THE HEAVENLY GIFT

Sunday Morning:  June 17, 2001

Text: Hebrews 3:1  "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;"

TO TASTE

Hebrews 6:1-6  "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection [teleiothv, accomplish consummation]; not laying again (not starting over, or again) the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3. And this will we do, if God permit. 4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly [the (particular gift)] gift [dwrea], and were made partakers (of the ministry) of the Holy Ghost, 5. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world [age] to come [present active, the one coming (millennial age)], 6. If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."

THE GIFT FOR THE MANY

dwrea the same as carisma

Romans 5:15-16  "But not as the offence [noun, the verb is falling away], so also is the free gift [carisma, grace gift]. For if through the offence of one [the] many (who have been called) be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift [dwrea] by [en, by means of] grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto [the] many (who have been called). 16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift [dwrea, gift by means of grace]: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift [carisma, grace gift] is of many offences [noun, the verb is falling away] unto justification."

THE GIFT OF GOD

Romans 6:22-23  "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit (faithful service) unto holiness, and the end (after faithful service) everlasting [aiwniov, agelasting] life (of honor). 23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift [carisma, grace gift] of God is eternal [aiwniov, agelasting] life (the crown of recognition and authority, and all that goes with a crown, for faithful service; sort of like the gold watch for faithful service at retirement. If you quit you do not get the watch or crown) through Jesus Christ our Lord."

GIFT OF HIS RING

Esther 3:10  "And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman . . ."

GIFT TAKEN BACK

Esther 8:2  "And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman."

GIFT OF INHERITANCE

Ezekiel 46:16-17  "Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons'; it shall be their possession by inheritance. 17. But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons' for them."

SALVATION NOT A GIFT

Acts 16:30-31  "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31. And they said, Believe [aorist active imperative, believe once] on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (not be taken back)

THE GIFT OF GOD

John 4:10  "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift [dwrea, gift by means of grace] of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."

THE HONORED WITH A GOLD WATCH

John 4:13-14  "Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14. But whosoever [the one] drinketh [present active participle, drinking] of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting [aiwniov, agelasting] life (the gift of God, the crown of recognition for faithful service)."