“The Freest Gift”

The old hymn sings it beautifully. “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”

The Scriptures state it even more beautifully. “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God… For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:12; 14).

Our Savior apprehended the gift of salvation for us by the sacrifice of Himself in order that we may freely appropriate such marvelous grace by faith. He worked so that we might believe. Indeed, the redemption of the Lord Jesus is the freest gift even given, paid for by highest price ever remitted. Thus, the born again believer unapologetically proclaims the sublime beauty of yet another hymn, “Nothing in my hand I bring, only to Thy cross I cling.” Or, as the Apostle Paul wrote to Titus, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5).

The more such grace and mercy illuminates our hearts, the more the love of God and love for God will grow in motivation and magnitude. Indeed, Love begets love. “We love Him because He first loved us” (I John 4:19). So many of the hymns of our faith tell the story, the wondrous story of the God who did for us that which we could not do for ourselves. Even more, the Bible promises that as we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Christ who “paid it all,” we shall grow also in faith, faithfulness, and a life that truly honors the One worthy of more glory than even eternity will allow Him to receive. Yes, the love known and received that began our Christian life is the same love increasingly known and received that perpetuates it, even as the Apostle Paul proclaimed…

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” (Colossians 2:6)