The salvation Christ brings is a gift to sinners--"thank God for his indescribable gift." Eventually, the analogy breaks down. One difference between the gift of salvation and Christmas gifts is that they are fairly irrelevant until we open them, and then we immediately see the full extend of what they are.
The New Testament describes salvation-- not exclusively, but many, many times-- as a future event. Thus, to receive Christ is like receiving a gift and not like receiving a gift. We do not see the full extent of his gift, in fact, we don't even see a tiny fraction: "for who hopes for what he sees?" In the meantime, our hope grows not by shaking boxes and wondering what lies beneath colored paper, but in learning to believed in words and promises that God has given. The gift of God comes wrapped in promises; promises that are both radical and true, promises given not to fuel the anticipation of curiosity and anticipation, but the holy anticipation of hope, joy, and love.
Merry Christmas!
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