The Unspeakable Gift

THE UNSPEAKABLE GIFT

2 Cor. 9:15

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: CHRISTMAS JOKES

1. I heard about a dad recently who suggested that his family get him a gift that everyone could get something out of. So they did ­ they bought him a new wallet!

2. It’s not easy to know what to buy your spouse, is it? One husband asked his wife what she wanted for Christmas. She said, “Just surprise me!” So he did. At 3:00 a.m. on Christmas Day, he leaned over in bed and shouted, “Boo!”

B. TEXT

“Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift” 2 Cor. 9:15.

C. THESIS

1. The occasion of this statement was the gift of the Corinthians to the poor believers in Judea. It was undoubtedly meager, by earthly standards, but in many ways it reflected God’s divine gift of Christ to us. It was the result of love. It was sacrificial. It had value. It would be a blessing when received.

2. So we’re looking at the Unspeakable Gift, the Gift of Jesus. He was a Gift that came from Unspeakable Love, which involved Unspeakable Sacrifice, and had an Unspeakable Effect on us.

3. God’s Unspeakable Gift...

I. COMES FROM UNSPEAKABLE LOVE

A. HOW COULD GOD COMMUNICATE HIS LOVE?

1. When God looked at our confused world nearly 2,000 years ago. He saw Roman soldiers marching in the streets; He saw people looking for peace & meaning & depth in life, and He wanted so urgently to communicate His love. But how? "How shall I communicate my love?”

2. “If I appear IN PERSON -- in all my glory, they’ll be frightened, they’ll be scared away. They will never feel that they can come to Me & talk with Me. They’ll be much like Moses who stood on the mountain & took off His shoes because he was on holy ground."

3. "IF I SPEAK, if they hear the thunder of my voice, they may never grasp the words of my love. IF I SEND DOWN ARMIES OF ANGELS, perhaps they will not know how to respond. Maybe they will never be able to experience my love."

4. GOD SAID, “I KNOW! I WILL SEND A BABY! Babies aren’t threatening. Babies don’t frighten anyone. Babies are so tender & soft & helpless. Maybe they will hold the baby in their arms. Maybe they will hear the gentle sighs of the baby. Maybe they will experience my love if I send a baby."

5. So in the fullness of time, God sent His only begotten Son, as a baby. What unspeakable love!

B. “SO GREAT A SALVATION...”

1. God sending His Son for us didn’t originate from a human scheme. God’s thoughts are too far beyond us. Humans have devised many ways to save themselves from sin – good works, religion, philosophy or morality – but none of them work. They are like trying to rescue a drowning man with a rope that is too short.

2. Notice that God must save us Himself. ONLY A REDEMPTION ORIGINATING OUTSIDE OF THE REALM OF SIN COULD SAVE US! That’s why the Virgin Birth is essential.

3. The greatest expression of love in the universe was when God gave up His only genetic Son to die for us! “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8. Paul said, “Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know -- beyond comprehension -- but I pray that you will be able to know that love” Eph. 3:19, EXB.

4. Christ died for us while we were still enemies of God: when we didn’t love Him, didn’t serve Him, and were opposed to the holy standard He represents.

5. It was a costly gift. It cost Jesus His life in heaven. It cost Him shame and spitting, abuse and torture, and finally, it cost Him a cruel and inhuman death on the Cross.

6. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. And you are my friends...” John 15:13. It was an Unspeakable Love!

II. INVOLVES UNSPEAKABLE SACRIFICE

1. Whatever human traits we possess, God possesses them in heightened form. Why? Because we’re made IN HIS IMAGE, that is, we are similar to Him.

2. So if we experience a finite love, God experiences a love that is infinite and perfect in degree. And if we experience sadness, suffer loss, and feel pain, God also has these feelings, except in infinite proportion.

3. That God – as the Being of all power – would willingly subject Himself to suffering, sadness, and loss is one of the most shocking truths in the universe. None of US – having all power – would be willing to do such a thing; but God did.