Thanksgiving Thanksgiving DayDay

was was observed observed by by The Pilgrims The Pilgrims

in in 16211621

President Abraham President Abraham LincolnLincoln

proclaimed proclaimed

ThanksgivingThanksgivinga a National HolidayNational Holiday

in in 18631863

TWO ACTIONS OF LOVETWO ACTIONS OF LOVE: : 

1.Men’s Unending Men’s Unending Gratitude.Gratitude.

2.God’s Greatest Gift.God’s Greatest Gift.

verse 15: 

•"Thanks be to God""Thanks be to God" THANKSGIVING  THANKSGIVING 

•"For His unspeakable gift""For His unspeakable gift" - - JESUSJESUS

Different translations Different translations on God's Gift to uson God's Gift to us::

• "Thank God, then, for his indescribable generosity to "Thank God, then, for his indescribable generosity to you"you" (Phillips) (Phillips)

• "Thank God for His Son - His gift too wonderful for "Thank God for His Son - His gift too wonderful for words"words" (TLB) (TLB)

• "Let us thank God for His priceless gift" "Let us thank God for His priceless gift" (The Good (The Good News Bible)News Bible)

• "Thanks be to God for His gift that is more than we "Thanks be to God for His gift that is more than we can tell"can tell" (Beck) (Beck)

• "Thanks be to God for His gift beyond words""Thanks be to God for His gift beyond words" (NEB) (NEB) • "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift""Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift" (NASB) (NASB) • "Thanks be to God for His unspeakably precious gift""Thanks be to God for His unspeakably precious gift"

(Weymouth) (Weymouth)

FOUR REASONS THAT MAKE FOUR REASONS THAT MAKE GOD’S GIFT GREATGOD’S GIFT GREAT: : 

I.I.    God’s Love Is Beyond ItGod’s Love Is Beyond It  

"For God so loved the world, "For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only that he gave his only begotten Son" begotten Son"

(John 3:16)  (John 3:16) 

"But God commendeth "But God commendeth His love toward us in that, His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us"Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) (Romans 5:8) 

"Herein is love, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, but that He loved us,

and sent His Son and sent His Son to be the propitiation to be the propitiation

for our sins" for our sins" (I John 4:10) (I John 4:10) 

"Before the burning stars were "Before the burning stars were made;made;

before the throbbing sea;before the throbbing sea;before the sun its orbit ran;before the sun its orbit ran;

abode Thy love for me.abode Thy love for me.It was not born at Bethlehem;It was not born at Bethlehem;

and not at Calvary.and not at Calvary.That everlasting love began;That everlasting love began;

back in infinity"back in infinity"  

II.II.    God’s Life God’s Life Demonstrates ItDemonstrates It  

"Of whom the world "Of whom the world was not worthy" was not worthy" (Hebrews 11:38) (Hebrews 11:38) 

EXAMINE THE LIFE OF CHRISTEXAMINE THE LIFE OF CHRIST: : 

A.  He is SinlessA.  He is Sinless      

““He was in all points tempted He was in all points tempted

like as we are, yet without sin"like as we are, yet without sin"

(Hebrews 4:15)   (Hebrews 4:15)   

"Who did no sin, "Who did no sin, neither was guile neither was guile

found in his mouth"found in his mouth" (I Peter 2:22) (I Peter 2:22) 

Carl F. H. HenryCarl F. H. Henry::    "Jesus was more than "Jesus was more than

a great teacher of ethics, a great teacher of ethics, He was its great Liver.  He was its great Liver. 

His sinlessness is unique His sinlessness is unique in the stream of human life.  in the stream of human life. 

Nowhere does history Nowhere does history show a fountain of righteousness show a fountain of righteousness like that of the ethical pureness like that of the ethical pureness

which lives in Him.  which lives in Him.  He is the pattern He is the pattern of perfect living."of perfect living."  

WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT JESUSWHAT WAS SAID ABOUT JESUS::

JESUS: JESUS: "Which of you convicts me of "Which of you convicts me of sin" sin" (John 8:46)(John 8:46)

PILATE: PILATE: "I find no fault in this man""I find no fault in this man" (Luke 23:4)(Luke 23:4)

   

JUDAS: JUDAS: "I have betrayed innocent "I have betrayed innocent blood"blood" (Matthew 27:4) (Matthew 27:4)

B. He SufferedB. He Suffered      

"From that time forth "From that time forth Jesus began to show Jesus began to show

unto His disciples unto His disciples how He must go how He must go into Jerusalem, into Jerusalem,

and suffer many things...and suffer many things...and be killed" and be killed"

(Matthew 16:21)   (Matthew 16:21)   

"For even here "For even here unto were you called, unto were you called, because Christ also because Christ also

suffered for us" suffered for us" (I Peter 2:21) (I Peter 2:21) 

"You men of Israel, "You men of Israel, hear these words: ‘Jesus of hear these words: ‘Jesus of

Nazareth, Nazareth, a man approved of God among a man approved of God among

you you by miracles and wonders and by miracles and wonders and

signs, signs, which God did by Him which God did by Him in the midst of you...in the midst of you...

Him... you have taken Him... you have taken and by wicked hands and by wicked hands

have crucified and slain’" have crucified and slain’" (Acts 2:22,23) (Acts 2:22,23) 

““One Solitary Life”One Solitary Life” ““Here is a Man who was born in an obscure Here is a Man who was born in an obscure

village, village, the Child of a peasant woman.  the Child of a peasant woman. 

He grew up in another obscure village.  He grew up in another obscure village.  He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty, He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty,

and then for three years He was an itinerant and then for three years He was an itinerant Preacher.  Preacher. 

He never wrote a book.  He never held an office.  He never wrote a book.  He never held an office.  He never owned a home.  He never had a family.  He never owned a home.  He never had a family. 

He never went to college.  He never went to college.  He never put His foot inside a big city.He never put His foot inside a big city.He never traveled two hundred miles He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born.  from the place where He was born. 

He never did one of the things He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness.  that usually accompany greatness.  He had no credentials but Himself.  He had no credentials but Himself.  He had nothing to do with this world He had nothing to do with this world except the naked power of His divine except the naked power of His divine

manhood….. manhood….. 

While still a young Man, While still a young Man, the tide of popular opinion turned the tide of popular opinion turned

against Him. against Him. He was turned over to His enemies.  He was turned over to His enemies. 

He went through the mockery of a He went through the mockery of a trial.  trial. 

He was nailed to a cross between two He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.  thieves. 

His executioners gambled for the only His executioners gambled for the only piece of property piece of property

He had on earth while He was dying – He had on earth while He was dying – and that was His coat.  and that was His coat. 

When He was dead He was taken When He was dead He was taken down down

and laid in a borrowed grave and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend……through the pity of a friend……  

Nineteen wide centuries have come and Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone, gone,

and today He is the Centerpiece of the and today He is the Centerpiece of the human race human race

and the Leader of the Column of and the Leader of the Column of progress.  progress. 

I am far within the mark when I say I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, and all the kings that ever reigned,

put together have not affected put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth the life of man upon this earth

as powerfully as has thatas powerfully as has that

ONE SOLITARY LIFEONE SOLITARY LIFE.” .” 

"coming to seek "coming to seek and to save and to save

that which was lost" that which was lost" (Luke 19:10)   (Luke 19:10)   

III.III.    God’s Loss Describes ItGod’s Loss Describes It      

““SAVIOR” SAVIOR” 

"The Father sent the Son "The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the to be the Savior of the

world" world" (I John 4:14) (I John 4:14) 

"He that spared not "He that spared not His own Son, His own Son,

but delivered Him up but delivered Him up for us all" for us all"

(Romans 8:32)   (Romans 8:32)   

IV.IV. God Longs To Give ItGod Longs To Give It      

This This ThanksgivingThanksgiving, ,

thank thank GodGod for for Giving Giving His His OneOne and and Only SONOnly SON, ,

JESUS JESUS CHRISTCHRIST,… ,…

““God's God's Greatest Greatest GiftGift!!!” !!!” 

This This ThanksgivingThanksgiving, ,

thank thank GodGod for for Giving Giving His His OneOne and and Only SONOnly SON, ,

JESUS JESUS CHRISTCHRIST,… ,…

““God's God's Greatest Greatest GiftGift!!!” !!!”