Thankful for Salvation

Hey, carpool crew. Happy Friday. I am Pastor Justin, and I'm so glad you're here. We're talking about something that's bigger than anything we can wrap in a box or find under a tree. It's something we can never earn, but it changes everything. Yeah, we're talking about salvation, what Jesus did for us so we can be close to God forever. In Ephesians chapter two verses eight and nine, it says, for you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift, not from works, so that no one can boast. The apostle Paul wrote these words to the church in Ephesus to remind them of one really important thing. They didn't earn salvation. They received it as a gift. It's something to be thankful for. In Paul's day, people believed that being good enough or doing the right things would make God happy. But Paul wanted them to understand God's love and God's forgiveness aren't rewards for good behavior. They're gifts that he gives us freely because he loves us. They're called gifts of grace, something that he gives us that we don't deserve, but he gives it anyway. That's grace. And that same truth is for us today. You don't have to be perfect to be loved by God. Jesus already made a way for you to be forgiven and be free from sin. If Jesus were sitting beside you in the car or at the table, he'd probably say, I gave my life because I love you completely. You don't have to earn my love or prove that you're good enough. You're already mine. You can live thankful every day because you're saved, because you're forgiven, and because you're loved forever. Let's think about this like a gift for a second. Have you ever gotten something amazing that you didn't expect? Maybe your parents surprised you with something you wanted for months? I did that at Christmas last year. My son wanted a cruiser BMX bike. It's a BMX bike that has bigger wheels, and every race he goes to, they had a cruiser race that he couldn't participate in. He was wanting a cruiser bike, and for Christmas last year, I surprised him. I got it. I kept it hidden. I put it in the garage the night before Christmas, and I put a note, I forget exactly where, and it said, go to the garage. No one knew, not even his mom. It was a surprise for everyone. When he went in the garage, he opened it. He was so excited. He didn't earn it. He didn't do anything to get it. He just received it. It was a gift that I was excited to give him. That's what salvation's like. It's God saying, I love you so much. I gave you the greatest gift ever, my son, Jesus. You couldn't buy it. You couldn't trade for it. You can only say thank you because it's a gift that's given. That's why every day, even the hard ones, we can still be thankful, because nothing can take away the gift of Jesus in our lives. Here's an easy challenge for you today. Thank God for saving you. Tell him what it means to you to have the forgiveness that he has given. Just say something simple like, God, thank you for loving me, saving me through Jesus. Help me live a way that shows how thankful I am every day for the free gift you've given me. Salvation is the heart of our thankfulness. It's not just a moment, it's forever. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, he gave us life. He gave us hope, and he gave us forgiveness, something that never runs out, so we can be thankful for it every day. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, if you like carpooling with Jesus, consider subscribing. You can get our weekend episodes and all of our bonus content. We're going to be talking this weekend about being thankful for second chances and being thankful for the small things. I hope you subscribe over on Apple Podcasts. Now, before we go, let's answer this question together. How can you show your thankfulness to God for the incredible gift of Jesus, forgiveness, and salvation? I'll see you this weekend or next Monday on carpooling with Jesus.