Before I start, I want to say that this is the last year that I will do this whole presentation before the Communion service. For a while, I have been impressed in my heart that this should be the last. One of the things that confirmed it was a few days ago when I showed Mom a pastoral article on 5 reasons not to celebrate Christmas. She said it was very powerful and when I mentioned a few things that the pastor said that were the same thing that I had said, she said she didn’t recall me saying them. It made me somewhat upset inside, but then a whole chain of scriptures seemed to flood my mind, starting with Christ’s words: "A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house." And "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord." This said to me that in my own family, I could not expect any different result than Jesus did in his own family and home town. His own brothers didn’t believe in Him until after His death and He couldn’t do many strong works in His own home town because of unbelief. Now I don’t dare compare myself to Christ as to His mission and ministry and influence, but certain principles do apply. As a father, I can only expose my family to what I believe is true and try to live what I say, however imperfectly. This is especially true when there is introduced a radical change to the way of doing things. Jesus brought radical change to the established ways. If I try to do the same, I cannot expect immediate results, I have to look for the long term. This means that it is my hope that sooner or later, you will read something or hear something or experience something and you’ll have the"AHA!!" reaction: "So that’s what my father meant." And it will seem so plain and clear and simple. I hope it happens while I’m still here but the odds are it will probably happen only after my removal from the scene. It doesn’t matter, as long as it happens and you get fresh revelation and insight into the things of God. Is it frustrating? Yes. I can identify more fully with Jesus as He wept over Jerusalem. His heart ached for the people to listen to Him: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" Again, I did not come close to the anguish that He did, but the principle is there - the frustration of "why don’t they get it?" Again, Christ wept over Lazarus. Why would He do that? He knew Lazarus was saved and was going to heaven and would be in a better place. Why would it bother Him especially He who could talk on the Mount of Transfiguration with Moses and Elijah who were long dead? I think part of what bothered Him was the frustration of His ministering to the family of Lazarus and their mourning so deeply (didn’t they believe what He said about eternal life?); another part of it was that He had to bring back Lazarus from a better place to come back to this world. Again, not comparing my work to Christ’s, but only the similarity of principle, a disciple can’t be above His Master:

I also want to say that what I did, I did in obedience to what God lead me to do. I do not pretend to be a prophet nor to be starting a "new" movement. From now on, you may do what you see fit. I do not hold you to do this as did Jonadab the ancestor of the Rechabites.

I do caution you though when you think on what you want to do to keep in mind this scripture: Collosians 2: 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

How many times have we heard this expression? How many times have we been asked or even told to get into the SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS? Have we really ever examined what, if any thing, it means? If the truth is told, we never really think about it, we kind of get some emotional feelings or review some pictures in our mind and engage in many activities that seem appropriate, including gift giving. We may even recall some particular smell of certain cooking odors or the taste of certain seasonal foods.

Even by this exercise, I may be adding to men’s traditions of what the SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS. If it is, it is mine and I have come to the conclusions by examining the scriptures and thinking about what I’m doing. You may come to a different conclusion or even no conclusion at all. You may like what you’re doing to invoke the SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS. All I ask is that you re-examine it in light of scripture and come to a conclusion that you have deliberated and prayed over and lines up with scripture. If it is to mean anything, it should be the result of a deliberate decision based on scriptural information; not just a vague good feeling based on our emotions.

Can we spend some time this year looking into it?

If it is a real thing we need to go to the sources of the story and of whom the story is about, the sacred scriptures, and compare what they tell us to what we have experienced or think of as the SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS.

Is it a white Christmas we dream of, according to the song? Where Christ was born doesn’t have a snow season nor do places near the equator nor Florida in our own United States. So that can’t be it.

Is it bright colored lights and green trees? People before Christ used lights and fire to symbolize life and warmth. Greenery was used to scare off evil spirits and trees were worshipped and used in gross pagan practices. Lights were used to appease pagan gods in the darkest part of the year to make the god bring the sun back. These don’t sound too much like the SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS and it is certainly not in the scriptures.

