WHAT IS THE "GIFT OF GOD?": PART SEVEN

The problem with religion, all religion, is they refuse to accept the concept that salvation as a gift without strings. I mentioned yesterday that Roman Catholicism adds "the sacraments" to the equation. Any denomination that says one must do something to qualify to receive the gift of salvation, whether it be baptism, speak in tongues, become a member in their "only way to heaven club," etc., nullifies the fact that salvation is a gift. Salvation is found in Jesus. God gave us Jesus. All you and I have to do is believe it.

The Word says: "That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins" ( Jn. 3:15-16; Acts 10:43). Salvation comes when a man understands and believes what the Bible says Jesus did for him. He has a new way of thinking. He has had a change of mind (which is the definition of repentance).

The religious of this world find it impossible to believe that a man does not have to do anything in order to become worthy of heaven. Their thinking is faulty, because it is based upon a misconception. They believe that following a man's salvation, he is then worthy to enter God's presence. He is not. The born again individual remains the man he always was: a sinner. He is permitted to stand accepted before God because he has been given a robe of righteousness to cover him. Isaiah 61:10 says, "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for HE HATH CLOTHED ME with the garments of salvation, HE HATH COVERED ME with the robe of righteousness...."

Man can not earn his own garment of righteousness which is necessary to stand justified in the Lord's presence. That is why Jesus has made His available to all those who place their trust in Him. Revelation 1:5 says, "And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood." Our garment of righteousness, the robe we will wear before Almighty God, was made holy by being washed in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14)! OUR SALVATION IS A GIFT FROM GOD! Amen!