Heaven's Unspeakable Gift
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Introduction: This morning, I said the Word of God mentions the word "unspeakable" three times:
- 2 Corinthians 9:15, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable Gift."
- 2 Corinthians 12:4, "How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."
- 1 Peter 1:8, "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."
I also said that, in these verses, we find God's unspeakable Gift, His unspeakable Words, and our unspeakable joy.
- God's unspeakable Gift is Jesus. The fact that God gave Jesus, leaves us unable to declare its wonder.
- God's unspeakable Words were too sacred to divulge.
- Our unspeakable joy is joy so full it defies description.
This evening, I want to emphasize God's unspeakable Gift, Jesus. Notice the words of the Saviour concerning Himself as the Gift given by God, "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." (John 4:10)
Paul was obviously referring to Jesus when he called Him God's "unspeakable Gift." Paul would oft break out into thanksgiving for Jesus in the midst of his writings.
- "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! ...For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." (Romans 11:33, 36)
- "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57)
- "To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Galatians 1:5)
- "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17)
Why is Jesus, the Gift of God, unspeakable? Why are we unable to declare His wonder?
1. Jesus left Heaven and came to earth to show us the way to Heaven. - Isaiah 9:6
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
- Because man had sinned, he was alienated from God.
- However, Jesus made a way to Heaven. In fact, His way is the only way! "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:3)
2. Jesus lived to die that I might live. - John 10:10
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
- If Jesus had not ever lived, I would only be destined to die without Christ.
- If Jesus had not ever died, I would never have an opportunity to live eternally.
- One of the reasons Jesus came was to give His life...for me! Mark wrote, "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)
3. Jesus became poor that we might be made rich. - 2 Corinthians 8:9
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
- No, not earthly riches, but the riches found only in Jesus.
- Jesus left the splendors of Heaven and the fellowship of His Father to pay for our sins with His own blood.
* He, Who knew no sin in Heaven, became sin's sacrifice for us on earth.
* He, Who knew no poverty in Heaven, became poor for us on earth.
* He, Who knew no loneliness in Heaven, was forsaken by His own Father for us on earth.
* He, Who knew no need in Heaven, became needy for us on earth.
* He, Who knew no separation in Heaven, was separated from all that was in Heaven for 33 years for us on earth.
* He, Who knew no hatred in Heaven, was hated of men on earth.
- Oh, what Jesus gave up for us that we might have riches in Glory by Him!
4. Jesus was forsaken by God that I might be accepted by Him. - Matthew 27:46
"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
- Forsaken! What an awful thought! It means that the Father in Heaven abandoned, deserted, and left Jesus in straits. Jesus was left helpless, totally abandoned, and utterly forsaken on that cruel Roman cross.
- When Jesus bled and died on Calvary, He did more than die a martyr for His faith. He actually became sin's sacrifice that purchased my pardon, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- When Jesus died, His death satisfied the Father, and I was accepted by the Father in Jesus, "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1:6)
- Without Jesus, the Father in Heaven would never accept me or any other sinner on earth. Jesus made a way to Heaven that caused Him to be forsaken of His Father.
5. Jesus was raised from the grave that I might have victory over it. - Isaiah 25:8
"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it."
- Paul was looking forward to life after death. He knew that the grave could not hold him, because the grave could not hold Jesus, "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:51-57)
- The truth is, if I die before Jesus returns, I will be raised from the grave incorruptible just as Jesus was.
- I'm looking forward to Heaven!
I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever man may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him He's always near.
This world is not my home,
I'm just a passin' through.
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door,
And I can't feel at home in this world any more.
Oh, Lord, You know I have no friend like You
If Heaven weren't my home,
Then Lord what would I do?
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door,
And I can't feel at home in this world any more.
Just over in Glory Land,
We'll live eternally.
The saints on every hand
Are shouting victory.
Their songs of sweetest praise drift back from Heaven's shore,
And I can't feel at home in this world any more.
Conclusion: The songwriter said,
He came from Heaven to earth to show the way.
From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay.
From the cross to the grave,
From the grave to the sky,
Lord, I lift your name on high!
Is it any wonder that Jesus is referred to as God's unspeakable Gift? Even with all He has done, it is nigh impossible to fully declare His wonder and glory. Let us be grateful today for God's unspeakable Gift...Jesus!
