For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-- Romans 6:23
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions... For it is by grace you have been saved through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God...
-- Ephesians 2:4-8
It was the first thing we learned as we came to Christ: it is because of God's grace we are saved. It is a gift of God -- completely free and unfettered-- completely unaffected by our own works -- because of God's grace we receive the free gift of His love and salvation.
The Rest of the Story
Then what happens?
Once we receive the gift we become the gift!
See these verses from John 17 (Christ's prayer for His disciples and for us who follow):
Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you have granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him (verses 1-2).
I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me...(verse 6).
I pray for them...for those you have given me (verse 9).
Once we receive the gift we become the gift!
The gift God the Father joyfully gives His Son: we are that gift!
(But first we have to receive the gift!)
Why did He do this? this rescue mission to earth to
bring His disobedient children back into His family -
We are told in Hebrews 12:2:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God...
"For the joy set before him...." We are the cause of that joy -- because we are God's gift to our Savior.
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How to receive the gift?
He [the jailer] brought them [Paul and Silas] out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved."
-- Acts 16:23
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