Appreciating God's Wonderful Gift

In this Thanksgiving season, we have many gifts from God that we can be thankful for. There is one gift that surpasses all others. The apostle Paul speaks of this gift in our text. Jesus also spoke of this gift in John 3:16.

What makes this gift so amazing?

I. THE GENEROUS GIVER OF THE GIFT MAKES IT WONDERFUL.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

(John 3:16)

A. He is the Lord of creation.

(Genesis 1:1)

Genesis 1:1 NLT

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

(Colossians 1:16 – 17)

Colossians 1:16–17 NLT

16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

1. In all of his busyness, he has time and concern enough to offer us his greatest gift.

B. He is the offended one.

(Psalm 51:4)

Psalm 51:4 NLT

4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.

1. All sin is against God.

· When I disobeyed my father, it would've been fruitless to say "Dad, don't take it personal."

II. THE GREAT SCOPE OF THE GIFT MAKES IT WONDERFUL.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

(John 3:16)

(Note what is involved in this gift):

A. Grace

(Ephesians 2:8 – 9)

Ephesians 2:8–9 NLT

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

1. Hymn lyrics:

"Grace That Is Greater Than All Our Sin"

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide, what can avail to wash it away! Look! there is flowing a crimson tide; whiter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe: you that are longing to see his face, will you this moment his grace receive?

Refrain:

Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin.

B. Forgiveness

(Ephesians 1:7)

Ephesians 1:7 NLT

7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

(Colossians 2:13)

Colossians 2:13 NLT

13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.

1. The psalmist underscored the joy of forgiveness. (Psalm 32:1)

Psalm 32:1 NLT

1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!

C. Cleansing

(1 John 1:9)

1 John 1:9 NLT

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

(Psalm 51:2)

Psalm 51:2 NLT

2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.

1. All sin is cleansed away by the blood of Christ.

D. Assurance

(Hebrews 10:22)

Hebrews 10:22 NLT

22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

(1 John 5:12 – 13)

1 John 5:12–13 NLT

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. 13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

1. Paul testified of his assurance in Christ. (2 Timothy 1:12)

2 Timothy 1:12 NLT

12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

E. Relationship

(1 Peter 1:23)

1 Peter 1:23 NLT

23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

(Romans 8:16 – 17)

Romans 8:16–17 NLT

16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

1. This relationship secures our eternity.

2. This relationship offers fullness of life here.

III. THE GREAT COST OF THE GIFT MAKES IT WONDERFUL.

A. This gift cost God his son.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

(John 3: 16)

1. God had to send his Son to the world to die for sinful men.

(Galatians 4:4)

Galatians 4:4 NLT

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

(Romans 5:8)

Romans 5:8 NLT

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

B. This gift cost the Son his life.

(John 10:15 – 17)

John 10:15–17 NLT

15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. 17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again.

1. The beatings

2. The ridicule

3. The crown of thorns

4. The cross

(Psalm 22:1, 6 – 8, 12 – 15)

Psalm 22:1 NLT

1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?

Psalm 22:6–8 NLT

6 But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! 7 Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, 8 “Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!”

Psalm 22:12–15 NLT

12 My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in! 13 Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey. 14 My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. 15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.

CONCLUSION:

A. God's greatest gift to you and I came at a great cost to both the father and the son.

B. God's greatest gift is offered to every person.

1. It is offered on the basis of surrender, repentance, and faith.

2. You must be willing to surrender yourself will, turn from your sins and place your faith and trust in the finished work of Christ.

* song:

"I Surrender All"

All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.

All to Jesus I surrender, Make me, Savior, wholly Thine; Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Refrain:

I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

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