Gifts That God Gave Man

I imagine that most of us enjoy receiving a gift from someone else. The fact that another thought so much of us as to spend his time and money makes us feel good inside. The gift might not be very consequential, but as the old saying goes, “it’s the thought that counts.” With all of that being said, God thought so much of mankind that He gave us marvelous gifts. These are not gifts that can be purchased with money. In fact, these gifts are not sold in any store at all. Be careful not to allow yourself to believe that this lessens the value of the gifts! On the contrary, these gifts are the greatest to ever be given.

The first gift to be mentioned is referenced in perhaps the most well known of Bible verses. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The gift of the Son of God is almost too wonderful to describe. Why would God allow His only begotten Son to die on a cross for us? We certainly do not deserve such a gift. In fact, Paul wrote, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:6-8). This gift is so amazing that Paul also wrote, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15). If we started today, and thanked God every day for the gift of His Son, we would never be able to thank Him enough.

The next gifts to appreciate are brought about because of the first gift. Since Jesus died for “sinners”, mankind can receive the gifts of justification, salvation, reconciliation, and atonement. Continuing his thoughts to the Roman brethren, Paul wrote, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be save from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Rom. 5:9-11). Justification is the privilege of being as if I had never sinned. I do not receive what I deserve, but rather am able to be blessed with salvation. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Salvation is the blessing of going from lost to saved. Reconciliation is the result of God’s work to bring God and man back together. Atonement is the gift of God being satisfied with us due to the offering of the Lamb of God. Long ago, Moses wrote, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:11). None of these gifts would have been ours without the gift of Jesus. Paul continued his thought by writing, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life” (Rom. 5:12-18).

It would be a shame to reject these marvelous gifts. Yet, many are doing that very thing day by day. I encourage the readers of this article to obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By so doing, you will be able to show your thanks for the gifts that God gave man.