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Gift (1)
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April 17
Gift (1)
dōron
Back on February 13 and 14, we examined that wonderful word
grace (5485, charis). While charis ought to be enough to show
us that salvation cannot be earned, Paul thought otherwise, for
he went on to say in Eph_2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Let’s take another look at this verse.
The Greek for gift is dōron (G1435). The idea behind it, and
the related word dōrea, is “a complimentary gift.”
It is used, for example, in Luk_21:1 where money is being cast
into the treasury for the support of the temple and the poor
(cf. Mat_15:5). A synonym, didōmi, (see March 17; November 4)
is used in that often quoted verse Joh_3:16, and means “to give
of one’s own accord and with good will.”
A gift is such a nice thing to receive, is it not? The whole
idea behind a gift is that it’s unearned; it’s given out of
love. In contrast, think about the money you receive each week
from your employer. Is that money a gift? Certainly not; it’s
that which you earned. But our salvation is a gift; it’s
unearned, undeserved, and given out of unfathomable love.
As we’ll see tomorrow, even the faith (see February 8) to
believe was part of the gift. Spurgeon dealt with this truth in
his sermon All of Grace:
Even the very will thus to be saved by grace is not of
ourselves, but is the gift of God. . . . I ask any saved man to
look back upon his own conversion, and explain how it came
about. You turned to Christ, and believed on his name: these
were your own acts and deeds. But what caused you thus to turn?
What sacred force was that which turned you from sin to
righteousness? Do you attribute this singular renewal to the
existence of a something better in you than has been yet
discovered in your unconverted neighbor? No, you confess that
you might have been what he now is if it had not been that
there was a potent something which touched the spring of your
will, enlightened your understanding, and guided you to the
foot of the cross.
This should, indeed, prompt us to declare soli deo gloria-to
God alone be the glory.
Scriptures for Study: To whom does God give grace in 1Pe_5:5?
In 1Pe_5:10, what does God’s grace accomplish?
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