What is This Gift of Faith?

We Christians often speak about this gift of faith but what exactly is it? Basically, it's the god-given ability to believe and surrender to
Christ.

So, how do people get this gift of salvation? Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8 (BBE)that, "Because by grace you have salvation through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is given by God:"

This faith to believe in Christ isn't some mysterious property. God gives it away to whom he chooses. Romans 6:23 (BBE) shows that we earn our punishment but receive salvation freely. "For the reward of sin is death; but what God freely gives is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord."

But why doesn't everybody have this gift? God, in his sovereign wisdom, chose certain people to be redeemed from the slave market of sin. As Jesus himself said in Matthew 22:14 (BBE) about these folks who responded to the call to his banquet, "For out of all to whom the good news has come, only a small number will get salvation."

Furthermore, Paul gives the reason why those who aren't responding to the gospel can't respond to it on their own. Ephesians 2:1 and 2 (BBE) reads, "And to you did he give life, when you were dead through your wrongdoing and sins, In which you were living in the past, after the ways of this present world, doing the pleasure of the lord of the power of the air, the spirit who is now working in those who go against the purpose of God;"

And this is how people are brought to new life spiritually. They must hear the gospel proclaimed. Paul reasoned in Romans 10:14 (BBE), "But how will they give worship to him in whom they have no faith? and how will they have faith in him of whom they have not had news? and how will they have news without a preacher?"

So we realize that most people are in effect spiritual zombies. They were physically born but not from above. I'll point out these important scriptures in my next paperback called You Think You're Going to Heaven? It may be used by the Lord to bring the walking dead to eternal life.

On Thursday, I'll deal with the subject of a scripture which some people use as a magic spell.

No Salvation in Islam?

If God and Allah are the same person, as some allege, why is there such a contradiction between the Bible and the Qu'ran regarding salvation? It makes no sense to have Christ die for our sins and then nullify what he did on the cross.

Acts 2:38 (KJV) is one of many Bible verses which show that it's only faith in Christ's atonement which saves. "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.'"

Neither can we work to earn heaven. Look at what the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8 (KJV). "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

Even in the Old Testament, the Lord planned for Christ to be the agent of salvation. Zechariah 9:9 (KJV) reads, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." This came to pass on what we call Palm Sunday.

Acts 4:12 (KJV) reinforces the fact that Christ alone is our saviour. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

But the Qu'ran contradicts the Bible by saying in passages such as sura 39:61, "And Allah will save those who maintained righteousness to their place of salvation. No harm will touch them, nor will they grieve."

Sura 5:84-85 also claims, "And why should we not believe in Allah,
and in the truth that has come to us, and hope that our Lord will include us among the righteous people? Allah will reward them for what they say, Gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will stay forever. Such is the reward of the righteous."

Sura 7:56 also says, "And do not corrupt on earth after its reformation, and pray to Him with fear and hope. Allah's mercy is close to the doers of good."

I could include so many more verses and suras showing the stark difference between the God of the Bible and Allah. I'll save that for my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Those who believe our heavenly Father and the harsh-natured Allah are the same entity will be in for a rude awakening on Judgement Day.

Who Gives the Best Gifts?

To us Christians, the answer to this question is obvious. But why is it that our Lord gives us the best gifts?

God loves us like an excellent father. Jesus tells us in Luke 11:11 (KJV), "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?" We aren't always the best at parenting but our heavenly Father knows what would be best for us.

But did you know that making a living is also God's gift to us? Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:19 (KJV), "Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God." Thanksgiving Day has passed but we must be thankful every day for such wonderful things which he provides.

But more than physical gifts, we receive spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit. And what good are these? Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:12 (KJV) that, "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church."

Of course the best gift of all is salvation. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8 (KJV), "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" And what a wonderful gift it is for we who trust in the finished atonement of Christ.

And as Paul reminds us in Romans 6:23 (KJV), For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Additionally, Jesus was our gift. Mark 10:45 (KJV) testifies, "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." For this reason, we worship him and celebrate his birth, death, and resurrection.

There are so many wonderful verses that I could add regarding the excellent gifts our heavenly Father provides us but this blog post would become a novel. Instead, I'll save them for my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Sadly, many people assume they'll be in paradise when they die but they'll be shocked at their real destination.