Stone 3-- Part 2

Salvation is only the beginning of God’s gifts. John the Baptist was a unique individual with unique gifts. However, that John was called and equipped for his role in the Kingdom of God is in no way unique. God gives to every Christian “…all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Life and godliness are the goals of every religion. The general understanding of most men outside, and sometimes inside, Christianity is that life and godliness are achieved when God gives Man rules to live by and men conform to these rules. But, when Christianity says God gives us all things that pertain to godliness, it has something very different in mind. Christians don’t become righteous by following rules. Paul, once an ardent follower of the Jewish law, says following laws does not work: “for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” He is saying it is not enough to know right from wrong; godliness means actually being and doing that which is godly.

Christianity begins where other religions end. Christians do not become righteous by good works. Christianity believes a man can receive nothing except it be given from heaven; this includes righteousness. Christians are Spirit dependent; not rule dependent. They are declared righteous by God in response to faith in Christ as savior. After salvation, the Holy Spirit molds Christian thought and behavior to conform to God’s declaration of righteousness. God “…calleth those things which be not as though they were.” After declaring moral bankruptcy, Christians don’t get a do-over with the same old resources. They receive, from heaven, the divine nature. They are declared godly and completely equipped for godliness.

“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” Light happened when God said it. God calls Christians righteous. Then, He makes it happen. Therefore, a Christian’s standing with God is not dependent on keeping rules or personal feelings. It is dependent on God’s word. Salvation and righteousness are given from heaven. Man can possess them by no other means.

That salvation is a gift from God does not do away with the commandments of God. Jesus told His followers, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Power to live the commandments from a changed heart, rather than as a list of imposed rules, comes from the Holy Spirit who lives inside all those who believe God for salvation. This indwelling of the Holy Ghost is also the gift of God. In this way God gives Christians “all things that pertain unto life and godliness.”

“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Living the kind of life that agrees with God’s declaration of righteousness is not always easy. There are times when a Christian’s efforts are not successful. This does not change God’s mind concerning the declaration He spoke. He gives gifts to overcome evil, sin and the natural inclinations of Man in this present world. Christians are told to: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” The presumption of the command is that they possess this set of armor. They do. Christians are given “…all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” This includes not only the spiritual, moral, and physical equipment to stand against darkness and evil, but also the patience of God while Christians learn to use their gifts.

The only thing exhaustive about the gifts God has given to men is trying to tell them all. Every Christian is saved by grace, called, and equipped by God to a specific place within the kingdom of heaven. The Christian experience is initiated by God; the motivation to receive it rests with God; and the power to live it comes from God. Man’s role is but to accept or decline God’s gifts. John the Baptist, who knew a thing or two about heavenly gifts, rightly says, “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.”