GIFTS MOST PRECIOUS: #1 The Gift of Salvation

By Dr. Gilbert W. Stafford

Scripture: Luke 2:30; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8 

Several years ago Gwendolyn Massey was a guest on this program. Her husband, James Earl Massey, was one of my predecessors as speaker. Dr. and Mrs. Massey are African-Americans. When she was here in 1991, Mrs. Massey told about something that happened to her when she was a nineteen-year-old nurse working in a Detroit, Michigan hospital. 

She was caring for a woman who had had major eye surgery. Not being able to see was almost more than she could take. She desperately needed someone to help her make it through. Gwendolyn Massey was that someone. The first day, as the two women talked with each other, the subject of Gwendolyn’s maiden name came up. It was Kilpatrick. And, because Gwendolyn’s voice reminded the woman of her granddaughter whose name was Pat, she felt comfortable enough to ask permission to call her by that name. Near the end of that first morning, however, Gwendolyn was shocked beyond measure when the patient suddenly asked, “Are there any niggers on this floor?” Gwendolyn almost dropped a pan of water on her bed. After regaining her composure she told the woman that it was an integrated hospital which included Blacks on both the nursing and medical staff. The woman was angry because she had been told that this was an all White hospital. 

Leaving the room to assess what she should do, Gwendolyn stood near the door to see whether the woman’s roommate would inform her that the nurse was Black, but she didn’t. 

It was at that moment that she realized that she was bigger than the situation she was facing, and so she continued serving the unsuspecting woman across the next several days. And, the woman enjoyed “Pat’s” care. 

Then the day came when the bandages were removed from the woman’s eyes. Gwendolyn walked in and spoke. Looking into the Black woman’s face, the stunned patient asked, “Are you the same nurse who has been attending me?” “Yes, I am.” “Are you Mexican?” “No.” “Puerto Rican?” “No.” “Then, what are you?” “I am a Negro. Does this make a different?” The patient fell silent and then in contrition, said simply, “I’m so sorry.”1 

That needy woman had met her gift of grace. 

THE GOD WHO GIVES THE GIFT OF SALVATION 

My friend, we, too, are needy creatures. We need salvation from sin. We need forgiveness. We need fellowship with God. But we don’t have what it takes to bring all of this about. Only God can give us the new heart that we need. We need deliverance from sin’s control but only God can do the work. We need peace with God but we can’t quite pull it off. We need more than a nurse; we need a savior. 

And the good news is that God has given us one. God in Christ saves us from our sinful plight not because we have been nice but because of his grace. Even though we may be as prejudiced towards God as the patient in the Detroit hospital was towards Blacks, nevertheless, God goes right ahead doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves. And, he will continue doing so in hopes that one day we too will say, “I’m so sorry.” 

Christ came in a manner which we may find intolerable, a Jewish baby born in a smelly stable to low income parents. Nevertheless, this is the one who is our savior. 

When Mary and Joseph took the infant Jesus into the temple courts, Simeon, one who for years had watched for God’s salvation, took the baby in his arms and praised God, saying, “My eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:30).2 

Later, during Jesus’ ministry, when Nicodemus inquired about spiritual matters, Jesus uttered those wonderful words, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may no perish but may have eternal life” (emphasis added). 

And, later still, Paul rejoiced about this gift of salvation when in Ephesians 2:8 he wrote: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (emphases added). 

My brother, Rod Stafford, pastor of the Fairfax Community Church in Fairfax, Virginia once said in a sermon: “It isn’t enough to point someone to the effect of salvation but to the source of salvation.”3 

The racist woman in the Detroit hospital experienced the effects of someone’s helpfulness, but it was not until her bandages were removed that she beheld the source. It was only when she looked into the face of the source that she repented of her sins. 

Even though our salvation came into the “room” long ago in the birth of Christ Jesus, many have not yet seen him with their our eyes of faith. They may even be prejudiced against Christ. They want no part of the likes of him. O yes, in December of each year they enjoy putting up Christmas trees, giving and receiving gifts, singing and hearing Christmas carols, even going to lovely church services, but they haven’t yet beheld the source of the festivities. They have not yet come face to face with Jesus himself. 

