The Gift of Sacrifice

This is the second sermon in a Christmas series entitled The Perfect Gift. I preached this sermon on December 7.

Text: John 3:16

Introduction: Last week we saw the God loves the world and today we see that God gives the perfect gift to this world he loves. What is the nature of God’s gift? We must understand that this gift is precious, God’s gift is costly, God’s gift is unique, God’s gift is not some trinket or trifle, God’s gift is the greatest gift of all. We cannot overstate the significance of God’s gift. Many gifts we give are often insignificant, you go to a party at work and they say bring a gag gift, you get with family and say bring a $10 gift. Just a little something, something easy to pick up, many times with little thought or planning. Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with those types of gifts, but that isn’t the nature of God’s gift. Henry Taylor wrote “He who gives what he would as readily throw away, gives without generosity; for the essence of generosity is in self-sacrifice.” Mother Teresa said “If you give what you do not need, it isn't giving.” God’s gift came at the greatest cost, at the greatest sacrifice! And God gave the gift of his son just for you, with your name on it. And how dare we turn up our nose at that gift? How dare you reject that gift? Christian how dare we treat the greatest gift as insignificant? Do we really understand what God gave?
Some say that Jesus was just a good moral man, a philosopher, a good teacher, a revolutionary figure, a misunderstood man. But that is not what God gave, What did God give?
Some said Jesus was a prophet…

Not Just a Prophet, but the Word
Prophets spoke the word of God, they spoke the message that God would give, but their message was only part of God’s revelation, no one prophet ever spoke the complete revelation of God. But Jesus was not the prophet, he is the complete revelation of God, the living Word of God! - See John 1:1-5, 14
What did God give? Some said Jesus was a king...

Not Just any King, but the King of Glory
Of course the wise men came searching for the king of the jews, not sure if they ever understood the nature of Jesus kingship. Of course the OT prophesied the kingship of Jesus, Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder…
Even the disciples and other followers of Jesus expected a king to rule over them and throw off the rule of the Romans. When he entered Jerusalem on the donkey, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. - See Philippians 2:5-11
What did God give? Some say a judge...

Not a Judge, but a Savior
See John 3:17-21
-There is no condemnation in Christ! - See Romans 8:1-4
What did God give? Some say an angel...

Not an Angel, but His only Son
See Hebrews 1:1-14

Have you ever considered your own value to the Lord? What was the cost of the gift that God gave, the cost of giving his only Son? It was his shed blood and death on the cross! The scripture tells us that you are bought at a price! (1 Cor 6:20)
1 Peter 1:18-19 18: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19: But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: