The Gift of God

   
A gift, by definition, is something that is given willingly to someone without payment; a present. It brings joy to the one that receives it, as well as the one that extends it to them. Usually at Easter, we don't think about receiving presents. But, this is when the greatest present ever given was extened to the whole world. It is the Gift of Salvation! "..But the GIFT of GOD is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 6:23.

Before this Gift could be given, there had to be a PERSON. This is the One that gives the gift out of love. The Person that gives the gift of Salvation is Jesus Christ! He is the only One that could give this gift to us! " For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." I Timothy 2:5. "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12. The Lord Jesus is the Only One that could give us the gift of Eternal Life!

A gift has to be gotten from a PLACE. Just as one that gives a gift must choose a place in which to get the gift, the Lord chose Calvary as the PLACE  to provide the Gift of Eternal Life! "And when they were come to the PLACE, which is called CALVARY, there they crucified Him.." Luke 23:33.  He suffered and died in the worst pain and agony anyone on this earth has ever known, bearing our sin debt on the cross FOR US! This was the only place the Gift could be gotten! "....even so MUST THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP!" John 3:14. 

This Gift of Salvation had to be PURCHASED! The ONLY PAYMENT that would purchase the Gift of Salvation was THE BLOOD OF JESUS! "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,....But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" I Peter 1:20. Jesus Blood was the only thing that could pay for our Salvation. His Blood paid the entire sin debt for the whole world! It does not cost us ANYTHING! "Being justified FREELY by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His Blood.." Romans 3:24 & 25. 

Just as a present from a store comes with a receipt, or PROOF of payment, so does our Salvation! Our Proof of Payment is the EMPTY TOMB!"He is not here: for He is RISEN as He said..." Matthew 28:6.  It is PROOF to the entire world that God the Father received the Blood of the Lamb as payment for our sins! "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept." I Corinthians 15:20. "For Christ is ....into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." Hebrews 9:24. If Christ had not risen from the dead, there would be no hope for us. "And if Christ be not raised, YOUR FAITH IS IN VAIN; YE ARE YET IN YOUR SINS." I Corinthians 15:17. Easter is not just a holiday, or named from a pagan festival, Easter is WORSHIP AND CELEBRATION OF THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE!!!! " I AM the Resurrection and the Life;" John 11:25. If we do not worship the Lord Jesus and celebrate that He has risen from the dead, something is VERY WRONG! 

Once a gift has been purchased, it is PRESENTED to the one is was intended for. When the gift is extended, all one has to do is to receive it! They do not work for it, pay for it, or even beg for it! It is FREELY RECEIVED! So is our Salvation. All we have to do is believe that Christ purchased our Salvation, freely to us, and in full, and He will give it to us! While it is for everyone in the world, the Lord Jesus STILL calls us PERSONALLY by name to receive it! "..Fear not: for I have redeemed thee. I have CALLED THEE BY NAME; THOU ART MINE!" Isaiah 43:1. Thank God for a Personal Salvation. Just as He called Mary by name that first Resurrection morning at the tomb ( John 20:16), so does He call us by name! It is our choice to respond to this call, though. We can humbly and graciously receive the gift of Salvation. Or, we have the choice to reject this Gift of God. Just as those that do not receive a gift that has been extended to them, whether from pride or any other reason, so are those that will not accept His Salvation! Just as it will hurt the heart of those that specifically purchased the gift just for that person, so does it hurt the heart of our Lord! It is just as much a slap in the face to the Saviour as those that buffeted him on the way to the cross! But, praise be to God, there are those that will gladly accept this precious Gift! "...we will rejoice and be GLAD in HIS SALVATION!" Isaiah 25:9. 

The Lord's Gift of Salvation started with His PERSON, A PLACE, WAS PURCHASED, WITH PROOF, AND PRESENTED to the whole world for receiving! If you have received His Gift of Salvation, praise His name and thank Him this Easter for the promise of Eternal Life that He purchased for you! If you have not, this is the glad day of Salvation! "..Behold, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!" II Corinthians 6:2.  This can be the first day of a new life in Christ for you! It costs you nothing, but it cost HIM EVERYTHING! Call upon Him while He is near! He is waiting for you to call out to Him and take HIS GIFT! "For God SOOOO loved the world, that HE GAVE His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH in Him, should NOT PERISH, but have everlasting LIFE!" John 3:16."..(Christ) was manifest in these last times, FOR YOU!" I Peter 1:20. 
 
 (thanks to Ryanne Lenoir photography for the picture above!)