Friday, December 22, 2017

The Greatest Gift

The Greatest Gift


For those who believe what the Bible teaches, have trusted Jesus as Savior and Lord, and follow Christ daily in faith, love and obedience, Christmas is meant to be a celebration of His birth. But honestly, the importance of commemorating, contemplating, centering our lives on, and conversing about Jesus is often misunderstood, seriously neglected or completely forgotten due to the time, energy and attention spent decorating, sending cards, shopping for/making gifts, ‘holiday’ parties, traveling, family gatherings, gift exchanges, cooking, overeating and whatever else this season brings for you, your family and your friends.

This loss of focus on the birth of Jesus is not just sad, it’s tragic. Christ’s nativity was the means by which the long-awaited Savior King, the very human incarnation of God, was brought into the world. And this truth, as miraculous as it is, is just one part of a much greater story, the story of God’s love for every person.

Here is a selection of verses from the Bible that provide a small glimpse into the vast and eternal truths about Jesus, and how God, through His unending mercy and grace, has demonstrated His perfect love for all mankind.
  • John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
    • A cornerstone of the Christian faith is the deity of Christ (‘the Word’). We believe in one God who exists and is revealed as the Holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
  • Philippians 2:6-7 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
    • God humbled Himself and came to earth as a baby named Jesus, the long-awaited Savior King.
  • 1 Peter 2:22-23 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
    • Jesus, fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life. He came to fulfill the Law given by God – something sinful man could never do.
  • Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
    • As the sinless Lamb of God, Jesus could be offered as the once-for-all final sacrifice to secure the only way for a restored relationship between sinful man and our holy God.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
    • Jesus was sacrificed – He was crucified and died for our sins on a Roman cross, was buried in a tomb, and three days later rose from the dead. His resurrection proves His deity and guarantees eternal life to all those who trust in Him for salvation.
  • John 14:2-3 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
    • One way God expresses His love is to patiently wait for people to be reconciled to Him through a relationship with Jesus Christ. He does this despite the evil and wickedness that prevails in our world. But one day Jesus will return to earth and claim His bride (those who love and obey Him). His second coming will mark the starting point of God’s plan for final reconciliation of all things to Himself.
  • Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
    • God the Father has exalted God the Son. Eventually, all creation will bow before Jesus and proclaim that He is Lord, whereby Father God is glorified! The saved will glorify Him for all eternity in heaven. The lost will take the truth about Christ, and their missed opportunity in Him, into their eternal separation from God in hell.

The good news about Jesus Christ
is the greatest gift God has given mankind.

Jesus is the perfect
revelation of God’s love!


If you are a Christian, pray for opportunities to share this precious gift with those who haven’t yet received it.
  • Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
    • The message of the Bible is meant for every single person (see 2 Peter 3:9).

If you do not know or follow Jesus, pray that God will draw you to salvation in Christ by revealing His truth to you.
  • John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
    • Eternal life through Christ is not based on our character, earned by our works, a product of our intellect, or a result of our will. It is a work of God and a gift we don’t deserve (see Ephesians 2:4-5).

Prayer

Thank You, Father, for the birth of Jesus – a moment in history worthy of celebration every single day of the year. But without the context of Biblical scripture, knowledge of His birth alone is insufficient for salvation. Please Father, in Your love, grace and mercy, use the truth of Your Word about sin, hell, death, love, peace and eternal life to draw many to Yourself for permanent and perfect reconciliation. Thanks for all You are and all You do. I pray these things in the name above every name, Jesus. Amen.