How sweet a gift is our salvation? There is nothing sweeter in this life than to ve assured that we have life when this one ends. I don’t know about you, but I am unable to find enough or the right words to express my sincere gratitude for this amazing gift.
I recently recalled one of the classic passages used is the discussion of salvation by faith and not by works. Ephesians 2:8-9.
[8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
I don’t know about you, but I have always interpreted this passage to be saying that GRACE was the gift being referred to here. Look at the passage again and read it again, paying close attention to the punctation.
What is “this’ referring to? It is not “grace” but “FAITH.” SO, “FAITH” is a gift from our Father. Just like we can’t earn our salvation by our works, faith is not something we can produce on our own either. Faith, the very ability to believe and trust that there is a God, and He demonstrated His unspeakable love for us by sending His Son, to pay the price for all of mankinds wrongdoings. Faith, the one thing above all required to know salvation, comes from the very one offering salvation to begin with.
As I thought about this, two other verses came to mind.
[26] Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
[5] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. “
“apart from me you can do nothing.”
Again, the very process of us coming to faith is impossible for us on our own, but with and in him NOTHING is impossible.
My friends, if he loves us enough to give us the faith needed so that he can then as a result of that faith offer us grace, mercy and redemption then I believe He can give us the faith to withstand and overcome ANYTHING. There is no pain, challenge, or obstacles that He has not already prevailed over.
So if you find yourself lacking in faith, ASK our Father who hears and answers. Our Daddy who only gives good gifts!