Eph. 2:8, 9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary defines grace as “the unmerited favor of God toward man”. The word used for ‘grace’ in the New Testament is ‘charis’, from which we get the word ‘charity’.
In Ephesians 2:8 – 9, Paul explicitly declares to us more clearly and more directly how free this grace is. He says that we have been saved “by grace” but “through faith”. The free gift of grace is the means by which we are saved, and faith is the mechanism by which that grace is provided. None of these two can be attained by works. In other words, there is nothing we can do to earn grace, which provides our salvation, and by the same manner, there is nothing we can do to undo our salvation, which would mean that grace is no longer free. How can that be? Paul would probably say something like, “No way, Jose! No can do!” Either salvation is free or it is earned and it cannot be called a gift of grace any longer. Both cannot be true!
While it is true that the gift is free for the one receiving it, a price still had to be paid in order for that gift to be bought. Someone had to buy and pay for it. In the case of our salvation, Jesus Christ bought and paid for the gift of salvation with His blood and sacrificial death on the cross. Now as the owner of the gift, He can offer it to anyone willing to receive it. Of course, it can be refused or accepted. If it is refused, then the gift is nullified, but if it is accepted, then the gift is complete and there is nothing else needed to do but to put it to use!
Grace is the gift that God has given and offered to all of us, if we want it. Ephesians 4:7 says, “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.”
If ever there was a gift worth getting it is this one, that we are offered eternal life and it is found in Christ Jesus (1 John 5:11). In Romans 6:23, Paul tells the believers in
This offer is a one time deal only! Once you accept it, it is yours forever. The offer stands until the time of death. You can take advantage of this gift offer while you are alive. After that, it is no longer valid because by not accepting it during your lifetime, you have chosen to reject it.
I truly hope that you would consider and make the choice for eternal life. It will cost you nothing, but it will gain you everything! All you have to do is make a simple prayer and tell Him that you want to receive that precious gift of salvation. Tell Him that you will give control of your life over to Him and that you wish to serve Him for all eternity. It’s as simple as that. If you truly mean it then He will honor it. Just remember that He would rather die for you than live without you!
In Romans 8:1 Paul tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
I, for one, am and will be forever grateful for the gift that cost my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ His life and His blood in exchange for mine!
To Him I give all honor, power and glory forever. Amen!
2/27/2008
James
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