SALVATION - Pt 2: A Gesture of Love

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” [John 3:16]. This is such a familiar verse in the Bible that even non-Christians know it or at least heard it. Sometimes it is even used in movies or quoted in some way. In spite of its popularity, I do not believe that everyone is really aware of the deepness of the message imbedded in that one important verse. Salvation is a love motivated gesture, a grace given gift from God for all who want to accept it. Grace is the vehicle through which salvation was offered. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8-9]

God’s love for all of us was so great and so powerful that He decided to do something about it. You have to understand that He was under no obligation to save anyone, especially those that turn their backs on Him and choose not to listen. We all deserved certain death. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8] This cannot be anything less than the ultimate demonstration of love! This ultimate example of love consisted of God sending His only and unique Son as the sacrificial payment for all of our sins! Now all anyone has to do is simply believe.

It is difficult to even think how someone can die for someone else, especially when they are the enemy. This is exactly the point the Apostle Paul brings across in Romans 5, verses 6 and 7; “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.” What does Paul mean? Simply put, while it may be rare, it is possible for someone to die for a ‘good’ person, but not so much for someone who is not such a ‘good’ person. Let us say, for example, that you were asked to die in the place of another, and you were given a list consisting of only two choices. One is a humanitarian who has helped hundreds and hundreds of people by donating money, helping feed the hungry, and even building homes and orphanages for helpless children. The other is a murderer who has killed many, including members of his family. Who would you pick? If you’re like me, you would probably pick the humanitarian. You and I would be considered lunatics, having lost all our senses, if we were to pick the murderer. But that is exactly what God did. We became enemies of God when sin entered this world, but God sent His Son to die for us, his enemies, in order for us to have the means to reestablish the relationship that had once been broken!

Grace means ‘unmerited favor’, or in other words, a gift given to someone that does not deserve it. It is not something we can give to ourselves or others, and it is not something we can earn either. While salvation is a free gift, in order for it to be a reality in each individual life, it must be accepted or received. Until that happens, salvation is like an unopened gift, unable to be utilized. Keep in mind, that while this gift is free for us, it was not, however free for God. It cost Him the spilled blood of His Son, Jesus Christ!

When Christ paid for our sins, it was a threefold payment. It took care of all our sins, past, present, and future!Such is the awesomeness and wonder of grace!

2/3/2008
James