The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Freest Gift, Paid In Full"
"Our confidence in the Spirit of God and the Word of God can be directly measured by how we share the Gospel."
If we communicate the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as declared and defined by Scripture, we may be accused of promoting a message that leads to irresponsibility and laxity regarding a life of devotion to the will of God. Consider the experience of the Apostle Paul:
"We are slanderously reported, and some affirm that we say, Let us do evil, that good may come… What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid" (Romans 3:8; 6:15).
Paul proclaimed the freest gift ever given, the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ, purchased by the highest cost ever remitted, the Savior's suffering, forsakenness, and death on the cross of Calvary. Paul's enemies chafed at his thrice-declared affirmation of a "free gift," accusing him of promoting licetiousness (Romans 5:15; 16; 18). The Apostle nevertheless refused to back down from the truth that had changed his heart, along with the hearts of so many others born again by grace through faith in a sublimely breathtaking work of God apart from human effort or merit. Paul well knew the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Gospel message as more than sufficient for those who repented and believed in the Divine work of God that alone changes hearts.
"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (I Corinthians 2:4).
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16).
Paul did not allow himself to be distracted by how and why people responded to the Holy Spirit and the Gospel. He simply spoke and wrote the truth, knowing that many would believe and be born again thereby. Others would "believe in vain," hearing words in the head that resulted in a decision of sorts, but never reaching into the heart to effect a conversion (I Corinthians 15:2). Still others would reject the truth entirely. Paul did not allow human response to alter his message of a divine gift marked "Paid In Full" that would be sullied by even a hint of cost to the recipient. Indeed, far too much sorrow, pain, forsakenness, and death took place on the cross of Calvary to place any price tag on that which Christ alone could have purchased for our sake.
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:4-7).
Our confidence in the Spirit of God and the Word of God can be directly measured by how we share the Gospel of God. Indeed, based on Paul's experience, if we are not sometimes accused of communicating laxity regarding holiness, we may need to check our understanding and communication of Christ and salvation. Let us then join the Apostle in no less proclaiming the freest gift ever given, purchased by the highest cost ever remitted. We can be supremely confident that the power of the Spirit and the power of the Gospel will more than suffice in penetrating beyond the head and into the hearts of those who will truly believe and receive the freest gift, gift paid in full.
"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"
(Romans 8:32)
Weekly Memory Verse
The Root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
(Proverb 12:12)
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