The Greatest Gift

I have graded Bible studies for prisoners for awhile, and I wanted to share with you something from one of the lessons. By the way, this is an incredible ministry through Crossroads Bible Institute (CBI), and if you're at all interested in doing this, let me know! Ask me questions! Or just write them at P.O. Box 900; Grand Rapids, MI 49509. Wait, what am I saying... write them? This is the age of cell phones and e-mails, haha. So, here, you can check out their website at www.crossroadbible.org for more info. :) That's better... So anyway, this ministry is a huge encouragement not only for those who are in prison, but also for those like me (and it could be you!) who get to study the Bible with them and encourage them!! Now, here is...

THE GREATEST GIFT

To know without a doubt that Jesus has saved you is truly wonderful. To know that the Creator of the universe is no longer your enemy, but a trusted and faithful Friend, is truly amazing. But the Bible's teaching on salvation is not only wonderful and amazing, it is also very humbling. It's humbling to discover how terribly sinful our hearts can be. It's humbling to learn that even our very best effort can do nothing to merit eternal life. And it's humbling to acknowledge that the only possible way for us to be saved is to have someone else do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

But the amazing "good news" far outweighs the humbling "bad news." Someone else has done for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has done all that was needed in order for us to find the forgiveness, peace, and eternal life we so eagerly desire. Salvation is an act of pure mercy on God's part. It is a gracious gift of God, a gift of sovereign grace.

This wonderful salvation can never be merited or earned. IT can only be received through faith. It s by faith that we receive the gift of eternal life. By faith we confess that Jesus lived and died and rose again for us. By faith we receive Jesus into our hearts. By faith we receive His forgiveness. By faith we become children of God and fellow-heirs with Christ. By faith we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. And by faith we begin to produce the spiritual fruits of holiness and love.

All our hope for salvation is therefore found in Jesus alone. And all our assurance of salvation is found in Jesus alone. If we depend in any way on what we ourselves can do or have done (how long our list of good deeds, how well we follow the "moral code," how often we attend church, etc...), we will always live in uncertainty and fear (and we will only be an annoying, loud, clangy gong or cymbal without authentic LOVE (= GOD) flowing through our lives!!). If Jesus' perfect sacrifice did not cover all our sins, what could we do that would? But once we trust the Lord Jesus with all our heart, we need not doubt for one moment that God will graciously give us all that Jesus has merited for us.

Grace alone. Faith alone. Jesus alone. Small phrases. Great truths. And they are the only truths that can give us the full assurance that we truly are forgiven, that Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven, and that our names are written in the Book of Life. The wonder and glory of salvation - God's greatest gift to meet our greatest need!