The divine Christmas (Christ-ALWAYS) gift!
For Christians, the sacrifice of Jesus is considered the ultimate, most meaningful gift, often described as an “unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15) that guarantees eternal life. It is viewed as the supreme expression of love, where Jesus, being sinless, took on the penalty of death in place of humanity.
Key aspects of this gift include:
- A “Once and For All” Sacrifice: Unlike Old Testament animal sacrifices, Jesus’ death was a single, sufficient act that paid for all sins, past, present, and future.
- The Guarantee of Eternity: The sacrifice bridges the separation between God and humanity, offering a free gift of eternal life that cannot be earned by works, but only received by faith.
- The Ultimate Love: It is defined as the highest form of love—laying down one’s life for others, even while they were still sinners.
- A Completed Task: With the words “It is finished,” Jesus declared that the work of salvation was fully accomplished.
This gift is seen as unreturnable and something that keeps on giving, ensuring that believers are sealed in Him forever.
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (NKJV/NIV), concludes Paul’s discussion on generous giving by pointing to Jesus Christ as the ultimate, divine gift. It highlights that God’s gift of salvation and His Son is too profound for words, serving as the supreme motivation for Christian gratitude and generosity.
Key Context and Meaning
- Context: The verse ends a section (2 Cor 8-9) where Paul encourages the Corinthian church to be generous in their financial support for needy believers in Jerusalem.
- The “Indescribable Gift”: While some interpretations suggest this refers to the grace of giving or the gospel itself, it most commonly refers to Jesus Christ, His sacrifice, and the resulting salvation.
- “Indescribable” (Unspeakable/Inexpressible): The Greek word anekdiēgētos suggests a gift that is beyond human capacity to fully describe, calculate, or adequately thank God for.
- Response to Giving: Paul uses this verse to pivot from encouraging human giving to praising God’s divine giving, implying that all earthly generosity is a response to God’s ultimate grace.
The divine Christmas (Christ-ALWAYS) gift is the person of Jesus Christ, whose birth, life, atonement, and resurrection offer the eternal, daily gifts of salvation, grace, and unconditional love. This, the ultimate gift from God, is not merely for the Christmas season but is available to humanity every day of the year.
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- The Gift of Salvation: Jesus took on human form to bear the sins of mankind, providing an escape from sin and shame.
- A Daily Gift: Christ’s presence and grace are offered continuously, not just during the holiday season, acting as a constant source of comfort, guidance, and transformation.
- The Ultimate Sacrifice: The true meaning of Christmas is God giving Himself to humanity, a “one-sided” gift of love that we cannot repay, only receive.
- Eternal Life: Through the atonement of Jesus, the gift of immortality is extended to all.
This “inexpressible gift” invites individuals to experience light and hope daily, transforming the season into a reflection of God’s grace.