Gifts From Heaven

Gifts From Heaven

INTRO Christmas gift giving... good and bad

Christmas is an open door to tell the world of God’s greatest gift. And what is that gift?

When speaking of gifts from heaven...

The pleasure of giving gifts isn’t just from the magical, legendary characters.

Surveys show us that receiving gifts makes them feel joyful and generous. (Salt Pond, feeding the homeless, donating for a cause, gifts of love, etc)

I. Gifts in the Bible A. What are the gifts we see mentioned in the Bible?

Gifts of the Spirit – Ro 12:6-8; 1 Co 12:8-10; Eph 4:11

New born babies – Gen 30:20

Contentment/Satisfaction – Ecc 3:13

Joy of life – Ecc 5:19

Blessings – James 1:17

Life–1Pe3:7

Righteousness – Ro 5:17

Holy Spirit – Acts 1:4, 2:38

Grace–Eph2:8-9,3:7

B. Jesus a. Immanuel - God with us b. Jesus is the gift that keeps giving. Jesus represents:

i. Freedom from sin ii. Salvation

iii. Reconciliation with God iv. Victory

v. Abundant life vi. Eternal life

vii. Peace viii. Hope

ix. Joy x. Love

c. But the greatest gift that Jesus represents is grace. i. Grace and love work hand in hand.

ii. God’s Divine love is full of grace. Q. How does God’s unconditional love and grace work together?

II.

The Gift of Grace A. Grace vs Works

Is God’s love towards me based on my good works? The Old Testament has scared us straight, to think that God’s love is based on works... that God’s love is conditional... Read Lev 26

People think God is a God of do’s and don’ts. Full of commands to do this and not that. Ready to zap us when we do wrong. Actually, that is what we see in the old Covenant.

B. Works = Self Righteousness a. A works-based system creates self-righteousness

i. Ro 4:4-5 ii. Ro 10:3-4

iii. The New Covenant is based on grace C. Grace – An indescribable gift (2 Co 9:15)

What is grace? Grace is getting something good that we don’t deserve. Mercy works closely with grace. Mercy is not getting the bad that we deserve.

The depths of God’s grace i. In order to understand the depth of God’s grace

we must understand and consider our sinful

state. The truth of the matter is that you are a dirty rotten sinner. I am a dirty rotten sinner. We all are dirty rotten sinners. Read Ro 3:23

We’re all sinners. We have all fallen short and will continue to fall short and rebel against God’s perfect standard. And we’re not talking maybe once or twice throughout the day, we do it hundreds of times. The way we use our money our time and our talents, all of which are gifts from God to be used for the building of His kingdom, are easily squandered as we ignore His plans and run full speed with our own. We are judgmental know-it-alls; self-centered, self- seeking and self-absorbed. We gossip, slander, lie, cheat or steal in order to manipulate a situation for our benefit. We are lazy for the things of God yet energized when it comes to things that we want. We fail miserably when it comes to faith in God. We doubt Him, yell at Him and reduce Him down to our level. We put Him aside as we do our own thing. We place Him on the throne only to take Him off later so we can get back on it. Yes we are dirty rotten sinners...

RC Sproul says, “We’re not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners.”

The bottom line is this: We don’t treat God with the respect He deserves. Even though we know what we ought to do we don’t always do it... that is the definition of rebellion.

Is God a God of grace? Absolutely! We need to understand the only thing that keeps us alive and moving forward each day is His amazing grace. It’s not because of our good deeds!

III.

Saved by Grace A. Salvation belongs to the Lord (Rev 7:10, 12:10, 19:1)

a. Because of our rebellious nature, we need to understand when we come to Christ it is never on our terms. God has to initiate the relationship. We must understand how we have rebelled against Him, how we have lived as enemies of God and if we want to establish a relationship with Him, we need to ask for His forgiveness. The Bible tells us that Forgiveness can come only through Jesus Christ. You can’t be forgiven and in a relationship with God apart from Jesus. Read John 14:6

B. The Gift of salvation

By grace through faith – Eph 2:8-9, For it is by grace

you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. (God gets ALL the glory!)

The difference between Christianity and all other religions is grace. Man attempts to please God. But grace is a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ.

God knows we will sin. He knows we will fail miserably. He knows we are rebellious and will desert Him. He knows that Gen 6:5... And why he doesn’t wipe us out as he did Sodom and Gomorra or during the time of the flood is due to His sovereign plan.

C. The Purpose of grace and salvation a. To make His name known

i. 1 Pe 2:9, But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light

Eph 3:10-11, God’s intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It’s not about me. It’s all about Him, His plan and His glory and the glory of His Son.

IV. God’s Fail-proof Plan

Before the creation of the world (Eph 1:4-6)

Christ died for us rebels (Ro 5:8)

We were dead in sins; God made us alive in Christ (Eph

2:1, 4-5)

D.Assurance/Guarantee of Salvation (Eph 1:13-14)

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In preparation for next week: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD Ask the question: What is the big picture?

Grace, mercy and God’s sovereign plan Romans chapters 9-11

Before Time Titus 1:1-2 2 Tim 1:9

The Book Rev 13:8, 17:8 Luke 10:20 Heb 12:23 Ex 32:32 Dan 12:1