What 76% of Americans Believe

I just received a Christmas solicitation for a donation to their radio ministry. One of the inserts surprised me. It didn't shock me, but it did surprise me. It read: "76% of all Americans believe that an individual must contribute his or her own effort for personal salvation." In other words, 76% of Americans believe God requires them to add their part to His Son's death on Calvary. They believe Jesus' substitutionary sacrifice for humanity is not sufficient atonement for their sins. If you are among that 76% -- Oh, please hear me. You are very mistaken. God sent His Son to die for you, thereby paying the full penalty your sins and mine deserve. Here's only one of God's immutable promises about the all-sufficiency of Christ's atonement for us. It's from Romans 5:8-9 -- "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him." The word, 'justified" in Greek means that God declares the penitent sinner to be 'without guilt.' To paraphrase that promise: "God declares the penitent to be 'guiltless' because of Jesus' blood atonement. Therefore, we are saved from God's wrath by our obedient faith in Jesus' death for us." Here is yet another promise (there are dozens and dozens of them): It's from Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." I hope you caught those two important words in the above text: 'Grace' and 'Gift.'  'Grace' means God gave us something we don't deserve -- that being a GIFT of eternal life through our obedient faith in Jesus. A gift is not earned. Otherwise, it is not a gift. I hope you are not among that 76% who erroneously believe you have to earn eternal life. If you are, you don't have to remain in that error. Ask me how to receive God's gift.