People very often measure themselves by how much they have in comparison to others. There are lists like the Forbes List which lists the world’s richest people i.e. the billionaires. Some such people can pay millions and billions of pounds, dollars etc in buying companies, creating brands and developing ideas. Some of these are a benefit to the environment but others are for competitive advantage and still others just for personal promotion. Some make immense sums of money and when they retire, they try to give it back to their community or the world. Other just keep their immense wealth.
However, there is one thing that happen to all of the rich people, and in fact everyone, except one group of people. That is, that they will part with their riches and possessions before they die or when they die. “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1Timothy c6v7 in God’s Word, The Bible). It is a sobering thought that when we die, we shall carry nothing out with us. You cannot carry out your money, assets, houses, cars, fame or whatever. At death you can carry nothing out with you. Absolutely nothing. So, what have you actually gained from this life, for the life after death? Absolutely nothing. “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again” (2Samuel c14v14). Also, as far as this life is concerned you cannot in your own power come back to this life again. At death we are like spilt water that cannot be gathered up again.
But there is one group of people, from different tongues, tribes and nations, that have received amazing riches and these riches they will take with them when they die. They have received “every spiritual blessing (or gift)” (Ephesians c1v3) at the moment that they trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. What are these “spiritual blessings (or gifts)”? The following are some of our permanent or relationship spiritual blessings which every person who trusts in Christ as their Saviour receives, e.g. Romans c5v1.
1. The Forgiveness Of All Your Sins
“In whom (Christ v13) we have … through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians c1v14) There is no exception to that statement. So there are no sins too bad that God cannot forgive. “That they (the people of this world v17) may receive forgiveness of sins.” (Acts c26v18).
2. Mercy Is Received
“Which in time past … had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1Peter c2v10). You, whether you are religious or not, cannot perfectly keep God’s law in thought, word or deed. Also, as God’s just laws expose your sins what you need is mercy which is “the outward manifestation of pity by God. You will receive that when you trust in Christ as Saviour.
3. Salvation
“In whom (Christ v12) ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel (good news) of your salvation” (Ephesians c1v13). God’s salvation is from God’s judgment for your sins in hell and saved to enjoy the greatness and wonder of heaven.
4. Everlasting Life
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish (not go to hell), but have (a present possession) everlasting life” (John’s Gospel c3v16). Also “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans c6v23). So, the believer in Christ receives everlasting/eternal life as a free gift from God. So eternal life cannot be earned but it can be received as a gift.
5. Children Of God
“Behold, what manner of love the Father (God the Father) hath bestowed upon (or given to) us, that we should be called the sons of God.” (1John c3v1). Writing to Christians in an area of Turkey we read “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians c3v26). So believers in Christ have a relationship with the eternal God, the Father, which is far better than any relationship that we know on earth.
6. A Place In Heaven After You Die
The Lord Jesus said “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. v3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John’s Gospel c14v2-3). So, you can have a guaranteed place in heaven where God says in Revelation c21v4 that there are no tears, sorrow, pain nor death and marvellous fellowship Revelation c21v3).
Double Security
There are at least another eighty five spiritual gifts or aspects of those gifts that could be mentioned but what is the guarantee that you will receive and keep them? The following is a double guarantee from two Persons who cannot fail? The Lord Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, … neither shall any man (meaning anyone) pluck them out of my hand” (John c10v27-28). So the Lord Jesus is saying that the moment you put your faith in Him as the Saviour He will put His hand around you and no one, including the devil, can ever snatch you out of Christ’s eternal hand. This is nothing physical but it is spiritual and because Christ is God His promise is totally irreversible.
“My Father, … is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand” (John c10v29). So at the moment of faith in Christ, God the Father also puts His hand around you spiritually and again no one, including the devil, can ever snatch you out of God the Father’s eternal hand. The double guarantee cannot fail because we read, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus c1v2). This verse does not say that God does not lie, because that means that He could. It does say “cannot lie” which means He cannot break His Word.
So Who Can Come Into The Benefits Of This Amazing Offer?
Why is it that you do not have these wonderful gifts and guarantee now?
“But your iniquities (meaning your self will) have separated between you and your God” (Isaiah c59v2). “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” (Proverbs c20v9). Have you made your inward thoughts pure from sin? “All unrighteousness is sin” (1John c5v17). So doing what is wrong is sin. If we measure ourselves by God’s law “for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans c3v20).We have not all sinned alike but we have all alike sinned. Just as wrong in the world deserves punishment so the wrong in your life, which God calls sin, deserves judgment.
As God is “a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me” (Isaiah c49v21) so He made possible for you to receive the above amazing spiritual gifts. “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1John c4v14). As Christ is the Saviour of the world it means that He is able to save you. If you trust in Him that He died and took the punishment for your sins then you can be totally forgiven, receive salvation and God’s guarantees.
There Is No Offer Like This
It is absolutely vital to believe because “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews c9v27). You don’t want to receive God’s just judgment for your sins forever in hell after death. However, God is offering you the above amazing riches and blessings with a double guarantee for your current life and everlasting future. So as a guilty sinner in God’s sight believe in Christ for your own forgiveness and salvation etc and know God’s great everlasting guarantees of keeping you.