical resurrection," he said. 

"His life reminds us that true worship involves heartfelt obedience, not hollow traditions — something we could never achieve on our own, without His atoning-help." 

During the last week of Advent and leading into Christmas, "may we follow Jesus' example by offering our lives in sincere devotion to God, magnifying His love and peace through our actions and relying on Him," he said. 

So many holidays incorporate the theme of love. When you hear the word love, your mind probably goes to Valentine’s Day. That’s a common and understandable association, but I think it’s built on a misunderstanding of, to use the cliche, the true meaning of Christmas. 

Charlie Brown had it right: in many ways, Christmas has "gone commercial." No matter where we go, we’re inundated with messages about what to buy, where to shop, and how to spend money during the holidays. Sadly, it seems that Christmas has become merely a reason to shop. 

While there is tremendous value in giving gifts, a superficial and commercial focus misses the central message of Christmas. The message that began the tradition of gift giving in the first place. 

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It’s time we reclaim the real reason for our Christmas celebrations. It’s time we remember that Christmas is first and foremost about love. 

John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." This is the most quoted, most well-known verse in the Bible. But many of us fail to realize these words' incredible impact on the Christmas season. 

That’s why I want to draw your attention to a little, often overlooked word in this most famous of verses: "that." This word says so much about God and about the nature of love. God loved the world, loved each of us, so much that. This love acted powerfully to restore what was broken, bridging a gap between a fallen humanity and a loving and holy God.

He didn’t stop feeling love. That love prompted Him to radical action. It prompted Him to give up His beloved Son to be Emmanuel, God with us. It prompted Christmas. That's the thing about love. If love is genuine, it always prompts action. Just as God acted to restore us from the ultimate sin which led to our separation from Him, we as Christians are called to act in such a way that we are restoring biblical justice to a broken world. 

That’s why we give gifts each Christmas. It’s a tangible way to show those closest to us that we love them.

But if love stops with those closest to us, we are not truly living out God's love. Notice the object of God’s love in John 3:16. It’s the world—a world that notably did not love God in return, a world that did and does everything possible to live apart from God. 

And yet God loved. 

You see, God’s love is intertwined with biblical justice. Love extends to everyone, even those we disagree with and don’t particularly like. The story of Christmas makes it clear: Love crosses divides, overcomes obstacles and makes a difference. It actively confronts wrongs, protects the vulnerable and builds a foundation for reconciliation. 

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Each of us is called to this kind of love this Christmas season. And there truly is no better time to put it into practice because, despite the frantic shopping and consumeristic messages, the holiday season is ripe with opportunities to demonstrate love for others.

So, this year, seek out opportunities to get involved in service projects that make a difference in the lives of those in your community. Instead of spending more money on presents for family and friends, find creative ways to bless those who can’t afford gifts this year. Get a group together and go caroling at the local nursing home. 

But go and make a difference. Go and live out that love that has given us the reason for our celebration. This is what makes the Christmas season so special. I believe it gives us this magical time of year and the wonder we felt as children.

It isn’t just the presents and the lights and the time spent with loved ones, though those are deeply good. It is also the acts of love and sacrifice. The little moments where we have the chance to really be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us by practicing love through our actions. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM REV. SAMUEL RODRIGUEZ