The Gift Of God

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

Grace is a mercy freely offered by God to anyone that responds to Him, it is by faith that we receive salvation. So what is salvation? Let’s do a deep dive into what we are saved from, and what we are saved to.

Throughout history, many preachers have spoken of a gospel of fire and damnation, which was effective in the early years of Christianity when it came to convincing bad people that there is a good God out there. However, this approach may not be so effective in convincing people of the mercy of God nowadays. It is true that we serve a Holy God who is completely different from us. Holiness means just that—set apart, special, not common. When we approach God’s holiness, we become aware that we are encountering a divine being who knows us completely and is so different from us that it can be disarming. Encountering God’s holiness means risking exposure of our true selves, which is what God is after anyway. When we approach God with openness and honesty, He responds to us with love and mercy, not condemnation or judgment. We are the ones who tend to condemn and judge ourselves when we compare ourselves to the holiness of God.

When we finally acknowledge our limitations and confess that we cannot achieve holiness on our own, we open the door to a life-changing covenant with our Creator. Through His Son Jesus Christ, we become united with God in a way that is both transformative and unbreakable. Paul speaks of this incredible union in Ephesians 5:25-32 ESV, where he describes a bond so intimate that two become one —Christ and us. It is a beautiful and powerful mystery that empowers us to live our lives with purpose, meaning, and a deep sense of belonging. Paul also states in Galatians 2:20 ESV ”I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

By embracing the faith of Christ, we can be reborn in him. This transformative union is not a mere revival or revamping of our old, sinful nature, but a profound and necessary change that puts that old nature to death. In its place, we receive the new nature of Christ, which is so much better than anything we could have imagined. It is like trading in old, worn-out, smelly clothing for something new, fresh, and infinitely more useful. Just as Jesus Christ died on the cross for us, we too must die to our old ways, so that we can be reborn in him and live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God. With Christ reigning completely in our bodies, we can know the peace and purpose that we never knew was possible.

As believers, we have been saved to live a life filled with peace, joy, and love in the Holy Spirit. Our status before God has changed from being outcasts to being adopted as His sons and daughters through Christ. We are not just solo individuals of faith, but part of a larger family, connected to fellow believers who have experienced the same transformative power of a personal relationship with Christ.

The establishment of God's family on earth serves a crucial purpose. Our primary mission is to spread the word that God is gathering His family together through Christ to accomplish something extraordinary. We are called to reveal Christ through our interactions with one another, serving as a testament to God’s mercy and grace and by encouraging each other on a daily basis.

Furthermore, our call to be part of God's family on earth is not just about our individual salvation. It is about a cosmic battle in the spiritual realm where God will remove the dark forces that rule over the nations of the earth. As we join together as victorious sons and daughters in Christ, our new role will be replacing these principalities and powers with the light of God's love and truth, demonstrating God’s unending mercy to those nations.

Let us hold fast to the knowledge that we are part of something greater than ourselves. Together, let us fulfill our mission to spread the word of God's love and mercy to ALL people, and bring God’s people home. That is God’s gift to us in Christ.

Stephen Barnett