The Greatest Gift
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For those of you who are buying gifts for people this holiday season, How many of you are still looking for that perfect gift for those you love. The older I get the more I enjoy trying to purchase gifts that are more meaningful.
When you think about gifts whether they were given at Christmas or for a birthday or some other time of year, what is the greatest gift you ever received?
As a kid for those of you who drew names at Christmas time, did you ever think, man I hope so and so gets my name because they are a great gift giver. Some people are better gift givers than others.
But as you know there is one gift giver that is better than them all. And that’s God.
James 1:17 says...
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
God is the greatest gift giver.
The Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians that God’s gift is so great that it is inexpressible or indescribable.
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
When was the last time you recieved a gift that you couldn’t even put in to words how wonderful it was. That is how great God’s gift is.
So what is the best or perfect gift that God has given us, this gift that is inexpressible? I have no doubt that all of us here this morning realize that Jesus is the perfect gift.
This morning I want to simply remind you of a few reasons why God’s gift to us is the greatest gift ever given, and why it is indescribable.
It was Bought
When we think about gifts normally we think the more expensive the gift the greater it is. All though the older we get we realize that that is not always the case.
But when it comes to Jesus it kind of is. The first reason why God’s gift to us is indescribable is because of the cost associated with it.
The cost associated with the gift of Jesus is unfathomable to us. Listen to 1 Peter 1:18-19
knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
When it comes to purchasing gifts for those we love often times we have to work hard in order to earn money and then we sacrifice that money to purchase gifts for those we love. When it comes to giving these gifts we try to teach our children that its better to give than to receive becasue that is what Jesus taught.
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
But with God's gift to us it's a little bit different. Because we try to teach our children it doesn't matter how much the gift costs. Rather its the thought behind the gift. But with God’s gift to us the purchase price does matter. It matters because the purchase price was the blood of his only begotten Son.
With God’s gift it's not just the thought that counts the money also counts and the money that bought our salvation was not silver or gold the money that bought our salvation was the life and blood of our savior.
2. The Gift last forever
The first reason why God’s gift to us is indescribable is because of the cost associated with it and the second is because this gift last forever.
Imagine if you gave someone a million dollars for a gift. All though that sounds like a great gift eventually the money will run out. If you give someone a car, eventually the car will stop working. If you give someone any type of electronic in a couple years it will be obsolete and worthless.
Things wear out. Stuff breaks. Any gift given by man will not last forever. But there is a gift that God has made possible for all of us to receive that will last forever. Notice with me how Peter descibles this gift in 1 Peter 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
Peter says that the gift of God is undefiled, meaning that it is perfect. This gift is imperishable that is to say that it will always be perfect. Peter says that the gift is perfect when you get it and in a 1000 years it will still be perfect. And then Peter says that it fades not away. It will not wear out, it is the perfect gift that will last forever.
2. Its Free
God’s gift to us is indescribable because of its cost, because it last forever and finally, God’s gift is indescribable because even though it cost our Savior his life and even though the gift last forever, the gift is free to all who will accept it.
Sometimes we get gifts from others that start out as free. We may receive a subscription to watch our favorite tv shows or to watch NFL, MLB, or the NBA for a year. Our kids may receive an gaming system as a free gift.
But with all of these types of gifts eventually they are not free. If you want to keep the gift you eventually have to buy another subscription. If you want to keep playing the gaming system you have to eventually buy more games.
Thankfully God’s perfect gift has always been free and always will be. Notice with me what the Apostle Paul says about this gift in Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Apostle Paul not only tells us that the gift is free he also gives us more clarity into this gift. Yes the gift is Jesus. Yes, God had to be willing to send his only begotten son to this earth so that he could die for our sins but the true gift offered because of Jesus is eternal life.
John would say it this way in the most well known passage in the Bible.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
God’s gift to us is the greatest gift ever given because of its purchase price, because it will last forever and becasue it is free to all who will accept it.
This time of year it can be easy to get caught up in all the festivities of the season. It can be easy to forget why the world celebrates Christmas.
In the cartoon, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie Brown asked the question, Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about.
And I love this question because this isn’t just a question that should be asked at Christmas but wether you celebrate Christmas or not, the answer to this question is one that we all need to be thankful for every day.
So, Charlie Brown ask the question can anyone tell me the meaning of Christmas. Linus says sure I can tell you.
And so he goes on stage and simly quotes from Luke 2:8-14. Notice it with me again.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
By quoting this passage Linus says that this season and I would add that everyday is about remembering among other things that God gave a gift first. And no matter what gift you give your loved ones this Christmas or any time of year it will not compare to the gift of Jesus.
While Linus is quoting this passage there is a moment when he being this wonderful little character who always has to carry around his security blanket. There is a symbolic moment when he quotes the angels words fear not. And I encourage you to go back and watch it because its at that moment that Linus lets go of his blanket in order to show us that his security is not in that blanket but it is in Jesus Christ.
Because of the greatest gift ever given our security our salvation is secure in Jesus Christ.
Conclusion:
For the most part every one of us here wether you celebrate Christmas or not at different times throughout the year you will be giving gifts to those that you love.
But how many of us have thought to share the greatest gift the most perfect gift far more perfect than any gift you can buy with those that we love most who do not have this gift.
When I think about how wonderful this gift is and how we should share it with others I am reminded of the story of the 4 lepers in the Old Testament who were desperate for food so they decided to take a chance and to go to the Syrians and try to get help. But to their surprise when they arrived no one was there. Therefore they were able to eat all they wanted and also load up on more silver, gold and clothing than they need for themselves.
And in verse nine of 2 Kings 7 it says…
Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king’s household.”
At first they were going to keep these gifts all to themselves. But then they realized that they needed to share the gifts with others.
These four lepers decided to share these gifts that they had received. They realized that God had allowed them to go to the Syrians and just take all of these gifts. They decided that they better share these gifts with others so no punishment would come upon them.
Today we have graciously been given the most indescribable gift, the most precious and perfect gift. A gift that cost our Savior his life, a gift that will last forever and a gift that is free to all who will accept it. This morning I want to encourage you to be like these four lepers and tell at least one person that you love about the gift of Jesus.
This morning you may be sitting here and you haven't recieved the gift. Would you please consider taking the gift. In order to receive this gift all you have to do is to repent of your sins and choose to be baptized for the remision of your sins and then you can recieve the gift. The gift of the Holy spirit and the gift of being in Christ and the gift of eternal life.
Will you accept the greatest gift ever offered today. I pray that you will. If you would like to receive this gift, as we sing the invitation song please walk down front and make it known that you would like to receive the greatest gift ever offered to mankind.
If we can help you receive the gift of Jesus this morning please come as we stand and sing.
