7--SALVATION

How can we apply what God has done for us, through His Son, to our own personal life? “What must I do to be Saved?”

"Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." -– 2 Corinthians 5:17-21


Note: We have had this text before, yet it’s richness offers us much to understand. When Christ forgives us for our past sins, He accounts us as righteous. Then He works in us through His Spirit to make us righteous. The first is being justified. The second is being sanctified. This process has to go on during our lifetime here. To have this experience we should not, for a day, take ourselves out of the hands of God.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." – John 3:16


Note: This verse is worth repeating also. This tells us the Father loves us too. Jesus often says He does the will of His Father. His Father and He are one. He also tells us He wants us to be one with them. What a wonderful God we have!

"Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:" – Galatians 1:4


Note: It is the Lord’s will we be delivered from this present evil world. Are you willing and ready to let Him deliver you?

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." -– Galatians 4:4-7


Note: We are sons and daughters of God, when we accept Him as Saviour and Lord of our lives. That makes us princes and princesses of the King of the universe.

"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." -– Titus 3:3-7


Note: Here is a reminder how foolish and deceived we can be without the Lord. It is His mercy that saves us. We are regenerated, renewed by the power of His Spirit working with us and in us, from the start to the finish. It is His Spirit that convicts us of sin, and empowers us to live righteous lives, to be overcomers of the sins that can so easily overcome us.

"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" – John 16:8


Note: Do you often hear the voice of His Spirit in reproof? Don’t resist the Holy Spirit’s pleadings. Keep reading the word of God and let it sink deep within, not forgetting to pray over everything.

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. . . For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." – Galatians 3:13, 14, 26


Note: The law curses us because we have disobeyed it. Through faith in God we learn to obey. Christ forgives past sins and takes the curse of them out of our lives. And, the Spirit of God helps us to obey.

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:" – 1 Peter 2:21-23


Note: Christ is our example. We are to follow in His steps. That is a tall order, and it is only possible through the “divine power” He promises us in 2 Peter 1:3, 4.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." – John 3:3-8


Note: When we repent and confess our sins God forgives us. When we do this in earnest, we will long to be changed. God’s Spirit takes control of our lives and we are born again.

"So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." --Romans 10:17


Note: We cannot grow in faith unless we daily spend time with God’s word. There is no other way to be a true Christian. It cannot be a ritual that will win us God’s approval. We must have our hearts and minds on what we are studying, with a yearning to know more of God’s will.

"And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith." – Luke 17:5


Note: Christ’s disciples realized their need of more faith in their lives. We will feel this need to, the closer we come to Christ.

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." -– Mark 9:23, 24

Note: Sometimes it is hard to believe in God’s power for everything that concerns us. That is when we need to pray the father’s prayer to Christ for his child.

"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus. That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." – Ephesians 2:5-10


Note: We are saved by the grace of God. It is undeserved. Works cannot save us, but God would have His works in us. We walk in His works when we let Him constantly “work in us to do His good pleasure.”

"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." -- Romans 3:21-26


Note: Jesus kept the law of God. His life of purity made His death acceptable as our offering for sin. Christ’s righteousness is what covers us as we travel through life. Not only does His blood cover our past sins, as we repent of them, His blood also gives us power to live out a righteous life through the indwelling Spirit in our lives. We need the grace of God all along the way.

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:" – Colossians 1:13-14


Note: Forgiveness is needed all of our lives, for as we grow in grace we find ourselves with traits of character that we never recognized as sinful before. God doesn’t show us everything at once. If we should die before we recognize some traits God will save us. But if we hold on to sin and keep rejecting the voice of His Spirit God can no longer forgive us. He may keep trying to win us as long as there is life, as He did with Judas, who betrayed Him. Jesus loved Judas, but Judas rejected the convictions of the Spirit. If Satan tries to convince you that there is no more chance for you and you have grieved away God’s Spirit, don’t listen. Just start persevering in prayer, and study more of God’s word. As you live there is hope, if you seek the Lord with all your heart.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together." – Romans 8:14-17

Note: The Holy Spirit is indeed active in the lives of those who serve God. We can know He is with us, as we seek for a closer walk with God. We may have some suffering to do on this earth, but we must trust in Him and know God is with us, as He was with Christ when He suffered.

CONCLUSION:


The plan of salvation was made before man sinned. The Godhead thought of everything needful to save us. Are you willing to accept His plan for your life? Are you willing to accept Jesus as your Saviour and the Lord of your life?