Tag treasure in heaven

Let’s Talk about Jesus #4; His Unspeakable Gift

The Preacher 1 Comment

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

(2Corinthians 9:15).

While we’re talking about Jesus, let’s see if we can talk about this unspeakable gift.

The word here is the idea of indescribable, something we’re often unable to put into words. We are allowed to speak about it, but we’ll find it difficult to fully describe the good gifts of God.

Since most folks are talking about Jesus, let’s talk about Him too. Jesus told a healed man, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mark 5:19). Perhaps, we can do the same?

Maybe we can try to put into words the unspeakable GIFTS of Christ.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”
 (James 1:17).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

What are a few of the spiritual GIFTS we have from God in Christ?

We have GRACE. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11; cf Eph 2:8). We need to start here for it is by the GRACE of God in Christ that we have access to salvation. Grace is a gift of God. It is God’s Rescue plan for sinful man. Grace gives us Access to God through Christ. The sacrifice of Christ is the central component of God’s Grace. When we are baptized into Christ we are saved and can Escape the corruption of this life (for by Grace are you saved). Truly Grace is an indescribable gift.

The divinely INSPIRED word is a Gift of God. After James says that every perfect gift comes down from above, he writes this, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18). His inspired word is the source of knowledge about salvation in Christ, and is the source for how to live a life that is pleasing to Him. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy; “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2Tim 3:15-17).

On a personal level, God gives us the Gift of bearing FRUIT. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-25).

He also gives us gifts for our earthly TREASURE for our physical needs as well as for the church, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God” (2Corinthians 9:8-11; Mat 7:11).

Not just for our own use, but to share with those in need as the church in Macedonia did for the Saint in Jerusalem, “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints” (2Corinthians 8:1-4).

Lastly but certainly not least, God gives the gift of SALVATION. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This gift He brings to all those that repent and are baptized (Acts 2:38) will not be removed. “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (won’t take them back) (Romans 11:29).

People often mistake God’s Gifts as automatic & universal salvation, and that He gives physical blessings for all mankind regardless of their beliefs or actions. Not so. God gives the Gift of Access to salvation ONLY through His Son Christ Jesus. There is no other way. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

The Gift of Salvation comes to those that obey Him. “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9). Jesus has told us what will be said to the disobedient who call His name at the day of judgment, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say” (Luke 6:46)?

It is such a shame that even though we all have access to the Gift of God in Christ many will refuse it. God is full of Grace and Mercy, but one day everyone will stand before the throne of Christ to give an account and He “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2Thessalonians 1:8).

While we still have breath, we can obey the Gift of the Gospel of Christ and be saved. Then when death comes, we shall hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21).

Agape,

Spencer

Spencer is an evangelist for the Franklin & Juniper st church of Christ in Borger, Tx.

This is part of a series of articles about reasons to Talk About Jesus.

IT’S HOW MUCH?!

The Preacher Leave a comment

Surely, you’ve uttered those words after asking a vendor for their price. I’m often shocked at the price of certain items. With that in view, I thought it a good time to look at the prices of some of the finer things.

If you’re in the market for a new ring, here is the most expensive diamond in the world. The WINSTON BLUE DIAMOND weighs in at a hefty 13.22 carats and can be snapped up for a paltry $23.8 million.

Perhaps you’re in the market for a new production vehicle, then the ROLLS-ROYCE SWEPTAIL may be for you. You can lose 20% of it’s value when you drive this $13 million baby off the lot. If that’s out of your budget then you can grab one of the cheaper most expensive cars, the MCLAREN SPEEDTAIL for just $2.2 million.

If you’re like me, you’re saying, “I’ll never spend more for a car than I would my house.” So, you’re looking for a house? If BUCKINGHAM PALACE were on the market, you could grab it for $1.5 Billion. Unfortunately, it’s not for sale; however, you can pick up the VILLA LEOPOLDA, VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER in France for just under $800 Million.

All of these are likely out of your price range, so let’s look at a few ‘cheaper’ things. At $11,000 per night you could take a vacation at NORTH ISLAND IN SEYCHELLES. If you’re a bit more adventurous you could spend just one night at WHITE DESERT “GREATEST TRIP” TO ANTARCTICA. This trip of a lifetime will only set you back $195,000 for the 24-hour trip. That’s just $8125 per hour…or perhaps you could visit for a few minutes at just $135.42 per minute.

These things are just luxury items anyway, how about we look at some more practical items? The most expensive suit of clothing will only set you back $895,000, THE STUART HUGHES DIAMOND EDITION. Each one of the three suits ever made takes over 800 man hours to design & stitch the finest wool, cashmere & silk into this magnificent work of art. We all need clothing, right?

Moving onto food, how about THE FORTRESS STILT FISHERMAN INDULGENCE? You’ve gotta eat, and this fine dining experience is a mere $14,000. To wash it down, there are beverages ranging in price from $225,000 up to $3.5 million.

That’s some shopping list, but we don’t come here to give recommendations like Yelp. No, we need to talk spiritual matters.

For most, if not all of us, these pricey things are way out of our league. We’ll never experience such worldly pleasures. However, what would we do for much less, much less?

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” [Matt 16:26].

By the way, you can pick up everything that could be bought for just $241 trillion (based on the combined world GDP).

You see, when we reject God’s plan for us, His plan of salvation through Christ Jesus, we place a higher value on things that will one day burn up over the great cost paid for your soul. [2Peter 3:11].

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” [1Peter 1:18-19]

Jesus told us not to fret over things we shall eat, drink or wear. Rather, we are to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. [Mat 6:30-33]. While on this planet we may never take a luxurious vacation, nor live in a magnificent mansion, but there is a far greater place that awaits those who are in Christ. Lay up your treasure there [Mat 6:20; John 14:2; 1Thess 4:16-17]. (BTW, you can get a RTW ‘Round the World’ flight for just under $2k)

This Website contains the instructions for God’s plan of Salvation. Let’s go to heaven together, shall we?