White Elephant

Introduction

Good morning church family. Last year we were invited to a white elephant gift exchange a couple of the small groups were having. Some of the gifts were funny while others were more savory. They included everything from coffee mugs to funny glasses to ammo to last years re-gifted Christmas presents. I was looking at some white elephant gift ideas for 2019. I found the typical coffee mug that everyone likes to give. But this one was a mug without a bottom. I found donut seeds, which looked like cheerios in a baggie. There was bacon scented soap. I guess that would good around the house - not too sure in bear camp? The one that made the top of the list was an empty silver can, about the size of a soup can, and was labeled “dehydrated water.” All you had to do was add water. That can of dehydrated water sold for $10.99 on Amazon. I thought WOW; cha-ching, talking about a great marketing idea.

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to participate in a white elephant gift exchange, get ready for all kinds of stuff. You’ll see gift ideas from creative to a re-gift of last years Christmas cake. I know no one here re-gifts - right? If you do re-gift last years Christmas cake - after everyone has swapted their white elephant gift for the one they have their eye on - let them know the cake gift is not for eating.

You know all of humanity is graciously blessed because when God gives, He only gives the best. Each Christmas season, we celebrate the birth of Jesus! When God decided to give the world His very best - He gave His Son Jesus Christ! When God arrived to the celebration, God did not show up with a white elephant gift. God did not show up last years model, or a broken screw driver from the bottom of the tool box, or a half-roll of duct tape. NO! His One and only Son is given to all humanity, for every person! That’s right, God gave Jesus for you and for me!

This morning our passage come to us from the 3rd Chapter of John. The passage is world famous and shared all the time. If you have your Bible with you today, I’d like to invite you to open your Bible and follow along with me in John 3. We’ll be reading verses 16 and 17.

John 3:16–17 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Pastoral Prayer

Verse 16 is one of the most familiar and beloved verses in all of Scripture! It’s a very powerful and densely packed verse. Verse 16 is a display of God’s infinite love made so clear and obvious in an infinite glorious manner that has caused so many of us to hold it closely to our hearts.

This verse brings light to the aspects of the love God has for mankind. First, we the have the author, and that author is God! If you have your Bible open this morning, and its’s a red-letter edition, you see the words of God in the flesh speaking to His creation. He speaks to His creation out of love. In this first part of verse 16, the Bible says “God so loved the world.” One profound truth that is sometimes over looked is all that God wants to love. God has chosen to love a world that is evil, sinful, a world of fallen humanity. Because of God’s grace and love for humanity, he has chosen to look past all this.

He looks to His creation, that also means you; He look to you with love in His eyes. You see the object of God’s love is you. This is what makes this emphasis so great!! When you study this in the Greek it means “to have love for someone based on sincere appreciation, to have a loving concern.” You’ve probably heard the expression “thoughts are free, talk is cheap and action is expensive.” Folks, we have God’s love in action. The rubber has met the road! It’s not that “God loved enough to give, but God loved so that He gave.” God’s love is not vague or some sentimental feeling that comes and goes. It’s a kind of love that is set in action. And we see that here in verse 16 with the two action words “loved” and “gave.” God’s love is not confined to any one group or the spiritual elite. God’s love is meant for everyone. Because God’s loves humanity so much, He gave what was most dear to him - “He gave His only Son!” It shows us the love of the Father. But why such a precious gift to all of humanity? Well you see, humanity has a sin problem. The sin problem we all have started all the way back in Genesis. So to see the words “He gave” “He gave His only Son” means that God gave His only Son to die for us as an offer for sin.

The gift of God’s only son is the climax of God’s love toward us. There is nothing in this world so precious as Jesus. Jesus Christ is more precious than all the words gems and precious metals combined. For us — mankind — we have the easy part. All we have to do is accept this precious gift from God! We come to the immediate result of the love of God for the world: that is the mission of the Son, the purpose.

Don’t you really like it when you’re reading a set of instructions, and the technical writers make it real easy to follow the follow the directions? I know that rarely happens. I also know some of you will possibly be assembling gifts and sorts in the coming days. I can hear some of you beginning to think - you have no idea. BUT! To get around those directions — that no one reads — I’ve got a plan — Youtube here I come!

