God's Offer

I. GOD OFFERS SALVATION FOR ALL!

What an abundance of Scripture proves this truth. Here are some samples, taken almost as random:

“for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Timothy 2:3, 4).

“the Lord is not lack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

How definite, how sure, how positive in His Word.

When the Lord Jesus explained the new birth to Nicodemus, He referred to the Old Testament story of Moses lifting up the brazen serpent as a cure for the poisonous snake bites. There in Numbers 21:9, we are told that “if the serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived” Compare this with the new birth passage where twice in two connecting verses Jesus told Nicodemus “Whosoever believeth . . . whosoever believeth” (John 3:15, 16). It is that broad in its offer.

On the night that Christ was born in Bethlehem, when the angel made the announcement of His birth to the shepherds, he said:

“Fear not: for, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10, 11).

No exclusive Savior for a select few is He!

Someone tells of a man who felt Christ would not receive him. He lamented, “I am such a miserable, wicked, helpless sinner, there is no hope for me. I have tried to get saved, praying and resolving, but it is no use.”

He was asked, “Do you believe, as the Word of God says, that Christ died for our sins and rose again for our justification?”

“Of course I do.”

“What would you do if Jesus were here on earth in the flesh again now?”

He responded with enthusiasm, “I would go to Him at once.”

“What would you say?”

“I would tell him that I am a lost sinner and I would ask Him to save me.”

“And how would He respond?”

Instead of replying, the man simply stood silently for several moments. The friend insistently repeated his query, “How would He respond?”

The poor sinner looked up, a smile breaking across his face, and he softly replied, “He would say, ‘I will.’” And he went away rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

How can you know that Christ will answer you the same way if you go to Him today? Because that is exactly what His Word promises. He guaranteed in John 6:37, “. . . him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT OR ASK?

Let me hasten to add, however,

I. God offers salvation for all

II. GOD OFFERS SALVATION FOR FREE!

In the Word of God, salvation is always called a “gift.” It is never, never described as a reward, wages, or something to be earned or merited.

It is a gift. John 3:16, quoted above, starts out, “For God so loved the world that he gave . . .”

Romans 6:23 says, “. . . the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” And II Corinthians 9:15 expresses Paul’s gratitude over this when He exudes, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

Perhaps one of the strongest passages in the Bible to underscore the fact that salvation cannot be earned or merited is Ephesians 2:8, 9: “for by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of words, lest any man should boast.” Just take it, dear friend.

The hymn write, Dr. James M. Gray, beautifully expressed it:

“Nor silver nor gold hath obtained

my redemption,

Nor riches of earth could have

saved my poor soul;

the blood of the cross is my only

foundation,

The death of my Savior now maketh

me whole.

“Nor silver nor gold hath obtained

my redemption,

the way into Heaven could not thus

be bought;

The blood of the cross is my only

foundation,

The death of my Savior redemption

hath wrought.

“I am redeemed, but not with silver,

I am bought, but not with gold.

Bought with a price—the blood of

Jesus,

Precious price of love untold.”