The Gifts

3 April 2014

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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. - Matthew 2:11

Gifts

The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh that were given to Jesus by the wise men have been used as evidence that there were three men. It is evident that there were three different kinds of gifts, but the quantity of each gift and the number of givers is not known. We do know that there were at least two men because wise men is plural. Persian history tells us that these groups would sometimes be as large as nine!

In scripture, each of the gifts has symbolic meaning. Gold represents royalty or purity. Frankincense is a perfume used in incense burning and represents prayer. Myrrh is most often associated with burial and was mixed with wine as a painkiller for those being crucified.

All three symbols are fitting gifts for Jesus. They have brought gold for the pure King of glory. They have brought frankincense as offering of prayer to the Son of God. And they have brought myrrh foretelling of His death for the sins of God’s people.

While I think it is very fitting that we recognize these symbols, I think there is a more practical reason for these gifts. All three were very expensive! Joseph and Mary were very poor, and God was about to send them on a long journey to Egypt. Even before the need arose for the money, God provided the means for their safe travel south.

We learn two fundamental lessons when we look at these gifts. God deserves our very best offering. He is an awesome God that deserves our praise. God will provide for our needs and safety. He is a loving Heavenly Father that cares deeply for His children.

Tags: harmony_of_the_gospels, matthew, wisemen

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.

Living in Liberty

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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