> General Discussions
the "gift" analogy
oneofthefew:
Hi Everyone!
I am new to this forum and this is my first time to post. I am just so excited to fellowship with all of you.
As a former member of "christendom", we have always used the "gift" analogy when sharing salvation to "unbelievers". We analogize that salvation is like a gift. That though a gift is given freely it 'requires' some responsibility or effort from the one to whom the gift is given to actually "receive" the gift.
I have been praying and asking God for wisdom about how i can carefully and logically unearth the nonsense of this analogy or understand if it has the correct premises as an analogy of salvation. This is what God willed me to come up with and I really want to hear your comments or feedback if I just made some sense here =):
First I ask the simple question, "what is a gift?"
Definition in my own words:
-a gift has an underlying purpose or intention either good or bad why it is given in the first place.
-a gift has a value, either varying degrees of triviality or significance.
-a gift is free and requires nothing from the receiver.
American Heritage Dictionary:
gift
–noun
1. something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present.
God's truths:
1. It is God who constantly wills in me and so whether I refuse or accept a gift, it is caused by God Himself. (Philippians 2:13)
2. God is the perfect giver and teaches all to give. (John 3:16)
3. Every good and perfect gift comes from God. (James 1:17)
4. God gives blessings without adding trouble to it. (Provers 10:22)
Now, I focused on God's truth #4 and looked up for the Hebrew word for "blessing", see my findings below: (The word "blessing" is used in all popular translations including KJV.)
ref: http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Pro&chapter=10&verse=22
hrkb B@rakah
Pronunciation: ber-aw-kaw'
Origin: from 01288
Reference:
PrtSpch: noun feminime
In AV: blessing 61, blessed 3, present 3, liberal 1, pools 1
Count: 69
Definition: 1) blessing
2) (source of) blessing
3) blessing, prosperity
4) blessing, praise of God
5) a gift, present
6) treaty of peace
(see #5- a gift, present)
My conclusion:
Based on God's truths specifically #1, #3 and #4, Dictionary's definition of "gift" and the Hebrew word for "blessing", it seems that yes, it is true that there might be a lot of logical reasons why one person will not perceive a gift as good and why one person will not accept/receive a gift being given (as purported by the analogy), but neither actions could determine the original purpose and intended effect of that gift. And the giver of course must be willing and have sincerely intended good in giving it. Which means if God indeed offers the gift of salvation and I do not accept it, God surely will save me still (even in using this analogy) because neither He intends any "curse" or "consequence" of "not being saved" if I do not accept it.
What do you think?
Thank you all.
oneofthefew
Redbird:
Welcome onofthefew ~ to the forum,
I think gifts are good. :)
Peace to you, Lisa
iris:
Welcome to the forum!!!
Gifts are great. It feels good to receive a gift,
but feels even better to give one.
Iris
Kat:
Hi oneofthefew,
I follow your line of thinking on this. Here are a couple of emails that I think go along with what you are saying.
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,567.0.html ---------
Dear Riaan:
We cannot "make the decision" as you state unless God gives us that ability. Faith to believe is a gift of God (Eph. 2:08). Repentance is a gift from God (Rom. 2:4). None CAN come to Christ unless God draws (Gk: 'drags') them (John 6:44). We do NOT "choose Christ," but rather Christ CHOOSES US (John 15:16). ALL IS OF GOD, Romans 11:32, etc., etc., etc.
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,2885.0.html --------
Dear Sandy: People go against God's will ALL DAY LONG. That's what most
peoples' lives consist of--going against God's will. It is God's purpose, plan, and
intentions that absolutely no one has ever or ever will go against. Listen: It is
God's purpose and plan that people GO AGAINST HIS WILL. He purposes for
people to go against His will. It is God's will that we all become PERFECT as He
is perfect, but it is in His sovereign plan that we all live very imperfect lives before God begins to change us into perfecion.
God be with you,
Ray
skydreamers:
Hi oneofthefew,
Firstly, let me say:
Great first post! I've heard this "gift analogy" preached in various sermons. The idea is that if the receiver refuses to take the gift and open it, than it is not received and holds no value. This never made sense to me. One example I heard was, "if someone wants to give you 100 dollars and you don't take it, than you can't spend it". And I always thought, "I'd have to be crazy not to take 100 dollars if someone wants to freely give it!!!" Even if I didn't need it, I'd take it and give it to someone I know who does need it. I mean WHY would a person ever refuse to take a gift from anyone, unless of course, they distrusted the giver and had reason to think it was a "bad" gift.
Here's the thing, in God giving us "gifts", it is Him who presents us with it, opens it for us and explains to us what it is and how it works. Until He opens it for you and reveals it to you, most don't even know it is there. And even if he opens it for you but hasn't yet revealed to you an understanding about it, it likely just sits on a shelf looking mysterious.
This gift analogy that they use in the churches presupposes that the "gift of salvation" is some simple neatly wrapped present that can be given and taken in a moment. Something like saying the "sinner's prayer". What I've learned now, is that salvation is for those who "endure until the end". The whole giving of the gift is a process that takes a lifetime.
Ray talks about this in his talk titled "How hard is getting Saved?"
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3849.0.html
I mean, that’s just how easy they think it is. Easier than falling out of your chair. That’s how easy it is to get saved. I’m going to show you today that “getting saved” is the hardest most difficult thing that any human being in the history of the universe will ever do. There is nothing harder than “getting saved”. Are you hearing me? It is the hardest thing any human being will ever do in all of eternity. It’s the ultimate hard task.
Nobody has or can have the complete gift of salvation right now. Most Christians do not see it this way, but they too will "in due time" understand the true gift of salvation in God's great plan.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Peace,
Diana
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version