1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,000 It's Christmas. 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:04,000 It's Christmas. 3 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:08,000 When is Christmas? 4 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,000 What do the kids focus on? 5 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:14,000 What's under the tree, right? 6 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:18,000 And some adults kind of focus on that too, 7 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,000 except that adults sometimes are more focused on 8 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:26,000 what they're going to get people than what they're getting. 9 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:32,000 Sometimes we forget to focus on the greatest gift that was ever given. 10 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,000 You know, I had somebody this morning say, 11 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,000 four gifts? I'm really curious about what the fourth gift is. 12 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,000 Because they automatically think of gold, 13 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,000 frankincense, and myrrh, right? 14 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,000 Well, today we're going to focus on 15 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:54,000 four gifts that were given to us. 16 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,000 Okay? 17 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:02,000 On four gifts that the Father has given us. 18 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:06,000 Now, there's all kinds of gifts that can be given. 19 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:10,000 The ones I really dislike 20 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:14,000 are the ones that people give me because they feel like they're obligated to give me something. 21 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:18,000 It's like, thank you. 22 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,000 You know, don't give me something 23 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,000 because you feel like you're obligated to give me something. 24 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:30,000 Give me something because you want to. 25 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:34,000 Something that you've thought about that you think might please me. 26 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:38,000 Don't give me a basket of fruit. 27 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,000 Really, you know? So there's all kinds of gifts 28 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:46,000 that are given. This morning we're going to focus on 29 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:50,000 gifts that are from the Father's heart. 30 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:54,000 We read it in our scripture reading this morning. 31 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:58,000 And, Grace, I'm glad you read it in a different version 32 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:02,000 because you kind of said something new. 33 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,000 And that was really great. 34 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:10,000 The gifts from the Father's heart, 35 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,000 the ones that come from His heart to us. 36 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,000 Let's go back to our scripture again. 37 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:22,000 It's 1 Corinthians 1.30. 38 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,000 Of Him, the Father, we are in Christ. 39 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,000 His desire 40 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,000 is for us to be in Christ, to be all that we can be. 41 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:38,000 To be His sons and His daughters, 42 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,000 to be subjects of His royal kingdom. 43 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:46,000 His desire is for us, not against us. 44 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,000 His gifts are given to us 45 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:54,000 and they come from the Father's heart. 46 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,000 This business of being in Christ 47 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:02,000 is not our work, by the way. 48 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,000 It is the work of the Father Himself. 49 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,000 Of God we are in Christ. 50 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:14,000 The heart of the Father places us in Christ. 51 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:18,000 He, through the Spirit, inspires us, takes possession of us, 52 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,000 loves us, and places us in Christ. 53 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:26,000 The only condition to that gift 54 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:30,000 is our belief 55 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,000 and our acceptance of that gift. 56 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:38,000 We still have to do our part, of course. 57 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:42,000 Right? Prayer, faith, obedience. 58 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,000 Letting Him do His work in Him. 59 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,000 Sometimes I think the biggest and the hardest 60 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,000 word in the English language is let. 61 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:58,000 Our part is to let Him 62 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:02,000 do His work in us. 63 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:06,000 So often, our human 64 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:10,000 nature rises up against the let. 65 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,000 Somehow we want to do it our own way. 66 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,000 Our job is to let Him do His work. 67 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:22,000 But of God we are 68 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,000 in Christ Jesus. It is His heart, 69 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:30,000 it is His desire that we be in Christ. 70 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:34,000 To accomplish this, God sent us 71 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:38,000 some gifts. Now, there are many, 72 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,000 many, many, many gifts in the Bible 73 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:46,000 that come from the Father. But this text 74 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:50,000 contains four gifts. And that's what 75 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,000 we're going to focus on this morning. 76 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:58,000 He sent Jesus to be wisdom for us. 77 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:02,000 Is that an amazing gift or not? 78 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:06,000 He sent Him 79 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:10,000 to be His righteousness for us. 80 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:14,000 That's gift number two. Gift number three, 81 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:18,000 He sent Him to be His sanctification for us. 82 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:22,000 And gift number four, He sent Him to be 83 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:26,000 redemption for us. 84 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:30,000 Those are four pretty amazing gifts. 