Speaking of Christ the Word who was in the beginning with God, and who is God, the Creator of all things, the beloved disciple, His intimate friend, says by inspiration, "And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace." (John 1:16)
Some versions give it, "grace upon the grace," or "grace instead of grace," all conveying the one idea that when God gives He simply adds to His own gifts. That is, God bestows good things upon us, not because we have done something to merit them, but because He has already given us good things.
There is no one who has not received much from the Lord: "He gives to all life, and breath, and all things." (Acts 17:25) "He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil." (Luke 6:35) "[He] gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not." (James 1:5)
Now the very fact that we all, no matter what our past life has been, have received gifts from the Lord, instead of indicating that we have no right to expect more from Him, gives us the strong claim upon Him. He gives for His own sake. He gives, not as payment for what we have done for Him, but as a reward for our willingly receiving what He has already given us.
Therefore when we begin to realize that even when we have been warring against God, He has been heaping good things upon us, and we exclaim, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?" (Psalm 116:1)
The answer comes: "Take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord." (Psalm 116:3)
That is, if we would repay the Lord for His benefits to us, we can do nothing except take them as freely as He gives them, and ask for more. We say, "Lord, what shall I do to repay You for all your gifts?"
And He replies, "Take some more." "He delights in mercy." (Micah 7:18) "[He] has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." (Psalm 35:7)
He gives us good things because He is good, and His nature can be satisfied only by doing good. Let no one, therefore, hesitate to call upon the Lord. Let not a sense of unworthiness cause you to fear to come before Him, for: "His mercy endures for ever." (Psalm 118:2)
Let us say, "I love the Lord because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live." (Psalm 116:1-2)--Present Truth, September 5, 1895--John 1:16.