God’s Gift
Jesus is our greatest gift (Ephesians 2:8-10) “for by grace are you saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not of works, less any man should
boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God
has before ordained that we should walk in them”. You see in verse 10 that God wants
us to walk in Christ. Romans 6:3-4 “Know you not that so many of us as were baptized
into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by
baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life”; and I John 2:6 “He that says he
abides in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked”.
John 1:12 “but as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on His name”. What should be our attitude toward our
gift? Gifts are gratefully received when they are wisely used. Life depends on what we
do with Jesus. Jesus have been given to us to redeem us back to God (II Corinthians 5:
18) “and all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and
has given to us the ministry of reconciliation”. If we receive Him, we must do it whole
heartedly, not in word only. To receive Him is to acknowledge who He is, and except
Him as Lord of our lives. There are many benefits to receiving Him, Romans 5:15-18
“but not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many
be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by One man,
Jesus Christ, has abounded to many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the
gift, for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences
to justification. For if by one man’s (Adam) offence death reigned by one, much more
they which they receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign
in life by One, (Jesus Christ). Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon
all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of One, the free gift came upon
all men to justification of life”. Even though the free gift came upon all men to
justification of life, the way to receive it is to receive Jesus as Lord. God expects us to
use the gifts He’s given us (Ephesians 1:3-5) “Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in
Christ. According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Having predestinated us to the
adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His
will”. Again Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us
all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”
Using gifts selfishly indicates a lack of appreciation for the giver. The apostle Paul
states that these gifts are to used “to equip God’s people to do His work and build up
the church, the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). To use these abilities for selfish
purposes is to rob the church and fellow believers of strength. As you use the gifts God
has given you, be sure you are helping others, not just yourself.
Hebrews 2:3 warns us “how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation, which at
the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard
Him”. The Bible says “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord”; so by not receiving Him, anyone is heading for death. II
Corinthians 9:15 says “thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift”. This gift is given to
every one (Ephesians 4:7) “but to every one of us is given grace, according to the
measure of the gift of Christ”.
We will give an account to God for how we have used our gifts. (1) We have to share
our Master’s interest in the kingdom. (2) We have to trust our Master’s intentions. (3)
Our concern must not be only for our self. (4) We must use the gift that God has given
to us. In Luke 19:11-27 this story showed Jesus’ followers what they were to do during
the time between Jesus’ departure and His second coming. Because we live in that time
period, it applies directly to us. We have been given excellent resources to build and
expand God’s kingdom. Jesus expects us to use these talents so that they multiply and
the kingdom grows. He asks each of us to account for what we do with His gifts. While
waiting the coming of the kingdom of God in glory, we must do Christ’s work. Like the
king in this story, God has given you gifts to use for the benefit of His kingdom. Do you
want the kingdom to grow? Are you as concerned for others’ welfare as you are for
your own? Are you willing to use faithfully what He has entrusted to you?
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: Sept 29, 2006