85 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:34,000 Jesus became for us 86 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:38,000 wisdom from God. That's the first gift. 87 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:42,000 What man lost 88 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:46,000 in the Garden of Eden is restored to us 89 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:50,000 in Christ. In Him are hidden all the 90 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:54,000 treasures of wisdom and knowledge. If we 91 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:58,000 are in Christ where the Father has placed us, 92 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:02,000 if we abide in Him, all the treasures of His 93 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:06,000 wisdom are available to us. I don't know about you, 94 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:10,000 but that's a pretty big gift. The gift of 95 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:14,000 wisdom. And this is a really good thing since 96 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:18,000 I freely admit I don't have any wisdom of my own. 97 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:22,000 How about you? Do you have any wisdom of your own? 98 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:26,000 I sure don't. I don't have wisdom of my own. 99 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:30,000 But all the treasures of His 100 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:34,000 wisdom are available to me. 101 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:38,000 So if I lack wisdom, what do I need to do? 102 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:42,000 Ask for it. And He'll 103 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:46,000 give it to me. Can't tell you how many 104 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:50,000 times I've failed to do that. 105 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:54,000 Ask Julie, she could probably give you some examples. 106 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:58,000 I know my girls probably didn't think I was very 107 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,000 wise when they were teenagers. You know, oh mom, 108 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:06,000 what does she know anyway? She's old fashioned. She just, yeah, 109 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:10,000 she's not with it. Yeah, well, now she's got 110 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:14,000 teenagers of her own. 111 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:18,000 But just think, the wisdom from God 112 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:22,000 He sent His son 113 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,000 as a helpless baby in a manger, totally 114 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:30,000 dependent on His earthly parents and His heavenly Father. 115 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:34,000 God sent wisdom as a baby. 116 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:38,000 Do you get that? 117 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:42,000 I'm not sure I do. He sent His 118 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:46,000 wisdom in the form of a baby. And so 119 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:50,000 just as He was totally dependent upon Him for life, 120 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:54,000 He was totally dependent on His earthly parents 121 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:58,000 and on His heavenly Father. 122 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:02,000 From the time He was born in that manger 123 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:06,000 until He died on the cross, 124 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:10,000 He was dependent upon them for help and for 125 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,000 wisdom. 126 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:18,000 Back to wisdom. Jesus is our wisdom. We as a 127 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,000 people, me in particular, seek knowledge. 128 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:26,000 I'm always delighted when I come upon a new idea 129 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:30,000 or something I didn't know before. 130 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:34,000 A new bit of information. 131 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:38,000 I thrive on that. 132 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:42,000 Just little tidbits. I'm going, yes! 133 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,000 But wisdom is different 134 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:50,000 than knowledge. 135 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:54,000 Knowledge is about facts. It's about information. 136 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:58,000 Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. 137 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:02,000 It's the ability not only to believe 138 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:06,000 what is right, but to act upon it. 139 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:10,000 Jesus is our wisdom. He came from the Father 140 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:14,000 to reveal the Father and to teach us who He is, 141 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:18,000 to teach us how to live. 142 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:22,000 How to live is living how Jesus lived. 143 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:26,000 So how do we get it? 144 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:30,000 Well, somebody already said, you lack wisdom, what do you do? 145 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:34,000 You ask for it. James says, if any man 146 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:38,000 lacks wisdom, let him ask of the Father and He will give it to you 147 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:42,000 how? Liberally! 148 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:46,000 He'll give it to you in abundance. 149 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:50,000 So ask. 150 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,000 Another way we access this wisdom 151 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:58,000 is by abiding in Him. 152 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:02,000 The Father placed us in Christ 153 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,000 but we have to choose to stay there. I don't know about you, 154 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:10,000 sometimes, mmm, that can be a bit 155 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:14,000 difficult. We have to choose to stay there. 156 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:18,000 How do we access it? By reading 157 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:22,000 the Word. By studying 158 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:26,000 the Word. By spending time in meditation 159 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,000 and conversation 160 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:34,000 with our Heavenly Father. 