The Best Gift Of God: Open Your Heart To Receive Christ

Who can measure or anticipate the Gift of God? 

His mercy and love for the fallen race have not ceased to increase. God lives and reigns and in Christ He still pours a healing grace on our world.

The value of a gift is proportionate to its effectiveness to the needs of perishing souls we are. 

When Christ gave Himself, He opened up a spiritual fountain of Divine influence, that by faith in Him, humans might partake of the Divine nature.

Who can measure or anticipate the Gift of God? 

His mercy and love for the fallen race have not ceased to increase.

The value of a gift is proportionate to its effectiveness to the needs of perishing souls we are.

When Christ gave Himself, He opened up a spiritual fountain of Divine influence, that by faith in Him, humans might partake of the Divine nature. 

In Christ is:

• the Gospel embodied

• the express image of the Father's person

• all the fullness of the Godhead

• the brightness of the Father's glory

• divinity and humanity combined

• the glory of the attributes of God

In the gift of God's dear Son, a definite view of God's character has been given to the human race. 

Furthermore, the gift of Christ to the world shows the exalted character of the plan of salvation.

The provision is nothing less than Christ Himself

He is the bread that comes down from heaven and from Him the streams of salvation flow. 

In the parable of the great supper God had provided, He offered to them the greatest gift that Heaven can bestow - a gift that is beyond measure.

The love of God had furnished the costly banquet, and had provided inexhaustible resources.

If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever. John 6:51.

The gospel invitation is to be given to all the world - to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. Revelation 14:6. 

The last message of warning and mercy of God is to lighten the whole earth with its glory. It is to reach all classes of people.

Go out into the highways and hedges, Christ says, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled. Luke 14:23.

The provision made for the salvation of humankind through the righteousness of Christ, does not release us from our obligation to keep the Ten Commandments of God, nor lessen in the least its holy claim.

Christ came to exalt the Law of God and make it honorable. Furthermore, to reveal its exceeding breadth and changeless character. 

The glory of the gospel of grace is the imputed righteousness of Christ.

It is providing a way of salvation to everyone through obedience to the Law of God by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Christ only is the way, the truth, the life

Mankind is justified freely by God's grace through faith, and not by works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:9. 

Salvation is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Many have felt their hopeless condition and asked in perplexity:

How shall we gain admission to the world to come? Earth lies under the curse, and is doomed to destruction (for Satan's sake). 

How shall we be able to enter the city of God?

We would point you to Christ - the way, the truth and the life. He is the ladder between Heaven and earth. 

The base of it rests upon the earth and it's topmost round reaches to the throne of the Infinite.

The children of Adam are not left desolate and alienated from God. For through Christ's righteousness we have access to the Father.

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10:9.

Let earth be glad and the inhabitants of the world rejoice. For Christ has bridged the gulf which sin had made and bound earth and Heaven together.

In one rich gift God poured out the treasures of Heaven

Christ has done everything He could for the salvation of humans. He still:

• knocks on the door of your heart

1. to sub with you

2. open unto Me, buy of Me the gold tried in the fire

• invites you to

1. choose Him as your Savior and become a child of God

2. come as you are, sinful and polluted, lay your burden of guilt on Me

3. casts all your care upon Me and take My yoke

4. learn of me...and ye shall find rest unto your souls

5. come to Him that you may have life

• pleads

1. come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest

2. come out from among them, and be you separate

3. confess your sins and put them away

•  urges

• do not fail to learn the will of God

• humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time

• let not your pride and unbelief lead you.

God will not compel His creatures to come unto Him. He waits for their cooperation.

He waits for the consent of the will. Thus He may bestow upon the sinners the riches of His grace, reserved for them from the foundation of the world.

Unless there is a cooperation of one's will with God's will, the Lord can do nothing for anyone.

All the power is of God. Yet all the responsibility rests with the human. 

Though weak, erring, sinful, and imperfect, the Lord holds out to humans the privilege of co-partnership with Himself.

The sinner becomes a partaker of the divine nature

It is by believing in Jesus as one's personal Savior and accepting of His righteousness by faith. 

Thus one escapes the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:4.

Without the divine nature, without the influence of the Spirit of God, humans cannot work out their own salvation.

For God must work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13.

Christ has said: Without Me ye can do nothing. John 15:5. 

It is through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that the Christian is enabled to resist temptation and to work righteousness.

The cross of Calvary speaks the amazing love of God for the sinner. He valued humankind at an infinite price. 

For giving His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

If the love of God fails to call forth a response from the human heart, if it fails to soften and subdue the soul, we are utterly lost. 

There is no reserve power through which to influence the sinner.

Heaven's richest gift of God has been freely offered for our acceptance.

No greater manifestation of God's love can be given than that which was given on Calvary's cross. 

Again, if the love of Christ does not melt and subdue the heart, there's no means by which humans can be reached.

Danger of neglecting the gift of salvation through Christ

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? Hebrews 2:3.

Will you not ask yourself - How is it with my soul? The great gift of salvation has been placed within our reach at an infinite cost to the Father and the Son.

To neglect salvation, is to neglect the knowledge of the Father and of the Son whom God hath sent. 

Furthermore, that humans might become a partakers of the divine nature and thus with Christ an heir of all things.

A neglect to lay hold of the priceless treasure of salvation, means the eternal ruin of your soul. 

The danger of indifference to God and neglect of His gift is measured by the greatness of salvation.

