The Free Gift of Faith

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. (Titus 3:4-6 ESV)

Beloved,

My grandmother loves to send gifts to my children and my children love to receive gifts from their “Gi-Gi Bev.”  Their Gi-Gi sends them toys, trinkets and pajamas that fill my kids with joy.  Joy feels their faces as they see the package on the doorsteps because they know that gifts await them.  They did nothing to earn the gifts, but they get to enjoy their benefits.  Their joy is magnified because the gifts were freely given as an expression of love from someone who cares for them.

Similarly, faith is a gift freely given as an expression of love from God who infinitely cares for us. We receive faith as a gift from God.  God richly pours out on us the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior. We do nothing to inherit the gift, but we get to enjoy the benefits.  God saves us not according to our works done in righteousness, but according to his own mercy. Through our freely given faith, we are saved, sustained, and completed by God. Philippians 1:6, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  The One who begins our journey of faith is the One who completes our journey of faith. 

The gift of faith should cause great joy in our hearts because they are a demonstration of God’s immense love for us.  Listen to the descriptive language that Paul uses to describe this reality to Titus, “the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,” and “pour out on us richly.” Our faith is a demonstration of the rich gift of our good, loving, and kind God. 

Salvation is all about God. And as such, we should be filled with confidence. The same God who lovingly and graciously rescued us from our sin is the same God who will carry us to Himself.  1 Thessalonians 5:24, “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”  He who calls us is faithful.  Beloved, let us not trust in ourselves, but in our faithful God who freely calls us and gives us the free gift of faith.

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