Introduction:

If salvation is a gift from God, does that mean everyone will be saved? If salvation is a gift, do we have to do anything to receive it? Ecclesiastes 3:13 says, “And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.” God designed mankind to work (Genesis 2:15). Even after the curse of sin, when labor became toil, the good that comes from work—the fruit of it—remains a gift from God. He provides the seed and water, but we must plant and tend it. The increase comes from Him. In the same way, God’s spiritual blessings are gifts that come through His grace, yet He expects our faithful response.

The Gospel Teaches Salvation by Grace
Salvation is called the “gift of God.” Paul wrote in 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 of works, lest anyone should boast.” Grace means unearned favor—something God offers freely through Christ’s sacrifice. We cannot earn forgiveness by good deeds or merit. Yet grace must be received by obedient faith. The same passage that denies human boasting also affirms faith as the means of receiving grace.

 

Conditions Attached to God’s Grace
Though grace cannot be earned, Scripture shows that there are conditions to receiving it. When Peter preached on Pentecost, the people cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Peter did not reply, “There is nothing you can do.” Instead, he said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Their repentance and baptism were not works that earned salvation; they were steps of obedience God required for the gift to be given. Peter further urged them, “Be saved from this perverse generation” (Acts 2:40). God was ready to give; they had to respond.

 

An Old Testament Example—Naaman the Leper
Naaman’s cleansing in 2 Kings 5 illustrates the same principle. Elisha told him, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you” (2 Kings 5:10). Only after he obeyed—dipping seven times—was he healed (v. 14). The power was in God, not the river; yet obedience was necessary for the gift to be received. God’s promise of healing was conditional on Naaman’s compliance.

 

Baptism—A Work of God, Not Man
When we obey the gospel, repentance and baptism are conditions of God’s grace. Baptism is not a human invention or meritorious deed—it is God’s appointed means of union with Christ. Paul described it as being “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God” (Colossians 2:12). It is God’s work, not ours, that removes sin.

 

 

Is Salvation a Gift? Sermon Outline:

Introduction

• Salvation is often called “the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

• If it is a gift, does that mean everyone will be saved automatically?

• Ecclesiastes 3:13 teaches that the good from our labor is also “the gift of God.”

• God provides blessings, but He requires human effort and obedience to receive them.

• Lesson Text: Ecclesiastes 3:13

 

I. God’s Gifts Require Human Response

• God designed man to work. (Genesis 2:15)

  • “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”

• After sin, work became toil, but it remained a divine design.

• The fruit of labor is a blessing from God, though man must work to enjoy it.

• Principle: God gives the resources; man must act in faith and obedience to receive the benefit.

• Application: God provides the gospel and grace, but each person must respond to receive salvation.

 

II. Salvation by Grace

• “For by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

• Grace means unearned favor—salvation is not achieved through merit.

• Christ’s death on the cross made forgiveness possible.

• Salvation cannot be earned by human effort, yet it is not unconditional.

• Faith is the means through which God’s grace is received.

• Grace teaches obedience—faith without obedience is incomplete.

 

III. Conditions of Receiving God’s Grace

• Example from Acts 2:37–38:

  • After hearing Peter’s sermon, the crowd asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

  • Peter’s answer: “Repent, and be baptized… for the remission of sins.”

• Their obedience did not earn salvation but was required to receive it.

• Peter urged them further: “Be saved from this perverse generation.” (Acts 2:40)

• God offers the gift; man must meet the conditions to receive it.

• Application: Repentance and baptism are the conditions attached to God’s saving grace.

 

IV. Old Testament Example: Naaman the Leper

• Naaman was told to wash seven times in the Jordan to be healed. (2 Kings 5:10)

• He doubted and resisted, but when he obeyed, “his flesh was restored.” (2 Kings 5:14)

• God’s power healed him, not the river—but obedience was required.

• Naaman’s healing was a gift from God, but he would have remained a leper if he had refused.

• Lesson: Obedience is always the means of accepting God’s grace.

 

V. Baptism—The Work of God

• Some claim baptism is a “work of man,” but Scripture calls it God’s work.

• Colossians 2:12 – “Buried with Him in baptism… raised with Him through faith in the working of God.”

• Baptism is the moment faith acts—where God forgives and raises us to new life.

• It is not man earning salvation, but God fulfilling His promise to cleanse.

• Those who reject baptism reject the working of God.

 

VI. Salvation Offered to All but Received by the Obedient

• God desires all to be saved. (2 Peter 3:9)

• The gospel invitation is universal but conditional.

• Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

• Sin earns death; obedience receives life.

• The free gift must be accepted through faith and submission to God’s commands.

 

VII. The Christian’s Ongoing Response to Grace

• After receiving salvation, believers must continue in faithfulness.

• Titus 2:11–12 – “The grace of God… teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.”

• Grace motivates obedience and holy living.

• The saved live in gratitude, not self-reliance, knowing all blessings come from God.

 

Call to Action
God’s grace is available to every soul, but His gift must be received through faith and obedience. Have you repented of your sins? Have you been baptized into Christ? (Acts 2:38) Eternal life is the gift of God, but only those who meet His conditions will receive it. God has done His part—will you do yours today?

 

Key Takeaways

• Every blessing, physical and spiritual, comes from God (Ecclesiastes 3:13).

• Grace is unearned but must be accepted on God’s conditions (Ephesians 2:8–9).

• Repentance and baptism are divinely required responses (Acts 2:38–40).

• Naaman’s healing shows obedience is essential (2 Kings 5:14).

• Baptism is the work of God, not man (Colossians 2:12).

• Eternal life is God’s gift to those who obey Christ (Romans 6:23).

 

Scripture Reference List

• Ecclesiastes 3:13 – God gives the good from labor as His gift.

• Genesis 2:15 – Man was created to work and tend God’s creation.

• Ephesians 2:8–9 – Salvation is God’s gift through faith, not works.

• Acts 2:37–40 – Repentance and baptism are necessary conditions for salvation.

• 2 Kings 5:10–14 – Naaman’s obedience brought cleansing by God’s grace.

• Colossians 2:12 – Baptism operates through faith in the power of God.

• Romans 6:23 – Eternal life is God’s gift in Christ Jesus.

• 2 Peter 3:9 – God desires all to come to repentance.

• Titus 2:11–12 – Grace teaches us to live godly lives.

 

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO

The church of Christ at Granby, MO

Located at
516 East Pine St.
P.O. Box 664
Granby, Mo. 64844
(417) 472-7109

For more lessons and Sermons, please visit

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