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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: My friend keeps telling me that salvation is a free gift, but how is that possible? Doesn't God expect us to try to be as good as we can before He'll let us into Heaven? -- Mrs. G.J.

A: The Bible is clear: God offers us our eternal salvation as a free gift -- and this is a wonderful truth that I hope you'll come to understand.

Let me explain it this way. If you're like most people, you probably received several gifts on your birthday, or on other occasions. How much did you pay for them? I suspect you're smiling at my question -- because you know you didn't pay anything for them, no matter how costly they were. Someone else paid for them, and they gave them to you freely and without charge.

The same is true with our salvation. We couldn't pay for it; the cost is too high. In addition, God's standard is nothing less than perfection, and no matter how good we try to be, we can never be good enough. But someone has already paid for our salvation -- and that "someone" is Jesus Christ! He did for us what we could never do for ourselves, by taking upon Himself the judgment that we deserve.

But what do you do when you receive a gift? Do you simply admire it, and then cast it aside? No, of course not. You reach out and take it and make it your own -- and that's what we must do with Jesus. Don't trust your own good works, or doubt what He has done for you. Instead, reach out by faith and receive Him into your life today. The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

(c)2018 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.