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Ephesians 2:8-9 says "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Salvation is a gift. Gifts must be received. God made a way for each of us to know Him, be saved, and to be born again. This gift can't be earned. We can't be good enough or do enough good deeds to qualify for this gift of salvation.
Jesus paid the price for this gift to be available to us. He died on the cross for us and became the Savior of the world. Jesus Christ was God and man. As a man, he lived a sinless life to be the ultimate sacrifice for all the sins of mankind. He died on the cross for us so that our sins would be forgiven, so that we could have eternal life and enjoy all the benefits of His kingdom.
2 Corinthians 5:21, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life."
This precious gift of salvation is received by faith through God's grace. God's grace is the power of God's Spirit that enables us to understand and perceive that God is indeed revealing Himself to us. This grace helps us realize that God is speaking to our hearts about our need to surrender our lives to Him and commit ourselves to Him. This grace enables us to be saved. It is undeserved. It calls on us to trust ourselves fully to God with all our hearts, and to receive Him as our Lord and Savior.
By faith we receive Him and acknowledge what He has done for us. When we exercise faith, it means we are placing our confidence and trust in who He is, what He has done and said, and what He will do. As God convicts our hearts, we can respond by trusting and believing in Him, and then receive with His grace the free gift of His salvation.
John 1:12-13, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God."
Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
May He reveal Himself to you as you are on your journey of getting to know Him. His gift of salvation is always waiting for you. Respond to God's tugs on your heart. God loves you! And He wants you to receive and enjoy His free gift of salvation.
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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week's column comes from Rev. John Snyder, pastor of House of the Lord Fellowship, Lock Haven.