God's Greatest Gift
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? -Mark 8:36
God is good.
Have you ever enjoyed seeing a colorful sunset, hearing a rushing waterfall, smelling a fragrant flower, tasting a sweet juicy peach...
Have you ever enjoyed seeing a colorful sunset, hearing a rushing waterfall, smelling a fragrant flower, tasting a sweet juicy peach, feeling warm grass on bare toes?
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights…
-James 1:17
Everything beautiful and good that we enjoy is a gift from God, reflecting His goodness.
Nothing is good apart from God. In the beginning, everything was perfect, simple, and good.
You have turned against God.
Our first parents, Adam and Eve, brought the curse of sin on God’s perfect world when they deliberately chose to disobey God. We follow in their footsteps.
No matter how hard we try...
Our first parents, Adam and Eve, brought the curse of sin on God’s perfect world when they deliberately chose to disobey God. We follow in their footsteps.
No matter how hard we try, apart from God, we can only destroy the beauty and good that God has left in the world. Our sin has separated us from God.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
-Romans 5:12
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
-Romans 3:23
God took your punishment.
“But God,” don’t you love that phrase? But God, our loving Creator, made a way for us to return to Him and ultimately...
“But God,” don’t you love that phrase? But God, our loving Creator, made a way for us to return to Him and ultimately to the simplicity He designed for us in the beginning.
But God commendeth (shows) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
-Romans 5:8
Keeping all His attributes including His justice, holiness, and righteousness uncompromised and at great painful cost to Himself, God’s own sinless Son took our sin in His body on the cross to give us His righteous standing before God.
Simple, yet priceless! What a great and loving God!
For he (God) hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
-2 Corinthians 5:21
For God so 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
God offers you His free gift.
There is nothing you have to do to earn a right standing with God. He has done it all. But you must...
There is nothing you have to do to earn a right standing with God. He has done it all. But you must accept God's free gift.
Come to God, the holy God you have disobeyed, confess your sins to Him, repent and turn from your wicked ways and by faith follow Jesus. There is no other way to know or please God.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
-Romans 6:23
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
-Ephesians 2:8-9
I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.
-John 14:6
God empowers you to live His way.
At this point Jesus is more important to you than any other person, or thing, or thought that you have. You take Him as Lord of your life and begin...
At this point Jesus is more important to you than any other person, or thing, or thought that you have. You take Him as Lord of your life and begin to do what He wants you to do and to stop doing what you want to do.
”Wait!” you say. “I can't do that!” No, you can't. But when you truly turn to go God’s way, He gives every true believer 3 gifts.
First, God plugs you into His power by giving you His Holy Spirit in your body as a down payment of your salvation. Now, God can empower you to know His will and to do His will.
When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:
-John 16:13
Second, He has given us the Bible, His very own words preserved for us to tell us His truth.
Sanctify (purify) them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
-John 17:17
Third, God has given you access to Him in prayer and the right to call Him Father.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
-Galatians 4:6
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally... and it shall be given him.
-James 1:5
Now you are equipped with supernatural power, a divine guidebook, and a channel of conversation to the God of the universe—you have a heavenly dimension you never had before!
At this point, you are privileged to be called a child of God; Your God-need is satisfied; you are ready to live life God’s way.
God will always be with you.
The gift of salvation enables you to live for God in this life and join Him in heaven in the next.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward...
The gift of salvation enables you to live for God in this life and join Him in heaven in the next.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
-Psalm 73:24
As you believe what His Word says by faith and obey what it tells you to do, you please God; you do His will. Now you are starting at the spot closest to living in the Garden of Eden that any person can attain in this fallen world; you can walk and talk with God.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
-Psalm 16:11
God promises that life will not always be easy, but that He will be with us every step of the way.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
-John 16:33
I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
-Matthew 28:20
What will you do?
Will you accept this simple, priceless gift God has offered? You can right now!
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
-2 Corinthians 6:2
Talk to God. He's right there with you. The Bible says:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
-Romans 10:9
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved...
-Acts 16:31
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
-Romans 10:13
Want to know more? Read Luke chapter 15 or the gospel of John in the Bible. You can also listen to the whole podcast on God’s greatest gift.
