"Unto Us, God's Gift - Jesus"

Cornerstone Church December 21, 2008

“UNTO US, GOD’S GIFT - JESUS”

Luke 2:8-14

WHAT IS THE WORST CHRISTMAS GIFT GIVEN AT CHRISTMAS?

According to an American Express survey about Christmas Gifts they found that Fruitcake was chosen most often from a list of “worst” holiday gifts. It received 31% and finished ahead of receiving “no gift at all.”

When asked how to dispose of a bad gift, 30% would hide it in the closet, 21% would return it, and 19% would give it away. This suggests that Christmas Fruitcake might get recycled as a gift for the host of a New Year’s Eve Party!

Resource, Mar/Apr, 1990

WHAT IS THE BEST GIFT EVER GIVEN?

The best Christmas present ever given, in all of the world, would have to be the LORD Jesus Christ, God’s Son for our Salvation! That is mankind’s greatest present ever!

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Cor. 9:15 NIV

The LORD Jesus Christ is God’s indescribable Gift! Every facet of the LORD Jesus Christ is beyond all description!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Greatest Gift and the Greatest News that the world will every hear about and know about.

The Greatest News that the LORD Jesus Christ offers our dying world is the message of salvation! You may have the free gift of eternal life by placing your faith and trust in the Jesus Christ – our Savior!

…for, “Everyone who calls on

the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Rom. 10:13 NIV

Christmas is here once again!

I hope that you have not grown tired of hearing this message! This message of God’s most indescribable gift to mankind, the LORD Jesus Christ – Our Savior!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:8-14 NIV

God’s indescribable gift was a baby, wrapped up, lying in a manger.

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:12 NIV

The humanity and simplicity of our Savior’s incarnation cloaked the true glory of Who He really was! The most exalted Being in all of the universe appeared in human flesh!

John 1:14 NIV The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Isa. 9:6 NIV For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that

will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior

has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

“…a Savior has been born to you;”

His Name is Jesus! The Old Testament name – Joshua. (Joshua = Jehovah Saves) It is the name that the Angel told his earthly father Joseph to give him.

Matt. 1:21 NIV She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Luke 19:10 NIV For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

“…he is Christ the Lord.”

Christ = “The Anointed One” in Greek. In Hebrew it would be the Messiah!

“I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people.”

This message isn’t limited to: race, ethnicity, or social class.

It is a message to Americans as well as a message to all people of the earth no matter what country they live in – even to those living in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran.

Actually the greatest hope for true and lasting peace and liberation for the Afghan and Iraqi people will not come from the USA or from a United Nations Council.

Neither will it come from the false god Allah!

It will come from the LORD Jesus Christ.