God has given man good gifts,He gave unto man -- the gift of physical life, the gift of eternal life, the good things in life (Ramans 6:23; Ephesians 4:8; Luke 11:13).
The scripture testifies to it that every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17; John 3:27).
However over and above all these gifts is "THE GIFT". Christ is God's matchless, incomparable, unspeakable gift to the world (John4:10; 2 Corinthians 9:15).
We have hope of eternal life because He came. We can dream of living and reigning in the millennial kingdom because of His coming. We have an antidote to sin and power for righteous living because of this greatest of gifts. A deep reflection on the value of this gift of God can only excite a grateful acknowledge from us like the apostle Paul. May we forever shout jubilantly with the apostle " Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift"(2 Corinthians 9:15)
UNIVERSAL GUILT AND CONDEMNATION
Romans 3:10-23; Isaiah 64:6; 53:6; Genesis 6:5; 1 kings 8:46; pslam 51:5; Job 14:4; 1 John 1:8; 3:4,5,17,19; James 4:17; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10.
No man however moral stands sinless in the sight of God. It is the indisputable truth of the Bible and well confirmed in human experience that indeed "ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Sin is the transgression of God's law (active disobedience) or the omission of what is godly (passive disobedience) (1 john 3:4; 5:17; Romans 4:15; James 4:17). Every man is guilty of either active or passive disobedience or as in almost every case of the two.
Sin is a universal human condition that cuts across race (Jew or Gentile), educational standpoint (literate or illiterate), economic state (rich or poor), social status (aristocratic or underclass) and other structural artefacts of society. We ALL stand condemned before God.
We are answerable to God for two kinds of sin -- inherited and personal. Since the fall of man, we are sinners by nature. The nature of sin has passed on to us from Adam. We are sinners not primarily because of the sins we commit but because we are sinners by birth.
The actual, personal sins committed are only the outworking of our inherited nature. Specific, actual, personal sins are mentioned in the Bible -- Fornication, adultery, lying, cursing, idolatry, covetousness, lasciviousness, heresy, sedition, stealing, revelling, homosexuality, etc. (Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10; Romans 1:28-32; 2 Timothy 3:1-7).
UNPARALLELED GRACE AND COMPASSION
Act 15:11; Romans 3:24; 5:15; 11:6; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7; Ephesians 2:5-9; 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:14-16; Galatians 3:11; 2 Timothy 1:9,10.
We were all candidates for hell and perdition but God in His compassion has made provision for our acquittal,freedom and salvation. God has shown us unparalleled grace in His provision of the plan of salvation. There is a solution to the universal guilt and condemnation.
Grace is unmerited favour shown to the undeserving and the ill-deserving. Nothing however precious can substitute for this grace in a man's life. What else can a man give in exchange for his soul? The wealth of the world can never redeem a single soul! (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36; Luke 9:25). What matchless and unparalleled grace that God in His compassion has shown unto us. There is no other way into God's salvation except the way and the door of grace. We are justified freely by His grace. We are saved by grace (Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; 5:15; 11:5,6; Titus 2:11; 3:7; Ephesians 2:5-9; 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:14-16). It is the grace of God that brings salvation. Salvation can never come any other way. It is not by religious works or moral living, it is by God's grace.
UNSPEAKABLE GIFT OF CHRIST
2 Corinthians 9:5, Leviticus 17:11; Ephesians 1:7; 1 peter 1:18,19.
We are saved by grace through the unspeakable gift of Christ. GRACE is God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
GRACE is God's Redemption Attained by Christ's Expiation. When we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8). God's love in salvation is manifested to us by the gift of Christ (john 3:16).
Christ is God's unspeakable gift to the world (john 4:19). Atonement was only possible by the shedding of innocent blood (Hebrews 9:23; Leviticus 17:11). Forgiveness can only be effected through sacrificial death. Christ shed His precious blood for us at Calvary to purchase redemption for us. He made God's plan of salvation by grace possible through His vicarious death and sacrifice at Calvary. How we should forever be grateful that He willingly came to die for us. He became our substitute and sin-bearer. He suffered punishment on our behalf. Now we can be restored to fellowship with God because of His death. What a great love He had for us.
Can we do less than to exclaim with the apostle "Thanks be unto God for His Unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15).
Remain Blessed.......
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