Greatest of Gifts

Romans 8:3

The Law of Moses could not save us, because of our

sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan

to save us. He sent His own Son in a human body like

ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s

control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our

sins. (NLT)

     There is no greater gift than the undeserved salvation that our Lord God, Christ Jesus, purchased for everyone.  It is a glorious gift of complete forgiveness from our perfectly just and loving God.  It's by receiving this wonderful gift that we are given a new life, for the old sinful life is nailed to the Cross to die, and our new, redeemed life, is graciously ushered in.  Like so many people, I was trapped in the darkness of sin, cursing God for my existence, and wishing I was never born.  But as my life was ebbing away, the Lord came searching and I unexpectedly fell into His saving arms.  He forgave, He healed, and He set me free from the grip of sin. I was saved from the death I deserved and longed for.  And with this undeserved gift and new life, I discovered that life had a true purpose.  I learned the Truth about our infinite God and why I was created.  The Lord drew me into His Light and I was able to see the Truth for the very first time—Truth that set me free from the lies of this fallen world. 

     Without the hope of Jesus, we are unable to see beyond the darkness of our troubles. The fear and uncertainty of the unknown can hold us in bondage to our sinful ways and lead us even deeper into the darkness.  And because we, sinful human beings, tend to look to the world for resolve instead of our sovereign God, we are usually let down and many will never be rescued.  It is because of God’s mercy that any of us are spared the full consequence of our sin.  It is because of God’s love and justice that we have any chance of surviving in a world that is infected with sin and death.  Even the most suffering soul can have Reason to hope, for God came to save the hopeless and downtrodden. 

                                        A Whisper of Hope

I came to free you, dear child... from the chains of darkness that kills your soul.  You no longer have to live in darkness, because you have the Light of Life that shines of Truth and gives you new life.  And with this new life, you are clothed in My righteousness and stand holy in the eyes of God.  

Romans 6:6-8

Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin

might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves

to sin.  For when we died with Christ we were set free from

the power of sin.  And since we died with Christ, we know

we will also share His new life.  (NLT)

   “Salvation is not a reward…it is a gift from God.

                           (Ephesians 2:9, 8)