Have you ever received a gift that completely altered your life? Maybe it was a family heirloom, a new car, or a trip to a place that changed your entire outlook on life. No matter what you’ve received, there’s no comparison to the gifts of grace we find in Romans 8. God has freely offered them to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ–our great sacrifice–and their trust in the power of His Spirit–our helper. So, here are the 13 gifts that will change your life for good.
Salvation
“There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1
In chapter 7 of Romans, the apostle Paul asks who will rescue him from sin. And here in chapter 8, we have our answer: Jesus. Because sin separates us from God, Jesus’ sacrifice means so much. Christ formed the path of restoration back to God by taking on our sin, judgment, and shame upon Himself. And if we have faith in His work, then we receive the gift of salvation. That means we are no longer condemned for our past–our screw ups, sorrows, and struggles. As a result, we can walk tall, knowing God alone has saved our soul! And He will continue to help us through every trial, terror, and temptation that comes our way.
Freedom
“The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” – Romans 8:2
Those who are in Jesus are no longer bound by sin and death. Instead, we are set free from our bondage, unrestrained by the weight of the world. But we must choose to walk in that freedom every day. Are there chains still holding you down? Maybe it is disappointment, regret, or brokenness. Remember, that who the Son sets free is free indeed! Is it possible that you are free but that you’re still holding onto the chains? Let go of what once held you captive and walk forward in the freedom Christ has given you.
Peace
“The mindset of the Spirit is life and peace.” – Romans 8:6
Before Christ, our lives and mindsets were marked by death and the work of our flesh. But now, through Him, our minds can be set on the things of the Spirit. Our God is one who is characterized by comfort and peace, and as a result, our lives can be, too. From the wealth of His infinite mercy comes the rest He offers to us–a call to throw down our burdens and pick up perfect peace.
Righteousness
“The Spirit gives life because of righteousness.” – Romans 8:10
We are no longer dead in our trespasses and sins, but we are made alive because of Christ’s righteousness. You and I cannot be made right before God without Christ. But through faith in Him, we are now counted as righteous despite all of our shortcomings, bad decisions, and mistakes. Do you see your need through the lens of His abundant righteousness? God does not look at us and see our messes, but rather the perfection of His Son.
Life
“And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you.” – Romans 8:11
The same Spirit that brought Jesus back from the dead is at work within those whose faith is placed in Him. With salvation comes a new heart and new life that only comes from Him. Because Christ defeated sin and death, we are able to truly know life everlasting in the here and now. Are you walking in eternal life today as a result of this promise of God?
Adoption
“You received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’” – Romans 8:15
All those who are led by His Spirit are His sons and daughters. Instead of living our lives in bondage to fear, we can lead lives characterized by our relationship with the Father who claims us as His own. God is not ashamed of those whose faith has been placed in the finished work of His Son. Do you see yourself outside of the family or are you walking in the Spirit of adoption?
Hope
“In this hope we were saved.” – Romans 8:24
The hope of eternal redemption is what guides us through the troubles of this life. This hope is a certainty we can have—by faith—that God will set right all of the wrongs we see in our broken world. We can also have hope that God will take every hurt, habit, and hang up in our lives and use it for our good and His glory. Today, we know the person who embodied hope for us is Jesus. And we can walk in the fullness of this gift in faith.
Patience
“Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.” – Romans 8:25
God supplies us with the patience we need to not just wait, but to wait well. We can live by faith and not sight. Our eagerness for Christ’s return does not cancel out the patience He calls us to and faithfully gifts us with as we continue to look to the future and hold fast to His promise of redemption for us. This fruit of the Spirit is a tangible picture of what love for Christ and for others ought to look like, as it is the first attribute given in “The Love Chapter” (1 Corinthians 13). Consider the role that patience currently plays in your life, and ask the Lord to reveal the specific areas of your life where you must find yourself waiting well.
Help
“The Spirit also helps us in our weakness.” – Romans 8:26
The Holy Spirit’s gracious role as our helper is one we may not lean into as often as we could. God knew we would need His help and did not leave us stranded or without His presence to guide us along. In order to truly acknowledge and receive the help that He offers us, we must truly understand our need in the midst of our many weaknesses. From our biggest need for salvation to our daily needs for His presence in our midst, the Lord is faithful to provide for us when we ask for His assistance in accordance to His will.
Intercession
“We do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us.” – Romans 8:26
The Spirit prays for us and guides us as we surrender our lives to the Father’s will. Though prayer may seem like an act we do alone, the Spirit is always with us, working on our behalf in ways that we aren’t always made aware of. The book of Hebrews tell us that Christ, too, “always lives to intercede for us.” The Spirit and the Son are both praying for us, alongside us, and in our midst. With this understanding, our lives will change. And we can rest assured that we are never alone.
Purpose
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28
For those in Christ, there is assurance that God is working in the midst of our struggles and uncertainty. His purposes always prevail, despite the circumstances we face. His purpose for our lives is that we would continue to be grow more and more into the image of Jesus. Isn’t that reassuring to know that there is a plan and a purpose in the midst of all that we endure? We can know that God is able to use all things we experience for the sake of His glory.
Victory
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” – Romans 8:37
Because God is for us, we are victorious in the battle against sin and flesh. God did not even spare His own Son in order to make a way for us. And because He was raised from the dead, we, too, can walk in His victory. Though our struggles wage on, we can rest in knowing that Christ already faced the biggest battle and rose from it victorious. So we can triumphantly stand in a place of victory for the battle is the Lord’s!
Love
“Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39
The greatest gift we have received from God was love in the form of Himself—Jesus. And as a result, nothing can separate us from the relationship we have as being reconciled back to the Father. Nothing can separate us from Him. And His love is enough. Praise Him for this good news!
Do any of these gifts seem hard to believe? Take some time to pray through what each of these mean and how they can tangibly impact your daily life as a follower of Jesus. Once you understand and apply them, these 13 gifts will change your life forever–to the glory of God.