There is a popular Christmas song whose message is unbiblical:

Santa Claus is coming to town
He’s making a list
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out Who’s naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!

This song describes Santa Claus as a giver of gifts. However, Santa only brings gifts to people (to children in particular) who are nice and good. He does not present gifts to people who are naughty and bad. Thankfully, our Father in heaven is not like the fabricated Santa Claus, because according to Isaiah 9:6, God offers His Son, the greatest gift of all, to sinners, yes, to naughty and bad people like you and me:

For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given,

Who is the “us” here? Well, looking at the immediate context, this pronoun “us” refers to the people of Israel who at this time were living in the utter darkness of sin. They were very naughty and bad. Yet, the Prophet Isaiah proclaims, “For unto us [sinners] a child is born, unto us [people who are neither nice nor good] a son is given.” This is good news! Observe the following:

1. God’s gift is a person: “a child,” not a thing or an animal. This gift is so precious and unique, and worthy of all acceptation.

2. God’s gift is particular: “a son.” This is God’s only Son—the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross to save sinners from the power and penalty of sin.

3. God’s gift is presented: “given.” How?

First, graciously. We don’t deserve this gift. Because we are sinners, what we deserve is God’s sentence, not His Son (judgment not Jesus). In the gospel God gives us the exact opposite of what we deserve.

Second, freely. We don’t need to pay God for this gift. It is free! We don’t have to work for this gift either. What we need to do is receive His Son by faith.

Third, voluntarily. God took the initiative to give us His Son for our salvation. In fact, we asked for God’s condemnation and not for His child. As Joseph Hart (1712–1768) exclaims in his auto biographical hymn, “What an amazing change was here! I looked for hell—He brought me heaven.”

Indeed, God is graciously, freely, and voluntarily giving His only Son to us. And John the Beloved tells us that all who receive His Son and believe in His name will be given the right to become God’s children (John 1:12). Have you received God’s Son—the best gift of all? If not, you remain a child of the devil. Remember what Jesus says to those who do not receive Him as Lord and Savior, “You are of your father the devil” (John 8:44). Sadly, many people around the globe celebrate Christmas without Christ. Ironically, they celebrate Christmas as children of the devil. Are you one of them?