I want you to know we have a divine version of Youtube streaming at full bandwidth right here for us! I love it, because God makes it so easy to follow the instructions! The ultimate purpose why such a precious gift of God is given is for the salvation of the world for all who believe in him; where the Bible reads, “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life!” The world “believes” means to place one’s trust into or completely in someone. But why do we place our complete trust in the Son of God? Remember back to this sin problem we are born into? That sin that we carry has two aspects regarding humanity. First, sin requires a payment. There is a cost associated with it. Second, sin causes separation between us and God. So God gave His Son as payment for the sin we have committed either out in the open or in secret. God’s Son Jesus is the only One who can make this payment on our behalf. There is nothing we can do on our behalf to pay this debt. All the “good” we think we do, all the money we give to this organization and that non-profit is not enough. Only Jesus Christ can satisfy this debt. And, because Jesus satisfies this debt, through trust and belief in Jesus Christ, we can have eternal fellowship with God.

When we choose to believe in Jesus Christ, we can escape this eternal separation or destruction, and we are given “eternal life.” The love of God has made it possible for us to turn from our self-destructive paths and receive from God the free gift of everlasting life. That’s right — you heard me correctly — Free! And, this version of “free,” really does mean free with no strings attached, or having to sit through some time-share to get the gift at the end. When we accept God’s Son, we can know that our sin debt is paid. The Bible says in:

Psalm 103:12 ESV

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

We have the assurance from God that the hard-drive or memory card is permanently erased. There is no recovery software with God. When it’s gone — it’s gone!

[DISPLAY JOHN 3:17]

John 3:17 ESV

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

In verse 17, John aims to make a simple point which clarifies the purpose of Jesus’ mission. God’s purpose in sending His Son “into the world” was not “to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” When Jesus came the first time, he did not come as judge (as some might think) (Daniel 7:13-14). Jesus came as Savior! Jesus is making it very clear that God did not sent His Son, this time, to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

When we look at the words “into the world,” it’s important to see that the Son of Man came into an already lost world. He did not come into a neutral world to save only some and condemn others. He came into this world for EVERYONE! When you study the Greek word “world,” God’s redemptive purpose embraces the entire world. That means He embraces you! The sin we have is like a jail cell. For some of us, it comfy in there, and there might not be any reason to leave. Until one day the cell door closes. When that cell door closes it will be forever. No one want to be in the jail cell, but our sin keeps us there. Then one day, we’re offered a pardon, it is your decision whether or not you would accept this free gift. That’s the gospel! That’s the good news Jesus Christ brings to the world. The gospel tells the person who is sitting in that jail cell, a pardon is offered to you! The point is, will you accept this pardon?

Conclusion

We, humanity, God’s creation, have made it very easy, and have given God many reasons to just give up. Instead, God’s love is not static or self-centered. God’s love reaches out. God’s love reaches out to you! It’s the same when you have a deep seeded love for someone. When you have this kind of deep love, you are willing to sacrifice dearly for that person. You are willing to do anything for them, even if that means laying down your life.

This is what we call sacrificial love. You see sacrificial love expresses itself without anything expected in return. Sacrificial love chooses to keep loving. When we give sacrificial love, we seek ways to meet the needs of those who need love. There is no cost to great! This is what God has done toward us. God’s paid a very high price for His rescue mission, which is to save us.

The next time you look at John 3:16 consider:

[PLEASE DISPLAY NEXT SLIDE]

God The greatest Lover

So loved The greatest degree

The world The greatest number

That he gave The greatest act

His only Son The greatest gift

That whoever The greatest invitation

Believes The greatest simplicity

In Him The greatest person

Should not perish The greatest escape

But The greatest difference

Have The greatest certainty

Eternal life The greatest destiny

When God chose to give His One and only Son, He gave that what was most precious to Him. He gave that gift to us, to the entire world. In a few days when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, this is a cause for celebration! God gave us Jesus! God gave us this infant child — because we are that important to Him! God presents Jesus to the world, because He is that important to God; and that means Jesus is all we need. All we need to do is reach out and accept God’s gift.

If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, today can be the day you begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you’re sitting here this morning (tonight) and thinking, preacher — I’ve got some really bad stuff in the closet. And, it pains me every time I think about it. You might even be thinking there is no way God could ever forgive you. I want you to know, God is ready to forgive you! The question is: do you want a pardon from that sin? It’s easy — you can have that pardon today — you can have it right now! Your past is never too dark for the light of God’s love. I would be happy to pray with you before the throne of God. If you need prayer on something else, I invite you to come and let me know how I can pray for you.

Closing Prayer