Tyngsboro church of Christ

Whether it be on a birthday or some other special occasion, all of us enjoy receiving gifts. Sometimes the thrill lies not in what the gift cost or in its usefulness (those who have children can testify to this); but I have to admit that I especially enjoy receiving gifts that are useful to me.

Like you I have received many gifts - gifts of all sorts. Some have been expensive but not useful, while others were useful though inexpensive. But the most expensive and useful gift that I have ever accepted was the gift that I received from the Father - the gift of salvation.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it [salvation] is the gift of God .... (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The price that God was willing to pay for my salvation was high - very high and it demonstrated how much He loves me. What did it cost Him? The life of His only begotten son - Jesus.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son... (John 3:16)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

In providing me with the gift of salvation God gave - sacrificed His Son. Peter reminded the Christians of what their salvation cost when he wrote:

...you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18-19)

What a price to pay for a gift. And yet God was willing to pay this price even before I became His friend - while I was still His enemy. But why would He desire to bestow upon me a gift which cost Him so much? Because He loves me. Why would He think that I needed such a gift? Because I have sinned (Romans 3:23); because I have lived in a way which has caused me to become a child of wrath - one who deserves to be lost (Ephesians 2:1-3).

Though I did not previously appreciate it, my sins had caused me to die spiritually (Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 6:23). Because of my sins my prayers were ignored by God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Because of my sins I had nothing to look forward to from God but His wrath (Ephesians 5:3-6). But when I accepted His gift all this changed. The sins which had separated me from God were now forgiven. (Hebrews 8:12). This meant that my debt to Him had been paid in full and my fellowship with Him was restored. On that day I became His son and He my Father in heaven.

Yes, the greatest gift that I ever received was salvation in Christ. And do you know what? God would like to give this gift to you as well. Please bear with me for just a few minutes more, while I explain.

Like many of you, I grew up believing a person could earn his place in heaven simply by being "good." Though the Church that I was raised in didn't officially teach this, it never discouraged the members from believing it. It wasn't until my parents gave me a present of the Holy Scriptures that I began to question this belief.

As I read through the New Testament (which, by the way, was the New American Bible - a Roman Catholic translation), I soon discovered that salvation was continually described as a "free gift of God" and not a reward for being good. Paul, for example, reminded the Ephesian Christians that "it is owing to His favor that salvation" was theirs; it was God's gift, not a reward for anything they had accomplished (Ephesians 2:8-9). In another place he said, God "saved us; not because of any righteous deeds we have done, but because of His mercy" (Titus 3:5). Salvation, then, has never been a reward for being "good." Instead, it is always a gift of God's grace.

"But why must it be this way? Why can't a person be saved as a reward for good behavior?" As I continued to search the scriptures, this too, became clear: salvation is always a gift of God's grace because no one has ever been good or righteous enough to earn it! To earn salvation one must obey God perfectly; obey His law in every detail all of the time. Those who do not abide by everything, who transgress the law even once, are cursed (condemned) by the law. For it is written: "All who depend on observance of the law ... are under a curse. ... 'Cursed is he who does not abide by everything written in the book of the law and carry it out'" (Gal. 3:10).

So no one deserves to be saved because all have sinned - transgressed the law of God (1 John 3:4). And the only thing such people deserve to receive from God is death. "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23; cf., Ezekiel 18:4).

Salvation cannot be earned by anyone; it is "the free gift of God." But does this mean that there is nothing that we must do to receive it? Though this is the teaching of many, this is not a doctrine of the Holy Spirit. According to Him, the gospel contains facts which must be believed and commands which must be obeyed before we can be saved by grace.

First of all, one must believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. On one occasion our Lord said: "... you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins" (John 8:24). In Romans 5:1-2 Paul reveals that it is through faith (belief) that one obtains access to God's grace. Therefore, until one believes the gospel he shall never be saved. For "he who has disbelieved shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16).

So you must believe before God will save you by grace. But this is not all that you must do. Salvation is not by faith alone (James. 2:24). You must also repent. Jesus warns that unless you repent you "will ... perish" (Luke 13:3).

But what does one do when he repents? He turns away from sin, this is what he does. And this inward resolve to sin no more will always bear fruit in life. Thus, the liar will quit lying; the fornicator and homosexual will quit their immorality; the thief will no longer steal. These are some fruits of repentance (cf., Acts 26:20). Have you repented?

Finally, the believer who repents must be baptized (immersed) in water "for the forgiveness" of sins. Jesus taught this as clearly as He taught that men must believe and repent. For example, in Mark 16:16 He said: "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved." In Acts 2:38 Peter told those believers who had asked what they needed to do to be saved to: "Repent, and ... be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of ... sins."

Salvation is the gift of God and God wants you to have it. Will you receive it? Then believe in Jesus, repent of your sinful ways and then be baptized (immersed) in water and the gift of grace - SALVATION will be yours.

If we can assist you in receiving the gift of grace or if you would like to learn more about God's gift for you, then please tel. (978) 649-6437 or email us.

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