The Return Gift - A Christmas Sermon

Hackensack, New Jersey

December 2016

Matthew 2:11: After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Well Planned

Ephesians 1:4 He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.

Useful/necessary

Philippians 4:16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.

Ephesians 2:8: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Unaffordable

Ezekiel 36:26: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh

Reflection of the relationship

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Sacrificial

Acts 8:20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

Luke 21:1ff

Hebrews 8:3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.

Photo by Rodion Kutsaev on Unsplash