The Gift That Keeps On Giving

We’re living in a day and time when one frequently receives a card in the mail, a message on the radio or a commercial on the television advertising “something for nothing”. Upon closer examination of the offer one usually finds it is a gimmick to get you to purchase something else or has hidden costs. An “offer you can’t refuse” might be:

· FREE TRIP (Doesn’t include airfare, hotel, food…).

· FREE CAR (If your name is chosen out of 100 million + Tax., Title, License….).

· FREE MEAL (If you buy the most expensive one on the menu besides).

· 50% OFF (If you spend at least $50,000.00).

I want to talk about an offer you mustn’t refuse. This is a free gift that is actually free---it has already been paid for and is reserved in your name.

1. THE PREREQUISITE OF THE GIFT: “For God so loved the world…”

A. God gave us a gift; He paid for it; He loves us.

B. “God commended His love for us…”--Romans 5:8

C. “He loved us”--Ephesians 2:4

D. “Not that we loved God, but He loved us”--1 John 4:10

E. We give gifts to those we love

1) Not always just Christmas, Birthday, etc.

2) Not size of gift but “The thought that counts”

3) I don’t give gifts to my enemies

2. THE PRECIOUSNESS OF THE GIFT: “that He gave His only begotten Son…”

A. God gave us His most precious commodity, His Son

1) Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His Own Son…”

2) 1 John 4:9 “God sent His only begotten Son into the world…”

B. God knew what was going to happen to His Son but He gave Him anyway: Rejection, Beating, Mocking, Scourging, Denial, Betrayal, and Crucifixion

C. God knew He would have to turn His back on His Son, but He gave Him anyway. 2 Corinthians 5:21

3. THE PERSONALIZATION OF THE GIFT “that whosoever believeth in Him…”

A. “Whosoever”: who ever---an emphatic form

1) Used 179 times in the Bible—means the same thing every time: “absolutely, positively, unconditionally anyone”

2) “That if [Billy Kryger] believeth….”

B. “Believeth”: [to have faith(in)] on Him (Jesus)

1) Trust + Nothing = Salvation

a) Acts 16:31 “Believe = saved”

b) Not Faith + Baptism, Church, Works

2) Definite Act

a) “I believe in God” The Devil does too!

b) “I’ve always been a Christian.” Haven’t always been born.

3) Believing = Receiving

a) Greek: “pisteuo” = Experimental Belief

b) I must take an aspirin to relieve my headache---not just believe that it will work.

c) John 1:12 “As many as received Him”

d) Christ is The Saviour; is He yours?

4. THE PERMANENCE OF THE GIFT “should not perish but have everlasting life.”

A. God is not an “indian giver”. He won’t take his gift of eternal life back because we become undeserving of it.

B. Everlasting life is just that; forever---then a day after.

1) John 3:15 “ETERNAL life”

2) 1 John 5:11 “ETERNAL life”

3) 1 John 5:13 “ETERNAL life”

4) John 3:36 “EVERLASTING life”

C. Illustration of eternity: Bird’s beak, water of world…

CONCLUSION:

A. ILL] “John 3:16”

B. It’s also a PERFECT GIFT—no assembly required, no missing or damaged pieces…

INVITATION:

A. Without Christ? Accept His free gift today, right now.

B. Saved? Give the gift that keeps on giving.

=======================================================

ILL] If a sparrow flew to the Atlantic Ocean and filled his little beak with water; and then flew all the way across the United States to the Pacific Ocean and emptied his beak, then rested for 1,000 years; Then he flew back to the Atlantic, filled his beak, flew to the Pacific, emptied his beak; and continued this process until the entire Atlantic Ocean was emptied into the Pacific Ocean, resting for 1,000 tears between trips, and then put all the water back, after he was done not one day of eternity would have passed! That’s how long a person who has accepted God’s gift of everlasting life can hope to spend with our Saviour!!!

-------------------------------------------------------

ILL] “John 3:16” In Chicago during the Great Depression there was a little boy who sold newspapers on the street corner to help provide for his family. His tattered jacket that was about three sizes too small provided little relief from the bitter Winter Chicago wind.. On one particularly cold day the young man was nearly frostbitten when a policeman approached him.

“Son, do you know that big white house on the corner a couple of blocks up?

“Yes sir. I pass it every day on my way to this corner.”

“Well, I want you to walk over there, step up onto the porch and knock on the door. When the lady that lives there answers just say “John 3:16”

The young man did as he was told. He walked up to the door and knocked. A kind face appeared at the door and the boy looked up and said “John 3:16”. The gentle lady opened the door wide and invited the cold, shivering, dirty little boy to come into the living room where there was a roaring fire blazing in the fireplace. As he sat there getting warm and cozy he said to himself, “John 3:16. I don’t understand it; but it sure does make a cold little boy warm!”