161 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:38,000 And by living in obedience to what we find there, 162 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:42,000 if you don't live in obedience 163 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:46,000 to the wisdom you find in the Bible, are you very wise? 164 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:50,000 No. But remember, 165 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:54,000 wisdom is not just head knowledge, it's knowledge that's 166 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:58,000 acted upon in accordance with the treasury of 167 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:02,000 His wisdom that is in Christ. His life 168 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:06,000 shows us what wisdom looks like. 169 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:10,000 He was made the wisdom of God for us. If we 170 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:14,000 abide in Him, all the treasures of wisdom 171 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:18,000 are available to us. 172 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:22,000 If we abide in Him and we ask for it, 173 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:26,000 the gift is ours. 174 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:30,000 Okay, can you unwrap that gift? 175 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:34,000 Can you take off the wrapping paper and is that how 176 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:38,000 you access that gift? No. None of these 177 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,000 gifts are things that you're going to find under the Christmas tree. 178 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:46,000 They don't come in boxes, they don't come in gift bags, 179 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:50,000 and they don't come wrapped. But they are 180 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:54,000 given with the utmost 181 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:58,000 love and care. 182 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:02,000 Gift number two. Jesus became for 183 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:06,000 us righteousness. He became 184 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:10,000 righteousness for us because we have none of our own. 185 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:14,000 He came to bring righteousness and as 186 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:18,000 a work of righteousness, peace, peace to the soul, 187 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:22,000 in restoring righteousness to us. 188 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:26,000 He gives us rest, quietness, and 189 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:30,000 assurance. He became for us righteousness 190 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:34,000 and He gives us 191 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:38,000 His righteousness. 192 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:42,000 From the manger to the cross, Jesus lived a life of righteousness. 193 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:46,000 The life He lived was a righteous life. 194 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:50,000 On the cross, He died the death of a righteous 195 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:54,000 life and paid the penalty for all of mankind's 196 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,000 sin. While we can be eternally 197 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:02,000 grateful for the life that He lived and the death that He died on our 198 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:06,000 behalf, it goes beyond 199 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:10,000 that. He offers 200 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:14,000 not only to give us His life in exchange for our sinful life, 201 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:18,000 He offers to give us His very 202 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:22,000 own life. 203 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:26,000 This is the most amazing gift of all. 204 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:30,000 It's the best Christmas gift anyone could receive. 205 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:34,000 Jesus said, I will give 206 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:38,000 you my righteousness. 207 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,000 Can you unwrap it? 208 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:46,000 Does it have ribbons on it? Is it 209 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:50,000 in a gift bag? No. It's a gift 210 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:54,000 from the Father's heart. The question 211 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:58,000 becomes, if it's offered and freely given, 212 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:02,000 how do I get it? How do I receive it? 213 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:06,000 Again, the secret is found in abiding 214 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:10,000 in living and dwelling in Christ. 215 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:14,000 Our text said, of Him you are in Christ. 216 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:18,000 The Father places us there, but we need to 217 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,000 choose to remain there, to live in that place and allow 218 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:26,000 or to let Him to do His work in us. Sounds easy, right? 219 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:30,000 Ah, it does. It sounds easy. 220 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:34,000 Is it? 221 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:38,000 Not always. Not always. 222 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:42,000 It seems our fallen human nature is ever ready 223 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:46,000 to take charge and to take control. 224 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:50,000 And it's only continually abiding 225 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:54,000 that success is to be found. I had a friend once 226 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:58,000 who described it like this, when we're born again, 227 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:02,000 when we give ourselves to Christ, we are given a new nature. 228 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,000 I'm sure grateful for that. There'd be no hope otherwise. 229 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:10,000 It's given to us this new nature. 230 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:14,000 He gives us His righteousness, but our 231 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:18,000 old nature is still camping out. Anybody 232 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:22,000 found that? That your old nature is still camping out? 233 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,000 And he said, it's kind of like being in a room with a rattle snake. 234 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:30,000 Now, I 235 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:34,000 have no real love for snakes of any kind, but I especially 236 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:38,000 am not fond of rattle snakes. 237 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:42,000 I've run into a few, okay? 238 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:46,000 I'm not fond of those critters. I don't like coral 239 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,000 snakes and I don't like copperheads and I don't like watermockensens and other things 240 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:54,000 that bite. In fact, I'm not fond of snakes, period. 241 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,000 But he said it's like being in a room with a rattle snake. 