2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.



Introduction

I heard of a story about the stingiest man in the world. This stingy man went Christmas shopping, but everything he saw was too expensive for him. But finally, he found a $50 vase that was on sale for only $2, that’s because the handle had been broken off. But he still bought it and asked the salesman to ship it by mail so that his friend would think he had paid $50 for it and that the vase had been broken during shipment. Then one week after Christmas, he received a thank you card from his friend. And the note says, “Thank you for the beautiful vase, it was so nice of you to gift wrap each piece separately.”  Ooops.

Aren’t you glad that our God is not a stingy Giver? Our God is a great Giver. He is a gracious Giver. He is a generous Giver. He is a constant Giver. He gives everything we need. He gives us life, health, food, family, friends, jobs, sun, water, air, etc. But the greatest gift God has given us is Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. When He gives, He really gives. When He gives, He gives His best. 

The apostle Paul, in this chapter is teaching the believers in Corinth about giving. 

2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

As he teaches them the principle of collections and offerings, he says, before you put your offering in the offering plate, stop and consider what God in love and grace has given you. Your giving must be motivated and done out of gratitude for what God has done for you, and what He has abundantly and graciously given you. Then Paul closes this chapter with these words, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

The life and service of a true Christian must be motivated by God’s grace and what He has given us. This morning I want us to look at the wonderful gift God has bestowed upon us and my prayer as we contemplate on this gift our hearts would be filled with thanksgiving and praise and adoration resulting into a deeper love and commitment to Christ our Lord.

I - It is an Unspeakable Gift

Unspeakable does not mean you cannot speak or talk about it. It means there are no words to describe it. It is indescribable, that is, no human words can fully describe, no human words can fully explain the wonder of it. Even the great apostle John was overwhelmed with this love. Listen to what he wrote in 1 John 3:1, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not”. The love of God, the gift of God is a gift beyond description, beyond comprehension. The idea is that God’s gift of His Son to the world surpasses all the other gifts. As someone has said, “You see what Paul was saying is I have seen gifts of all kinds and I must conclude that there is one that excels them all, one that surpasses and bypasses, overshadows and overwhelms exceeds and eclipses them, one that outdoes and outshines, one that is like no other in quality and character, nature and uniqueness, beauty and splendor and that is God’s unspeakable gift of His Son Jesus Christ”.

II - It is an Unexpected Gift

God’s gift of His Son is not only unspeakable gift, but it is also unexpected gift. The first Christmas was full of surprises. It is true that it was prophesied years ago that the Messiah would come, but the way He came was unexpected. God did something we would not expect. Who would have thought that God Himself would come down and deliver His gift? Who would have thought that God would deliver Himself as gift in the form of a tiny, helpless baby?

Just look at the way Christ was born. He was born not in a big city like Athens or Rome, but in a little town called Bethlehem, then wrapped in a swaddling cloth (burial cloth), laid in a manger (a smelly feeding trough designed for cows and goats and horses to feed from) because there was no room in the inn.

Then look at the recipients of the glorious announcement of His birth. In the first Christmas night, the most important news in the history of Bethlehem was announced and the recipients were not to the high and mighty kings nor to the well-educated Scribes, nor to the religious Pharisees. The recipients of the most important news were the most unlikely people—the poor and lowly shepherds. The recipients of the glorious announcement of His birth were the dirty, smelly, uneducated, despised shepherds. Truly this unspeakable gift is also an unexpected gift and given in an unexpected way.

III - It is an Undeserved Gift

God’s gift of His Son is not only unspeakable and unexpected gift, but it is also undeserved gift. When you and I give gifts on Christmas, it usually has nothing to do with grace. We give gifts because they are family members, or because they are our co-workers, or because they gave us gifts last year. But God’s gift to us is completely different. He gives this unspeakable and unexpected gift to the undeserving. 

When did He deliver this unspeakable, unexpected, and undeserve gift? While we were yet ungodly, while we were yet without strength, while we were yet His enemies, and while we were yet sinners Christ died for us? Just think about it. God was rightly angry with us. We deserved nothing but His wrath and punishment and judgment. If God sent every one of us to hell, it would be just and right. And yet, God gave us what we did not deserve. He gave us His beloved and only begotten Son. 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

His Son gave His life that we might have life. What a gift! 

IV - It is an Unearnable Gift

God’s gift to us is not only unspeakable gift, unexpected gift, undeserved gift, but it is also unearnable gift. That is, you cannot work for this gift. You cannot buy this gift. You cannot afford this gift. You and I cannot place a value on this gift? How much is this gift? What is it worth?

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

All the riches in the world, all the riches in the universe cannot pay for this gift. This is the very reason this gift is given for free. It is given for free not because it is worthless, but it is given for free because it is priceless. It cannot be bought.

Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2: Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

You and I are spiritually broke, we are all spiritually bankrupt, and so, God invites us to come without money and without price. Take the gift freely. Don’t try to earn or work for this gift, just receive the gift by faith. It is offered as a free gift. It is given as a free gift.

V - It is an Unopened Gift

Now, God’s gift to us is not only unspeakable gift, unexpected gift, undeserved gift, and unearnable gift, but it is also, sad to say in many lives, it is an unopened gift. Just imagine that you bought, wrapped, and gave me a gift five Christmases ago and later discovered that the gift is still unwrapped, untouched, and unopened. How sad would you be, if you found out after all these years you discovered that the gift you gave me is still sitting on a shelf, untouched, and unopened. You would be sad and disappointed, right?

But even more sad, that’s exactly how the gift of God is, in the lives of many. This unspeakable, unexpected, undeserved, and unearnable gift is still an unopened gift to many. A vast number of people are like the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ days when they would not go to Bethlehem to see the newborn King. Oh, they knew where the Messiah was to be born, but they were not interested. They were content and busy with their religious activities and ceremonies, but they have no time for the Messiah. In doing so, they missed out on receiving and opening the greatest gift of all—this unspeakable, unexpected, undeserved, and unearnable gift. May it never be so in our lives. May we receive and open this great and glorious gift.

Closing Thoughts

How shall we respond to God for His unspeakable gift to us?

To those who have not received God’s unspeakable gift yet

Receive the gift by faith.

John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11: He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

In verse 14 we are told, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth”.

God came down to deliver His gift. God delivered Himself as gift in the form of a tiny, helpless baby. He took the human form so that He could offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. That precious gift was nailed to a cross, died the sinner’s death, but rose again on the third day, and now in Heaven offering the gift of eternal life to those who would receive and believe in Him. This is what we are told in 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”.

To those who have receive God’s unspeakable gift

God has given me His good and perfect gift. Now what can I give Him in return?

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Give Him thanks. Give Him your wholehearted devotion. Don’t give Him your leftovers. Give Him your time, talent, and treasure.

Perhaps poet Christina Rossetti phrased it best in the carol we know as “In the Bleak Midwinter”.

What can I give him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

What can I give Him? I must give Him my heart!

God bless you all and have a blessed Christ-centered Christmas!

AMEN!