Christmas is a natural time for the Cornwall Alliance to remember its highest commitment: to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That gospel the Apostle Paul summarized most briefly this way: “… that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

Then, so readers would know this was no myth, he added reference to multiple eyewitnesses: Christ “appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles” (verses 5-7).

And finally, coupled to his own eyewitness testimony, he explained the marvelous grace of it all: “Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain” (verses 8-10).

Grace. Grace of God to forgive a sinner like Paul. Grace of God to forgive a sinner like me. Grace of God to forgive anyone who repents of sin and trusts in Christ “who died for our sins.”

The Cornwall Alliance exists because of the grace of God, and for the grace of God, to communicate that gospel and the wonderful consequence of it: that this world, subjected by God to futility and decay because of our sin, will one day be “set free from its bondage to decay, and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:20–21).

In Christ “we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:14–20).

That is the link between the gospel and the Earth stewardship the Cornwall Alliance exists to promote. From reconciling guilty but believing sinners to a holy God, to reconciling the whole creation to Himself, that’s what Jesus came to do. And that is what we at the Cornwall Alliance rejoice to declare at this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas, friends!
Cal