Have you ever received a gift that you didn’t want? Socks on Christmas? That one sweater? Have you ever given a gift that wasn’t nice? Perhaps you told a story that shouldn’t have been told, or gave someone a knuckle sandwich? Gifts are wonderful to receive when they are wonderful themselves, but not all things given are good. Fortunately, we have a God that only gives wonderfully perfect gifts – the best of them is the grace of Jesus Christ. In HIM there is Victory!
1. Adam Gave Humanity a Horrible Gift—a Gift that Keeps On Giving. (Vs. 12-14, 1 Cor 15:20-22)
a. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, “But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”
2. Jesus Gives the Greatest Gift—the Gift of Grace.
a. One Intentional Sin Brought Death. (Vs. 15-16, Deut 24:16)
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i. Deuteronomy 24:16, “Fathers are not to be put to death for their children, and children are not to be put to death for their fathers; each person will be put to death for his own sin.”
b. One Intentional Gift Brings Forgiveness and LIFE! (Vs. 17-21, 2 Cor 5:18-19)
i. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, “Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.”