He Gave

John 3:16a “For God so loved the world that He gave.”

During this Advent season of Christmas, I’ve been reading a study on John 3:16 in relationship to the gospel and the birth of Jesus, the Christ, the Savior and blessed Redeemer of the world. The crucifixion of Jesus at Easter was a factual historical event. Yet, the cross stands at the heart of the gospel not because of what it tells of sin, but because of what it tells us about the grace of God – the unmerited favor of God that gave us the atoning redemption we did not deserve, mercy’s providing a remedy for sin, and love’s ensuring the effectiveness of the salvation. The cross at Calvary is “good news” not because of what we took away from God, but because of what God has given us. The cross was the giving of God the Son by God the Father for the salvation of the world.

Genesis 3:15 “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

Dr. Ian Campbell points out that the coming of Christ was no accident and the giving of Christ was planned and introduced in the first proclamation of the gospel - the Protoevangel’s “seed of the woman” in Genesis 3:15. Behind history, there was a purpose of salvation already decreed in which the Son of God would be given as the Savior of sinners. The royal “Good Shepherd” would lay down His life for the sheep. The world was lost in sin, which led to eternal death, so the world needed a Savior that redeemed unto eternal life. God gave.

Isaiah 9:6-7a “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God. Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.”

The final fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah’s words arrived when the Son of God, Jesus Christ, became incarnate as one of us. Christmas is about the giving of God incarnate, God in the flesh, Emmanuel, God with us. God achieved for us what we could not do in our own strength. The birth, life, atoning death and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ was the ultimate giving of the gift of God’s love, and the reason He gave was so that the world might be saved through receiving His inexpressible gift.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. He gave.

Blessings