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It Is The Gift Of God
October 19, 2014
Our salvation through Jesus Christ is the gift of God, extended through His grace, or favor. He planned it, He chose Jesus to carry it out, and He made it available to all. But, only those who accept the terms, are baptized into Christ, and keep the instructions of God, will benefit from the gift. The Law of Moses ceased because it could not do what Christ could do on the cross. - Bernie Parsons
It Is The Gift Of God
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 10-19-2014
Presented to Load church of Christ on 11-23-2014
We have studied the fact that if we do not listen to God and obey His
commandments, we are like so much dead wood to be cast aside and burned. We
also studied about the covenants that God made with Israel and Judah. We saw
that there was a new covenant, which came by the hand of the mediator, Jesus
Christ, and sealed by His blood, shed upon the cross.
We studied how that the Law of Moses was removed, that wall of partition
between Jew and Gentile, and that the two became one in the blood and the
body – the church – of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:13 "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are
made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the
middle wall of partition between us;"
It is the agency of the blood of Jesus Christ that takes away our sins.
Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God?"
We reach the blood of Christ when we obey the gospel of Christ.
1 Peter 1:1 "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered
throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through
sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of
Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."
The sacrifice of Christ upon the cross, the giving of His life-blood, is the
gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who
are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the
flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having
no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by
the blood of Christ."
Those who were afar off were the Gentiles, while those who were nigh were
the Jews. The gospel was preached to the Jews first, and then the Gentiles.
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as
it is written, The just shall live by faith."
That salvation is for all -- Jew or Gentile -- and is free to all. We do not
inherit it, nor earn it.
Titus 3:3 "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient,
deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy,
hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man
appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to
the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm
constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to
maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."
Humans do not have the ability to save themselves, separate and apart from
God.
Jeremiah 10:23 "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is
not in man that walketh to direct his steps."
Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It
shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones."
Neither can the works of the Law of Moses save him or her.
Romans 4:1 "What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to
the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not
before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted
unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God
imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are
covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."
But we can save ourselves by obeying the Lord and His word.
Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God
hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto
Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are
afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save
yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day
there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
Abraham departed from his homeland in order to receive the promises that God
made him. He believed God, trusting that He would do as promised, and he was
counted righteous. If we believe in the son of God, Christ Jesus, that will
be counted for righteousness and we will receive the promises made through
Christ for us.
Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and
rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
Romans 5:15 "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if
through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the
gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which
receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in
life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to
condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon
all men unto justification of life."
Romans 6:22 "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God,
ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord."
