Eph 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.

Acts 28:28 Therefore let it be known to you that the salva- tion of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it! 1 Thess 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

God’s Gift of Salvation

Grace “A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.” “the unmerited love and favor of God toward mankind.” “The essence of the doctrine of grace is that God is for us. What is more, he is for us who in ourselves are against him. More, still, he is not for us merely in a general attitude, but has effectively acted towards us. Grace is summed up in the name Jesus Christ.” Summary: Gift freely given to those undeserving, thus unmerited favor. Titus 2:11, Rom 3:23-25

Three Elements of Salvation by Grace Gift: must be available and willingly offered. Faith: recipient must have faith in the giver. Conditions: must be met before the giver gives the gift. Only after the recipient has faith in the giver and complies with the giver’s conditions can he receive the gift.

Battle of Jericho, Joshua 6 Old Testament is not our guide for salvation, but it still teaches how God’s grace works. –Not save, John 1:17, Rom 3:28, Eph 2:14-16 –BUT still our example, 1 Cor 10:1-13, Rom 15:4

Battle of Jericho, Joshua 6 The account of Jericho, Josh 6:1-21 –GIFT was offered, v 2, “I have given” –FAITH in the giver, Heb 11:30 Evidence of their faith? Jas 2:14-26 –CONDITIONS, The evidence of true faith in the Giver of the gift is demonstrated by obeying the CONDITONS given by the Giver.

Did Israel Obey The CONDITIONS? God had given the city.  v 2, the city still stood Israel marched around the city six days.  v 14, the city still stood Seventh day they marched seven times.  v 15, the city still stood Priests blew trumpets and Joshua said, “Shout for the Lord HAS GIVEN you the city.”  v 16, the city still stood

V 20, “So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that… WATCH IT! ….the wall fell down flat.” WATCH AGAIN! “Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and THEY TOOK THE CITY.”

“Didn’t God Give Israel The City?” Yes! Marching, blowing trumpets and shouting did not collapse the walls. God made the walls fall without Israel’s help. God could give Jericho to whomever he chose. AND TO WHOM DID HE CHOOSE TO GIVE IT? Those who BELIEVED him and DID EXACTLY what he told them to do.

Deut 9:3-6 3 Therefore understand today that the LORD your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the LORD has said to you. 4 Do not think in your heart, after the LORD your God has cast them out before you, saying, 'Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land'; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out from before you. 5 It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6 Therefore understand that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.

Deut 6: When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the LORD our God has commanded you?' 21 then you shall say to your son: 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; 22 and the LORD showed signs and wonders before our eyes, great and severe, against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household. 23 Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers. 24 And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. 25 Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us.'

Three Elements of Salvation by Grace Gift: must be available and willingly offered. Faith: recipient must have faith in the giver. Conditions: must be met before the giver gives the gift.

Just as God gave Israel Jericho when they BELIEVED in Him and OBEYED HIS CONDITIONS, He gives sinners salvation when they BELIEVE and OBEY.

Titus 2:11 “ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,” With Joshua “I have given you the city of Jericho” Remember:

“Yes, but what about Eph 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.  What are the “works” of this text?  What were the “works” at Jericho?

Two Kinds Of Works WORKS OF THE GIFT –“Works” performed by the giver to give the gift –Only the GIVER can do these works. WORKS OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE GIFT –“Works” of the recipient to complete the conditions demanded by the giver. –Only the RECIPIENT can do these works.

Jericho and the Christian Jericho- Only God could do the “works” of destroying the city, but Israel had to do her “works” to take the city. Salvation & the Christian- Only God can save the sinner, but the sinner must do his own “works” of obeying God’s conditions.

Neither can do each others works Eph 2:8-9, 10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.  The “works” of the conditions are seen in v 10, 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Titus 2: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, (GOD’S WORKS!) 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 Who gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people zealous of good works. (MAN’S WORKS!)

Works vs. Works Acts 2:29-38, God gave salvation to these sinners, yet they knew they had not met the conditions and asked “what shall we do?” Acts 2:40-41, They were encouraged to do “their” works. Acts 8:26-39, Ethiopian knew he needed to do “his works”. Phil 2:12, Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

Conclusion The first essential element for salvation will always be satisfied---God’s gift of salvation. But what about the last two elements---faith in the giver and obeying the conditions of the giver? Faith, Heb 11:6, John 8:24 Obeying conditions –Repent, Acts 2:38 –Confess, Rom 10:10 –Baptized, Mark 16:16 –Then and only then can one be saved from sin. REMEMBER JERICHO!