Romans 3:24 says, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” I know I am breaking into a whole section of Scripture, but I assure you it is in context. I want us to look at the word “freely”. The Greek word is dorean, which means gratuitously, undeservedly, without cause, & for nothing. So, we are justified (declared righteous and innocent) gratuitously, undeservedly, without cause, & for nothing. By what? By God’s grace. Through what? Through the redemption (deliverance through paying a ransom in full) that is found in Jesus Christ alone. This same word “freely” is found in Mt. 10:8 which says, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely (gratuitously, for nothing, undeservedly) ye have received, freely (gratuitously, for nothing, undeservedly) give.” Let’s get into God’s Word.

The Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines gratuity as: 1. A free gift; a present; a donation; that which is given without a compensation or equivalent. 2. Something given in return for a favor; an acknowledgment. Our culture has come to regard the second definition as the primary one - also known as a “tip”. The Cambridge dict. defines it as “A sum of money given as a reward for a service”, and the new Merriam - Webster defines it as “something given voluntarily or beyond obligation usually for some service; especially a tip.” This is a sad case, because gratuity used to be primarily associated with something absolutely free and without merit; and now it means something you can work for. However, either way, it is still something that is not obligatory. Except with some of these restraunts now that charge a 15% “gratuity” for parties of six or eight or whatever. That defies the very definition of the word! You can’t “take” a gratuity! It then ceases to be a gratuity! It is then a tax! It’s like stealing a gift! You can’t steal a gift! If you steal it, it’s not a gift by definition! If you are in any way obligated to pay a gratuity, then by definition it ceases to be a gratuity. Am I right?

Why did I just make all the fuss about gratuities? Because I want us to clearly understand that what we have received from God is absolutely a gift of His grace. We could never earn it. It if free. It is because He is good, not because we are good. God gave us His absolute very best when he gave us Jesus. If God did not withhold His very best to begin with, will He withhold anything good now from His children (Rom 8:32)? Psalm 84:11 says, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly (entire, perfectly, complete [in Christ]).” The only way to walk uprightly is to walk in Christ Jesus. When we walk in Jesus, The Father withholds no good thing from us. That is awesome!

1Co 2:12 says, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely (gratuitously, in kindness and favor) given to us of God.” Did you get that? One of the reasons The Holy Spirit lives inside Believers is to reveal to them all the things God has freely given them! Isn’t that amazing! God the Father reveals them to God the Son, and God the Son reveals them to God the Holy Spirit, Who reveals them to us, the children of God (Jn 16:13-15).

Dead religion wants us to believe that God has basically done nothing for us, nor given us anything - except perhaps a “get out of Hell free” card. What a substandard Christianity. We are children of the free (Gal 4:31)! We can take of the water of life freely (Rev 21:6, 22:17)! We can’t earn God’s goodness, gifts, favors, forgiveness, love, pardon, or blessing! We can only receive what He gives freely! Freely! In kindness and favor! Undeservedly! Without cause! When the world or the devil says, “You don’t deserve a single thing from God!”, then agree with them and say, “You are right! I don’t deserve any good thing from God! But God does not give me what I deserve! He gives me His best by His grace, and I say yes!” God’s grace is truly amazing! When you grab hold of it, you will then truly live free in Christ! Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!