Your Free Gift From God
“…live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” (Ephesians 4:1)
Our "calling" is to be a recipient of eternal life as a "free gift of God". Just for a minute or two try to forget all you have been taught in the church or at home. Assume for a moment that all you know about God and Jesus is what Paul tells you below…
“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life….As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…I tell you a mystery…we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 51-54)
Paul has just explained the "mystery" that death is the penalty for sin, but that death is not our final outcome. There will be "victory" over death for ALL mankind who are descended from Adam. And he says we should live life now in appreciation for that future victory. I like the Amplified Version of Ephesians 4:1...
“...live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]” (Ephesians 4:1 AMP)
Got it? Salvation is a free gift to all – so try to live your life in such a way that it expresses gratitude to God for your salvation (eternal life after death). That is all that is required of you...
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you? to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God…For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” (Micah 6:8; Titus 2:11-13)
Our "calling" is to be a recipient of eternal life as a "free gift of God". Just for a minute or two try to forget all you have been taught in the church or at home. Assume for a moment that all you know about God and Jesus is what Paul tells you below…
“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life….As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…I tell you a mystery…we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 51-54)
Paul has just explained the "mystery" that death is the penalty for sin, but that death is not our final outcome. There will be "victory" over death for ALL mankind who are descended from Adam. And he says we should live life now in appreciation for that future victory. I like the Amplified Version of Ephesians 4:1...
“...live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]” (Ephesians 4:1 AMP)
Got it? Salvation is a free gift to all – so try to live your life in such a way that it expresses gratitude to God for your salvation (eternal life after death). That is all that is required of you...
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you? to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God…For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” (Micah 6:8; Titus 2:11-13)
So forget, or ignore, the dogma and platitudes of religious institutions, and simply believe the good news expressed by our Apostle Paul in the Bible.