The Unspeakable Gift: Celebrating God's Love and Grace
Summary
On this Christmas Day, we reflect on the profound significance of the words from Isaiah 9:6: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." This day, marked by the exchange of gifts, serves as a reminder of the greatest gift ever given—God's gift of His only begotten Son to the world. This act of divine generosity is unparalleled, surpassing all human expectations and imaginations. While we often anticipate grand displays of power, God's gift came in the form of a humble, helpless baby, born in the lowliest of circumstances. This unexpected manner of giving challenges our notions of greatness and power, revealing the depth of God's wisdom and love.
The gift of Jesus Christ is a testament to God's love, grace, and purpose. It is not a reward for our deeds, nor a return for anything we have given to God. Instead, it is a gift of grace, given despite our unworthiness and sinfulness. This act of grace is a reflection of God's eternal plan, conceived before the foundation of the world, and fulfilled in the fullness of time. It assures us of God's faithfulness to His promises, as He has consistently declared throughout the scriptures His intention to send a Messiah, a deliverer.
As we contemplate this divine gift, we are invited to examine our own responses. Do we recognize our need for this gift? Do we appreciate its immeasurable cost—the sacrifice of the Father and the self-humbling of the Son? This gift offers us salvation, reconciliation, and adoption as children of God, providing not only deliverance from punishment but also the promise of eternal life and glory with Him.
In this season, let us be filled with gratitude and amazement at the unspeakable gift of God. May our hearts overflow with praise as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, the ultimate expression of God's love and grace.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Unexpected Gift: God's greatest gift came in the form of a humble, helpless baby, challenging our expectations of power and grandeur. This teaches us that true greatness often comes in unexpected forms, inviting us to look beyond appearances to see the profound depth of God's wisdom and love. [06:46]
2. Grace Beyond Measure: The gift of Jesus is an act of grace, given not as a reward or in return for anything we have done, but purely out of God's love. This reminds us that God's grace is unearned and undeserved, a favor shown to those who have done nothing to merit it. [17:00]
3. God's Faithfulness: The fulfillment of God's promise to send a Savior demonstrates His unwavering faithfulness. As we reflect on this, we are encouraged to trust in God's promises, knowing that He is true to His word and will fulfill all He has spoken. [22:10]
4. The Cost of the Gift: The gift of Jesus came at an immeasurable cost—the sacrifice of the Father and the self-humbling of the Son. This challenges us to appreciate the depth of God's love and the lengths He went to for our redemption. [28:35]
5. Our Response to the Gift: The way we respond to God's gift reveals much about us. Do we recognize our need for salvation? Do we appreciate the gift's value and cost? Our response should be one of gratitude, amazement, and praise for the unspeakable gift of God. [29:33]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:07] - Introduction to Isaiah 9:6
- [01:45] - The Tradition of Gift-Giving
- [02:55] - God's Gift to the World
- [04:57] - The Surprise of God's Gift
- [06:46] - The Humble Arrival of Jesus
- [09:01] - The Unspeakable Gift
- [12:17] - God as the Giver
- [14:02] - The Grace of God
- [17:20] - God's Purpose and Plan
- [19:57] - God's Faithfulness and Promises
- [24:02] - Our Response to the Gift
- [27:42] - The Cost of the Gift
- [29:33] - The Gift's Provision
- [32:22] - Closing Reflections and Hymn
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 9:6: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given."
