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.” Suppose I were to say, I will give this Bible to “whosoever”; 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’?” “Yes; but I’d like to have you say 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.” “Well, 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 penny for it; though, to be sure, it’s worth twenty or thirty shillings.” Well, suppose I took the penny; the man takes up the Bible, and marches away home with it. His wife says, “Where did you get that Bible?” “Oh, I bought it.” Mark the point; when he gives the penny it ceases to be a gift. So with salvation. If you were to pay ever so little, it would not be a gift.