God's Christmas Gift - Part Iii Series

Sermon: December 9, 2001

Title: The Gift Of God – Part III

Text: Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Introduction:

There is so much that can be said or written about this glorious gift come down from heaven. John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. This is the theme of many a song. If not for this gift, there would be nothing to sing about.

It is the gift of God that makes life worth living and it is He that puts the song of joy in our souls.

Illustration:

He Keeps Me Singing - music by Luther B. Bridgers

Bridgers wrote this hymn after a tragic fire killed his wife and three sons.

There’s within my heart a melody Jesus whispers sweet and low: Fear not I am

with thee, peace be still, In all of life’s ebb and flow.

Chorus: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest name I know, Fills my every longing,

Keeps me singing as I go.

All my life was wrecked by sin and strife, Discord filled my heart with pain, Jesus

swept across the broken strings, Stirred the slumbring chords again.

Feasting on the riches of His grace, Resting neath His sheltering wing, Always

looking on His smiling face, That is why I shout and sing.

Though sometimes He leads through waters deep, Trials fall across the way,

Though sometimes the path seems rough and steep, See His footprints all the

way.

Soon He’s coming back to welcome me Far beyond the starry sky; I shall wing

my flight to worlds unknown, I shall reign with Him on high.

Last week, we talked about this indescribable gift of God being unending in its availability, unequaled in its cost, unmistakable in its claims, and unparalleled in its influence.

This gift of God to a lost and dying world is a gift that will keep on giving. The usefulness of this gift will never be exhausted. This is a gift good for whosoever will accept it. This is a gift good every day of life and most precious in the time of death. This is a gift that no one should ever be without. Even though there is an abundant supply, there are many who refuse God’s gift of love.

Today, we want to understand that this most precious gift of God is unmerited by those who receive it, unobstructed by many who deny it, unlimited in its benefits, unobtainable but by faith, and unstoppable in its power to save.

I. The Gift Of God Is Unmerited By Its Recipients.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

~A. Salvation is not merited, it is a GIFT of God!

~~1. The word for "GRACE" (in the Greek) is "Charis."

~~2. The word for "GIFT" (in the Greek) is "Charisma." (The very root meaning of the word

GRACE is GIFT.

Illustration: A Definition GRACE IS EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING TO THOSE WHO DON’T DESERVE ANYTHING Our Daily Bread, Sept.-Nov. 1997, page for October 31

~B. Salvation is God responding to man’s greatest need - sin.

Illustration:

If we had needed information, God would have sent a teacher. If we had needed technology, God

would have sent a scientist. If we had needed knowledge, God would have sent a philosopher. If we

had needed money, God would have sent a philanthropist. If we had needed pleasure, God would

have sent an entertainer. But we needed salvation, and God sent a Savior, and His name is Jesus.

~~1. He gave the greatest Person, Jesus Christ.

~~2. He make the greatest sacrifice.

~~3. He gave us the greatest gift - eternal life.

~C. Salvation is God’s promise of eternal life.

~~1. Sin is what keeps us from God and an eternity with him. Romans 3:23 “all have sinned and fallen