Tag: Gift of God

Gift for All Even as All are Sinners

“23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” — Romans 3:23 (ESV)

Here is the beginning of the “Roman Road to Salvation” as it is sometimes known. This is where it all starts in our movement to the gift of salvation from the LORD. What I see is that there is no discrimination as to who has sinned, it is identifying everyone. No matter who you are, where you come from, or what you have done, we are all sinners and fall short of a right relationship with God.

“24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” — Romans 3:24 (ESV)

And yet, we are ALL presented the gift of salvation. Not just those deemed “worthy” by the law or by others. ALL are presented the gift from God. Boy am I glad that I fall into the ALL.

I am part of the ALL as a sinner and a receiver of the gift of salvation. As noted in the title of this blog, ALL are sinners and ALL receive the gift. But, not all will accept. The gift was/is presented to everyone and everyone has the opportunity to accept, yet not all will.

I was presented the gift and accepted. And that is the key thing here for me to remember. I was presented the gift of salvation and in order to be saved, I had to accept. I could not just receive it and then throw it under the seat of the truck, I have to keep it in plain view and remember it was given and I actively received it. I announced that I had received through baptism and I have to continue to announce it daily as the reminder that I did accept and have a responsibility to Christ as a result.

The gift of salvation is one that is freely given to ALL and ALL have the chance to receive it as well as accept. This is not dependent on and status of actions completed or righteousness under the law or right living standards. We are ALL sinners, regardless of where or what we come from. We are not excluded from the opportunity. Salvation is the free gift and for ALL to accept.

What are your thoughts on your status as relates to the gift of salvation? Are you aware that you are a sinner and yet the gift is for you as well? What if you came to the LORD and held out your hands and accepted the free gift of salvation given to you knowing that it is for ALL and you fall into that ALL?

God’s Gift to Give, Not Mine

I am continuing my study of the word “gift” and this morning was again in the book of Acts where I was reminded that the gift of salvation is from God to those in need. The disciples were recruited by Jesus and were saved as a result of the gift He had for them. And God provides the same gift for others as well. The passage I read this morning is of Peter discussing his spending time with those deemed unclean. He explains that he was doing the will of God and was presenting the gift to them so that they would have the opportunity to accept it themselves.

“15As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” — Acts 11:15-17 (ESV)

The takeaway this morning is that I am to do the will of God in all that I do. I am to go where He wants me to go. I am to present His gift to all and those who accept will join Him in heaven and will also go and do all that He has asked. They to will present the gift to others as they are afforded the opportunity to accept and be saved.

I am but a conduit for the gift to be presented. It is not my gift to give, I am only the vessel from which the gift is presented. God’s gift of salvation is His and I as well as all that choose to accept, are the presenters of His gift to others in need.

What is your thought with regard to the gift of salvation? Are you of the impression that the gift is yours to give? What if you recognized that the gift is God’s and you are the one presenting that gift to those in need?