The Unspeakable Gift: Christ's Infinite Love for Humanity

Paul had been boasting of the liberality of the Corinthians, and he somewhat feared that by their delay he might be made ashamed. He seemed almost alarmed that he had said too much about their gifts. He could speak upon that subject and say all that should be said, but he felt that he could not describe the liberality of God. The gifts of the Corinthians were such as he could speak of, but when he thought of what God had given he could only cry thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. [00:03:39]

The love which is seen in Jesus is inconceivable, infinite, unspeakable. During this meditation I desire to aid you as the Holy Spirit aid me, for in my case the power to speak of this unspeakable gift must itself be a gift. I trust it shall be given me in the selfsame hour what I shall speak. We will first consider that Christ Jesus is the gift unspeakable, but we are not going to be silent because of this for our second head is Christ Jesus is a gift to be very much spoken of. [00:04:40]

The church has produced thoughtful scholars, whom it is called divines and described as eminent theologians. From these teachers we have no doubt received much help in the exposition of the word, and yet if we put them all together they have never been able to unfold to us the entire meaning of the gift of the Son of God to men. The devout and studious have themselves cried out oh the depths but they have not pretended to fathom this abyss of mystery. [00:06:44]

The cross is not only a school but a hospital. The crucifixion not only reveals man's evil but provides a remedy for it. Christ is not merely a lesson but a gift, a gift unspeakable. Some of our brethren dwell very much, perhaps none too much, upon the general aspect of Christ's death towards all mankind. It is a grand fact that the human race is spared because Jesus died, and that it is not only reprieved but uplifted from degradation and put in a position to hear messages of mercy which, if believed, will bring salvation. [00:08:33]

Think of the glory of Christ throughout all ages at the right hand of God, and remember that all this was laid aside. What a descent from heaven's majesty to Bethlehem's manger, from the throne of Jehovah to the breast of Mary. Think of the perfect nature of Christ's humanity and its consequent rest in God, and yet he stooped out of his spirit's peace to endure the contradiction of sinners against himself. Think of his infinite perfections and boundless deservings, and of the shameful contempt that was poured upon him. [00:18:29]

Think a while of what you were by nature and what you would have continued to have been had not grace interposed, and what you would have become if Jesus had not been given to save the lost. Ah my brothers and sisters, we are fallen already, but the full results of the fall are not seen on earth. The right result of sin is gathered from the dark region where castaways dwell forever, finally banished from hope, where ring of sabbath bell is never heard, for they rest not day nor night. [00:21:26]

There is first of all the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. We are washed, washed in the blood, clothed in the righteousness of the Son of God, adopted into the family of the eternal, and if children then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. There comes to us by way of adoption all the provision, nurture, education and paternal love which the heavenly Father gives to all the children of his family. [00:23:11]

I would not give much for the man who can at all times fluently talk about the love of God in Christ Jesus. When he feels most his obligations, his heart will check his lips. Utterance belongs not to the deepest emotion. Only believe thou in thy heart that God has given Christ to thee and all that comes with him, and thou will rise from thy bended knees weeping for joy. A sense of sin forgiven through the atoning sacrifice will master thee. [00:25:55]

He is a gift unspeakable. Heaven cannot match him. How can earth describe him? When this gift is best expressed even when the Spirit of God helps men to speak upon it, they yet feel it to be unspeakable. When men sing like poets or write like apostles, they own that the wing of their thought cannot soar to the full height of this grand mystery. They have not even expressed what they have felt, and they have not felt what they inwardly know they ought to have felt in connection with so divine a theme. [00:28:34]

Let us praise God till sleep steeps our senses in a sweet forgetfulness. It is even pleasant to go on singing unto the Lord in the visions of our bed, as if the cords of grateful emotion vibrated after the hand of thought had ceased to play on them. It is good when even this wayward fancy of our dreams wanders towards the well beloved, never rambling outside of holy ground. Let even the fairies of our night dream sing hymns to Jesus, and the cow slipped bells of dreamland harbor imaginings of the fair plant of renown. [00:36:55]

Let us try to lead our families to praise the Lord, bless the Lord till you set the fashion and others bless him with you. Seek out those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and tell them the old old story of Jesus and his love. Thus if you cannot sing more yourself nor praise God more yourself you will have increased his praise by bringing in others to sing with you. See you to this, and let this be henceforth the motto of your lives. [00:47:46]

Oh holy spirit, write this line of gratitude upon the tablets of our hearts. Amen. [00:48:57]