THE GIFT GIVEN

Intro

Good morning church fam! We are continuing our Christmas series called Jesus the Greatest Gift. Today I want to share with you about the Gift Given.

This week we move to the Gift Given — God didn’t just promise Jesus… He sent Him.

And when Jesus came, He didn’t just give us forgiveness.

He didn’t just give us peace.

He didn’t just give us hope.

He gave us a brand-new identity.

At the end of service I shared with you out of the book of Malachi chapter 3. I want to touch on that again. Id on’t want us to miss the depth of what Jesus did for us. Yes Jesus died for us on the cross for the forgiveness of sins, but there is so much more that we miss out if we never dive deeper than that. Remember Jesus said He came to give life and life abundantly.

If you have your bible with you turn with me to Malachi 3 and if not it will be on the screen.

Malachi 3:1–4 NASB95

1 “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. 2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 “He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness. 4 “Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

Jesus Redefines Religion

Last week the Lord showed me something in this passage of Scripture. This is one of the 300 plus prophecies spoken of the coming of Jesus.

As I was reading this the Lord showed me that when Jesus comes the first time, He will refine the sons of Levi, which represent religion, as silver or gold is refined.

Silver and gold when refined is melted down or broken down to allow all the impurities to be removed. I was reading about the smelting process and one of the ways the metalsmith would know that all the impurities have been removed is they can see their reflection in it.

Jesus was coming not only to save the world from their sin, but also to redefine the church.

This past week I pondered the question:

Why did Jesus come from the tribe of Judah and not the tribe of Levi? After all, the tribe of Levi were the priests, the ones who spoke to God and for God. It makes more sense.

The main reason is it was prophesied in Genesis 49 where the “scepter shall not depart from Judah”. This is speaking of a king. An eternal King who will establish an eternal kingdom.

Judah = Kingship

If Jesus had come from Levi, He could not have fulfilled the royal prophecies concerning the Messiah.

But isn’t Jesus a high priest as well? Yes. Scripture tells us that Jesus is:

Hebrews 4:14 NASB95

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

If Jesus had been from Levi, He would have been part of the old priesthood, which:

Had repeating sacrifices

Was limited by mortality

Could not bring complete forgiveness (Hebrews 10:4)

Instead, Jesus comes as a different kind of priest, from a superior priesthood altogether:

Jesus is a Priest “after the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7)

Melchizedek:

Lived before Levi

Was both king and priest

Was not connected to the Levitical priesthood at all

By being from Judah:

Jesus is not bound by the limitations of the Levitical system.

He brings a new and better covenant.

His priesthood is eternal, not temporary.

Jesus did not come to merely maintain the old system.

He came to:

Fulfill it

Complete it

Replace it with something better

Coming from Levi would have tied Jesus to an old covenant system He was destined to surpass.

It goes even deeper than this.

Jesus Restores What Adam Lost — by Being a King

When God created Adam, there was no temple, no altar, and no priesthood.

But there was authority.

God said, “Let them have dominion.” Adam was created first as a ruler, not a priest. His assignment wasn’t to offer sacrifices—it was to govern, guard, and represent God’s authority on the earth.

The fall wasn’t just the loss of innocence—it was the loss of authority.

Adam failed to guard what God entrusted to him, and through disobedience, dominion was surrendered. That’s why Scripture later speaks of “the ruler of this world.” Authority had been compromised.

That’s why Jesus comes not as a Levite, but from Judah—the royal tribe.

Jesus is called the Last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45).

Where Adam failed, Jesus succeeded. Adam lost authority in a garden; Jesus overcame temptation in the wilderness. Adam surrendered a kingdom through disobedience; Jesus reclaimed it through obedience.

This is why Jesus didn’t just come to forgive sin—He came to restore rule.

At the cross, Jesus isn’t just acting as a priest offering a sacrifice—He’s being enthroned as King. He wears a crown. He’s lifted up publicly. A sign declares, “King of the Jews.” What looks like defeat is actually victory.

And after the resurrection, Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” Authority had to be won back.

Jesus restores what Adam lost—not by becoming a temple priest, but by reigning as a King. And then He shares that authority with us, making us a kingdom and priests to our God.

So Jesus comes from Judah because what was lost was dominion—and only a King can restore that.

The gift given to us was Jesus…King Jesus. This is important to understand. Why?

Understanding this changes everything: when Jesus restores authority, He doesn’t keep it to Himself. He shares it.

And the moment authority is restored, identity has to be redefined.

Because if Jesus is King, then we are no longer slaves, no longer outsiders, no longer defined by our past—we are sons and daughters of the King. Our identity isn’t something we earn; it’s something we receive because of who He is.

Christmas isn’t only about a Child born — it’s about what that Child means for who we get to become.

Identity of the Loved

You are loved. No matter if you family doesn’t love you…God loves you.

Luke 2:7 NASB95

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke tells us that Jesus was laid in a manger. Not a crib from Babys R Us, Ashley, or Pottery Barn. Just barn. It was a manger used for animal feed.

Philippians 2:6–7 NASB95

6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

Jesus could have entered the world in royalty, power, and prestige… but He chose humility.

Why?

Because He came to show that God’s love reaches low, that no one is beneath His attention.

You may feel overlooked, unimportant, or “not enough,” but Christmas declares:

You are loved by a God who stepped down into your world.

