In a few days, many in western cultures will be sitting around a Christmas tree, giving loved ones gifts, and then –especially if you have kids– the mayhem begins: the gifts are unwrapped. There is much thrill in watching loved ones open gifts and in opening gifts that we receive. However, as we consider the unsearchable riches of God’s gospel this Christmas season, let us set our minds on the reality that those who are in Christ receive a gift that we do not unwrap.

In fact, like much of the riches of the gospel, this gift is completely counter-cultural and counter-intuitive to how we receive gifts. Instead of unwrapping this wonderful gift we are wrapped in it. The apostle Paul describes this gift of the gospel this way: “[f]or our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21) (ESV). What Paul is telling us is that when we repented of sin and placed our trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord God imputed our sin onto Christ (that is, on the Cross Christ took upon the penalty we deserve for sin, He absorbed the Father’s wrath meant for us) and God imputed the perfect, full righteousness of Christ to us. Meaning, God considers us forgiven and legally righteous before Him. God’s gift to unworthy sinners like you and I was wrapping His Son in our sin’s penalty, and, in turn, wrapping us (those in Christ) in the righteousness of Christ. What an amazing and yet out of this world way to receive and relish in a gift: to be wrapped eternally in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

This season often brings a lot of stress and sometimes we feel a little down despite all of the wonderful festivities and gifts. May our hearts as Christians be encouraged by this wonderful treasure of the gospel. As we sit down and relax in front of the Christmas tree, take a moment to look at all those gifts neatly wrapped under the tree. May this scene throw us back to the gospel truth announced by Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “[f]or our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” We were unwrapped of the stain of sin and wrapped in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. A wrapping that warms us, secures us, and encourages us because it's a wrapping that will never be removed . . . not this Christmas nor forever more. Merry Christmas and amen.