THE GIFT OF GOD
by Jemima Rayan
Gifts are something we love and
cherish. Gifts do not cost us anything when we receive but it
costs to the one that gives. A gift is an outward statement of
the inward love. God has a gift for every single one and that
is 'Life', eternal and abundant. The Bible says the Gift of God
is 'eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord'. (Romans 6:23)
1. Why does God give us 'This Gift'?
God gives us this gift because
He loves us. God wants you to receive this gift and live a life
filled with joy, peace and right standing with God. Jesus came
into this world to give us this everlasting life.
The Bible says...
-
"I have loved you with an everlasting
love" Jeremiah 31:3
-
"For God so
loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16
-
"I have come
that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
John 10:10
2.
What prevents us from receiving 'This Gift'?
Our separation from God is what
is preventing us from getting this gift. God gave us a free will
to choose between good and evil. But each one of us has gone in
our own way and has sinned against God. Therefore we must be willing
to admit that we are sinners who need forgiveness.
The Bible says...
-
"For all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God" Romans 3: 23
-
"For the wages
of sin is death, but the 'gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus' our Lord." Romans 6:23.
-
"But your iniquities
have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his
face from you, so that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:2
3. Where did God pay the price for
'The Gift'?
Jesus paid the price at the cross.
The penalty for our sins is already paid. Don't worry about your
past. You can come to God as you are. Through Jesus Christ, everyone
has access to God. His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
Therefore, believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross
and rose again from the grave.
The Bible says...
- "For there is one God and
one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
1Tim 2:5
- "For Christ died for sins once for
all, the righteousness for the unrighteous, to bring you to
God." 1Pet 3:18
- "But God demonstrates his own love
for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for
us" Romans 5:8
4. How to receive 'The Gift'?
You can receive this gift by
inviting Jesus Christ into your life. He is right at the door
of your heart, wanting to come in. He wants to be the Lord and
Savior of your life.
But you have to open the door for Him. Through prayer, you can
invite Jesus Christ to come in. That is how you receive 'the gift
of Salvation' which is the gift of God.
The Bible says...
-
"Here I am!
I stand at the door and knock, If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with
me." Revelation 3:20
-
" Yet to all who received him, to those
who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children
of God." John 1:12
-
"That if you confess with your mouth,
'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised
him from the dead, you will be saved," Romans 10:9
Pray
this prayer meaningfully:
Dear Lord Jesus, I am a sinner
and I need Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died for my
sins and rose from the dead. I open the door of my heart and invite
Jesus to come in. Be my Lord and be my Savior. Amen. If you prayed
that prayer, you are "Born again". You are born into
the family of God. You have become a child of God by receiving
Jesus into your life. You have started your journey with Jesus.
This is called "New birth." You are a 'new creation'
in Christ Jesus.
God's promises for you:
- "Everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
- "For it is by grace you have been
saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the
gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
- "He who has the Son has life; he
who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write
these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of
God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
1John 5:12-13
To grow in this new relationship
you should:
- Get a Bible and read it everyday. God
talks to you through His Word.
- Talk to God everyday. You can communicate
with God.
- Go to a church where 'the Word of God'
is taught.
