The Gift of Salvation

Some of the earliest and most vivid memories we have come from Christmastime and revolve around gifts. I think it’s the anticipation. When you become old enough to understand what Christmas is, you start to notice every sign that the day is approaching. Pulling decorations down from the attic. Rearranging furniture to make space for the tree. Baking cookies in the oven. Playing familiar songs on the radio. They all mean one thing. Gifts are coming soon.

There are some well-meaning people who try to fight this natural, childlike desire to receive gifts. They scold little kids for their hyper-focus on toys, for their burning desire to unwrap their gifts on Christmas morning. Countless articles decry the greed and commercialization of what was once a holy day.

Of course, I understand what these pious Christmas critics are saying. Yes, it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Generosity is a Christian virtue. Greed is a terrible vice, one far too common in our culture.

But before we all turn into Christmas curmudgeons, I have a word to say in favor of the kids. There is something good and right in their over-abundant excitement to receive their gifts. Instead of reprimanding them, I want to give you permission to join them.

Today is a day not first and foremost for giving, but for receiving. If we don’t get that straight, we’ll miss the whole point. Christmas is about receiving. Just make sure you’re excited about receiving the right gift.

When Adam and Eve fell into sin in the Garden, God made a promise to send One born of a woman who would crush the serpent’s head and defeat evil forever (Genesis 3:15). God promised to send us a gift. But He didn’t send the gift right away. He allowed anticipation to build.

Each promise God made from that time created a greater desire for His gift. Each deliverance of His people pointed ahead to God’s final salvation. Each flawed king or priest or prophet pointed ahead to God’s ultimate King, Priest, and Prophet. Each sacrifice pointed ahead to the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice. People, events, institutions—all of them trained us in what to look for. We learned how to recognize that God’s gift was coming soon.

Around the time of the first Christmas, there were people who had taken hold of God’s promises made through Moses and the prophets. They were eagerly anticipating the coming of Christ in their own lifetimes. Luke commends Simeon and Anna because they were waiting for the “consolation” (Luke 2:25) and “redemption” (2:38) of Israel. They were like kids staring out the window into the dark morning hours, waiting for the first sign of light to dawn on Christmas morning. They were eager to receive what they knew they could not provide for themselves.

When the Father sent the Son, He gave Him as a gift. John 3:16—perhaps the most widely known verse in all the Bible—explains the coming of Christ in these terms: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Christmas is first and foremost about receiving because it is God who gave the greatest gift. Out of a heart of love for a world that did not yet love Him, God chose to give. He gave us what we desperately needed and could never buy for ourselves. It was not cheap—as Bonhoeffer wrote, there is no such thing as ‘cheap grace.’ God the Father gave His most precious and only Son. The salvation Christ has accomplished is a gift offered to all, to anyone who would believe in Him. All you have to do is receive His gift by trusting in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

So here is your Pastor’s plea—become a kid again today. It’s a necessity, Jesus said. He told His disciples, “Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Christmas is not about giving, not when it comes to what we need most. When it comes to salvation, we have nothing to give God. Our sin is too great. There is no amount of work we could do to pay it all back or purchase righteousness for ourselves.

All humanity could do is stare out into that dark night, waiting for some speck of light to signal the first Christmas morning. God loves us so much that He didn’t leave us waiting in vain for a gift that would never come. At precisely the right time, He gave us His only Son. Don’t leave God’s gift of salvation wrapped up today, unopened. By faith, receive it!

This devotional was written by Dr. Robert Jeffress, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Dallas.

Two Questions for Thought:

1. Would you say that you have received God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ? How do you know?
2. What does the gift of salvation in John 3:16 tell us about the character of God? Do you view God that way?

Daily Challenge:

If there is someone in your life who has not yet received God’s gift of salvation, take time today to share with them about the gift of forgiveness you’ve received through Christ.