Christmas Eve 2021

Romans 8:32 (NIV) 32  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Romans 4:4–8 NIV84

4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

In the classic Dr. Seuss book, “How did the Grinch Stole Christmas.”, how did the Grinch attempt to steal away the joy and celebration of Christmas for the Whos who lived in Whosville? He dressed up like Santa and stole into the town while all the Whos were sleeping and took away the decorations, the gifts, and even the last piece of roast beast. He believed that without gifts, there would be no Christmas.

Although a children’s book, Dr. Seuss was making an adult point. Christmas is not meant to be about gifts and presents and what we give and get by way of exchanging with others. And yet, we must all confess that gifts are big part of Christmas and we very well be very particular about the gifts we receive and but a lot of thought into the gifts that we give.

So let us pause for a moment and consider, what are some of the gifts that you have received over the years?

What are some of the gifts that you have given to others?

We may even ask ourselves, what is the greatest gift we have ever received?

As Christians who are considering this question this evening in our worship service, we would have to be pretty dense not to answer the question in this way? The Greatest Gift is Jesus.

And we would be correct.

Because it Comes from a Great Giver.

Because it Comes to those who don’t deserve it.

Because it Gives us Eternal Life and Confidence in this Life.

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. He has the wealth of the universe to bestow on his creation. But just because someone is wealthy, doesn’t mean they are great givers. Think of Ebenezer Scrooge in The Christmas Carol. He was a miser and did not even spend money on himself. But God is not like that. We believe that he generously supplies us with clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, land, cattle and all we own and the he defends us from all danger and guards and protects us from all evil.

But God is not just concerned about our live on earth. He longs for us to spend eternity with him in heaven and since we our sins have separated us from him, he promised and then sent his Son, Jesus, in a very special way to take on human form and give his life and die for our sins. God wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth and sent Jesus to die for all. He is truly a great God and we praise him for it!

Because it Comes to Those who Don’t Deserve it.

Romans 4:4–6 NIV84

4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

All this he does because he is my good and gracious father and not because I have earned or deserved it.

St. Paul tells us that there are things in life that we do deserve. We are so used to saying that we cannot earn heaven and that is most certainly true. But in our interactions with others, there is a system of rewards and punishment that cannot be denied. And although it does not apply to salvation, God certainly teaches his people our responsibility in obeying his commands and warns what will happen to those who disobey.

Jeremiah 32:17–23 NIV84

17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. 18 You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the fathers’ sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, 19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve. 20 You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours. 21 You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. 22 You gave them this land you had sworn to give their forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law; they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster upon them.

Romans 2:6–11 NIV84

6 God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

But because of our sins, we deserve only God’s wrath and punishment. PAUSE. But because of his great love for us, God sent Jesus to live and die for sinners like us — undeserving as we are. Therefore, we can praise God for the greatest gift to such ungrateful people.

Because it Gives us Eternal Life and Confidence in this Life.

Think again about the gifts you have received in the past at Christmas. How long did they last? Do you still have them?

When I was very young, I received a gift that for whatever reason I just did not like. It was a plastic helicopter and a space capsule. This was in the early days of the space race and that toy could be used to reenact recovering a capsule that had been in orbit and landed in the ocean. I was very disappointed (and I don’t know why). I cried and had a fit because I didn’t like it. But years later, when I matured, I wanted to play with it . . . and could never find it. I would search and search and even now dream about searching for it but never found it. The gift was lost.

Gifts can be lost, damaged, worn out, or just not appreciated. Gifts do not last.

Except for the greatest gift. Jesus gives us eternal life which is . . . eternal. It delivers us from sin, death, and the devil and will be ours forever.

Not only that, but St. Paul reassures us that God provides for us in this lifetime too. Jesus taught this in the sermon on the mount when he said, “Seek first the kingdom of heaven and all these other things will be handed to you as well” and he reassured the disciples:

Mark 10:28–30 NIV84

28 Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

Philippians 3:7–11 NIV84

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Conclusion: Undoubtedly, this Christmas you have given and received gifts and hopefully you appreciate them. But the greatest gift has been given by the greatest giver to those who deserve it the least. Praise God for sending his Son and providing for us now and forever. Amen.