The Greatest Gift

The Greatest Gift

John 3:16

Introduction:

My Saint Thomas Baptist family and freinds, today we gather in the spirit of love and gratitude, and I want to talk to you about *The Greatest Gift*. You see, in a world filled with materialism and fleeting pleasures, we often forget the essence of true giving. But God, in His infinite wisdom, has shown us what it means to give—He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ.

So, with the help of the Holy Spirit and the real preacher Jesus Christ I would like to share a few things we need to understand as we recieve The Greatest Gift and the first is this.

The Nature of God’s Love

Let’s unpack this scripture, shall we? “For God so loved the world…” What a profound statement! This love is not just for a select few; it’s for every man, woman, and child. It’s a love that transcends race, culture, and circumstance. It’s not a transactional love; it’s unconditional! God’s love is the foundation of our faith, and it beckons us to respond.

When we think about the magnitude of His love, we realize it’s not merely a feeling but an action. God didn’t just feel compassion; He acted upon it. He gave! And here lies the challenge for us: how can we emulate that love? How can we be vessels of that divine gift to others?

We can emulate God’s love by being generous, compassionate, and forgiving. This means actively seeking ways to support and uplift others, being present in their lives, and showing kindness without expecting anything in return. It involves living out our faith through tangible acts of love and service.

By understanding and embracing these aspects of God’s love, we can be better equipped to share that love with the world around us.

(Romans 5:8) “But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

(1 John 4:9-10) “By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath].”

(Psalm 136:26) “Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever.”

God’s love is unconditional, demonstrated through the ultimate sacrifice of His Son, and it is steadfast and eternal.

The Gift of Jesus

Now, let’s hone in on the next part: “that He gave His one and only Son.” This wasn’t just any gift, my friends. This was the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus, the Lamb of God, came to this earth not to condemn us but to save us. He bore our sins, our heartaches, our burdens.

Imagine the scene: God watching His Son being rejected, mocked, and ultimately crucified. Yet, He still chose to give. Why? Because love compels action. God’s heart beats for you and me. And in giving us Jesus, He opened the door to redemption and eternal life.

(Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(John 1:14) “And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).”

(Isaiah 9:6) “For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; And the government shall be upon His shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The gift of Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s love, providing us with redemption, grace, and eternal life.

The Call to Believe

The scripture goes on to say, “that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Ah, here’s the crux of the matter! The gift is available, but it requires a response. We must believe! Belief is not just an intellectual assent; it’s a heartfelt trust that transforms us.

When we believe in Jesus, we are not merely accepting a gift; we are entering into a relationship with the Creator of the universe. We are saying, “Lord, I trust You with my life. I surrender my fears, my doubts, my sins.” And in return, He offers us eternal life—a life that begins here and now, not just after death!

(Romans 10:9) “because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

(John 1:12) “But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.”

(Ephesians 2:8-9) “For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].”

Belief in Jesus is essential for transformation and eternal life, inviting us into a personal relationship with God.

Sharing the Gift

Now, as recipients of this incredible gift, we have a responsibility. We are called to share this love, this gift, with the world around us. Just as God gave, we must give! This can be through acts of kindness, sharing the gospel, or simply being a listening ear to someone in need.

Imagine if each one of us took a moment to reflect on how we can share this gift. It may be as simple as a smile, a helping hand, or a word of encouragement. The possibilities are endless when our hearts are aligned with God’s love.

(Matthew 28:19-20) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”

(1Peter 4:10) “Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].”

(Galatians 6:10) “So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).”

As recipients of God’s greatest gift, we are called to share His love and grace with others, actively participating in His mission on earth.

You see in the book of Genesis He is the beginning before the beginning ever started

In Exodus He is our Passover Lamb

In Leviticus He is our high priest

In Numbers He is the lifted One

In Deuteronomy He is our deliverer

In Joshua He is our battle axe

In 1st,2nd Samuel, Kings and Chronicles He is our King

Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther He is our restorer

In Job He is our Redeemer

In Psalms He is our All and all

In Proverbs Ecclesiastes and song of Solomon He is our wisdom

In Isaiah He is the promised Messiah

In Jeremiah and Lamentations, He is our balm in Gilead

In Ezekiel He is our wheel in the middle of the wheel

In Daniel He is a stone hewed out of stone

In Nahum Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He is our stronghold in a time of trouble by

In Haggai Zechariah and Malachi, He is the son of righteousness

I'm talking about Matthew’s King

Mark’s suffering servant

Luke’s great physician

John’s word made flesh

Acts coming of the Holy Ghost

In Paul's letters he tells us how to live as Christians

In the general letters He tells us how to have faith in the midst of suffering

In Revelation He's the one coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle

Ain't God alright, ain't He alright

Has He been good to you

Can I tell you how I know he's alright

He died on a hill called Calvary

Buried in a borrowed tomb

But that's not how the story ends

Because early Sunday morning

He got up with all power in His hands

I'm talking about Jesus

Mary’s little baby

Joseph's stepson

James Judah and Simon's Big Brother

Zacharias and Elizabeth's cousin

John the Baptist’s savior

Jesus the apple of God's eye who is full of grace and truth

A light in a dark situation and a way out of no way

He is the greatest gift

Conclusion

So, beloved, as we leave this place today, let us remember that we are the recipients of *The Greatest Gift*—God’s love through Jesus Christ. Let that love flow through us as we interact with our families, our friends, and even those we find difficult to love.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for the greatest gift of all—Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to understand the depth of Your love and to share It with others. May we be beacons of Your light in this world, demonstrating Your love through our actions. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Go in peace and share the gift!