For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:8-10

Christmas is coming!  It is an important time for families to gather together.  One of those times in a year when people return to church. It’s a good time for churches to share the gospel with those who are yet to find saving faith. All of which is good….beautiful even.

This is our 4th year in “official” youth ministry where one of the major goals is sharing the gospel with teens.  We’ve noticed a trend in the many youth conferences, rallies and camps we’ve attended aimed to be evangelistic in nature.   Many present a truncated version of the gospel that can be summed up in two words:  Believe. & Receive.  It’s not the whole truth.

This brings me to Epheisans 2.  and a simple question: What is the free gift of salvation?   “Free” means it cannot be purchased, earned, or bartered. You can’t “do” anything to qualify for it.  Free doesn’t mean it is cheap, easily obtained, or there is no type of obligation . The gift of salvation is free to us in that we can’t earn it, but it certainly wasn’t free for Christ and it carries a cost for us, too.  If your faith hasn’t cost you anything, then I wonder if your faith as saved you. You must be changed through the work of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus asks for your life….to deny yourself and follow after Him. To reject this world and be transformed. It costs everything…your life and the way you want to live it.  A gift with no pricetag, but of great price. The message puts it this way in Luke 17:33, “If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you’ll lose it, but if you let that life go, you’ll get life on God’s terms.”