242 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:02,000 And 243 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:06,000 God gives you a new nature. And there's a hole 244 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:10,000 in the floor and He stuffs that rattle snake down through the hole 245 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:14,000 and you put your foot on top of it. 246 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:18,000 As long as your foot is over the hole, 247 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:22,000 the rattle snake is contained. 248 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:26,000 But the minute you take your foot off the hole, guess what happens? 249 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:30,000 It pops back up again. 250 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:34,000 And that is kind of like our human nature. It's a rattle snake and it likes to pop up. 251 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:38,000 The only 252 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:42,000 way that rattle snake stays under control 253 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:46,000 is by continually abiding in Christ. 254 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:50,000 It's a gift that the Father gives us. 255 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:54,000 I am so grateful for that. And I am so grateful 256 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:58,000 that when my human nature pops up, He can stuff that rattle snake 257 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:02,000 back down the hole. Okay? 258 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,000 Sometimes it seems impossible. 259 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:10,000 But let's look at a couple of, couple three Bible 260 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:14,000 texts that kind of say the same thing. Romans 5 261 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:18,000 and 19. For by one man's 262 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:22,000 disobedience many were made sinners. So also 263 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:26,000 by one man's obedience 264 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:30,000 many were made righteous. 265 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:34,000 So it's because of what Jesus did that He 266 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:38,000 makes us righteous. I'm glad to be counted 267 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:42,000 righteous because of what Jesus did. If I had to be counted righteous 268 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:46,000 because of what I do, I'm in really big trouble. 269 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:50,000 Okay? 2 Corinthians 5 21. 270 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:54,000 For He made him who knew no sin for us, knew no sin to be sinned 271 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:58,000 for us, that we might become the righteousness of God 272 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:02,000 in Him. That one is a real 273 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:06,000 wow. We might become the righteousness 274 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:10,000 of who? Of God 275 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:14,000 in Jesus. 276 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:18,000 I'm not sure I have my brain totally wrapped around that one. 277 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:22,000 But it's pretty much of a wow. 278 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:26,000 To become is to cause to be. 279 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:30,000 He wants to cause us to be righteous. 280 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:34,000 There's many, many more. 281 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:38,000 Still, righteousness is a gift. 282 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:42,000 It's a gift that Jesus gave us. 283 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:46,000 It's a gift from the Father through Jesus. 284 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:50,000 Gift number 3. Jesus 285 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:54,000 became for us sanctification. 286 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:58,000 He calls us all saints. Ones who are called 287 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:02,000 to be pure, morally blameless, sanctified ones, 288 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:06,000 ones who are purified by, here's a nice word for you, 289 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:10,000 expiation. 290 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:14,000 You heard that word before? Do you ever look it up? 291 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:18,000 It's a Bible word. I didn't create it. 292 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:22,000 We are purified by expiation. 293 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:26,000 We are made pure by the act 294 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:30,000 of another. That's what expiation means. 295 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:34,000 By the act of 296 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:38,000 another, by Jesus, we're freed from the guilt of sin. 297 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:42,000 That has to do with justification and being given 298 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:46,000 righteousness. Because of who he is and what he did 299 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:50,000 for us, he calls us saints. 300 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:54,000 Hmm. 301 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:58,000 Alright, saints. How are you doing this morning? 302 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:02,000 He calls you a saint. Ones who are 303 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:06,000 morally pure and blameless. 304 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:10,000 We are made pure by his life and his 305 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:14,000 death on the cross. Because he lived a sanctified life 306 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:18,000 that was morally pure and blameless, 307 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:22,000 he is free to give it to us. 308 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:30,000 Is that a gift or what? Gift number 3. 309 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:34,000 Sanctification is something he gives 310 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:38,000 us. Now again, the question becomes how do we 311 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:42,000 access that gift? Is it under the tree? Do we unwrap it? 312 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:46,000 Does it have ribbons? Is it in a gift bag? 313 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:50,000 It's a gift, 314 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:54,000 but we have to receive it and live it. 315 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:58,000 Jesus has made the gift available. 316 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:02,000 He lived it. He became sanctification for us. 317 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:06,000 We are like the man in the Bible 318 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:10,000 who asked, what must I do to be saved? 