God's Gifts

[Betsy]

" God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing
to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God. It's not the result of
anything you've done, so no one can brag about it." Ephesians 2:8-9
(GWT)

I LOVE this passage of scripture. It is so powerful and freeing when
it's truth comes to light. It is like the ultimate revelation from God
and what separates Christianity from all other religions of the
world.

All religions have in common some type of moral code: We could agree
for the most part on many behavioral issues. But in Christianity:
salvation is 100% a gift from God. Not based on how good we are and
how the scales are tipped in our favor for our behavior. The first
truth we have to realize is that ANY sin separates us from a Holy God.
But this passage so clearly shows that when He saves us, it is by
nothing good we do. It is all a gift from Him. All we have to do is
receive it!

The other great thing is that even our FAITH in Him is a gift FROM
Him. Romans 12:3 says "For by the grace given to me I ask every one of
you not to think of yourself more highly than you should think, rather
to think of yourself with sober judgment on the measure of faith that
God has assigned each of you." Not only does He save us by His grace,
but we don't even have to muster up the faith. He gives that to us
too! "All we need for life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3)

Change: Even the tiniest thought that it is by my own doing or power
that I have any of these gifts that are from Him.
Know: He has given me everything I need.
Do: Believe the truth He has revealed and live in the salvation and
faith He has given me.