ARTICLES
God's Ultimate Gift To Man: JESUS CHRIST!
by Jeanniene Lee

It is exciting to receive a gift, and even more exciting to open it! As you carefully unwrap the paper, the adrenaline rushes through your veins. Excitement rages within as you anticipate what is inside so beautiful a package. You open the box, and inside is the most beautiful gift you've ever seen.

Its' beauty is beyond words. It is indescribable, inexpressible; the gift you've received is beyond the description of mere words. Expressions of gratitude and thanks escape your lips, as you convey thanks to the giver of the gift.

II Corinthians 9:15 (Amplified)
15 Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]!

Beloved, God's ultimate Gift to man is His only Son Jesus Christ. Included in the Gift of Jesus Christ is everything that man would ever need to live a complete life in every area -spirit, soul and body. Yes, everything! Thanks be to God for His incomparable Gift to man of Jesus Christ!

The All-Inclusive Gift
Unlike any Gift you'll ever receive is God's "all-inclusive Gift" of Jesus Christ. Wrapped in Jesus is EVERYTHING man would ever need. From the moment of his birth to his exodus in death into the life after physical death, everything that man would ever need is available to him through Jesus Christ.

This far exceeds the gift of a fur coat that will warm the body during the coldest days, but WILL NOT warm the soul of man when cold.

It also far exceeds the gift of a year's free shopping spree at the finest grocery store in the world, where the most scrumptious delicacies are kept, and awaiting consumption by the most discriminating taste buds. These delicacies will only satisfy the hunger of the body, but WILL NOT quench nor satisfy the cravings of man's hungry and thirsty soul.

This gift again far exceeds the gift of a diamond ring that will bring joy and excitement to a woman's heart when given, but WILL NOT mend her hurts when faced with the tragedy and pain of separation or divorce.

This gift of Jesus Christ far exceeds the gift of a new sports car that will thrill the heart and bring joy to the soul for one moment, but WILL NOT heal the body or restore life again when there have been injuries or death due to a head-on collision.

All packaged within Jesus Christ is everything that man would ever need to be completely fulfilled and totally satisfied in every area of his being.

Man is what is called a tripartite. Which means he exist in three parts. He is a spirit. He has a soul, and he lives in a physical body. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thessalonians 5:23).

Yes, wrapped within Jesus, God's ultimate Gift to man, is everything needed for the spirit, soul and body of man. The only way to access this "all-inclusive Gift from God" is to believe in Jesus Christ.

Salvation Included In The Gift
John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son [Jesus Christ!, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him [Jesus Christ! might be saved.

The biblical definition of the word "believe," as referenced in John 3:16, implies to trust in, cling to and rely upon; thus, signifying to completely give one's self to entirely.

This believing IS NOT just a mental acknowledgement of Jesus - "I believe in Jesus" - but is a believing in your heart. To access God's Gift to man, to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you MUST be born again. This is done by accepting Jesus Christ into your heart as Lord and Saviour. Read John 3:1-17.

In John 3:17, we see the word "saved." We get the word "salvation" from the word "saved." GOD'S ULTIMATE GIFT TO MAN IS SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST!  The Hebrew and Greek words for "salvation," as used throughout both the old and new testaments, imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness. Thus, INCLUDED IN SALVATION is deliverance, safety, preservation, healing and soundness. Thanks be to God for such an "all-inclusive Gift."

First, man needed access to spiritual life; life for his spirit man. Man needed to be saved. He needed salvation. Because of the sin of Adam, man had undergone spiritual death.

Spiritual death is when man's spirit is deprived of the life of God. This happened due to the relationship between God and man being cut off as a result of sin. Sin brought spiritual death upon man. It also introduced man to physical death, which he was never intended to undergo.

Romans 5:12,15
12 Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
15 But not as the offense, so also is the FREE GIFT. For if through the offense of one many be dead [spiritually dead], much more the grace of God, and the GIFT by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Praise be to God for the free Gift of Jesus Christ. Through this indescribable Gift, salvation is made available to man. Salvation is all-inclusive.

Included in the "package of salvation" are deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness.

Deliverance Included In The Gift
Know that you are completely delivered from the devil and his power over you. Therefore, don't tolerate him for a moment. Don't accept anything he tries to offer you.

Deliverance from the penalty of sin; the penalty of sin is to be eternally separated from God; separated from fellowship with God while alive upon the earth, and to be eternally separated from God, as a result of being cast into the lake of fire, after death.

Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus Christ made life available to man twofold. First, life is available to man's spirit which had become dead as a result of sin. Secondly, Jesus Christ made available to man eternal life, which is never-ending fellowship and communion with God for eternity. These are the chief benefits of God's ultimate Gift to man!

Further, Jesus completely delivered us from the devil's power over us. He severed every chain of bondage the devil had us bound with.

