Which gift?

Ephesians 2:8 (NIV 1984) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

Have you thought about this before? I haven't. Until today. What exactly is the "gift of God"? Seems to me it could be grace. That is certainly a gift of God. That's what grace is, an undeserved gift.

Maybe the gift refers to the word saved. We are saved. That is certainly a gift from God for it is through the gift of his son, Jesus, and the death and resurrection that we are saved. Without that atoning gift, there is no salvation.

Perhaps it is the word faith. That is the gift of God. I feel like I have faith that was gifted to me. I participate in increasing it but it is from God that I have faith and that I want to learn more and practice more to increase my faith.

I think it should say gifts, because it is all three that God gives to us. Our sins are already forgiven, whether we accept it or not. That's grace - a gift of God. We are called to salvation. God wants everyone to accept salvation. (2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.)

Faith is also from God, a spiritual gift according to Paul in 2Corinthians 12 verses 4 - 9 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit....Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good..... To one there is given through the Spirit......to another faith by the same Spirit....

These gifts of God are pretty big gifts, aren't they? We can't pay for them. We can't give a gift back of equal, or even sort of equal, value. The only thing we can do is humbly say, "thank you, Jesus for these, your mighty acts," then offer ourselves in gratitude and in service to the King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen.

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