Dwight L. Moody illustrated grace like this in a late 1800s sermon:

“Remember, salvation is a free gift, and it is a free gift for us. Can you buy it? It is a free gift, presented to “whosoever” will accept it.

Suppose I were to say, I will give this Bible to “whosoever” will take it; what have you got to do? Why, nothing but take it. But a man comes forward, and says: “I’d like that Bible very much.”

“Well, didn’t I say ‘whosoever’ will can have it?”

“Yes; but I’d like to have you mention my name.”

“Well, here it is.”

Still he keeps eyeing the Bible, and saying, “I’d like to have that Bible; but I’d like to give you something for it. I don’t like to take it for nothing.”

“But I am not here to sell Bibles; take it, if you want it.”

“Well, I want it; but I’d like to give you something for it. Let me give you a cent for it; though, to be sure, it’s worth about five dollars.”

Suppose I accept the cent; the man takes up the Bible and marches away home with it.

His wife asks, “Where did you get that Bible?”

“Oh, I bought it.”

Mark the point: when he gave the penny, it ceased to be a gift. So with salvation. If you were to pay ever so little, it would not be a gift.

Tags: Bible, grace, Moody, works

Dwight L. Moody, the great Chicago evangelist of the latter 1800s, described people’s efforts to earn their salvation like a child on a rocking horse: “beautiful active motion, but there is no progress”.

In our basement, we have a treadmill that allows Anita and I to get exercise when the weather is inclement. All winter long we can take walks in the warmth of our own home. Our treadmill measures how far we’ve gone, how fast we’re going, and how many miles we’ve traveled. But a treadmill is like the rocking horse: beautiful active motion, but there is no progress.

Have you ever felt like you were on a spiritual treadmill, going around and around but getting no place? There can be no progress on a treadmill. Only when the breath of life from the Holy Spirit comes upon us can we move forward. I recognize my need every day.

How about you? Are you making progress or are you on the treadmill?

Tags: Holy Spirit, treadmill, works

The Apostle Paul said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). But what does it mean to “believe”?

Suppose you got really sick and go to see the doctor. After a thorough examination, he says you’ve contracted a fatal disease, but medical science has discovered a cure. You may be convinced that he is the best physician available, that his diagnosis is accurate, and that the medication he prescribes is your only hope. But you do not take it. Does your “belief” save you? No.

You must take the medicine. If you just lie there believing and refuse to take the remedy, you will die! So it is with God’s offer of salvation. Let’s get up and be healed! “Faith without works in dead” (James 2:20).

Tags: faith, works