Is it giving gifts? After all Christ was God’s gift to us and the wisemen gave Christ gifts. God’s gift to us, His Son, is free and unencumbered by God wanting a "return." His gift is so enormous we could never begin to make a return to Him. If we’re honest, our Christmas gift giving is secretly tainted by what the other person gave us last year and our wish to outdo it or at least match it. If we’re really honest, as Christians, even some of our so-called Christian activities are attempts to "pay back God" who neither expects nor requires it. Somehow, we feel if we do something great it will obligate Him or at least pay back His gift. But I digress. The wise men did not come to Christ at His birth. They came to his home about two years later. (Remember, Herod had all the male children under two years killed). What they gave Him probably helped pay for the trip and time in Egypt. So, these things don’t seem to fit. More on this later.

Is it the manger in a barn? If that is it, we need to visit animal barns sometime during the year and contemplate the love that made the creator of the world allow Himself to be born in such a filthy and foul-smelling place. Those of us who live in cities don’t have that available and to do it would require us to make it an annual pilgrimage. This sounds too much like the mandatory pilgrimages some religions press onto their believers to do some good work to complete their religious requirements. The New Testament scriptures don’t call for that at all.

Is it reindeer or cute songs about a particular one with a peculiar nose? I don’t see it in the scriptures.

How about Santa Claus? Who can be against such a benevolent character? It’s not scriptural and leads us to become liars to our children for the sake of perpetuating a myth.

How about the Christmas shopping season? This is totally man made with no scriptural basis. All of us are now coming to see the commercialism, even non-Christians. Besides, it is not even Christmas any more: it’s "Happy Holidays" or "Season’s Greetings" or some such watered down expression. At least the expression "Xmas" contained an "X" which, I believe, could be construed as standing for the Greek letters Chi Ro which start the word "Christ."

I recently heard on a Christian radio station some people discussing their particular way of celebrating Christmas. The theme was something like "Celebrating Christmas with a biblical basis." All I heard was people’s own customs (as well meaning as they were) plastered onto the Christmas story, or family or ethnic customs with the veneer of the Christmas story smeared onto it. I don’t make fun of them in a mocking way, but the customs were made by men, not scripture.

Is it the traditional Charles Dickens story of Tiny Tim and Scrooge? This is a sentimental story which arouses our tears over the plight of the family and the change in Ebenezer Scrooge (by the way, "Ebenezer" means "stone of help"). But in reality, Scrooge came to be transformed by fear of ghosts and how life could be affected by his changing. It was not through repentance and God’s work in transforming His character to that of Christ’s.

It occurred to me that we can’t even complain that "our" Christmas has been spoiled by the world and commercialism. The is nothing in scripture pointing to celebrating the birth of Christ as a holyday so there is nothing commanded by God to ruin.

What of house decorations? To me if the people in the house are living for the Lord, the house is decorated enough with His peace and it will be obvious to all who enter and will be there all year not for 30 days or so.

Perhaps you are thinking of some examples I didn’t think of. I’m sure we all have favorite memories of past Christmases and perhaps attach ourselves and our feelings for what the SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS means.

My conclusion is that there is no such thing as the SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS as a particular season or time of year or a certain form of celebration or ceremony: that’s why we have endless stories and differing forms of celebrations on what it is! It is something that can never be captured because it isn’t there. When God instituted the Holydays, He prescribed what as to happen - the Christmas holiday has no such structure and so many differences you must conclude that He never intended it to be "celebrated." Our energies are spent in vain to capture what isn’t there unless we belong to Christ.

In my opinion, if we want to have a SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS it can only be the presence of Christ in us through the Holy Spirit who indwells us at the time we make the decision to acknowledge we are sinners, repent of our ways and accept Christ’s death as the death we deserved for our sins and allow Him to run our lives. This knows no season nor ceremony nor tradition and cannot be experienced by anyone but a Christian.

