Sharing theGood News

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

In 2020, 90 year old Mary Poppins star Dick VanDyke stopped in front of a California nonprofit and reached out to people who were unemployed and seeking assistance. The non-profit organization was helping job seekers who were struggling during COVID-19 pandemic. The actor walked up to individuals who were unknown to him personally and handed them a financial gift in cash as they stood in line. His presence there that day was a great encouragement to them in their time of difficulty. He gave out of his abundance to those in need.

When we are overwhelmed with the grace of God, we also want to share it with everyone we know even people standing in line on the street! When we receive a tremendous gift, we want to share it with others as well. And we have received the greatest gift in existence, the gift of grace and salvation from our heavenly Father. When we experience the Good News in our life, we overflow with joy, and it makes us want to share it, it is a gift worth sharing.

For by grace, you have been saved.

Amen!  Those words resonate like a timeless melody, echoing through the corridors of faith. Let’s break it down.

1. “For by grace…”: Picture a celestial fountain, gushing forth with unmerited favor. Grace—the lavish, undeserved kindness of God—flows freely, like a river that never runs dry.

2. “…you have been saved.”: Imagine a rescue mission of cosmic proportions. You, me, all of humanity—caught in the undertow of sin, gasping for spiritual breath. But then, the Savior steps in. He dives headlong into our mess, pulling us from the depths.

• No membership fees.

• No fine print.

• No “earn-your-own-salvation” boot camp.

Just grace. Pure, scandalous grace.

It’s like God whispers, “My child, you’re not just saved; you’re rescued, redeemed, reborn. Your rap sheet? Wiped clean. Your heart? Made new.”

So, let’s dance in the rain of grace, twirl in the breeze of forgiveness, and wear our salvation like a crown.  Because when grace writes your story, it’s a tale of love, redemption, and eternal wonder.

Is Salvation a Gift?

Absolutely!  The Bible declares it loud and clear: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23) 1. Imagine it like this: God’s grace is the ultimate BOGO deal—Buy One, Get One!

When presenting salvation, the New Testament writers carefully chose words that emphasize grace and freedom. As a result, the Bible could not be more clear—salvation is absolutely free, the true gift of God in Christ, and our only responsibility is to receive the gift by faith (John 1:12; 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9) 2. It’s like God’s saying, “Hey, humanity, I’ve got this eternal life thing all wrapped up—no strings attached!”

So, if salvation were a product, it’d be the most epic freebie ever—no coupons needed, no fine print, just an extravagant, eternal gift from the Creator Himself.