22nd General Conference Session Special Report
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son—the level of the love is proportional to the value of the gift.
“In our behalf the Father gave His only-begotten Son; and Christ, having given up all that He had, then gave Himself, that man might be saved. The cross of Calvary should appeal to the benevolence of every follower of the Saviour. The principle there illustrated is to give, give. ‘He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked’ (1 John 2:6).1
“‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son’ (John 3:16). It is through that one gift that every other is imparted to men. Daily the whole world receives blessing from God. Every drop of rain, every ray of light shed on our unthankful race, every leaf and flower and fruit, testifies to God’s long forbearance and His great love.”2
“[God] gave [His Son] not only to bear our sins, and to die as our sacrifice; He gave Him to the fallen race. To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace, God gave His only-begotten Son to become one of the human family, forever to retain His human nature.”3
“The treasure of the gospel, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, was among [the Jews], but they rejected the greatest gift that Heaven could bestow.”4
“The Prince of heaven was among His people. The greatest gift of God had been given to the world. Joy to the poor; for Christ had come to make them heirs of His kingdom. Joy to the rich; for He would teach them how to secure eternal riches. Joy to the ignorant; He would make them wise unto salvation. Joy to the learned; He would open to them deeper mysteries than they had ever fathomed; truths that had been hidden from the foundation of the world would be opened to men by the Saviour’s mission.”5
“When God gave Jesus to our world, He gave all heaven. This gift has secured for us our adoption into God’s family. The Father’s promise is Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus. Never will He falsify. Never will He alter the thing that has gone out of His mouth. The clouds of uncertainty and unbelief rolled back as the Saviour cried out upon the cross, ‘It is finished.’ No longer had the enemy power to tempt or annoy Him. Holiness and justice united in the completion of the great work of redemption. On the cross mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other. Jesus had testified that God is true. Faith demands no more. The doubting soul need not ask, Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? The answer comes clear and strong, ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’”6
“God the Father has given unto man the greatest gift that Heaven held. ‘Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God’ (1 John 3:1). I believe that the heart of the great God is touched and moved by the condition of sinners today, as when He gave His Son to die for the sins of the world. Christ says, ‘I and my Father are one’ (John 10:30). Sinners and backsliders, it is your duty to believe that God loves you this day, and that Christ loves you. The Redeemer of the world made a great sacrifice to purchase for you life everlasting. Can you now say, ‘Here on my heart the burden lies, and past offenses pain my eyes?’
“The Father has given a pledge to sinners, in that He withheld not His dearly beloved Son, but gave Him a sacrifice for them. Christ has given the pledge of His love to sinners, in that He gave His life to save them. If the Father has manifested His love for sinners by giving His only son, will He not freely give every mercy and blessing? . . . The Father takes no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but He wants him to repent of his sins and turn to righteousness and be saved. When the sinner desires the approval of the Lord more than any thing else and is willing to make any and every sacrifice for the love of Jesus, he may settle it in his mind as a fact that, if he perseveres, he will stand finally in the city of God upon the gold-paved streets.”7
“[God] has given you the gift of His Son, the greatest gift that Heaven could bestow; and now if you connect with God, if you connect with heaven, you may, in the name and strength of Jesus develop symmetrical characters; characters that are spotless as the pure lily that opens its blossom on the bosom of the lake. I invite you to take hold of heaven’s blessings and then you can have a right hold upon the earth. I invite you to look up through nature to nature’s God. Let these things teach you the love of God, and the care that He has for those formed in His image.”8
“The greatest gift that God could bestow upon men was bestowed in the gift of His beloved Son. . . . There was nothing held in reserve. No second probation will ever be provided. If the unspeakable gift of God does not lead man to repentance, there is nothing that ever will move his heart. There is no power held in reserve to act upon his mind, and arouse his sensibilities. The whole character of God was revealed in His Son, the whole range of the possibilities of heaven is displayed for the acceptance of man in the Son of the Infinite One. The way for man’s return to God and heaven has no barriers. The matchless depths of the Saviour’s love have been demonstrated; and if this manifestation of God’s love for the children of men does not prevail to draw men to Himself, there is nothing that ever will.”9
“The preaching of the gospel gives sinners opportunity to receive the greatest gift ever proffered human beings. Those who refuse this gift reveal the highest contempt for God.”10
“What has [Christ] done for the human family? He has elevated man in the scale of moral value. We may become conquerors through our Sufficiency. There is hope for the most hopeless, in Christ. . . . What did Christ come here for? To represent the Father. What a heart of love and sympathy! . . . When God gave His Son, He gave all heaven. He could give no more.”11
“Will you appreciate the great sacrifice Christ has made in your behalf? Give yourself, body, soul, and spirit, to the dear Saviour who loves you. This is the greatest gift you can make to Him. Will you do this?”12
“The heart belongs to Jesus. He has paid an infinite price for the soul; and He intercedes before the Father as our Mediator, pleading not as a petitioner, but as conqueror who would claim that which is His own. He is able to save to the uttermost, for He ever lives to make intercession for us. A young heart is a precious offering, the most valuable gift that can be presented to God. All that you are, all the ability you possess, comes from God a sacred trust, to be rendered back to Him again in a willing, holy offering. You cannot give to God anything that He has not first given you. Therefore when the heart is given to God, it is giving to Him a gift which he has purchased and is His own.”13
“In the parable the pearl is not represented as a gift. The merchantman bought it at the price of all that he had. Many question the meaning of this, since Christ is represented in the Scriptures as a gift. He is a gift, but only to those who give themselves, soul, body, and spirit, to Him without reserve. We are to give ourselves to Christ, to live a life of willing obedience to all His requirements. All that we are, all the talents and capabilities we possess, are the Lord’s, to be consecrated to His service. When we thus give ourselves wholly to Him, Christ, with all the treasures of heaven, gives Himself to us. We obtain the pearl of great price.
“Salvation is a free gift, and yet it is to be bought and sold. In the market of which divine mercy has the management, the precious pearl is represented as being bought without money and without price. In this market all may obtain the goods of heaven. The treasury of the jewels of truth is open to all. ‘Behold, I have set before thee an open door,’ the Lord declares, ‘and no man can shut it.’ No sword guards the way through this door. Voices from within and at the door say, Come. The Saviour’s voice earnestly and lovingly invites us: ‘I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich’ (Revelation 3:8, 18).”14