Faith Is a Gift

Eph 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:   KJV

Salvation is the gift of God through Jeus Christ. There is absolutely nothing that we, as human beings, can do to appease the wrath of God for our sin. That is, there is no kind of good work, no kind of service, no amount of money, no kind of penance that we can do to avoid the just reward of our sin.

But…

I can accept the work of Christ on my behalf. I can receive Jesus as my Savior by a simple confession of words through my mouth. (Rom. 10:9)

It is God’s grace that He has bestowed on mankind. It is God’s grace that He has permitted this method of atoning for our sin.

Grace has been defined as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

I owed a debt I could not pay. He paid a debt He did not owe. That is love. That is grace. That is God’s unmerited favor toward me.

Yes, it is a gift given free, without charge, and undeservedly.

But look more closely at the verse under consideration.

What is it that is “not of ourselves?”

What is the gift of God? What is it that is not of (y)ourselves?

We’ve always been told that it is our salvation, our being saved, that is the gift of God. While that is absolutely true, we have missed one important aspect and have been shortchanged in our walk with God.

Faith is also the gift of God, according to this verse. Read it again with that thought in mind.

Faith is not something I must drum up, or exert effort to obtain.

How does faith come? By hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17).

God has given us His Word. He gives us more than ample opportunity to hear His Word. When we hear His Word, faith is the result. It is free for the taking. It has been given to everyone and only remains for us to use it (Rom. 12:?3).

Can you see how great is our God?!? He has left nothing to our imagination or our own feeble efforts. Everything we need has been provided (2Pet. 1:3).

Glory to God!