ABOUNDING GRACE
Abounding Grace
Dr. J. Vernon McGee
At the outset, I want to make a very sharp distinction: This message is for Christians only, and
that is O-N-L-Y. Why? Because it is on the topic of Christian giving, and God never did ask a
non-Christian to give one dime to Him or to His cause. We misrepresent God when we make
people believe that He will take a gift from just anyone; He will not. If you are not a Christian, I
recommend that you do not give to God's work, because you may gain the impression that you
can buy your way into heaven. Some folk think they'll be able to purchase a ticket to heaven -
that if they put up enough cash, somehow or other they will get God's acceptance. You cannot
do that.
My friend, today the gate to heaven is marked, "Free Admission." It is the only entrance
through which bankrupt sinners may enter, which means that in order to get to heaven every
member of the human family must go through the entrance marked, "Free Admission." The
prophet Isaiah said,
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come to the waters, and he that hath no money; come,
buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah
55:1)
Salvation is a gift. If you gave so much as a red cent toward it, it would no longer be a gift, but
you would be making a down payment on a purchase. Salvation is an outright gift of God. Your
ticket to heaven has already been purchased by Another, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Those of us who have received God's greatest gift, however, find there are many things He
wants to talk to us about. One of those things - and He makes no apology for it - is our relationship
to the material things that He gives us and how they are to be used. We have here in the
second Corinthian letter, chapters 8 and 9, the most extended and complete section on Christian
giving in the entire Word of God. All that you and I need to know about giving to the work of
the Lord is here.
First of all, we notice that there are no rules ...
Dr. J. Vernon McGee
At the outset, I want to make a very sharp distinction: This message is for Christians only, and
that is O-N-L-Y. Why? Because it is on the topic of Christian giving, and God never did ask a
non-Christian to give one dime to Him or to His cause. We misrepresent God when we make
people believe that He will take a gift from just anyone; He will not. If you are not a Christian, I
recommend that you do not give to God's work, because you may gain the impression that you
can buy your way into heaven. Some folk think they'll be able to purchase a ticket to heaven -
that if they put up enough cash, somehow or other they will get God's acceptance. You cannot
do that.
My friend, today the gate to heaven is marked, "Free Admission." It is the only entrance
through which bankrupt sinners may enter, which means that in order to get to heaven every
member of the human family must go through the entrance marked, "Free Admission." The
prophet Isaiah said,
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come to the waters, and he that hath no money; come,
buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah
55:1)
Salvation is a gift. If you gave so much as a red cent toward it, it would no longer be a gift, but
you would be making a down payment on a purchase. Salvation is an outright gift of God. Your
ticket to heaven has already been purchased by Another, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Those of us who have received God's greatest gift, however, find there are many things He
wants to talk to us about. One of those things - and He makes no apology for it - is our relationship
to the material things that He gives us and how they are to be used. We have here in the
second Corinthian letter, chapters 8 and 9, the most extended and complete section on Christian
giving in the entire Word of God. All that you and I need to know about giving to the work of
the Lord is here.
First of all, we notice that there are no rules ...
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Price: FREE