Hebrews 2:14-15
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he [Jesus] also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might DESTROY HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH. THAT IS. THE DEVIL:
15 AND DELIVER THEM [this included you] who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

It was for this very purpose that Jesus Christ was made manifest and came from His home of glory in heaven into the earth; that is, that He might DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL. Read I John 3:8.

Healing and Health Included In The Gift
Because the sin of Adam brought forth spiritual death, it also introduced man to physical death. Physical death resulted due to the introduction of sickness, disease and gradual deterioration of the physical body.

Healing is included in God's "all-inclusive" free Gift of Jesus Christ. It was through Jesus that healing and health were purchased and made available to man.

Isaiah 53:5
5 But he [Jesus] was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are HEALED.

I Peter 2:24
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were HEALED.

Wholeness, soundness and intactness are yours; for, it was made available to you through Jesus Christ. Wholeness, soundness and intactness in your physical body, bones, joints, limbs, organs, cells, arteries, blood, etc; wholeness, soundness and intactness in your mind, memory, emotions, etc.

Also, included in God's Gift of salvation through Jesus Christ is safety and preservation.

Safety Included In The Gift

Proverbs 21:31

31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but SAFETY IS OF THE LORD.

The word "safety," as used in Proverbs 21:31, is from a Hebrew word which means rescue, deliverance, help, safety, salvation and victory. Beloved, this all belongs to you.

This is all included in your covenant with God which was made available to you through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Jesus' blood ratified the covenant between God and man. In God's covenant with man is His promise of safety.

Psalm 4:8
8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord only makest me dwell in safety.

The word "safety" from this scripture means a place of refuge or safety, security, to trust, to have assurance, to be confident, to be bold, boldly, without care (careless), confidence, hope, secure, surely.

In other words, beloved, you can rest assured completely that your safety and well-being from danger and the threat of destruction in every area is personally guaranteed by the Lord. No demon forces or might of man's flesh can penetrate God's barricade of safety around you. Glory to God!

Preservation Included In The Gift

In addition to safety, God's Gift has made available to us preservation. The word "preservation" is synonymous with the word "husbandry."

Psalm 121:7
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

In this covenant of preservation is included His pledge to hedge about us, to guard, to protect, attend to and to watch over us in every area. Just like a husband would care for his wife in every area, so does our Lord care for us in every area.

He is your impenetrable hedge of protection. He is in charge of your personal safety; and, in turn has promised to not fail you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). He has given His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. His angels will accompany, defend and preserve you in all your ways; in all your ways of obedience to God and service for God. Read Psalm 91:11, Amplified.

Further, he attends to your every need and watches over you to ensure that you are cared for and everything that you would have need of to live a fulfilled and satisfied life are provided.

John 10:10
10 ... I [Jesus] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Just like the heart of a husband is focused toward caring for the well-being of his family overall, so our Husband, our Maker, is constantly watchful of and caring for us. "FOR THY MAKER IS THINE HUSBAND; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called" (Isaiah 54:5).

Prosperity Included In The Gift
Beloved, freedom from poverty and lack is also included and available to you through the "all-inclusive Gift" from God of Jesus Christ.

11 Corinthians 8:9
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.

The Amplified version of this same verse makes it even clearer that Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the curse of poverty, debt and lack.

II Corinthians 8:9 (Amplified)
9 For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, vet for your sakes HE BECAME [so very] POOR. IN ORDER THAT BY HIS POVERTY YOU MIGHT BECOME ENRICHED (abundantly supplied).

You do not have to tolerate poverty and lack any longer. Jesus has redeemed you from this curse. Poverty and lack are under the curse. Christ has redeemed you from the curse (Galatians 3:13). The curse of poverty, debt and lack no longer has authority over you.

In summary, included in God's ultimate Gift to man, which is salvation for man through Jesus Christ, is everything man would ever need to live a full and complete life, spirit, soul and body.

Salvation includes deliverance from the penalty of sin, and redemption from the curse which was the result of sin. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Galatians 3:13).

The curse that we were redeemed from is mentioned in Deuteronomy 28, beginning at verse 15. Under that curse was destruction in every area including poverty, sickness and death.

Thanks be unto God for His Gift of Jesus Christ which redeemed us from this awful curse which was a result of Adam's sin and transgression. Thanks to Jesus for willingly giving His life for the sin of the whole world so that man could have access to God once again through salvation.

You, dear one, have access to God's ultimate Gift to man. The "ALL-INCLUSIVE FREE GIFT" of salvation through Jesus Christ. Included in the gift of salvation is deliverance, safety, preservation, healing and soundness. It's yours free not only during this holiday season but every day!

During this holiday season and throughout the year, be ever mindful of the absolute fact that God's ultimate Gift to man is Jesus Christ!




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