"The GIFT of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

Suppose God charged a thousand dollars, or a hundred, or even one, for eternal life, would it be a gift? Nay, suppose He charged only one cent, would it be a gift? No. Suppose He charged so many prayers, or so many good works, or so much love, to the man who needs eternal life, would it remain what He calls it—"the gift of God?" No.

And is He not true to His word? Will He deceive as men do? Will He, can He, mock man's need? Ah, not He! The One who loved man enough to give an only Son for us is not the One to mock man.

Reader, whatever else God may have put conditions upon, He has put no conditions, no price to bring, to obtain eternal life. It is His prerogative to give it, and He freely gives it to every man who comes to Him acknowledging his need.

Do you know what eternal life is? It is the very life of God Himself. Christ is the eternal life; and having settled, through His atoning death on the cross, the whole question of our sins, He can give, and does most gladly give, eternal life to every one that believes on Him. Yes, all who receive Him, receive eternal life, by which they become as really the children of God as children are their parents' children by natural birth—possessing their very life and nature.

Think of it; the man, woman, or child, who has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, is a child of God! Read 1 John 3:1,2, and again, 1 John 5:1, and see for yourself. Such an one has in him now a new nature which cannot see death, which cannot sin, which is like God from whom it springs, and which thrives and grows only in the things which God loves and enjoys.

It is not at all an improvement of the old nature. No, that was born of the flesh, and remains the same; but this new life is born of the Spirit, and it is spirit. It is not the restoring of man to his innocent state, as in Eden. No; it is making him "a new creature" in Christ Jesus.

It is not gradually cultivating him until he gets up to a high standard of goodness. No; it is an immediate, absolute passing from one thing to another, "from death unto life"—from the wild tree to the grafted tree. A new life is implanted in the soul who receives Christ, like the graft implanted into the old tree, and is to bear new fruit. Glory be to God for such grace which can thus stoop to us in our ruin, degradation and helplessness and operate such mighty things!

Reader, once more we exultantly repeat,

"The GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE,
through Jesus Christ our Lord."

If you perish, it will be because you were too good in your own eyes to need eternal life; or too blind to perceive the grace of God; or too proud to confess your need. And what will you do in the day when such grace has ceased to call and you must face the eternal realities of sin and judgment?

—P.J.L.