Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1907-03-14
J. S. SPuRCE0N. President

quent reference will be made is the
Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
1. In What Respects May Christ Be
Considered a Gift.
The term "gift" is employed by
Paul to teach that Jesus was given
to be our Redeemer, and to invalid
ate the excuse that salvation is too
expensive. The Savior being a gift.
makes it possible for every one to
obtain His benefits, and imposs1blc
for the sinner to blame any one ex-
cept himself for being unsaved.
A gift is presented voluntarily.
Jesus is, therefore, such, because He
Is given to US as our friend and de-
liverer without the Intervention of
man. 1t was an act of the divine
volition alone, that the Son should
become man, that He should reside
on the earth for season, that His
time be occupied in teaching the fun
damental principles of His Kingdom,
and that the cross should satisfy the
justice Of the Almighty. The most
acute human intellect could not have
thought Of such means of making
our salvation possible, and even if it
had flashed in some mind its own ap-
parent impossibiiity would have
smothered the spark. We can claim
no credit for this gift. Divine voli-
ton deserves all the praise.
A gift is often presented cnde-
servingly. 1t often occurs in the re-
ception of a gift that one feels too
unworthy to receive it, but on ac-
count of circumstances is indisposed
to decline it. Christians constantly
realize that the daily return of Gods
goodness Is more profuse than they
deserve. Absence of this feeling in
dicates lack of appreciation. But
If consistent disciples feel unworthy
to receive the material blessings Of
life, because of their disinclination
! to honor God as they should, how
much more undeserving we should
feel of the great gift of the Son of
God. This is not mere language; it
is fact.
A gift is gratuitous. 1t is free.
This is true Of Jesus; He cost us
nothing. His coming to earth has
encountered us with no financial OBJ
| legation, but has made possible the
| liquidation of a debt we owe God
which otherwise could not be can
celed God SO loved the world that
He gave" Herein is love, not that
we first loved Him, but that He first
loved us, and gave His Son to be the
| propitiation for our SINS" The best
of gifts cost us the least. The in
| vitation Of both the Old Testament
and New is ito come every one that
thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and
he that hath no money; come ye buy
| and eat, yea, come buy wine and
milk without money and without
| price.
The Son of God was given lovingly
| The only reason why the Lord Jesus
vacated for season His omnipotent
| throne and lived for a little more
| than thirty years among us. was that
] He and His Father loved humanity
| and would leave nothing undone te
! save lost souls. Greater love hatE
no man than this, that man lay
down his life for his friends. GOD
so loved the world that He gave HIS
| only bekotten Son." "God commend
| eth His love toward US. in that wnne
we were vet sinners Christ died FOL
u.s. If our Creator had possessed
no love for fallen nature, He would
not have sent His Son to die for the
sins of the world.
LII. Paul Directs Onr Attention tc
the One by WhoHl He Was Given.
| "Tbanks he to Cod Not the text
alone but. other sections Of tho Bible
contain the sar,e truth that It was
God who gaze the Lord Jesus Christ
"God so 1ov~s the world" Cor
commepdeth His love" Christ said
20 the Samaritan woman. III thou
| knewest the gift of God" Iesns II