Is Salvation A Gift?
Introduction:
If salvation is a gift from God, does that mean everyone will be
saved? If salvation is a gift, do we have to do anything to receive
it?
Let’s read
Ecclesiastes 3:13.
“and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of
all his labor – it is the gift of God.”
NKJV
Notice that the verse says that there is good that comes from labor
and that it is a gift of God. The Bible teaches that God designed
man to work. (Genesis
2:15)
“Then the Lord God took the man and put hIm in the garden of Eden to
tend and keep it.”
NKJV
After sin entered the garden, God cursed the ground. As a result,
work became toil.
The good of man’s labor [the fruit] is a gift from God. So while we
plant and water, it is God who gives the increase. God has given us
seed and water and we must work to receive God’s gift of fruit.
So everything we have is from God. The result of our work is
completely dependent upon the grace of God. Now let’s apply this
principle to the gospel.
Body:
The gospel teaches “salvation by grace.” It means that salvation –
the forgiveness of sins – is a gift from God. There is nothing we
can do to earn back his favor. Based upon Christ’s sacrifice on the
cross, God gives us the gift of forgiveness. Note
Ephesians 2:8-9.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should
boast.”
NKJV
But notice what the verse doesn’t say. It doesn’t say that
God’s grace is unconditional. The Bible teaches that there are
conditions attached to the receiving of God’s grace. Some will
accept those conditions and receive the gift of salvation while
others will refuse those conditions and be lost eternally.
Let’s note how some responded to Peter’s sermon on Pentecost in
Acts 2.
(Acts
2:37)
“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to
Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we
do?’ ”
NKJV
Peter did not reply that there was nothing for them to do – that
salvation was unconditional. Note what he did say. (Acts
2:38)
“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ ”
NKJV
Repentance and baptism did not earn them salvation when they
responded. It did not put God in their debt. However, there were
condition they had to meet before God’s gift would be given. (Acts
2:40)
“And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying,
‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’ ”
NKJV
Let’s look at an example from the Old Testament. In
II Kings 5,
we have the account of Naaman the leper. He was a commander of the
Syrian army who possessed much power. Elisha, the prophet of God,
told him to wash seven times in the Jordan River and he would be
healed. (II
Kings 5:10)
“And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go and wash in the
Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you
shall be clean.’ ”
NKJV
After dipping the seventh time, he was indeed healed. (II
Kings 5:14)
“So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to
the saying of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the
flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”
NKJV
The gift of healing was totally by God’s grace, but he would have
died a leper if he had not complied with God’s conditions.
Likewise, God has attached repentance and baptism as conditions
necessary to receive forgiveness of sins. Baptism is not a “work of
human righteousness” as some have called it, but rather a work of
God. (Colossians
2:12)
“buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him
through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”
NKJV
Invitation:
Salvation is truly by grace, but conditions must be met to receive
this gift. (Romans
6:23)
“For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
NKJV
Have you met those conditions?
Bobby Stafford
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