God’s Indescribable Gift

November 2017 — Grace & Truth Magazine


God’s Indescribable Gift

“His unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15 KJV ) is also translated “His indescribable gift” ( NKJV ). This word describing the gift occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The idea is that no words can properly express the greatness of this gift bestowed on man; it cannot be explained. It is higher than the mind can conceive and than language can express.

Let’s look at three basic ways that this gift is the greatest gift of all and is indescribable.

1. The Savior Is A Gift To Mankind
Scripture uniformly presents Him in this way. To see this, consider:

• John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
• Galatians 1:4 – “... Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.”
• Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
• Ephesians 1:22 – “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church.”
• 1 Timothy 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 every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Man had no claim on God and could not compel Him to provide a plan of salvation. The whole arrangement – the selection of the Savior, the sending Him into the world, and all the benefits resulting from His work – is an undeserved gift to man.

2. The Gift Is Unspeakably Great
No language or words can express this gift’s value – no heart fully conceive it. This is because of the greatness and glory of Him, the inexpressible love He displayed, the unutterable sufferings He endured and the unspeakably great benefits resulting from His work. No language can do justice to this work in any of these respects. There is not one heart in this world that can fully conceive the obligation which rests on man because of this work.

3. A Cause For Thanksgiving
Thanks should be rendered to God for this. We owe Him our highest praises because His gift was simply a desire of God to do something good for us. We had no claim; we could not compel him to grant us a Savior. The gift might have been withheld, and His throne would have been spotless. We deserved nothing but judgment. How great the thanks that we should give to Him considering what He removed from us and the benefits which we have received from Him! Who can express that amount of thanksgiving? All our peace and hope; all our comfort and joy in this life; all our prospect of pardon and salvation; all the offers of eternal glory are traced to Him.

Man has no prospect of being happy when he dies apart from the “unspeakable gift” of God. When he thinks ...

• Of his sins, which may now be freely pardoned;
• Of an agitated and troubled conscience, which may now be at peace;
• Of his soul, which may now be unspeakably and eternally happy;
• Of the hell from which he is delivered; and
• Of the heaven and eternal glories he will soon enjoy through the gift of a Savior ...

his heart should overflow with gratitude and, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift,” should be continually on his lips. Compared to this, every other mercy seems small.

The right response from our hearts as believers should lead us to contemplate their Source. May we, as Paul did, trace all to the unspeakable gift of God!

By Timothy P. Hadley