Recognizing Good Deals!

It’s marked on shampoo bottles, candy bars, cereal boxes, salad dressings, and other food products. It catches our attention. It sounds like a good deal. So we reach for it. “20 PERCENT MORE FREE”. “MORE” is a word that is so appealing. MORE food for our buck. MORE money. MORE time. MORE room. Second helpings at the dinner table. MORE, MORE, MORE. And when it is FREE … what a deal!

The world offers a lot of things cleverly packaged to catch our attention. Buzz words are used to draw us in with the hope we will buy. Sometimes we get a good deal. Other times we are disappointed and unfulfilled. However, the words “MORE” and “FREE” continue to catch our attention. It reminds me of the children who put out a sign that read in large print, “FREE LEMONADE.” It was only up close that one could see the smaller print reading, “sugar one dollar extra.”

Writing to the church at Rome, Paul presented a contrast between Adam and Christ. Through Adam came death, while through Christ came life. The sin of Adam brought death into the world and all became subject to it because “all sinned.” ( Romans 5:13) However, Paul’s encouragement was the provision God made through Christ.

Continuing the contrast, Paul wrote…
“(15) But the FREE GIFT [(Gk.) “charisma”] is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, MUCH MORE have the grace of God and the FREE gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. (16) And the FREE gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the FREE GIFT [(Gk.) “charisma”] following many trespasses brought justification. (17) If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, MUCH MORE will those who receive the abundance of grace and the FREE gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” ( Romans 5:15-17 ESV)

Though “FREE GIFT” appears five times in the ESV, twice (as noted above) it is translated from the Greek word “charisma” which refers to “a gift of grace” [W. E. Vine]; a gift not earned or merited. That is why it is referred to as something FREE. It is FREE to us because Jesus paid the price to make it so. It is therefore ours on His account.

Also what we have in Christ is not just MORE, but as the Greek states it is “mallo mallon”; “MUCH MORE”. Not 20 percent more. Not 50 percent more. To recognize what is offered in Christ far and above what this life and world can offer, would we not admit that it far exceeds 100 percent MORE?

In Christ we are offered something we do not want to pass up. No clever packaging -- just a message of salvation focused on a cross. (i.e. 1 Corinthians 1:18 & 20-23) Not an offer extended based on the wisdom and buzzwords of men ( 1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:4a), but with a focus on the power of the cross of Christ and a demonstration of the Spirit and power of God. ( 1 Corinthians 2:4b-5) May we humbly accept, on the terms of God, the gracious gift Jesus humbled Himself to FREELY provide. The benefits are MUCH MORE than will be experienced in this life alone, but will carry on into an eternity with our Lord.

Have a great day DRAWN TO THE GREATEST DEAL!
Carl

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