Term
| S: Hey Wendy, I got you a Christmas gift. |
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Definition
| W: Oh Steven! That is so sweet. Thank You! |
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Term
| S: (Hands her the gift) That will be $22.50. |
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| S: That's what I paid for your gift. |
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Definition
| W: Steven, if I have to pay you for it
...it's not a gift. |
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Term
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Definition
| W: No. It's something I bought then. A purchase. Not a gift. |
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Term
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Definition
| W: A gift you give does not cost the person you are giving it to. Understand? |
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Term
| S: I think so. Let's try this again. (takes back the gift). |
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Definition
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Term
| STEVEN: Hey Wendy, I got you a Christmas gift. |
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Definition
| WENDY: Oh Steven! That is so sweet. Thank You! |
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Term
| S: (Hands her the gift) Will you come over and rank the leaves at my house since I'm giving you a gift? |
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Definition
| W: Steven, if I have to work to earn this, then it is not a gift! |
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Term
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Definition
| W: No. It's like pay for work I did. Like a salary. A gift you give is not something that has to be earned! |
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Term
| S: OK. Let's try this again. (takes back the gift). |
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Definition
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Term
| S: Hey Wendy, I got you a Christmas gift. |
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Definition
| W: Oh Steven! That is so sweet. Thank You! |
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Term
| S: (Hands gift). So, what did you get me? |
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Definition
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Term
| S: Well, if I am giving you a gift, shouldn't you get me one? |
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Definition
| W: Steven, you don't give a gift expecting to get a gift back! |
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Term
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Definition
| W: No. You give a gift because you care about that person. You give the gift out of love
expecting nothing in return. And in return, that person loves you for giving them the gift. |
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Term
| S: This is a lot harder then I thought it would be. |
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Definition
| W: It's not hard at all! A gift is a gift. Not a purchase
...not a wage...
not an exchange. A gift has no strings attached. Understand? |
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Term
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Definition
| W: OK Steven, maybe this will help. You are a Christian, right? |
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Term
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Definition
| W: OK. To have eternal life, did you have to pay for it? |
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Term
| S: No silly. Christ paid for it when He died on the cross for my sins. |
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Definition
| W: Right. Jesus didn't say "To have a home in heaven for eternity you need to give your money to the poor or the church", did He? |
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Term
| S: No. It was totally free to me. |
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Definition
| W: Right. And did you have to work for eternal life? You know go to church, keep the commandments, do good, help people? |
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Term
| S: Well no. I knew that the only way to heaven was to believe that Jesus died for all my sins. No one can ever work their way into heaven. All I had to do was believe in what Christ did for me. |
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Definition
| W: Right. And did you have to give Jesus anything in exchange to have eternal life? |
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Term
| S: Give? No
.I mean He is God! What can I give Him? He doesn't need anything from me. |
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Definition
| W: Right. So why would Jesus give you eternal life without making you pay for it or work for it and not get anything in return? |
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Term
| S: That's easy. Jesus loves me. |
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Definition
| W: Right! It's exactly what Ephesians 2:8 is talking about. That we are not saved by anything we can do. It is a GIFT from God. And what a gift! |
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Term
| S: I get it! Gift! A gift is not something you have to buy
... |
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Definition
| W: That would be a purchase. |
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Term
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Definition
| W: That would be wages or salary. |
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Term
| S: A gift is given with no strings attached...
..out of love! |
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Definition
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Term
| S: OK. Let's try this again. (takes back the gift). |
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Definition
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Term
| STEVEN: Hey Wendy, I got you a Christmas gift. |
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Definition
| WENDY: Oh Steven! That is so sweet. Thank You! |
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