God wants to take the bandages from our eyes so that we can see the Savior himself. 

He is the one who has already forgiven us of sin. Even though we don’t deserve it, nevertheless, it is ours for the asking. It is a gift of grace. 

He has the power to liberate us from whatever form of bondage squeezes the life out of us. Even though we don’t deserve it, nevertheless, it is ours if we will but lay claim to it. It is a gift. 

He offers us blessed fellowship with the God who created the worlds. We are lost in space in this vast universe. But God in Christ has come to find us and to embrace us into his divine fellowship. We can be at home, knowing that the one who created the universe also superintends it for our good. Even though we don’t deserve being found and incorporated into God'’ family of love, nevertheless it is ours for the acceptance. It is a gift of grace. 

WE WHO NEED GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION 

How, then, does one go about receiving this gift? 

First, we need to open our eyes and look at Jesus. As one song puts it: “O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full into his wonderful face, and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.”4 

Second, repent of your sins. The patient in the Detroit hospital, upon seeing the one who had saved her from despair, humbly said, “I’m so sorry.” When finally we behold Jesus in all of his beauty, we too will hasten to repent of our too long rejection of him. 

Third, embrace Jesus. Take him in your arms, so to speak, and confess not only by your actions but also with your lips, that he is the Savior. He is your salvation. He is your eternal life. He is God’s gift of grace to you. 

December celebrations can’t get better than when people turn their eyes on Jesus himself, and repent of their sins, and embrace Christ our Savior in loving and transforming faith. 

This can be the day when the bandages are taken from your spiritual eyes so that you can see the surprising beauty of Jesus the Christ. 

PRAYER 

Let us pray: 

Gracious Lord, thank you for the gift of salvation. I pray that this very day, each and every listener will say the yes of faith to Christ Jesus, and come to know the joy of his salvation: the joy of being forgiven of sin, the joy of being liberated from spiritual bondage, the joy of blessed fellowship with you forever. In his name, we pray. Amen. 

1 Gwendolyn Massey, Christian Brotherhood Hour interview, April 7, 1991. 

2 New Revised Standard Version used here and throughout. 

3 Rodney K. Stafford in a sermon at Fairfax Community Church of God, Fairfax, Virginia, October 18, 1992. 

4 Helen H. Lemmel, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”, Worship the Lord: Hymnal of the Church of God (Anderson: Warner, 1989), No. 393. 

Script 2605 (GWS) 

December 1, 1996 

SERIES: GIFTS MOST PRECIOUS 

1. The Gift of Salvation 

Scripture: Luke 2:30; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8 

FREE STANDING COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM 

Friends, I want to share something of a personal nature with you. I have served as speaker on this program since 1986. My first time to speak on CBH was May 25, 1986. By September 14 of that year I was speaking every Sunday. It has been a most rewarding decade of service. Many of you have written. Others, I have had the joy of meeting face to face. Over the course of ten years, a speaker develops a sense of special connectedness with the invisible radio audience. Every time I record I see images of the people I know who listen. You are very much in the studio with me. I deeply love and care about you. But the time has come for me to bring this facet of my ministry to a close. I shall bid you farewell on the last weekend of this month. 

The person who will assume this ministry is a man whom I believe you will come to love and respect immediately. Jim Lyon is the pastor of North Anderson Church of God in Anderson, Indiana. It is a large and growing congregation, due in no small part to his superb preaching. Although he will continue serving in that capacity, he will now include you in his weekly ministry as well. 

You can look forward to rich things from this very good man. I will say more about him in subsequent programs as you prepare for the joy of hearing Jim Lyon on a regular basis beginning the first of January. The best is yet to come. I know that you regular listeners will give him the same prayerful support that you have given me. He deserves no less as he prepares to assume this important assignment.