The Unspeakable Gift
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Introduction
Introduction
15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
The Greek form of the word unspeakable means “not expounded in full, indescribable”
Dictionary.com says the word indescribable means, “too unusual, extreme, or indefinite to be adequately described.”
The word gift, we know is something given, something that is not earn or paid for.
We have an unspeakable, or indescribable gift that has been given to us by God and we should be thankful for it!
As we come this morning in celebration of the birth of Jesus it should be a day and time of joy, peace and love.
Why? Because it is the birth of He who came through forty-two generations to die for humanity.
Jesus is what Christmas is all about!
Yes! Jesus is that ‘unspeakable’ gift’!
That gift by which there are not adequate words in the human language to rightfully describe Him. The Prophet Isaiah called Him, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
The Psalmist called Him, The Lily of The Valley, The Bright and Morning Star.
The Apostle Paul called Him, Who Art Thou, First Fruit of The Dead Who took The Sting Out Of Death and Victory Form The Grave.
The Apostle John called Him, The Root of Jesse, The Rod of David whose eyes were are a flame of fire, feet like fine brass, a voice that sounds like many waters, a countenance as the sun that shineth in its strength and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword.
The text is correct, Jesus is that unspeakable gift!
That gift that has blessed you and me up to this present time.
It is a short verse, only 8 words long, but they are insightful and powerful. Listen as the Apostle Paul says, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."
In contrast to that though, this is the time of year many are more concerned about choosing just the right Christmas gifts to give to the special people rather than receiving “The Unspeakable Gift” into our lives.
Have you ever received your unspeakable gift?"
This “Gift” is the only gift that has the ability to change your life...
I did a little research and found some of what society calls indescribable gifts...
One was a gift from actress Angelina Jolie to her then husband Brad Pitt; it was a 30’ foot waterfall and surrounding land. Later on, for his 50th birthday, she bought him an entire island.
Another gift was a 24-carat solid gold bathtub that was estimated to be worth around 2 million dollars that boxer Mike Tyson gave his wife.
Here’s another one, an Indian business tycoon bought his wife a super yacht valued at 85 million dollars!
Well, such gifts stagger our imagination, don’t they? But they are not “unspeakable”.
All of those things I just listed can be stolen, ruined and ultimately, they will fade away. But God’s gift to humanity-Jesus is forever and everlasting.
Let’s shift our attention from human gifts to God’s gift of sending Jesus to earth for us.
The Apostle Paul said, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."
Why does Paul call Jesus "unspeakable?" There are at least four reasons, so let’s take a look at them...
I-Because of His Character
I-Because of His Character
How do you describe Jesus?
What words would you choose?
How do you describe a baby born of a virgin?
How do you describe God in flesh, walking upon our earth and reaching out to the hurting masses of humanity?
The Prophet Isaiah said
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:23 says,
Matthew 1:23 (KJV 1900)
23 ...they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Emmanuel: God with us...
How do you describe that?
How do you describe the God who has all knowledge, power and is everywhere all of the time?
Well, again, He is Indescribable! He is unspeakable!
You see? This word “unspeakable” translates a word that is used for the first time ever in the Greek language…That might not seem like much, but I want you to understand this morning, the word Paul uses means “indescribable”.
When Paul speaks of the gift God gave us when He gave His Son, he says “Jesus is a gift so good, so great, so wonderful that He really can’t be described.”
Why does Paul call Jesus "indescribable?" Well, Because of His Character.
Jesus is unspeakable...
II-Because of His Purpose
II-Because of His Purpose
Secondly, I think Paul called Jesus “unspeakable” because of His purpose in coming to earth. He disrobed Himself of royalty, and divinity to save us from eternal damnation.
When Jesus Christ came to this world, God became a man so that He might give His life for His people,
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
He became a slave so that we might become sons,
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
He became poor so that we might become rich in Him,
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
The angels announced His birth!
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
We celebrate Christmas for the fact that Jesus came into our world to save us.
The Hope of humanity is not in Santa Claus or Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer; our Hope is “The Unspeakable Gift”—Jesus of Nazareth.
There will never be “peace” on earth until men have been lifted out of their sin, and their hearts and way of thinking changed.
Our greatest need is to be saved from the very flames of hell, itself.
How do you put into words what God accomplished when He sent His only begotten Son into the world
Why does Paul call Jesus "unspeakable”—Because of His Nature, Because of His purpose? Well there is another …
Jesus is unspeakable...
III-Because of His Grace
III-Because of His Grace
Paul focuses our attention of God Himself. As he begins to write, Paul says, “Thanks be to God …”
It’s all because of God!
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
We love him, because he first loved us.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
When we spiritually stop by Bethlehem and Jerusalem in our mind we must see the Christ child and realize that He is the gift of grace and there are no words -adequate enough- to describe God’s grace towards us in Jesus.
God is the One Who devised the plan that brought Jesus to this world.
God is the One Who “chose us” in Christ “before the foundation of the world”.
God is the One Who put us into His eternal plan.
God is the One Who loved us when we were unlovable.
God is the One Who came to us when we were “dead in trespasses and sins”
God is the One Who convicted us of our sins and saved us when we believed on Christ.
We owe everything we have, everything we are, and everything we ever hope to have to God the Father.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In closing, I am always grateful for all that the Lord has done, what He is doing and what He will do for all of us in the future.
Yes! He is Good and is our “Unspeakable Gift”.
Why does Paul call Jesus "unspeakable”—Because of His Nature, Because of His Purpose, Because of His Grace?
Well, let me give you one more reason…
Jesus is unspeakable…
IV-Because of His Effect on Us
IV-Because of His Effect on Us
There is a change in our lives when we allow Jesus to become our Lord and Savior. As a matter of fact, The Apostle Paul wrote this:
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
When we “open” our “gifts” this Christmas will our lives be different?
When we “receive” the gifts that have been purchased for us by loved ones, will these gifts change our lives? No! Because, they are good, they are alright, but they are not the “Unspeakable Gift”.
Take a moment to consider what you have in Jesus, and then praise God for His “unspeakable gift”.
Here is a short list of what we possess in Him because of His grace:
Forgiveness Of Sin – Psa. 103:12
Redemption From Sin – Eph. 1:7
Everlasting Life – John 10:28; 6:47
Adoption As Sons Of God – Rom. 8:15; 1 John 3:1-2
A Home In Heaven – John 14:1-3
His Abiding Presence – Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20
His Perfect Promises – 2 Pet. 1:4; 2 Cor. 1:20
His Everlasting Love – Jer. 31:3
His Amazing Grace – 2 Cor. 12:9
His Boundless Provisions – Phil. 4:19; Matt. 6:25-34
His Holy Spirit – 1 Cor. 12:13
His Precious Word – Psa. 119:105
His Glorious Church – Eph. 5:25-27
When we accept Jesus, The Unspeakable Gift, we are given His peace.
✓ A peace that passes all understanding.
✓ A Peace that enables us to cope with challenging situations.
✓ A Peace that allows us to look beyond the smog of this world to see the beauty of Almighty God in heaven.
When we accept Jesus, The Unspeakable Gift, we have a mansion in heaven that is paid for, a dwelling place that will last for all eternity.
Thank God for “The Unspeakable Gift—Jesus Christ!