THE GIFT OF SALVATION
The Gift of Salvation
IRPEEL EBENEZER
“For by Grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the Gift of God …” – Ephesians 2:8.
A gift requires at least a ‘giver’ and a recipient; and for the process of giving to be complete, all three components are essential.
A good gift is usually planned and well thought out. As the giver, when we think of gifts for our loved ones – husbands, wives, children, siblings or friends, - we take pains to make sure the gift will be useful for the recipient and that it will be appreciated. We dream of the joy and pleasure our gifts will bestow.
As the recipient, over the years, my reaction and use of gifts have varied widely. I have rejected gifts I felt uncomfortable about, some gifts I have loved instantly and used till worn out because I enjoyed them so much. There were others that I had an initial affinity for but after the initial flash of affection, tossed aside and forgot. There were some that I was not enthusiastic about initially but grew to love and appreciate as I knew more of their worth.
There was a gorgeous wrist watch I liked so much I waited for the occasion/event I felt deserved it. I kept it in its case safely in the closet, but the right occasion never seemed to come until the battery died. Then, all effort to have the battery replaced failed so that I never really got to use it! It was eventually discarded like trash.
There was another beautiful gift I once received at a “White Elephant” event but didn’t know how to use and the manual was missing. All efforts to figure it out failed; so eventually I had to pass it on at another “White Elephant” hoping that someone who knows how to use it gets it.
A friend once confided in me that she did not get to open many of her wedding presents until months later, so that she didn’t really know what they were.
God’s Gift for Mankind
The fact that we love to give and receive gifts is one more evidence that we are made in the image of God our Creator, who is, Love personified and is the ultimate Giver of all good things – James 1:17.
The omnipotent, omniscient God had no problem figuring out what the Gift is that would be appropriate for all mankind in a sinful world. In fact He had it all planned even before the world began – 1 Peter 1:18-21. So, by the time Man fell in the Garden of Eden, God already had a plan of redemption in Christ Jesus to be revealed at the appointed time.
In the fullness of time, God gave the greatest Gift ever, in order to reconcile mankind to Himself – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting Life.” – John 3:16.
God gave His Son, the Lamb of God, as propitiation for the sins of men- 1 John 2:2. The only requirement on the part of man is faith in God’s Son. Whosoever believes receives the “Salvation package” which includes: Forgiveness of sins, Redemption from Satan, Sin and Self, Justification, Sanctification, Reconciliation, Healing, Victory and Eternal Life – all secured through the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
Man’s Response
Many willfully reject God’s Gift of Salvation.
Many, who claim to have received the Gift, like my friend, have never opened it, so they do not understand it and therefore never lived it.
Others treated the Gift as I treated my gorgeous watch, kept it in the closet, awed by the majesty and the beauty but never put it to use. Some, after a flash of initial enthusiasm have become less enthralled. Some, because they will not use the “Maker’s Manual” – (the Bible) – cannot figure it out and have put it aside.
However, a few have received the Gift, opened it, discover the treasures in the package and by the power of the Holy Spirit, daily put them to use. These are the true disciples who understand the Gift and have been transformed by Him into ‘New Creatures’ – 2 Corinthians 5:7. They are those who have the chance to impact other people’s lives and make more disciples. They truly know the Giver, understand the Gift, and understand their true identities in Christ.
Historical Trends
Over the centuries, ignorance of the true nature of the Gift of Salvation and the power of the Holy Spirit has led to the Philosophization of the Gospel, paganization of worship, Romanization of the ecclesiastical structure, commercialization of penance, fragmentation of the Church, secularization of the clergy and the Gospel, and finally the perversion of compassion; a situation where Satan masquerades as “the angel of light and love”.
These processes over time have produced powerless Christians who are oblivious of their true identities and potentials in Christ and therefore live as the proverbial chicken instead of soaring like eagles.
The time is come to “Ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it …” – Jeremiah 6:16.
This is the path of Victory and Peace.
Shalom.
Understanding the Gift of Salvation: And a Concise History of How the Church Through Ignorance and Unbelief Lost the Power of the Holy Spirit
Irpeel Ebenezer
IRPEEL EBENEZER
“For by Grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the Gift of God …” – Ephesians 2:8.