319 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:14,000 Ask, what must I do to receive this gift? 320 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:18,000 It's not a tangible gift that we can take and unwrap 321 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:22,000 and enjoy like we would any other gift. 322 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:26,000 Now, we have gift givers 323 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:30,000 in our family. Julie, the daughter that you know, 324 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:34,000 has this unique ability 325 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:38,000 to find something I would really like. 326 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:42,000 She just does that. 327 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:46,000 She finds something I would really like, and I can be sure 328 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:50,000 I'm going to like it when I unwrap her gift because she has that unique ability to 329 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:54,000 select a gift. Laura, my other daughter, 330 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:58,000 figures for the most part, I don't need more stuff. 331 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:06,000 But she has a unique ability 332 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:10,000 to select a gift for me 333 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:14,000 that pleases me, 334 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:18,000 but her Christmas gifts are 335 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:22,000 something to do with her. It's a shared 336 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:26,000 experience, okay? 337 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:30,000 I can't unwrap it, I can't put it on the mantle, I can't hang it on the wall, 338 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:34,000 but it's a shared 339 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:38,000 experience. One year, it was a trip to a glass 340 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:42,000 blowing shop where she paid the price and we both made 341 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:46,000 a hand blown Christmas ornament. 342 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:50,000 Yeah, I ended up with a Christmas ornament that's 343 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:54,000 really special, right? But it was the 344 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:58,000 shared experience. Another year, 345 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:02,000 it was a shared bird watching trip that she paid for. 346 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:06,000 We went to see the Sandhill Cranes 347 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:10,000 up on the river on a boat, on a boating, 348 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:14,000 on a birding tour. It was a shared experience. 349 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:18,000 And one year for my birthday, 350 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:22,000 it was a tubing trip down the Okohi River. 351 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:26,000 Okay? 352 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:30,000 Her gifts were a shared experience. The gift of 353 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:34,000 sanctification is somewhat like that. 354 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:38,000 It's a gift of a shared 355 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:42,000 experience 356 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:46,000 in which the price has already been paid. 357 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:50,000 Jesus brought the gift, he paid the price 358 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:54,000 already. His death on the cross bought my justification, 359 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:58,000 but it also bought my sanctification. With justification, 360 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:02,000 I'm declared righteous or right with God, at 361 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:06,000 peace with him. With sanctification, I am made 362 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:10,000 right, grown right, grown into his likeness. 363 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:14,000 It is a shared experience. 364 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:18,000 I don't know if you've ever thought about sanctification 365 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:22,000 being like that. Often time, sanctification is 366 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:26,000 presented as something we have to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. It's something we have to 367 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:30,000 do. Woe unto us 368 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:34,000 if that's the way it is. This 369 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:38,000 is a shared experience with Jesus. 370 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:42,000 It's a living experience. 371 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:46,000 It's an experience that Jesus and I share together. 372 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:50,000 He purchased it, he bought it, 373 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:54,000 but we, he and I, 374 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:58,000 develop it and grow it together. 375 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:02,000 That's how sanctification works, by the way. 376 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:06,000 It's a shared gift. My part, 377 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:10,000 again, abide in him. Spend time with 378 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:14,000 him in study and conversation. Some people call 379 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:18,000 it prayer. And live in 380 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:22,000 his presence. Now, we got into that in Sabbath school 381 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:26,000 somewhat this morning, and I thought, Keelan did a really good 382 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:30,000 job with that. This 383 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:34,000 business of living in God's presence is to be ongoing. 384 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:38,000 It's not just a morning devotional or an evening 385 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:42,000 worship period. It's continuous. 386 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:46,000 The sanctification thing is a big deal. 387 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:50,000 It's ongoing. 388 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:54,000 Gift number four. Jesus became 389 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:58,000 for us redemption. 390 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:02,000 This is the summation of all his gifts. 391 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:06,000 He became redemption for us. We love to enjoy the 392 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:10,000 fact that we are redeemed. Redeemed from what, 393 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:14,000 by the way? It comes with part A and part B. 394 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:18,000 And that's something I kind of stumbled onto this week that I went, 395 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:22,000 oh, never quite saw it that way before. 