Issue 6 - December 2004
It is a Gift
Michael A. Verdicchio

Ephesians 2:8 and 9:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

These two verses show us very clearly God’s opinion of a “gift”.  It is not something that you work for.  It is not something you earn or deserve, but rather it is by grace.  Grace means undeserved favor, something that is not earned.

Salvation is a gift from God.  No one should boast of being saved, because it is not through our works, but rather through the completed work of Jesus Christ.  The work necessary for salvation has been completed.  We are saved through faith, through believing in Jesus Christ. 

Romans 10:9 and 10:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Once a person believes in Jesus Christ, confesses or acknowledges and that he is lord and believes that God raised him from the dead, they are saved.  They receive from God the gift of salvation.  We do not work to get saved – it is a gift from God.

During this time of year many people give and receive “gifts”.  Children are told that if they are good, then they will receive a “gift”.  Adults many times receive “gifts” because of something that they have done.  People many times receive an unexpected “gift” from someone they were not intending to give a “gift” to, and then feel obligated to give that person a “gift” in return for the “gift” that they have received.   In fact there are many during this time of year that feel pressured because they feel that they have to give “gifts”.

Maybe the reason so many Christians have a difficult time accepting salvation as a gift is due to the attitude that our culture has concerning “gifts”.  Starting from the time we are little children we are taught that one receives “gifts” if they are good enough.  As adults we learn that most “gifts” have “strings attached”, and if you receive one then you need to give one back in return.

Then when people read in Ephesians that salvation is “the gift of God”, they begin to think that they need to do something to earn it.  It is sad that there are many Christians who are not convinced that they are saved by grace.  God has made it so plain that it is not of works, but by His grace.  As someone once said, “We don’t do good works to get saved, but rather we do good works because we are saved.”

During this festive season many will give and receive “gifts”.  But we ought to remember that God’s perspective of a “gift” is something that is not earned; it is something that is not worked for to receive; it is not something with “strings attached”.  Let’s not read the culture of our times into the Word of God, for in doing that, it can diminish the Truth of God’s Word.

John 3:16:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Have a very blessed season enjoying the benefits of God’s love:  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”