We see that there is a gift from God which is multi-faceted. From the context of these occurrences of "the gift", it does seem to be discussing various aspects of one gift, not many different gifts. This is not to be confused with the gifts (plural) of the Holy Spirit to those He indwells, but is instead what we accept and receive when we trust Jesus alone for our salvation.

In accepting this gift we receive righteousness, eternal life, salvation. Acts 11:17-18 refers to the gift as being the Holy Spirit, which they received "after they believed", so believing is how they "asked" and the Spirit is what they received. There is also the gift of "repentance to life" in that same section. In Romans we learn that we can receive "the gift of righteousness" by faith in Jesus Christ, which means that we become instantly justified (cleared of all charges against us and thus reconciled to God) by means of his sacrifice. We also are given "eternal life" in him. In Ephesians we are told that salvation by faith instead of works is "the gift of God". And in Peter, we are assured that this "grace of life" is not just for half the human race!

Along with the study showing that Jesus is God in the flesh who died for the sins of all mankind, we see here that this credit is not applied to our account until we accept it as a gift. But we must define exactly what it is we must believe in order to receive it.

Some claim that all we need is to believe in some vague "Jesus", never knowing which "Jesus" he is or why and how he can get us into heaven. But Jesus Himself clearly stated that we must believe in him and the One who sent him (John 12:44, 17:21), namely YHWH (Jehovah), the One True God. To accept one and not the other is not saving faith. So we must accept that Jesus is God in the flesh, because only God could ever pay for our sins. This is what justification is all about: Jesus paid the penalty for the sin that was keeping us separated from God, reconciling to Him those who accept his payment on their behalf.

Although eternal life is part of the gift, some say it's the ONLY part, the only thing we must believe to be saved. There are two problems with that view: it confuses the gift with how we receive it, and even if the two were synonymous it is not the whole gift. Besides, if we had to have this assurance of eternal life before we could actually get it, why did the apostle John write a whole letter for the purpose of giving such assurance to those who already believed (1 John 5:13)?

The bottom line is this: Jesus offers us a gift that includes eternal life in heaven, instant justification in God's eyes, bringing reconciliation between the believer and God, and the Holy Spirit as a "deposit guaranteeing our inheritance". That defines The Gift. But we receive The Gift by accepting Jesus for who he claimed to be: God in the flesh, who alone could ever pay for our sins, who did so by dying on the cross in our place, then raising himself up to life again. This is the full and only gospel message preached throughout the New Testament.

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