Genesis 3:1-21; Romans 5;12-19; Matthew 4:1-11
Advertisers figured out a long time ago that offering a person a free gift will get that person’s attention. Not long afterwards, we figured out that the free gifts that were being offered weren't really free. We’re so accustomed to receiving offers of free gifts that aren't truly free that we tend to dismiss the idea that there is such a thing. It seems that every “free” thing in our lives comes with some kind of obligation from the overt “but wait” offers for a second widget free (“just pay for separate shipping and handling”) and the free cruise vacation (“must attend a 90 minute presentation”) to the favors that our neighbors do at no cost but with the obligation to return the favor in some way. When it comes to getting something for free we’re skeptical, even when God is the one giving us a free gift.
In Romans 5 we read that God has a free gift for us. He wants us to know that His free gift is different from all of the “free” gifts with which we’re familiar. His free gift is truly free. It comes to us at no cost to us. It requires nothing of us to receive it or to keep it. It is really free and it is truly a gift. The Lord also wants us to know that this free gift is unlike the thing that we received that makes this gift necessary. In a way, that thing is also a free gift. It’s a gift in the sense that it has been given to us even without our asking for it. It’s free in the sense that we didn't have to pay for it. But like the “free” gifts of advertising, this free gift costs us, dearly. This “gift” is our inheritance from Adam. It is the “gift” of sin and death. It’s not the gift we would have chosen for ourselves, but we cannot refuse it. It’s ours by virtue of the fact that we are his descendants and heirs. The free gift of God is given to us to overcome the “free” gift of Adam. Adam’s gift brings us judgment and condemnation. God’s gift brings life and salvation. But, because we’re skeptical about free gifts, we question how a gift of such great value and tremendous benefit could be free.
The reason that God’s gift of righteousness is free is simple: it has to be free. There’s nothing that we could offer that would even come close to the value of this generous gift. What could we possibly pay or do that would compare to the price paid for our salvation? What could we give in exchange for the righteousness of Jesus Christ? While God could have demanded a great price from us for life and salvation, in His love and by His grace He chose to give it to us as a free gift — really, truly, honestly free. It’s the only way that it could be ours.
Click here to listen to the sermon "The (Really, Truly, Honestly) Free Gift" (or right-click to download the MP3 file).
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