Christ’s presence dwelling in us can happen to the most tender child or the most vehement atheist. It can happen in a jungle to a cannibal or over a subway grate to a homeless person who now will have an eternal home. It can happen to the "good person" who has never committed the "big" sins. It can happen to the most vile prostitute and even to the man who profited from her trade.

Once done, it knows no season. It is year-round and eternal. It doesn’t even depend on how we "feel." God promises never to leave us or forsake us. It is His promise based on His character and integrity that makes it so, not our feeling of the day.

Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother

Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child

of the Holy Ghost. Mat 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. Mat 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the

king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written

by the prophet, Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my

people Israel. Mat 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with

Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened

their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word

was God. John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. John 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. John 1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons

of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from

Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. Luke 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)Luke 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was

of the house and lineage of David:) Luke 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:22 And when the days of her purification. were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; Luke 2:23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) Luke 2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. Luke 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Luke 2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Luke 2:28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Luke 2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: Luke 2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Luke 2:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. Luke 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. Luke 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; Luke 2:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; Luke 2:37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. Luke 2:38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Luke 2:39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign showest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? John 6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. John 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. John 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. John 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. John 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:48 I am that bread of life. John 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. John 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. John 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. John 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. John 6:59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? John 6:61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? John 6:62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was

before? John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. John 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal Life. John 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

How can we observe this spirit? My personal belief is that the celebration of the last supper is appropriate. It is the only event that Christ asked us to do in remembrance of Him. My thought is that His birth was not stated to be at a specific time on purpose. When God wants us to know something in detail, He specifies it and usually repeats it. (The Ten commandments, for example). Christ came into the world to die. You may say:

"We’re all born to die." This is true. From conception, we are on the path to death. We all live under the sentence of death. It is just a matter of time when the event occurs. It can happen in the womb or in the crib or in the years of our youth or in our eighties or nineties when our strength is gone and even perhaps our faculties. What is peculiar about this death is that He didn’t have to die. He could have remained in His glory and figured out another way for man’s sin to be taken care of. So His death has special significance and the Last Supper is the only place I know of where He asked that whenever it was done it was to be done in remembrance of Him.

If we want to manifest the SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS we Christians can celebrate communion at a time when world attention is focused on the so-called season and to call to remembrance His birth, His life and His death and to make or renew the commitment to accept His death ask Him to live His life in us and to take us home at our own deaths. As I said before, this knows no season but as long as men make this time something different we can take the opportunity to let them know how special it can be and remind ourselves of the terrible price paid by the infant who became a man and made the supreme sacrifice for us.

I’d like to say something about gift giving, God’s gift giving. And, I’ll give you the conclusion before the explanation: God’s gift of Christ to us is all we will ever need and anything else we may get is gravy. God, through Christ, gave us FORGIVENESS OF SIN, ETERNAL LIFE, FREEDOM FROM FEAR OF DEATH, OTHERS SCATTERED IN THE N.T.

FORGIVENESS OF SIN

ETERNAL LIFE

FREEDOM FROM FEAR OF DEATH

OTHERS SCATTERED IN THE N.T.

Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Mat 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give

him a stone? Mat 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils:

freely ye have received, freely give.

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give

you rest.

Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Luke 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues,

and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons

of God, even to them that believe on his name:

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.

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. John 4:12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave

you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from

heaven.

John 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of

this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

John 11:22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will

give it thee.

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,

that he may abide with you for ever;

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that

ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto

you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Rom 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Rom 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which

receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

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

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

2 Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

1 Tim 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

1 Cor 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 1 Cor 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

1 Cor 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 1 Cor 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.1 Cor 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.1 Cor 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

1 Cor 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 1 Cor 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.1 Cor 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.1 Cor 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.1 Cor 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.1 Cor 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.