The greatest gift of all- from God

            I am led to write this to speak about the greatest gift of all, from God, and it is not from any man, or of or from this world in which we live. The world and people give good things but what is given in this gift is far, far more valuable than anything close to what man can give, be it houses, cars, money, clothes and so on, although it is a truth that all gifts come from above as stated here, anyway

(James 1:17)  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

And another verse with a similar meaning to the book of James from Matthew

(Matthew 7:11)  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

The Heavenly Father loves us so much, that He really wants to give this gift.

These verses start to speak of the gift from above, from heaven

(John 1:12)  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

(John 1:13)  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

(John 1:14)  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Of course the above verses talk about Jesus, the one who came, lived with us, and then was the gift.

Unlike man’s gifts which often can be useless, and not of much of any value this one has great value for we all have need of it because of what is said in these verses

(Romans 3:9)  What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,

(Romans 3:10)  as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;

(Romans 3:11)  no one understands; no one seeks for God.

(Romans 3:12)  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."

This verse reminds us of the consequence of sin but also of the greatest gift of all, at the same time.

(Romans 6:23)  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So you see how that this gift is so extremely useful to all mankind that God would do something out of His love and mercy to set us free from this sin, and our sinful nature and He did because He is so loving and merciful.

Here is some more on this, from Romans chapter 5

(Romans 5:6)  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

(Romans 5:7)  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--

(Romans 5:8)  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(Romans 5:9)  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Again the need is shown but also is how God provided for the need

(Rom 3:23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

(Romans 3:24) and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

(Romans 3:25) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

(Romans 3:26)  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

(Romans 3:27)  Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.

(Romans 3:28)  For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

(Romans 3:29)  Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

(Romans 3:30) since God is one--who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

(Romansans 3:31)  Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Why would God do such a thing, as send His Son to die for us as His gift to us? He loves us so much that He would do this. His love is that great, and perfect.

(John 3:16)  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

(John 3:17)  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

This is more about the unspeakable gift from God in the book of Ephesians

(Eph 2:4)  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

(Eph 2:5)  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--

(Eph 2:6)  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

(Eph 2:7)  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

(Eph 2:8)  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

(Eph 2:9)  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

(Eph 2:10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

These verses show just how inexpressible the gift really is, and how good it is

(2 Corinthians 9:13)  By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,

(2 Corinthians 9:14)  while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.

(2 Corinthians 9:15)  Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Here is some more on the free gift again from Romans 5

(Romans 5:15)  But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

(Romans 5:16)  And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.

(Romans 5:17)  For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

(Romans 5:18)  Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

(Romans 5:19)  For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

(Rom 5:20)  Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

(Romans 5:21)  so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Here is a verse from John 4 on the gift

(John 4:10)  Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

We do need faith to accept this free, for indeed the gift is from God

(Hebrews 11:6)  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

The whole purpose of this greatest gift from Gpd is to restore our relationship with God so then it was said that Jesus was the ONE way to go to God, and that was through Him:

(John 14:6)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

(John 14:7)  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

We need to worship God in spirit in truth for He is a Spirit

(John 4:24)  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

Of courses Jesus does go to seek all this, hoping we believe in Him

(Revelation 3:20)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

The gift I speak of is the gift of our salvation, which in of itself brings other gifts with it, like the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us. There is also the gift of eternal life which Jesus speaks of here

(John 4:13)  Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,

(John 4:14)  but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

More  on this here in John 6

(John 6:40)  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

(John 6:41)  So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."

(John 6:42)  They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?"

(John 6:43)  Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves.

(John 6:44)  No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

(John 6:45)  It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me--

(John 6:46)  not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.

(John 6:47)  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

They all found Jesus words hard to believe but all those who believe in Jesus have eternal life.

Here again we are promised eternal life Jesus again is speaking in John 10

(John 10:28)  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

(John 10:29)  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

The verses that are key to taking this gift in Romans 10, dealing with Salvation the key to getting the greatest gift, from God

(Romans 10:8)  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);

(Romans 10:9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

(Romans 10:10)  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

(Romans 10:11)  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."

(Romans 10:12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

(Romans 10:13)  For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

This eternal life is the most precious gift ever offered which Jesus paid so dearly for by dying for all of our sins on the cross to restore our relationship and to get us the eternal life, as well as restoring the right relationship with God, getting the blessings from God too. All of this is the greatest gift of all then, the relationship, fellowship, peace and blessings with God in life here as well as eternal life in heaven with God afterwards, after people die, or go to heaven in the rapture.  So if you are ready to accept the greatest gift of all time that which God is so willing to freely give to you all you need to do is pray this prayer with me:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.

Now you have gotten yourself a gift far more precious that anything this world can offer, be it cars, money, houses, people, anything, so congratulations. Also you have a friend that wants a deep relationship with you, so pray every day, and often. Read God’s word to get ever closer to Him. He is so good and is mercy is ever enduring.

There is another part of this gift too- Jesus will return soon to take His bride away- so they don’t have to go through the great tribulations which are His judgment on an evil world(as well as a final call for people to repent) so if you want to be taken up in this rapture as a part of this gift be sure if you don’t know Him to use the prayer and prayerfully consider all the following:

1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Saviour.

2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.

3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.

**4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!

5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)

6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.

7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)

8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.

9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

If the Lord has planted the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:

"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture.  Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready.

Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen