Scripture is clear, salvation is a gift that comes by faith. How can that be? Why is it so? Because you could never earn! With what would you pay God for eternal life anyway? So, what is a gift?

In an illustration during a sermon, I demonstrated the nature of a gift by offering any child or young person who wanted to come to the front for a free Freddo. They had no reservations. Did they deserve it? Did they earn it? No but they came! “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT) When Jesus said COME, the ‘C’ stands for children, the ‘O’ stands for older people, the ‘M’ stands for middle aged people, the ‘E’ stands for everyone!

Scripture is clear, whosoever believes in Jesus is saved, pardoned, and freed, without money, merit or preparation; simply because they believe. God declares that if we believe we are Justified from all things that we could not be Justified by the law of Moses. The kingdom of God is not food or drink or dress or church affiliation, but faith. There is no exclusion zone around the cross. ‘Whosoever’ is an all-inclusive pronoun that excludes no one. (See Revelation 22:17)