In a popular newspaper syndicated “advice” column a reader tells of her mother giving
gifts, sometimes very generous ones, but always with strings attached. Apparently the mother even keeps a record of those recipients who respond with a “thank you” of some sort and those who don’t. Those who do not respond are ridiculed and slighted. (I am not making this up by the way.)
The word “gift” is a noun and is defined as follows:
1. Something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present.
2. Something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned.
So based on the definition of a “gift”, was the mother mentioned above giving “gifts?” My answer would have to be “no.” They would have to be defined as bribes, payoffs, enticements, rewards, payments, traps, snares, set-ups, etcetera, but they were not gifts in the true sense of the definition.
Someone may say that those receiving the “gifts” did not have to pay for them so they would be a gift, but is that true? Some paid with a “thank you” and received no retaliation. The rest paid by receiving retaliation for not saying “thank you.” Therefore, since payments were involved, there was not a true gift being offered.
There is yet another issue. The mother expected something in return; i.e. a “thank you” in some form or another. If she did not receive recognition for her “generosity” she would then retaliate toward one group and reward the other. Again, payments are involved, so they were not true gifts.
There are no strings attached to a true gift.
Is it to say that God retaliates toward those who refuse His gift of salvation? No. The mother mentioned above presented gifts with the express purpose of receiving something back in return; i.e. a thank you. She retaliated if she did not receive her expected desire. God provides a gift, His Son and all things associated with Him, to those who will receive it, in order to prevent us from suffering Satan’s fate. It is a gift provided to those of us who will accept it, to prevent us from suffering the final outcome of sin. It is a sacrificial gift.
When applying this to God’s gift of grace, is there any resemblance at all? I would strongly contend that there is not. This is not a picture of the “gift” that God offers. Unfortunately, many people just do not understand the term “gift” when it is used in the following Scripture passage. They say they do, but their actions say otherwise.
[8] “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
I am so thankful that God is not like the woman mentioned in the advice column, but obviously many people equate God’s grace with the “grace” this woman bestowed upon the recipients of her “gifts” which certainly was no grace at all. Believers and unbelievers alike reduce God’s gift of grace to something that must be earned. Most teach works as opposed to grace, but if work is required on our part to receive the gift of grace, it is no longer grace, but works.
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:6)
I honestly don’t know how much clearer the Lord can make it in Ephesians 2:8-9. Who cannot understand when reading these verses that (1) we cannot save ourselves, (2) we cannot work to earn salvation, (3) and it is a gift? At this point I should end this article and move on, but I am forced to continue since so many still don’t get it.
To add works to salvation is a slap in the face to God Almighty. How dare we imply that we need to add our two cents to His perfect plan of salvation! How dare we insinuate that Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, is not enough for us to be saved, but that we must add something to it! How can a rotten dead corpse provide one flicker of life to its own existence? My friends, before we were saved, we were that rotten dead corpse, and there is absolutely nothing we can do to bring eternal life to our dead souls. That can only be accomplished by the sacrificial life blood of Jesus Christ. Only He gives life to a corpse. Can the dead raise the dead? Of course not, only the living Christ can raise the dead, and Jesus alone holds that position.
All God requires of man is that he/she put their faith (trust) in Jesus to save them and keep them. He even provides the faith for us to use in coming to Him and living for Him once we are His.
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)
There is absolutely, unequivocally no means of being saved other than by faith that rests in Jesus Christ alone.
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
It is a gift from God. There are no strings attached. He will take you just like you are, as long as you come to Him through His Son Jesus Christ.
Most everyone understands gift giving at Christmas time or for birthdays. The gift is given with no expectations of receiving anything in return. The giver wants nothing in return, and the one receiving the gift doesn’t even think of paying for the gift. (Now I’m speaking of normal people, not those like the mother in the advice column.) For the giver to require payment for the gift would be an insult and for the recipient to offer payment for the gift would be the same. So why do so many choose to insult God by trying to pay for the gift of His Son? (We couldn’t make the payment anyway. That would be like a small child trying to pay for a house with pennies from their piggy bank.)
Further, how do we accept a gift from someone? We reach out and take it, because we trust (that’s faith) them to give (that’s grace) it to us. What do we do then? We thank them simply because we are grateful, and then as the possessor of the gift, we use it (that’s works). When the Holy Spirit convicts us that we need to be born again through Jesus Christ, God is offering us His gift. We reach out and take it, because we trust (that’s faith) Him to give (that’s grace) it to us. We thank Him simply because we are grateful, and then as the possessor of the gift, we use it (that’s works).
We see that works never come into play until after we receive the gift. It is always afterwards. After we are born again, become a Christian, we work. Furthermore, we do not work in order to keep the gift, but that the gift will be properly used.
“For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:2-5)
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
“This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:2)
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Galatians 3:10)
Now notice the connecting verse to Ephesians 2:8-9, verse ten.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) After we have been born again, our work is by the power of Jesus Christ who lives within us. We are His workmanship. We are not our workmanship.
We do not have the power, the wisdom or the means to save our own soul or keep it. It is a gift. Will we accept it as a gift? If so, then treasure it, because it is the greatest gift that has ever been offered. It is the gift of the grace of God provided by the death, burial and resurrection of His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ. It is truly “the gift that keeps on giving,” for it is eternal life that rests in the hands of Almighty God.
Grant Phillips
My articles are posted at “Pre-Rapture Commentary” http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com/ and many are also posted at “Rapture Ready” http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html.