396 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:26,000 Part A, okay? To be redeemed, 397 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:30,000 the meaning of the word, means to be 398 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:34,000 ransomed from something evil. 399 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:38,000 These people that kidnap children and demand a ransom, 400 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:42,000 when the ransom is paid and the child is returned, the child 401 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:46,000 has been redeemed. We won't say how often they kill the 402 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:50,000 child and take the money. But 403 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:54,000 when we are redeemed, the price is paid, 404 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:58,000 and we're taken from something evil. 405 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:02,000 Sin's penalty 406 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:06,000 is paid for. 407 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:10,000 We are ransomed from Satan's power. 408 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:14,000 He has no more power over us. We are redeemed from that. 409 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:18,000 We are redeemed from sin's hold 410 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:22,000 over us. As long as we don't let the rattlesnake out of the hole, 411 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:26,000 by the way. We are delivered from the 412 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:30,000 bondage of this world. He became 413 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:34,000 the ransom for us. 414 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:38,000 We are redeemed because he paid the price. 415 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:42,000 That's part A. Part B. 416 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:46,000 Our final redemption means 417 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:50,000 that we will be removed from this planet, from 418 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:54,000 sin's presence, and taken to another place. 419 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:58,000 Yay! 420 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:02,000 Have you noticed that 421 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:06,000 the world is going crazy lately? It's beyond 422 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:10,000 going crazy. You know, there will be 423 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:14,000 wars and rumors of wars. Well, sure enough, that's going on. There will be 424 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:18,000 earthquakes in diverse places. Sure enough, that's going on. 425 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:22,000 Hurricanes, tornadoes, 426 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:26,000 drought, 427 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:30,000 all kinds of things. I read one 428 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:34,000 yesterday in the news 429 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:38,000 that there is a fault in California. Now, we've heard 430 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:42,000 about these faults in California for years and years and years and years. 431 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:46,000 What this is saying is when this fault 432 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:50,000 goes, and it's not if it goes, it's when it goes, and it's not even the San Andreas 433 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:54,000 fault. It's another one. It runs 434 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:58,000 through San Francisco, 435 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:02,000 and they're predicting when that one goes, the 436 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:06,000 city goes. It will knock out 437 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:10,000 the infrastructure. It will knock out all electricity. 438 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:14,000 It will literally destroy the city. 439 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:18,000 Yeah, that kind of stuff's happening. 440 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:22,000 Okay? It's just I saw it in the news yesterday and I went, whoa, 441 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:26,000 there it is again. 442 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:30,000 Part B of this 443 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:34,000 is we get to get removed from this planet 444 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:38,000 from sin's presence and taken to another place. 445 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:42,000 We get to come back, but 446 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:46,000 God's going to fix it before we come back. But think about this 447 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:50,000 place a minute. There's no more sin. There's no more tears. 448 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:54,000 There's no more grief. It's a place without poverty. 449 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:58,000 It's a place without crime. It's a place of joy 450 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:02,000 and contentment. It's a place where people no longer 451 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:06,000 hurt each other. It's a place where a friend 452 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:10,000 is really a friend, not one who kind of 453 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:14,000 comes along behind and stabs you in the back. 454 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:18,000 And it's a place where we can literally walk with Jesus. 455 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:22,000 Our final redemption is heaven, a place where 456 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:26,000 we are physically delivered from this world. 457 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:30,000 That is the final gift. So, a summation 458 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:34,000 of the gifts. Wisdom. 459 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:38,000 His wisdom that he gives me, the knowledge 460 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:42,000 of who God is and what it means to me. 461 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:46,000 His righteousness. His righteousness that he 462 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:50,000 gives to me. His standing in heaven 463 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:54,000 he gives to me. Sanctification. 464 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:58,000 His sanctification that he gives to me. 465 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:02,000 It's his life that he shares with me. 466 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:06,000 Redemption. His deliverance 467 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:10,000 that he gives to me now from sin, power, 468 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:14,000 and penalty will be delivered fully 469 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:18,000 to me 470 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:22,000 in heaven when I am delivered from its presence. The secret 471 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:26,000 to all these gifts is found in abiding in him, 472 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:30,000 spending time in the Bible, and in conversation with him, 473 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:34,000 and living continually and 474 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:38,000 consciously in his presence. 475 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:42,000 Now there are many, many, many gifts 476 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:46,000 from the Father in the Bible. 477 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:50,000 But I think these four gifts 478 00:31:50,000 --> 00:32:14,000 are the core of all of them.