"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)

One could not imagine a more clearcut invitation to receive God's free gift of eternal life than this final climactic invitation of the Bible. Anyone who is thirsting for the water of life may come and drink freely, for Jesus said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John 7:37). Whosoever will may come! "There is no respect of persons with God" (Romans 2:11, plus about seven other references), and the Scriptures abound with "whosoever" assurances.

"Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die" (John 11:26). "Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43). "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God" (1 John 4:15).

"Jesus Christ the righteous: . . . is the propitiation . . . for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2). Therefore, "by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life" (Romans 5:18).

Such promises as these (and many more in the Word of God) make it very clear that the substitutionary death of Christ is sufficient to "|take| away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), that salvation and eternal life are offered as a free gift of God's grace to anyone who will accept it, and that anyone who will may come! It is only the voluntary act of our own wills that is required, but there are many of whom Jesus must say: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" (John 5:40). HMM