The Gift Of God

Last week we dealt with the prophetic aspect of Christmas

+ And I hope we have a better appreciation for how amazing that is

+ For God to give so many specific prophecies about His coming Messiah

+ And for every single one which has already been fulfilled to be 100 % accurate

And how wonderful and special it was too

+ Since I truly believe God was just so excited about this plan of salvation which He had devised

+ And He so very much longed to see it come to pass

+ That He wanted to repeatedly emphasize Messiah was coming

+ And finally! Finally when He came

+ God could allow the angels of Heaven to cry out that great Good News

+ Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Well, I don’t suppose it takes anyone by surprise that this week we are looking at another aspect of Christmas = The aspect of "gifts"

+ In our special offering we already re-iterated the very famous point = John 3:16

+ As well as the equally famous Biblical principle

+ 1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

+ And so we respond to God’s gift by receiving Him

+ And hopefully giving back with all our heart = Soul = Mind = Strength

+ And responding to God’s gift by giving our selves back to Him

+ That’s what I want to speak about today

What do you expect when you give a gift?

+ You expect that gift to be received = Appreciated = Hope it’s a blessing

+ And you expect the gift to be used in way intended

+ A few years ago I gave my wife a new coat for Christmas

+ She needed one = I wanted her to have a nice coat

+ Look nice = keep her warm and dry

+ I wasn’t 100 % sure if she was going to like it

+ But if she did = I fully expected her to wear it = And she did (Amen!)

What if she hadn’t? = What if she put it in closet and never took it out again?

+ I would wonder what’s the problem

+ Doesn’t fit? = Don’t like color, style? = Defective?

+ Identify the problem = Correct it = Why?

+ Because in giving a gift I really want to be a blessing

+ And I will know I have been if the gift is received with joy = AND USED

Well, now = John 3:16a = Jesus is God’s gift to us

+ And = John 3:16b = Clearly His intention for that gift to be received with joy

+ Clearly God wants to bless humanity

+ But just HOW / WHEN / WHERE is that gift supposed to be used?

At the end of our text for today = Col. 1:15-17

+ One of the classic places in Scripture you would use to show Jesus is the gift God intended = How? = Why?

+ (Hearkening back to last week) = Prophetically = Is. 7.14 = Is. 9:6-7

+ Now consider our text = [15] = "Who" from "In whom" [14]

+ From "his dear Son" [13] = Who’s Son? = [12]

+ Really the God of the OT = And the Lord Jesus Christ? = [1.1-2 / 3-4]

Now notice something with me = [17] ends with period

+ End of a sentence = Notice where that sentence BEGINS = [9]

+ One whole long thought that ends with Jehovah Jesus

+ What I want to suggest is that this passage helps us understand HOW / WHEN / WHERE / ETC the Gift of God is supposed to be used by us

+ Let’s spend a few moments examining the text and see for ourselves

[9] "For the cause we also" = What cause? = Already saw in [1-4]

+ What Paul discusses in his salutation and opening paragraph

+ He rejoices in the salvation the Colossians have found [4]

+ And are enjoying [5-8]

+ And isn’t that where we’ve stated we begin, also?

+ God’s given a Gift = His Son = Receiving Him is Salvation

All right = So what do we do with the Gift of God once we’re saved?

+ I believe God tells us through Paul = [9]

+ Once we’re saved God desires us to "be filled...his will" = Why?

First = So that we will know how to represent Him to the lost = "in all wisdom"

+ And how to interact with other Christians = "and spiritual understanding"

+ Then = "That...pleasing" [10] = So our walk = Conversation = Deportment

+ The way we live for others to see = Will be "worthy of the Lord"