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I. SALVATION IS ALTOGETHER THE GIFT OF GOD.

1. It comes to us by Jesus, and what else could Jesus be?

2. Over and over again we are told that salvation is not of works, and these are themselves a gift, the work of the grace of God.

3. If salvation were not a free gift how else could a sinner get it? I know that there would have been no hope of heaven for me if salvation had not been the free gift of God to those who deserved it not.

4. Look at the privileges which come to us through salvation! They are so many and so glorious as to be altogether beyond the limit of our furthest search and the height of our utmost reach.

(1)  Pardon.

(2)  Sonship.

(3)  Heirship.

(4)  Oneness with Christ.

(5)  The Divine indwelling.

(6)  Peace which passeth understanding.

(7)  Victory over death.

(8)  Heaven.

II. THIS GIFT IS UNSPEAKABLE. Not that we cannot speak about it. How many times have I, for one, spoken upon it. It is like an artesian well that springeth up for ever and ever. We can speak about it, yet it is unspeakable. Christ is unspeakable —

1. In His person. He is perfect man and glorious God.

2. In His condescension. Can any one measure or describe how far Christ stooped?

3. In His death.

4. In His glory. When we think of His resurrection, of His ascending to the right hand of God, words languish on our lips.

5. In His chosen. All the Father gave Him, all for whom He died, He will glorify with Himself, and they shall be with Him where He is.

6. In the heart here. Throughout a long life and even in heaven Christ will be a gift unspeakable. "Eternity's too short to utter half Thy praise."

III. FOR THIS GIFT THANKS SHOULD BE RENDERED.

1. Some cannot say " Thanks be to God," etc., because —

(1)  They never think of it. There must be "think" at the bottom of "thank."

(2)  Some are always delaying.

(3)  Some do not know whether they have it or not.

2. Join me in this exercise.

(1) Thank God for this gift. Put out of your mind the idea that you ought to thank Christ, but not the Father. It was the Father that gave Christ. He gave His Son because He already loved us.

(2) Thank God only. Do not be thinking by whose means you were converted.

(3) Thank God spontaneously. Imitate Paul. When he sounded this peal of praise his mind was occupied about the collection, but, collection or no collection, he will thank God for His unspeakable gift.

(4) Thank God practically. Do something to prove your thanks.

(a)  Look for His lost children.

(b)  Succour His poor saints.

(c)  Bear with the evil ones.

(d)  Watch for His Son from heaven.

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

WEB: seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all;