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God has gifts for us!

First is the gift of salvation… righteousness through Jesus Christ

Romans 5:15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.                                   16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.   17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.  18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.   19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.  20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,   21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sine is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Second, is the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38  Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Third, we are given a spiritual gift.

1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,       5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,  6 even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you,   7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,  8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is a spiritual gift?  How can I know I have one?

The best way to learn more about spiritual gifts, is to study some key New Testament passages ( Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Peter 4:10-11 and Ephesians 4:1-16).

Sherry

“I have loved you, ” says the LORD.

But you say, “How have You loved us?” Malachi 1:2a

Do we, as the Israelites did, question God’s love for us?  Our lives are often filled with difficulties, our communities and the world around us is  filled with anger and violence. If God loves us why are things so bad?  How can we understand God’s love for us?

Read the following verses and consider God has said about His love.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave Him only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

“…the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  Romans 5:5

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

God’s love gives us the promise of eternal life and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  God does not promise us a life without difficulties.  How can we understand how a God who loves us allows us go through difficult circumstances?

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:35, 37

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarge, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the church of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.  This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed your are suffering.  2 Thessalonians 1:3-5

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, locking in nothing.  James 1:3-4

The same God who loves us enough to allow His Son to die on our behalf that we would receive eternal life, allows us encounter difficulties because it is best for us that we would mature in our faith and persevere to the end and be saved.

You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. Matthew 10:22