God's Free Gift

(Romans 6:23) "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of  God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (ESV)

What we have earned and deserve because of our sin is death.  That includes both physical death and spiritual death.  Those enslaved to sin face eternal death or hell. But God offers the free gift of eternal life in his Son.  Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone.  Grace is unmerited favor, it is totally undeserved.  Faith involves trusting in someone else, that is Christ.  

All people have sinned against God (Romans 3:23) and deserve judgment, wrath, and hell. There are none righteous not even one       (Romans 3:10).   We cannot earn our salvation or our way to heaven.  We have fallen short of God's glory.  We can only receive salvation by God's grace.  God sent his Son Jesus to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).  God draws his people to himself (John 6:44).  Those he draws respond in repentance and faith in Christ.  

Through faith in Christ we are justified, that means declared righteous (Romans 3:28). Jesus paid for the sins of his people through his death on the cross.  He was resurrected victorious over sin, death, and the devil.  His resurrection also proves that he is God.  Those who believe in Jesus receive his righteousness, while he takes their sins on himself.  

Those who become Christians pass from death to life.  They were dead to God now they have been made alive to God.  We go to heaven even though we deserved to go to hell.  We were slaves to sin now we serve God because he set us free.  The Holy Spirit brings us to Christ and then he leads us as he dwells inside of us.  Salvation is totally the work of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  The glory belongs to God alone.