How Faith Receives

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

Faith receives "the gift of God." We cannot earn nor do we deserve God's salvation in Christ. It's by grace through faith. That means it's "not of yourselves." God saves you by grace, and it's through faith in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Faith receives the Lord Jesus Christ. That faith is one of the three abiding gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 13:13). The Holy Spirit enables you to come to God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit, who inspired the Holy Scripture, uses the word of God to bring the gift of faith to you (Romans 10:17).

Faith receives the gospel of Jesus our Lord. He died for our sins. He is risen from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Believers confess, Jesus is Lord. And no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). The Holy Spirit gives us assurance of the gospel of Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:5).

Faith receives Christ to the praise of God's glory (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). To God alone be the glory! There is no room for us to receive glory, when it's all of God's grace. It is not our work for God, but God's gracious work for us in Christ, to the praise of His glory (Philippians 1:6; 2:13).

Believe and Be Saved

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). The Bible is clear to answer the question. Base your salvation on the written word of God in your Bible. Trust the promise of God to save you as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved through the gospel. The gospel teaches Christ died for our sins. He is risen from the dead as our living Savior and Lord (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Believers confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 10:9). 

Believe and be completely saved. God promises that Christ does in you what you could never do for yourself (Hebrews 13:20-21). God will "make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (vs. 21).  Therefore, to be saved is to please God through Christ. Your relationship with God in Christ is forever.

Believe and be saved by grace through faith in Christ. Jesus is the fulness of God's grace (John 1:16). The grace of Christ saves you through faith in Christ. Grace in Christ is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is God's unmerited favor for sinners. You are saved by God's grace in Christ.

God saves us "that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:12). To God alone be the glory, "to the praise of the glory of His grace by which He made us accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6).

God Speaks Today

God speaks today. Scripture makes it clear. "Today if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:15). God speaks today through the Bible. It's God's love letter to us. The Holy Spirit inspired the words of Holy Scripture centuries ago, but He still speaks through it. Those who believe not, can only read printed words on paper. Believers read words that speak to their hearts. God is speaking today through the Bible.

God speaks today to your heart. The heart is your mind, will, and emotions. His word to you is through the Holy Spirit. God's voice has been seldom heard by the ears of men, even in Bible times. God's word in the Bible will speak daily to your heart. 

God speaks today to all of his children. God has important things to say to us through the Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16). He speaks in a personal and intimate way to every believer. God communicates that we may experience his love in our hearts, "because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5).

God's Spirit, who inspired the Holy Scripture, speaks to the hearts of all God's children. God shares His thoughts with us. They are eternal thoughts found in your Bible from the Father above. God's thoughts encourage us, console and comfort us. His thoughts strengthen us and assure us. "God is love" (1 John 4:8). God speaks today with love.