Christians, if someone said to you that they heard someone was freely giving away beautifully wrapped boxes full of gold, you would probably want to know ALL of the details! Who, What, Where, When, Why, and HOW can I get one?!? If you were told there were no strings attached and all you had to do was pick it up and take it with you, I am sure you would be there early, ready to receive it, and be very excited for the opportunity. Although, it may sound too good to be true…
Salvation is a FREE gift, and it is worth so much more than any box of gold! When we minister to the lost, telling them about salvation, the deal should really sound too good to be true. God created us, we were all sinners, but He loved us so much He then paid our debt through His Son on the cross. All we must do is repent and receive this free gift of salvation, which is your ticket to eternal life and a completely NEW life here on earth.
So many times I feel we can look at salvation, not so much as a free gift God gives away, but something that must be earned, achieved, sought after, and paid for through what we do. I have found myself, in the past, questioning people’s salvation because of what they were doing or saying. It did not coincide with the Word of God. This does not include people that say they believe in Jesus, but also believe there are MANY ways to heaven. That is not a genuine Christ follower. Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NLT (emphasis added) Just because someone is currently off-track with God does not mean that at some point in their life they didn’t have a genuine moment of true repentance and a salvation experience. They just might have received the gift, but never opened it.
Only God knows whether someone’s name is in the Book of Life. If someone claims to be saved by Jesus Christ, we need not question their salvation, so much as their status currently with God. If someone is off-track, as Christians we need to be able to rebuke and convict them in love back the the will of God. I truly believe that if we understood salvation better, we can effectively serve our fellow Christians and the lost better.
The key to salvation is not receiving it, that is the easy part. The key to salvation is unpacking it. If we look at people who say they are saved but are off track as Christians, then they have not “unpacked the box.” We can better help them to unpack the box, and finally experience what the TRUE Christian life is all about. I pray that as you look at others, the Holy Spirit would give you wisdom to help guide and direct people in the right direction, in Jesus Name, Amen.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16-17 (NIV)
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, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2 (NASB)
Three other posts related to Receiving the Free Gift:
Salvation is a Free Gift Pt. 1 : Open It!
Salvation is a Free Gift Pt. 2: Unpack it!
Salvation is a Gift Pt. 3: Opposition to Unpacking
written and posted by Daniel Poggensee | 2019
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