2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. Undoubtedly the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paid has been speaking of the lesser gifts of saints. Now he rises to God's supreme Gift. Consider - I. THE GIVER. God. Who could give Christ but God? We must not forget that God gave Christ. Many do, and form the erroneous notion that, whilst Christ is their friend, God is their enemy. Redemption is of the whole Deity. "God so loved the world," etc. Note: the Giver was a God (1) unworshipped (2) unserved, (3) unloved, (4) grievously sinned against, (5) defied in the very act of giving. It was whilst we were yet sinners that Christ came to redeem us. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10). II. THE GIFT. 1. A gift. (1) A free gift. Nothing was given in exchange. Men had nothing to give. (2) A voluntary gift. Prompted by Divine compassion and love. (3) An undeserved gift. Men deserved condemnation, not Christ. (4) A continuous gift. Christ is not ours merely for a time. He is ours forever and ever. He is the saint's everlasting inheritance. 2. An unspeakable gift. (1) In value. The most costly of gifts. The pearl of great price. The treasure discovered in the fields of heaven. Who can estimate the value of such a gift as this? If God had given a thousand worlds or all the angelic hosts, he would have given less. (2) In splendour. Consider the graces, powers, and infinite excellences of Christ. His presence made heaven glorious. (3) In efficacy. This gift fully met our need. How fully we yet know not, for now we are looking through a darkened glass. All our known wants are supplied by the Redeemer, and the vast catalogue of wants as yet unknown to us. Through him we are pardoned, cleansed, sanctified, adopted, and through him we shall at last be brought into the great home above. III. THE RECIPIENTS OF THE GIFT. 1. Human beings. Christ was given to the human race, not to the angelic, nor to the merely animal. How greatly honoured is mankind I If Christ was given to men, what a future must be before those who receive this gift! 2. Fallen human beings. Man, "made a little lower than the angels," soon fell much lower, and then the gift came. A marvellous return for man's apostasy! When the cry of humanity was for sternest punishment, Heaven's response was "Jesus of Nazareth." Well may we exclaim, "Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!" (Romans 11:33). IV. APPROPRIATE GRATITUDE. Paul cries, "Thanks be to God;" and well he may. How can we thank God enough for such a gift as this? What would be our state if this gift had not been bestowed? "Love so amazing, so Divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all." Throughout eternity we shall praise God for the gift unspeakable. Now let us praise him with: 1. Lip. Tell out our gratitude. Suppressed praise is indecent. We should desire all the world to know how thankful we are. 2. Heart. The tongue in this matter must be moved by the spirit, or it will not make sweet music in the ear of God. The gift came from the heart of God: let our thanksgiving come from the heart also. 3. Active service. What are we willing to do to show our gratitude? Paul was so subdued by the "unspeakable gift" that he loved to call himself "the slave of Jesus Christ;" and he counted no toil too severe to show his thankfulness. 4. Life. Our whole being and existence should constitute a psalm. This is the true "psalm of life." Every power should be pressed into the service. As this gift is ever the supreme blessing in our life, we should ever be praising God for it. Terrible thought! The unspeakable Gift may be rejected! What unspeakable folly, what unspeakable guilt, what unspeakable condemnation, must follow! - H. Parallel Verses KJV: Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. |
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