"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
-Even though the Christmas celebration is over many of us still have gifts that we have not opened yet.
-Some because there is still family to see.
-Others have maybe overlooked some that are laying under the Christmas tree.
Jesus has gifts for you that may still have lying under the Christmas Tree (A SYMBOL OF CHRISTMAS OR A SYMBOL OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IN US)
I want to call your attention to these gifts today.
I want to speak about;
THE GIFTS OF GOD TO HIS PEOPLE
#1. First gift is; God’s gift of justification.
V.1,"Therefore being justified"(We have been made right in God’s sight")
Charles Swindoll writes: "Justification is the sovereign act of God whereby He declares righteous the believing sinner--while he is still in a sinning state," in other words, while we still sin and have a sinful nature.
-Perhaps you been feeling guilty all year for letting God down.
-For not fulfilling your commitments to Him. "GOD IS THE GOD OF SECOND CHANCES"
-He says; "NO PROBLEM, YOU HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED"
WE KNOW OURSELVES AND SOMETIMES WE JUST KNEED TO BE REMINDED OF GODS FREE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNES.
#2.The second thing is; God’s gift of faith.
"Therefore being justified by faith" (turn bibles to Romans 3:27-30)
-7 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
29 After all, God is not the God of the Jews only, is he? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and there is only one way of being accepted by him. He makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.
What is faith? *Heb.11:1, It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.
#3. The third gift that God wants you to unwrap is; The gift of Peace.
V.1, We have; "The peace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ"
The angels announced to the shepherds; "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14)
? John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
- God wants you to end the year with the peace of God.
The results of the peace of God;
"I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep without fear. (Lev. 26:6)
#4. The gift of "The Grace of God"(God’s favor in your life)
v.2, "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand"
? James 4:6 - But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
-Grace is God’s inclination to give favor to people that He loves and are called according to His purpose even though they don’t deserve it.
-To give good gifts to those who don’t deserve them.
-to those who can never do enough to pay for his grace.
-Grace is learning to trust in Hin regardless of our imperfections because what we receive is not based on our performance but on His.
-Nothing can keep you from getting to God’s presence but yourself.
- Understand that; You have access into His Grace.
-The barrier that existed has been broken
- Jesus tore down the separation.
#5. Unwrap the gift of hope.
"and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed;
If you place your hope on Christ, He will never let you down.
#8. Unwrap God’s gift of love.
"the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost"
-You may feel that no one else loves you.
- You may feel that everyone else has given up on you.
-But one thing that you can always count on is God’s love.
- The love of God is manifested through the finished work of Jesus Christ, *John 3:16
#7. The Holy spirit.
-Is the Spirit of the New birth (THANK GOD FOR THAT!)
".the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
- It is freely given to all who ask.
- He is our comforter and Counselor.
- The teacher.
-The guide.
Along with Him come other gifts that must be unwrapped!,
LOOK AT; (*1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
CLOSING;
How God wants to give to us;
1. He wants to give you Good and perfect things
* James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
2. He wants to be Generous in His giving
*Ephesians 1:3 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