- John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of the gift described in Isaiah 9:6, and how does it relate to the theme of Christmas? [01:07]
2. How does the sermon describe the manner in which God's gift was given, and what contrasts are highlighted? [06:46]
3. According to the sermon, what does the gift of Jesus reveal about God's character and intentions? [12:17]
4. What are some of the reactions and responses to God's gift mentioned in the sermon? [24:20]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the unexpected nature of God's gift challenge our understanding of power and greatness? [06:46]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's gift is an act of grace, and how does this impact our view of God's love? [14:02]
3. What does the fulfillment of God's promise to send a Savior tell us about His faithfulness and reliability? [20:44]
4. How does the sermon encourage us to respond to the cost of God's gift, and what does this reveal about our values? [27:58]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you received an unexpected gift. How did it change your perspective on the giver, and how can this experience help you appreciate God's gift of Jesus? [06:46]
2. Consider the concept of grace as described in the sermon. How can you extend grace to someone in your life who may not deserve it, and what impact might this have on your relationship with them? [14:02]
3. The sermon emphasizes God's faithfulness to His promises. Identify a promise from God that you are currently holding onto, and discuss how you can trust Him more fully in this area. [20:44]
4. Reflect on the cost of God's gift. How can you show gratitude for this sacrifice in your daily life, and what specific actions can you take to honor it? [27:58]
5. The sermon challenges us to recognize our need for salvation. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of your need for Jesus in your life, and what steps can you take to grow in your relationship with Him? [26:53]
6. As you celebrate Christmas, how can you ensure that your focus remains on the true meaning of the holiday rather than the commercial aspects? [02:55]
7. Think about someone in your life who may not understand the significance of God's gift. How can you share the message of Christmas with them in a meaningful way? [29:51]
Devotional
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Quotes
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Now those words remind us of what is, after all, from our standpoint as human beings, the most important thing for us to realize on this Christmas Day. This is a day in which it has become the custom for people to give gifts and presents to one another. [00:01:09]
"God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son." That's the whole notion which is emphasized for us in the teaching of the scripture so that all our giving of gifts and receiving of gifts, you see, is but a pale repetition of this unique event when God gave to the world his dear and only begotten son. [00:04:18]
The world always expects some great demonstration of power; it tends to estimate greatness in terms of power and bigness. But when God sends his greatest gift, at first, it's a very small gift, just a little babe and a helpless little babe, the exact opposite, I say, of any great display of military power or pomp or authority. [00:06:23]
The Apostle Paul bursts out and says, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." Words can't describe it. Why? Well, because even God couldn't give a greater gift than the gift he's given. He has given his only begotten son. He has given his dearly beloved Son. He has given the one who was ever with him from all eternity. [00:09:10]
God had planned to give this gift to the world before they ever made the world itself, before the foundation of the world. He planned it. It's the universal teaching of the whole of the Bible. So what we have at Christmas is this tremendous carrying out of what he purposed Before Time. [00:18:09]
God had promised throughout the centuries that he was going to give this gift, and there's nothing more wonderful to me about Christmas than just this aspect of the matter, that here God is keeping his promise. God is fulfilling his word. God is doing what he said he would do. [00:20:30]
The glory and the Marvel of this Christmas is just this, that it is entirely from God's side. We deserve nothing. Indeed, we deserve less than nothing. We deserve punishment, for we've all sinned against God. We've all rebelled against God. We've all turned our back upon God. [00:15:07]
It is all of Grace. It is in spite of us that God sent his only begotten son into the world. God so loved the world that had sinned so grievously against him. It tells us of his love and of his grace in a way that nothing else can do. [00:17:07]
Do you realize the cost of this gift? You like to think of that, don't you? If somebody whom you love has given you a gift, you like to think, "Oh, look at the money he spent or she spent, must think a great deal of me." The cost. Well, just try and think of this. Think of what this gift has cost the Father. [00:27:42]
Here is a gift that saves us, delivers us from punishment, from Hell, From Misery, from Eternal unhappiness outside the life of God. God is giving us free pardon, deliverance from the punishment we deserve. But look at it positively. He reconciles us to himself through this gift. [00:29:54]
We are given New Life, a new nature. We are adopted as children of God. We are made heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ, so that through this gift, we are able to see beyond this world, beyond this life, through death, beyond it all to the glory Everlasting that is coming. [00:30:42]
Does this unspeakable gift of God fill you this morning with gratitude, with amazement, with praise? Amen. Let us sing this great and glorious Hymn of Charles Wesley, hymn number 84, "Hark the herald angel sing, glory to the newborn King." [00:32:22]
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