The birth of Jesus, to be rightly understood and esteemed, must be considered from the standpoint of a gift of Divine love. The key to this thought is found in John 3:16, “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.”

The penalty upon mankind was to perish, as being unfit to live and enjoy God’s blessings. The whole world was under sentence of death due to Adam’s disobedience (Romans 5:17-19). Mankind had been dying for more than four thousand years. But God so loved the world that he devised a plan for human redemption before man was even created.

There are those who see, in the Son of God taking upon himself our nature and laying down his life for our sins, no proof of the love of God, but rather proof of the Son’s love. They say, Where is the proof of the Father’s love? The answer is, in the Father’s gift.

A loving father would rather die himself than give a beloved child up to death. There is far more love displayed in God giving his only begotten and well-loved Son up to death than there would have been in God dying himself, had that been possible. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”— Romans 5:8. The gift of Jesus is the most conclusive proof of God’s love imaginable.

The first feature of this plan began to be manifested when our Lord Jesus came into the world. What good tidings did he bring? Blessings for all humanity. He brought the good tidings that all will be resurrected and have an opportunity to receive eternal life in God’s kingdom and that a special class, who would manifest special love for the Lord at this present time, might become heirs with God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, his Son.

A Promise Of Blessings For ALL Humanity

Many are unaware that God has offered two salvations. “We trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”— 1 Timothy 4:10. This verse clearly speaks of two classes to be saved: Those who follow in Jesus’ footsteps during this Gospel Age will have a special [heavenly] salvation, and afterward the resurrected world of mankind will have a [earthly] salvation with an opportunity to achieve everlasting life. This is confirmed again in 1 John 2:2: “And he is the propitiation for our [the church who receive the heavenly salvation] sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world [the resurrected world of mankind].”

Peace on earth? Good will to all men? Surely we have not yet seen this! Why the long delay? Because we’re still waiting for the special salvation of those who will comprise the Body of Christ to be completed before the blessings spoken by the angels can take place for the remainder of mankind.

If your desire is to be part of the Body of Christ, there is still opportunity before the offer to this special salvation comes to a close. The wise men, who sought the babe of Bethlehem with worship and gifts, symbolize those who are truly wise who ever since have sought the divinely appointed King and who bring to him the incense of their devotion and, as gifts, all their talents and powers. Such lay their very lives at the Savior’s feet, as Apostle Paul explains: “living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.”— Romans 12:1.

Let us take time during this Christmas season, a time for giving and receiving gifts, to remember the greatest gift ever given, Jesus. What can we give in return? “My son, give me thine heart.”— Proverbs 23:26.

To learn more about God's gift, send for the following booklet:

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Last modified: 09/19/09