God’s Unspeakable Gift! Copyright Norman Geisler 2010

God’s Unspeakable Gift!

The Greatest Gift of All “ And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” ( 1 Timothy 3:16)

The Creator in a Cowshed “This will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Lk. 2:12). The Sovereign became a Servant “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and give Himself a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45). Made Everything but Made Himself Nothing “Who being in the form of God,…made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:6-7). Owned All but Found no Room in an Inn “She brought forth her firstborn son…and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn” (Lk. 2:7). The Creator in a Cowshed “This will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Lk. 2:12). The Sovereign became a Servant “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and give Himself a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45). Made Everything but Made Himself Nothing “Who being in the form of God,…made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:6-7). Owned All but Found no Room in an Inn “She brought forth her firstborn son…and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn” (Lk. 2:7). I. The Nature of the Gift

The Eternal Entered into Time He said, “Before Abraham was I Am” (John 8:58). Yet He was born two thousand years after Abraham. Pure Spirit who Assumed Flesh “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among nations, believed on in the world, and received up into glory” (1Tim. 3:16). The Logos Came into the Cosmos “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us” (Jn. 1:1, 14). The Eternal Entered into Time He said, “Before Abraham was I Am” (John 8:58). Yet He was born two thousand years after Abraham. Pure Spirit who Assumed Flesh “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among nations, believed on in the world, and received up into glory” (1Tim. 3:16). The Logos Came into the Cosmos “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us” (Jn. 1:1, 14).

He was Prince but became a Pauper “He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you might be made rich through His poverty” (2 Cor. 8:9 ). He was Deity but took on Humanity “Since then the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise partook of the same” (Heb. 2:14). He was Creator of Life but Submitted to Death “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). The Light of the World Lay in a Dark Tomb “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12). He was Prince but became a Pauper “He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you might be made rich through His poverty” (2 Cor. 8:9 ). He was Deity but took on Humanity “Since then the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise partook of the same” (Heb. 2:14). He was Creator of Life but Submitted to Death “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). The Light of the World Lay in a Dark Tomb “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12).

Deity Entering Humanity “In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word was with God [Theos], and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.... The Word became flesh [sarkos] and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth…. For God did not send his Son into the world [cosmos] to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (Jn. 1:1, 14; 3:17) Summary: The Logos who was the Theos took on sarkos to enter the cosmos to save us from chaos. “In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word was with God [Theos], and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.... The Word became flesh [sarkos] and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth…. For God did not send his Son into the world [cosmos] to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (Jn. 1:1, 14; 3:17) Summary: The Logos who was the Theos took on sarkos to enter the cosmos to save us from chaos.

The Marvel of the Gift He who is God could become Man Deity could enter the bloodstream of humanity The One who is Eternal could enter time The God “up there” could be “down here” The Immortal could experience the mortal The Unseen could be seen The Invisible God could be visible Man The Life submitted to death for us He who is God could become Man Deity could enter the bloodstream of humanity The One who is Eternal could enter time The God “up there” could be “down here” The Immortal could experience the mortal The Unseen could be seen The Invisible God could be visible Man The Life submitted to death for us

Father Holy Spirit Son Divine Nature Divine Nature God’s Tri-Unity

Father Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Son Human Nature Human Nature Divine Nature Divine Nature God’s Tri-Unity

Father Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Son Human Nature Human Nature Divine Nature Divine Nature God’s Tri-Unity Note: 1) The divine nature did not change when the human nature was added. 2) Jesus didn’t cease being God when He became man. Note: 1) The divine nature did not change when the human nature was added. 2) Jesus didn’t cease being God when He became man.

Why Did Jesus Come? So that: The God “up there” could be “down here.” The One “far away” could be “near.” The Pure Spirit could live in the flesh. The One beyond all Pain could feel our pain. The Unseen One could be seen. The Life could die for us So that: The God “up there” could be “down here.” The One “far away” could be “near.” The Pure Spirit could live in the flesh. The One beyond all Pain could feel our pain. The Unseen One could be seen. The Life could die for us

Why God Came in Human Flesh Man God Because only the God-Man can bridge between God and Man Because only the God-Man can bridge between God and Man Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews

He came to pay a debt He didn’t owe Man God Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews Because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay

Why God Became Man? 2 Cor. 5:21--“For He made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 1John 1:1-2--“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life…we declare to you…that you may have fellowship with…the Father….” Hebrews 4:15--“We have no superhuman High Priest to whom our weaknesses are unintelligible--He Himself has shared fully in all our experiences of temptation, except that He never sinned. Let us therefore approach the Throne of grace with the fullest confidence, that we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in the hour of need” (Phillips trans.). 2 Cor. 5:21--“For He made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 1John 1:1-2--“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life…we declare to you…that you may have fellowship with…the Father….” Hebrews 4:15--“We have no superhuman High Priest to whom our weaknesses are unintelligible--He Himself has shared fully in all our experiences of temptation, except that He never sinned. Let us therefore approach the Throne of grace with the fullest confidence, that we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in the hour of need” (Phillips trans.).

“For God so loved the world….”

II. Our Response to God’s Gift A. Immediately Accepting It “He was in the world, and the word was made through im, and the world did not know Him. He came to is own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the sons of God, even to those who believe in His name.” A. Immediately Accepting It “He was in the world, and the word was made through im, and the world did not know Him. He came to is own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the sons of God, even to those who believe in His name.”

Have You Accepted God’s Gift?

II. Our Response to God’s Gift A. Immediately Accepting It B. Gratefully Thanking Him for It “Thanks be unto God for His indescribable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15). A. Immediately Accepting It B. Gratefully Thanking Him for It “Thanks be unto God for His indescribable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15).

II. Our Response to God’s Gift A. Immediately Accepting It B. Gratefully Thanking Him for It C. Gracious Giving It Back to Him 1. Not of necessity (2 Cor. 9:7a) 2. Cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7b) 3. Generously (2 Cor. 9:5) 4. Sacrificially (2 Cor. 8:9) A. Immediately Accepting It B. Gratefully Thanking Him for It C. Gracious Giving It Back to Him 1. Not of necessity (2 Cor. 9:7a) 2. Cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7b) 3. Generously (2 Cor. 9:5) 4. Sacrificially (2 Cor. 8:9)

We Can’t Out Give God “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You” (1 Chrn. 29:14).

You Can’t Take It With You!

You Can Send It Ahead “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Where You Can’t Lose It Jesus said: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Mat. 6:20).

Behold the Lamb of God!

Father Who³ Who² (Divine Nature) Who¹ What¹ (Son) (Holy Spirit) God’s Tri-Unity What² Human Nature

Father Who³ Who² (Divine Nature) Who¹ What¹ (Son) (Holy Spirit) God’s Tri-Unity