How to Receive a Free Gift

The Bible speaks of salvation as being a free gift
from God (Rom. 6:23).  Because of this, many are
convinced that one does not need to do anything to
obtain it, for it is free after all.  But is this really true?

In the Old Testament God promised to give the
children of Israel the land of Canaan freely (Exod. 6:
4; Deut. 10:11).  They did nothing to earn it; they did
not pay God for it – it was a free gift.  Yet, in order to
take possession of it they had to prepare provisions
(Josh. 1:11); they had to cross over the Jordan (c. 3);
they had to defeat Jericho (c. 6); they had to do
battle with Ai (c. 7-8); etc.  God gave Israel the land
as a free gift, however, that did not exclude effort on
Israel’s part.  They had to DO something to receive it.

After an old farmer tore down his barn, his neighbor
inquired about the wood.  The old farmer said, “You
can have it for nothing.  I’ll just give it to you.  Only
thing is, you’ll have to come haul it away yourself.”
Was it a free gift?  Yes.  Did the neighbor have to do
something in order to obtain that free gift?  Yes.
Friends, the same is true with regard to the free gift
of salvation (Heb. 10:36).

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Working on Our Faith

Recently I wrote an article titled, “Are We Saved By
WORKS?” – in which I established that we cannot be
saved apart from works of righteousness (which I
defined as “works resulting from obedient faith”).
Hence, works of righteousness, in this sense, means
“works of faith” (cf. Acts 10:35; Heb. 11:33; Jas.
2:18).

The question that arises, however, is what about
Titus 3:5 in which Paul says that salvation did not
come because of “works of righteousness”?  First of
all, Paul was referring to meritorious works, not
works of faith (that is, we do not merit salvation; it
came as a result of divine mercy).  Secondly, in
verse 8, Paul specifically said that “those who have
believed in God should be careful to maintain good
works” (i.e., works of faith).  Because of “works of
faith” Abraham was justified (James 2:22-23); Noah’s
family was spared (Heb. 11:7); and about 3,000
Jews had their sins forgiven (Acts 2:37-41).  You
see, faith without works IS dead (Jas. 2:26).

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Got Milk?

For years the dairy industry has promoted one of
their signature products (milk) through a series of
very effective television commercials.  In one such
advertisement, after a fellow ate his fill of chocolate
cake (only then to realize he had nothing to wash it
down with), the question asked was, “Got Milk?”

The Bible refers to milk both literally and spiritually.
In fact, the expressions “milk” and “solid food” both
represent the word of God: “milk” meaning the
elementary principles of Christ (Heb. 6:1-2) and
“solid food” meaning the deeper things of God.  To
those newer to Christianity Peter said, “as newborn
babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you
may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:2).  Yet, just as a
newborn on milk eventually needs solid food for
continued growth; so, too, is the  Christian expected
to grow up in Christ  (2 Pet. 3:18; 1 Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:
12-14).  However, this milk is ever needful.  As one
preacher put it, “We dine on the meat of revelation,
and wash it down with the milk of the word.”  So,
friends, “Got Milk?”

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Some Things Never Change

I come from what would be considered a fair-sized
family, in today’s terms.  I am one of five children
born to good, God-fearing parents.  However, my
oldest brother would admit that he had it harder than
I did.  Why?  Because, as he might say, “They had to
learn how to be parents on me.  By the time they got
to you, they mellowed out.”

Even the best of parents change in their strategy of
discipline – learning with the older; knowing a little
better with the younger.  But then, that reminds us of
the volatility of life.  Parents may waver, but God
never wavers (He still means today what He meant in
Bible times).  Tax laws change every year, but God’s
word never changes (1 Pet. 1:25).  Social and
political agendas are always evolving; yet God’s will
never evolves (Heb. 13:8).  He is a never-changing
force in an ever-changing world.  No wonder He is
considered the “rock of our salvation” (Ps. 95:1).

Friends, if you would like stability in your life, won’t
you come to Christ?

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Don’t Miss the Boat

According to Genesis 7:11, when the global flood of
Noah’s day came upon the earth it came from the
rain above and from wells deep in the earth.  Noah
and his family were, in effect, completely immersed
(buried) in water.  However, they did not perish
because they were safe in the ark which God
designed.

In 1 Peter 3:20 Peter points to the fact that Noah’s
salvation was through a “type” of baptism – for they
were saved “through water.”  In the very next verse
(21) Peter says, “There is also an antitype which
now saves us – baptism…” Peter’s usage of the word
“antitype” (which means “like figure” or
“counterpart”) shows that a connection is to be made
between Noah’s salvation through water and the
Christian’s salvation through water.  True, it is not
the water itself that saves, but rather the ark that God
has provided – which in this case is Jesus Christ.

Friends, since baptism saves, please don’t miss the
boat

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