Your identity is not “unworthy,” “forgotten,” or “ordinary.”

Your new identity is: Deeply loved by God.

Think of how brands fight for your identity today:

Apple calls its fans “creators.”

Nike calls you an “athlete.”

Disney markets “magic.”

Everyone is trying to tell you who you are.

But Christmas tells you the truth:

You matter so much that God came for you.

Key Truth:

Jesus’ humble coming reveals your identity:

LOVED. WANTED. WORTH DYING FOR.

This leads us to another aspect of our identity.

Identity of the Chosen

You are chosen by the Creator of the world. He could have chosen anything to share the Good News of the Gospel and yet He chose mankind.

Luke 2:8–10 NASB95

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

Shepherds were outcasts — sweaty, dirty, uneducated, low-status workers.

They weren’t invited to anything important…

But heaven invited them first.

If God wanted royalty, He could have gone to Rome.

If God wanted religious experts, He could have gone to the Temple.

Instead, He went to shepherds.

Why?

Because God wanted to say:

You don’t have to earn My attention. I choose you as you are.

1 Peter 2:9 NASB95

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Your new identity in Christ is not:

rejected

overlooked

background character

Your new identity is:

Chosen. Seen. Valued.

Think of someone getting “verified” on social media — that little blue check mark gives them identity, status, credibility. Something they have to pay for.

But Christmas is God giving you a heavenly verification badge:

“You are Mine.”

Not because you’re famous — because you’re chosen. You don’t even have to pay for it. It has been paid already.

Jesus’ birth announces your identity:

CHOSEN BY GOD.

Identity of Forgiven & Redeemed

This gift that God has given to us is something we did not earn. It was freely given.

John 3:16 NASB95

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Ephesians 1:7 NASB95

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

A gift you have to pay for… isn’t really a gift.

Jesus came freely, meaning you don’t earn forgiveness — you receive it.

Your new identity isn’t tied to your past mistakes.

It’s not tied to what hurt you.

It’s not tied to what you did wrong.

Your identity in Christ is:

Forgiven. Redeemed. Made new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB95

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Think of debt forgiveness. People weep when student loans or medical bills are cleared because the weight is lifted.

Multiply that by eternity:

Jesus canceled your spiritual debt.

You’re not who you were.

You’re not your sin.

You’re not your shame.

Those things do not define you anymore.

You are forgiven and restored.

Key Truth:

Jesus’ free gift brings a new identity:

FORGIVEN & REDEEMED.

Identity of God’s Children

Jesus has made a way for us to be adopted into the family of God.

Notice this important detail.

John 1:12 NASB95

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

These things I speak of only apply to those who receive Jesus. I don’t know how many times I hear people say “we are all children of God”. While we are all created in the image of God, we are not all His children. Only when you receive the gift of Jesus can you become adopted.

When one adopts a child there is a process that is necessary and it usually costs the parents adopting a lot of money.

Jesus did pay that price for our adoption, but we have to accept it. We have to believe it in order to be a child of God.

Romans 8:15–17 NASB95

15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

The greatest identity Jesus gives is not a title…

Not a role…

Not a label…

The greatest identity that Jesus gives is:

Family.

You belong to God.

You carry His name.

You inherit His promises.

Go back to legal adoption — when a child is adopted, everything changes.

they get a new last name

they get a new home

they get a new identity

and they get a new future

Christmas is God adopting you into His family through Jesus.

Jesus gives you the identity:

SON / DAUGHTER OF GOD.

Closing

**Call for piano**

Jesus is the greatest gift ever given — and in receiving Him, we receive who we truly are.

Not who culture says you should be.

Not who your past says you are.

Not who your failures say you are.

Christmas gives you identity.

Jesus gives you identity.

Only He can.

Church, before we close today, I want to remind you of something we’ve been talking about all morning.

Jesus didn’t just come to do something for you.

He came to say something about you.

Some of us have spent our whole lives trying to figure out who we are.

We’ve let our past label us.

We’ve let failure name us.

We’ve let other people’s words define us.

But Christmas reminds us that God didn’t send advice…

He sent a Savior.

And in giving us Jesus, He gave us a new identity.

It is worth repeating.

John 1:12 NASB95

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

That means this:

You are not just forgiven — you are adopted.

You are not just cleaned up — you are claimed.

You are not just rescued — you are renamed.

And maybe today you’ve been close to church…

close to faith…close to God…

…but you’ve never personally received Jesus.

Or maybe you once followed Him, but somewhere along the way you drifted, and your identity got tangled up in everything except Christ.

Today, Jesus is standing before you offering the greatest gift — not religion, not rules, but relationship.

Romans 5:8 NASB95

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

You don’t have to fix yourself first.

You don’t have to clean yourself up first.

You don’t have to prove anything.

You just have to receive.

So if you’re here today and you would say:

“I need forgiveness.”

“I need a fresh start.”

“I need my identity rooted in Jesus.”

“I want to follow Him with my life.”

In just a moment, I’m going to invite you to respond.

Not because we want to embarrass you — but because moments matter.

And Christmas is about responding to the gift God gave.

If that’s you, I invite you to come to the altar.

I want you to know this:

Jesus came for you.

Jesus died for you.

Jesus rose again for you.

And today, He’s calling you by name.