Dealing With Christmas IV

*Dealing with Christmas IV “Why not?”*


Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The situation:
_*God gives to us a gift that we do not receive*_
Joh 1:11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
*2 reasons we find it hard to receive gifts:*
- We feel strings are attached
- We didn’t get them anything

_*To receive the gift of God we must give a gift to Him, our life*_
1Pe 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed

In order for us to move past this we must answer the question, “why not?”

Why not-
*We don’t want to give someone else control*
Rom 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
Rom 6:21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. Rom 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

*We Love our sin*
1Jn 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 1Jn 2:17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

*We feel we are not worthy*
1Ti 1:15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Conclusion:
what is your why?


Life Group Questions:

1. What is the best gift you've ever received?
2. What gifts does Christ offer you?
3. What do you need to give him?
4. What is keeping you from giving it up?