A gift requires at least a ‘giver’ and a recipient; and for the process of giving to be complete, all three components are essential.
A good gift is usually planned and well thought out. As the giver, when we think of gifts for our loved ones – husbands, wives, children, siblings or friends, - we take pains to make sure the gift will be useful for the recipient and that it will be appreciated. We dream of the joy and pleasure our gifts will bestow.
As the recipient, over the years, my reaction and use of gifts have varied widely. I have rejected gifts I felt uncomfortable about, some gifts I have loved instantly and used till worn out because I enjoyed them so much. There were others that I had an initial affinity for but after the initial flash of affection, tossed aside and forgot. There were some that I was not enthusiastic about initially but grew to love and appreciate as I knew more of their worth.
There was a gorgeous wrist watch I liked so much I waited for the occasion/event I felt deserved it. I kept it in its case safely in the closet, but the right occasion never seemed to come until the battery died. Then, all effort to have the battery replaced failed so that I never really got to use it! It was eventually discarded like trash.
There was another beautiful gift I once received at a “White Elephant” event but didn’t know how to use and the manual was missing. All efforts to figure it out failed; so eventually I had to pass it on at another “White Elephant” hoping that someone who knows how to use it gets it.
A friend once confided in me that she did not get to open many of her wedding presents until months later, so that she didn’t really know what they were.
God’s Gift for Mankind
The fact that we love to give and receive gifts is one more evidence that we are made in the image of God our Creator, who is, Love personified and is the ultimate Giver of all good things – James 1:17.
The omnipotent, omniscient God had no problem figuring out what the Gift is that would be appropriate for all mankind in a sinful world. In fact He had it all planned even before the world began – 1 Peter 1:18-21. So, by the time Man fell in the Garden of Eden, God already had a plan of redemption in Christ Jesus to be revealed at the appointed time.
In the fullness of time, God gave the greatest Gift ever, in order to reconcile mankind to Himself – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting Life.” – John 3:16.
God gave His Son, the Lamb of God, as propitiation for the sins of men- 1 John 2:2. The only requirement on the part of man is faith in God’s Son. Whosoever believes receives the “Salvation package” which includes: Forgiveness of sins, Redemption from Satan, Sin and Self, Justification, Sanctification, Reconciliation, Healing, Victory and Eternal Life – all secured through the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
Man’s Response
Many willfully reject God’s Gift of Salvation.
Many, who claim to have received the Gift, like my friend, have never opened it, so they do not understand it and therefore never lived it.
Others treated the Gift as I treated my gorgeous watch, kept it in the closet, awed by the majesty and the beauty but never put it to use. Some, after a flash of initial enthusiasm have become less enthralled. Some, because they will not use the “Maker’s Manual” – (the Bible) – cannot figure it out and have put it aside.
However, a few have received the Gift, opened it, discover the treasures in the package and by the power of the Holy Spirit, daily put them to use. These are the true disciples who understand the Gift and have been transformed by Him into ‘New Creatures’ – 2 Corinthians 5:7. They are those who have the chance to impact other people’s lives and make more disciples. They truly know the Giver, understand the Gift, and understand their true identities in Christ.
Historical Trends
Over the centuries, ignorance of the true nature of the Gift of Salvation and the power of the Holy Spirit has led to the Philosophization of the Gospel, paganization of worship, Romanization of the ecclesiastical structure, commercialization of penance, fragmentation of the Church, secularization of the clergy and the Gospel, and finally the perversion of compassion; a situation where Satan masquerades as “the angel of light and love”.
These processes over time have produced powerless Christians who are oblivious of their true identities and potentials in Christ and therefore live as the proverbial chicken instead of soaring like eagles.
The time is come to “Ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it …” – Jeremiah 6:16.
This is the path of Victory and Peace.
Shalom.
Understanding the Gift of Salvation: And a Concise History of How the Church Through Ignorance and Unbelief Lost the Power of the Holy Spirit
Irpeel Ebenezer
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Shearon
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Jun 15, 2013 01:45PM
A lot of great information regarding the precious GIFT OF SALVATION", the love and sacrifice that Our Saviour paid for us.
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