Christmas - A Gift Of Love

Christmas: A Gift of Love

Scripture: John 3:16; First Corinthians 13

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

On Friday we will celebrate Christmas, that day of the year when Christians pause and celebrate the birth of Christ. While there are many holidays celebrated in the United States that are specific to the United States, Christmas is not one of them. You see, Thanksgiving is a U.S. holiday. The Fourth of July is a U.S. holiday. President’s Day is a U.S. holiday. Christmas is not a U.S. holiday – it is a holiday celebrated across the world. And while the world has tried to make this celebration as secular as possible, for Christians it’s not about the tree, the decorations, or the gifts. Well, it’s not supposed to be. It’s about remembering that our Savior was born and died for our sins. For Christians, Christmas is the day we celebrate a gift of love that God the Father gave to us because He loves us.

John 3:16 explains that God loved us so much that He chose to give up His Son so He could die on a cross and make it possible for man, to once again, be in a “Father-child” relationship with Him. God created man, but it was man’s decision to separate himself from God. When man made that decision, he could not reunite with God as a child under his own accord or power. Man is incapable of meeting the standards required to be in such a relationship with God and that’s why he is lost until that relationship is established. God in His love for us did two things. First He reached out to Abraham to establish a relationship with him that would act as a temporary bridge for people to be in communion with Him until the final gift came. This bridge remained in place for approximately 18 centuries (1767 years). This bridge required an intermediator to be between man and God (the priests & prophets.) The priests/prophets would come before God on behalf of the people and offer sacrifices for their sins and for the sins of the people. The second thing that God did was send His final gift, His only begotten Son. The second gift replaced the first gift which meant man no longer needed someone to stand before God for him when he sinned. Man could now come to God himself and receive forgiveness. Through His Son man now had personal access to the God the Father that no longer required an intermediator to perform sacrifices on his behalf. That gift was sent because God loved us. I do not want you to miss the importance of this. Jesus made the decision to leave heaven some four thousand years before it actually happened. During that time God continued to reach out to man and putting things in place for man to receive His Son. After establishing the relationship with Abraham that would further prepare the way for Jesus to come, it still took almost 18 centuries for everything to be in place. This is THE example of God’s patience when He had to work through man to get His will accomplished so that He could save us for all eternity. When you think about what He did, He showed us the love He has for us. God’s gift to us was one of absolute pure love. Love is the best gift that can ever be given or received. Nothing can be purchased that will ever replace a simple gift of love. Nothing comes close. Let’s look at what Paul said about love in First Corinthians chapter thirteen.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing. 4Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up. 5Does not behave itself rudely, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, keeps no record of evil. 6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. 7Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see in a mirror dimly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)