If sinner:

• remains indifferent to the manifestation of the goodness of God

• neglects this great salvation

• rejects the initiation of divine mercy

• refuses the gift of life purchased by the precious blood of Christ,

then, what more could be done to touch the hard heart?

Our Creator and Redeemer threw all His power and love in His wonderful achievement. 

The Son of the infinite God, the Majesty of heaven lie down His life in order that we might be saved.

If this does not move the proud human heart then there is nothing that will move one.

Condition on which it is freely offered to us

Christ's gift of salvation is freely offered to us on condition that we obey the Law of God. 

None will ever enter the city of God who do not reverence the statutes of His government.

Now is the time allotted to us to gain the mastery, through divine grace, over every rebellious thought and action. 

Moreover, to work out our own salvation, not with boasting self-confidence, but with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12.

We should live as in the sight of Heaven, with no other object for our ambition and work than the glory of our Creator and Redeemer. 

Live as believing that every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:12.

Jesus prayed to His Father: 

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world - they are to be the light of the world - but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. John 17:15. 

We are to be in the world but not of it - shining with the reflected light of Jesus.

We must not live for self, blending into the darkness of the world. But kept from its evil we must give our lives into an active, earnest service.

This will sanctify the soul.

While we seek the salvation and benefit of others, we shall be workers together with God, learning His methods and partaking of His power.

Rooted and grounded in Christ

This is the only way in which believers will be able to stand firm in the conflict. 

They must receive the truth as it is in Jesus. And it is only as the truth is presented thus that it can meet the wants of the soul.

The preaching of Christ crucified and Christ our righteousness, is what satisfies the soul's hunger.

When we secure the interest of the people in this great central truth, faith, hope and courage come to the heart. 

God has given His Son to die for sinners. Thus He has made the great gift because of His love for sinful, fallen humankind.

He is able and willing to save all who come unto Him and believe in Him as their personal Savior. Therefore:

Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29.

The love of God flows into the soul, and gratitude springs up in the heart that was as cold as a stone. Christ crucified and Christ our righteousness is what wins the heart and brings it to repentance. 

Jesus said unto the woman of Samaria:

If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; 

thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water...

Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; 

but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:10, 14.

May we all see that Christ was slain for our transgressions and that He desires to save us.

The gift of Christ reveals the Father's heart

It testifies that the thoughts of God toward us are thoughts of peace, and not of evil. Jeremiah 29:11. 

It declares that while God's hatred of sin is as strong as death, His love for the sinner is stronger than death.

The whole treasury of Heaven is open to those God seeks to save. He gives the resources of infinite power into the hands of Christ in order that the richest blessings of heaven might be poured out upon the fallen race.

The God of Heaven collected all the riches of the universe, and laid them down in order to purchase the pearl of lost humanity.

God could not express greater love than He has expressed in giving the Son of His bosom to this world.

Satan has misrepresented God as:

• selfish and oppressive

• claiming all, and giving nothing

• requiring the service of His creatures for His own glory

• making no sacrifice for their good.

The universe comprised of all created worlds, our fallen world, and the confederacy of evil cannot say that God could do more for the salvation of humans than He has done.

Never can His gift be surpassed and never He can display a richer depth of love.

Calvary represents God's crowning work. 

It is human's part to respond to His great love by appropriating the great salvation which the blessing of the Lord has made it possible for humanity to obtain.

In conclusion

All Heaven is interested in our salvation. Shall we:

• be indifferent

• careless, as though it was a small matter whether we are saved or lost

• slight the sacrifice that has been made for us.

The infinite price paid for our redemption shows us its value. Just in proportion to the magnitude of the gift offered, is the guilt and folly of its rejection.

All that God could do to save humankind has been done. Those who reject the mercy so freely offered, will yet be made known the worth of that which they have despised.

They will feel the agony which Christ endured upon the cross to purchase redemption for all who would receive it. 

And they will then realize what they have lost - eternal life and the immortal inheritance.

Have you failed to respond to the pleadings of God's Spirit? Then no longer fortify your heart in hardness. 

Open the door of the heart to receive Christ, the best gift of God.

Let not unbelief influence you to refuse the heaven-sent guest. 

Let not Christ say of you: Ye will not come unto Me that ye might have life. John 5:40.

With loving entreaties He follows the sinner, pleading: 

Turn ye, turn ye; for why will ye die? Ezekiel 33:11.

God has poured out all Heaven in one gift

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, 

I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20.

Humble your heart before God, that He may give you His Holy Spirit. Christ has declared: 

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24.

You cannot follow Christ unless you are willing to bear the cross at every step. 

The friendship of the world is enmity with God. James 4:4. 

We must take our journey through the world as pilgrims and strangers, clinging by living faith to the cross of Calvary, and taking God at His Word.

The blessing of God will rest upon every soul that makes a full consecration to Him. When we seek for God with all the heart, we shall find Him. 

The Lord desires His children to take comfort in His service, and to find more pleasure than hardship in His work.

Moreover, He desires that those who come to worship Him shall carry away with them precious thoughts of His care and love that they may be cheered in all the employments of daily life, and have grace to deal honestly and faithfully in all things.

References:

1. The Bible, King James Version (KJV)

2. Mes, 1893; COL 222; DA 57; YI, Oct, 1895; TMK 69; RH, Sept, 1883; RH, Nov, 1890; ST, Dec, 1887; RH, Jan, 1890; ST, Nov, 1898; - The Ellen G. White Estate