Receiving God's promise through faith

Galatians 3:7-9, 13-14, 22, 26 ESV

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. ... Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us ... so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.  ... so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  ... for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Forgiveness of sin, imputation of righteousness, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit are given freely through faith in Jesus Christ.  Only believe.  The saying "too good to be true" doesn't apply here.  Just believe.  Maybe that's one aspect of "faith like a child".  Children are not so skeptical of good things.

It's ironic to me that, even in the way that the world commercializes Christmas and makes a god out of Santa, it is still fundamentally a religious system of righteousness and reward by works.  "If you've been good, then you will get presents from Santa."  Pretty sad.

When we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  The gift of salvation and eternal life is given undeservedly.  This is amazing grace.

Eph. 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

Heavenly Father, thank you for your promise of blessing, and thank you for your grace and mercy through Christ that we can receive your promise through faith in Him.  Lord, may I continue to be impressed with your love and compassion toward us, and may I be faithful to share with others this free gift that I have received through Christ.  I love you, and I pray in the name of Christ Jesus.