What A Present

It is Christmas time once again and people are diligently searching for the perfect gift to buy. I am not much of a shopper. I like it when I know what it is that I am going to get, just go in and get it, take it to the register and leave. I don’t like looking around trying to figure out what to purchase. Always asking myself will they like it, is it useful, is this really something that should be given as a gift? My wife tells me that I am good at shopping, but I think she just says that to encourage me, so that I will not give up on gift shopping.

I would like to tell you about a gift that I received. It is truely a very special gift. It is a gift which has been received by many others and can be received by as many more who would like it. Though the cost of the gift is enormously expensive, it is free. Free, you can not buy it with money, you can not work to obtain it. The gift is available everywhere, but you can only get it from one place. This very special gift that I am talking about is Jesus the Christ, the only begotten Son of God.

Why is Jesus such a special gift? Because, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." (1Tim1:15).

What did Jesus do that would save sinners? He gave His sinless life as a substitute payment for our sins. 1Pet2:22-24; "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth, who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness- by whose stripes you were healed." 1Cor15:3,4; "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."

Does the substitutionary death of Jesus make payment for the sins of everyone? If your hope, trust, and faith is in Jesus, yes; if in anyone or anything else no. Jn5:24; "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." Jn3:36; "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

What must I do to receive this very special gift? Believe, have faith. Rms10:8-10; "But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

I truely hope and pray that you will receive God’s very special Christmas gift. I also pray that you will find and attend a church that preaches Jesus Christ the Lord of lords and King of kings.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!